How to Get a 9 Band in IELTS Speaking
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The IELTS Speaking test assesses your ability to communicate effectively in English. The test is split into Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. This guide will help you distinguish approaches taken by non-9 Band scorers and strategies that will help you earn a 9 Band in Speaking.
Table of Contents
1. Part 1: Introduction and Interview
When you start your IELTS speaking test, the examiner will ask general questions about yourself and comfortable topics such as your interests, family, friends, and home. The examiner here is trying to assess how well you talk about everyday topics. This part will typically last 4-5 minutes.
1.1 Sample
Q. What is your full name?
Q. Can I see your id?
Q. Where are you from?
Q Is your city a good place to grow up?
Q. Do you want TV often?
Q. What kind of programs or TV shows do you like to watch?
Q. Did your parents let you watch a lot of TV when you were a child?
Q. Do you think kids these days watch more TV than in the past?
1.2 Common Mistakes in Part 1
- Although preparing and memorizing answers for your IELTS speaking test is tempting, this won’t help you achieve a Band 9. Memorization shows your ability to communicate in English; examiners are specially trained to spot them.
- Providing overly lengthy answers could sound unnatural or go off-topic. The focus of the Speaking test is to remain within the scope of the topic that the examiner has set.
1.3 Band 9 Strategies for Part 1
- Band 9 students make the interaction feel like a natural conversation. They answer questions directly and provide just enough detail without veering off-topic. Nothing indicates proficiency in English more than the ability to talk fluidly to people
- While providing enough detail, Band 9 students avoid overly lengthy responses. They focus on answering the question adequately. You must always make sure that the examiner can effectively assess your pronunciation, fluency, grammar, and vocabulary. Have a good understanding of IELTS Speaking assessment criteria using speaking Band Descriptors.
2. Part 2: Cue-Card
In the second part, the examiner will give you a topic card also called Cue-Card. You will have one minute to prepare, and then you must speak about the topic for 1-2 minutes. Most topics are stories about yourself or something that happened in your life, so you can prepare by looking at some examples. Here is how a Cue-card looks like:
2.1 Sample
Talk about a person you admired when you were in primary school. Please say
Q1. Who the person was?
Q2. How you met him/her?
Q3. Why you admired him/her?and explain how you feel about him/her now.
2.2 Common Mistakes in Part 2
- Lower-band students often follow the bullet points on the cue card rigidly. This leads to discomfort when discussing specific points and negatively impacts fluency. Remember that the bullet points guide what to discuss and should not solely be relied on.
- Some students rely on strategies like PPF (Past, Present, Future) to structure their answers. While this can be helpful, it often backfires if the cue card does not lend itself well to such a structure.
2.3 Band 9 Strategies for Part 2
- Band 9 students concentrate on the main cue card topic, speaking naturally for the full two minutes. They use the bullet points as a guide rather than a strict structure, which helps them stay fluent and coherent.
- Instead of relying on tricks, you must speak about the topic comfortably, using a variety of grammatical structures and vocabulary. To demonstrate natural proficiency, you must show how to communicate effectively and fluently on the given topic.
3. Part 3: Discussion
The final part is an extension to Part 2. Think of it as expanding the scope of what you discussed in Part 2. You are expected to expand your answers further and provide explanations and examples. This part lasts 4-5 minutes.
3.1 Sample
Q1. Why do you think memories of school days are important?
Q2. Why do some teachers leave their mark on students?
Q3. What are the traits that make students remember them?
3.2 Common Mistakes in Part 3 of IELTS Speaking
- In Part 3, students often give short answers because they cannot predict the questions and have not memorized responses. This limits their ability to demonstrate their language skills. This is another reason memorizing responses is bad: you will lack the creativity to follow it up.
- Some students memorize lists of vocabulary and idioms, which they struggle to use naturally. This can lower their scores in grammar and vocabulary. Instead, you should focus on practicing using these idioms and vocabulary instead of awkwardly memorizing and then using it.
3.3 Band 9 Strategies for Part 3
- Band 9 students always attempt to answer every question, even if unfamiliar. They treat it like a conversation, explaining their thoughts and providing reasoned answers.
- To achieve a Band 9 in speaking, you must give well-developed answers, explain your reasoning, and provide examples. You must show how you can use a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Band 9 students easily handle a variety of topics and scenarios. They use specific vocabulary and appropriate grammatical structures, adapting smoothly to different questions and contexts. Therefore, it is important to have exposure to a large number IELTS speaking topics and practice those regularly. So, you are well prepared for any kind of speaking part 3 topic in the IELTS exam.
Obviously, to achieve a Band 9 in the IELTS Speaking test, you must demonstrate your fluency in communicating in English. This is NOT achievable through memorization or shortcuts. You can improve your speaking skills by practicing IELTS topics with our experts using IELTS Speaking mock test service.
