HOW TO ACE THE

IELTS SPEAKING TEST

INSIGHTS FROM A BAND 9 ACHIEVER

KEITH O'HARE
 Helping you Become a
Confident English Speaker

Many IELTS students lack

confidence in their speaking
skills.

The Keith Speaking Academy

helps you develop your speaking
skills so you can face the
examiner with confidence and
ace the IELTS test.

This PDF is one of many that Keith

has developed to help you do this.

Keith has been working in international education for over 20

years as a teacher, teacher trainer, and education manager.

He has helped over 40,000 students prepare for their IELTS

Speaking test with his online courses.

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Are you aiming for a Band 9 in your IELTS Speaking test?

It might seem like a daunting task, especially for non-native English

speakers, but I am here to assure you—it's entirely achievable!

Today, I am going to dissect a unique case study—an interview with a

teacher named Diyorbek from Uzbekistan, who triumphantly attained
Band 9 in the IELTS Speaking exam.

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 Insights from a Band 9 IELTS Speaking Achiever

Diyorbek's journey demonstrates that obtaining a Band 9 in IELTS

Speaking, while challenging, is indeed possible. It requires a blend of
commitment, the right IELTS speaking techniques, and years of honing
your English skills.

I should emphasise that you don't need to set Band 9 as your goal unless
specifically required. It’s not a necessary or a helpful goal for most
students.

Instead, you should focus on the level you need for your own goals and
aim to incrementally improve your language proficiency over time. This
is especially true for learners who want to enhance their IELTS speaking
vocabulary and build confidence in their spoken English.

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 Mastering IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction
Questions and Topics

The first part of the IELTS Speaking test comprises introduction

questions and topics, such as 'Happiness' and 'Sports'. The goal here is
to deliver short, articulate responses using a range of vocabulary and
expressions. Here are some examples of how Diyorbek handled this
section:

Vocabulary: "People with different backgrounds," "Affluent parts of the

city," "It is growing by leaps and bounds," "I don’t know the exact
statistics.”

Affluent = wealthy
By leaps and bounds = a lot and quickly
Statistics = numbers

Collocations: "The tourist season," "Incredible architecture.”

Happiness Vocabulary: "I am happy when I spend quality time with my

friends," "Anything under the sun," "A carefree childhood," "I derive a lot
of pleasure from what I do.”

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 Quality time = time spent with someone giving them full attention
Anything under the sun = anything at all
A carefree childhood = a childhood without worries
I deride pleasure from ___ = I get pleasure from _____

Sport Vocabulary: "I am quite into fitness," "I was a natural (at football),"
"I can dribble easily.”

To be a natural (at something) = to be naturally gifted (at

something)
To dribble = to run with a ball at your feet

Idioms: "Not to toot my own horn," "To blow my own trumpet.”

To toot my own horn (US)

To blow my own trumpet (UK)

Both these idioms mean to ‘boast’ or say you are the best at something.

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 Excelling in IELTS Speaking Part 3: Delving into
Traditional Festivals or Celebrations

The third part of the IELTS Speaking test focuses on more complex
subjects such as traditional festivals or celebrations. Here, you need to
demonstrate not only your IELTS speaking vocabulary but also effective
language techniques and correct grammar usage. Here's how Diyorbek
aced this part:

He develops his answers, gives specific examples, and gets into the
flow.
He uses a wide range of vocabulary: "It marks the beginning of
Spring," "Improve unity and solidarity," "Feel a sense of belonging," "It
gives them a lot of pride," "An obscene amount of money is spent.”

An obscene amount = far too much

He uses some self-correction: "Globalisation sweept…I mean,

globalisation has had a sweeping effect."
He uses pauses and phrasing: "They seem to be – what is the word? –
‘in tune with’ their own culture.”

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 Top IELTS Speaking Tips for Achieving Band 9

Finally, if you're aiming for IELTS Speaking Band 9, consider these

essential tips:

1. Prepare common topics: Familiarise yourself with typical topics and

practice speaking about them in English.

2. Expose yourself to the language: Surround yourself with English

through books, movies, podcasts, and conversations.

3. Engage with content you enjoy: When you read, watch, or listen to
things that interest you, learning becomes more enjoyable and less of a
chore.

I hope Diyorbek's journey to IELTS speaking success inspires you to

achieve your own English language goals.

Remember, don’t just focus on exam technique, focus mainly on

developing your speaking skills over time so you can become a
confident speaker of English and reach your IELTS goals and beyond.

COPYRIGHT © 2023, KEITH SPEAKING ACADEMY

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