Common Errors # Speaking Section

Often students think that more they will be sweet with the examiner, higher are there chances of getting a high score. However, students forget that IELTS is an international test and you will be tested purely on the answers you give. It might be even possible that your marks are reduced because of the attempts that you are making to be over sweet.

Let’s have a look at some of the most common mistakes students make in their speaking test.

  1. TRYING TO BE OVER POLITE-: It is good to be polite but then you need not to be a sycophant. Often foreign examiners gets irritated when you try to be over polite. For Example-: if you are constantly saying sir/ma’am, waiting for them to ask you to be seated. It is better that you say a Hi.
  2. DON’T TRY TO WELCOME THE EXAMINER-: Often students believe that the examiner is new to their country and they greet them saying, welcome to my country! This is not acceptable. Remember, you are their to give your test and not to show the examiner places in your country.
  3. TRYING TO BE A PART OF GROUP-: Although it is good that you are part of a country and there are habits in you that are because of the environment of your country. But it is mostly preferred that you answer questions such as if you are an individual. Saying answers such as, ” Since I am from here ,… i love this or that”; won’t put you in good light.
  4. USING STEREOTYPES-: You are about to live in a different country and the last thing that is expected out of you is that you have strongly held stereotypes. For example-; saying, ” Oh! the people of my country are the most hospitable in the world, might just not be the correct thing to do”.
  5. BEFRIENDING THE EXAMINER-: Remember, you are giving a test. Asking an examiner who are they or what is their name or where are they from, is not going to help you. It can only lead to they cutting your marks. Just try to be polite and smile.
  6. INAPPROPRIATE DRESS-: Now this is something that you must avoid. Wear formal clothes. The simple way out is wear the dress you would wear in a job interview.

REMEMBER, it is your test, do the things you would have done at a job interview. Give respect where necessary but don’t over do it. You must come out as being natural.

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