IELTS Speaking Fears

Most people don’t see the IELTS speaking test as the hardest, but most would agree that it is the most terrifying of all the sub-test.  This fear may stem from the fear of the unknown; the most common concern I hear is that the interviewer could be extremely intimidating, even purposefully intimidating. 

Intimidate, a verb meaning to frighten into submission, compliance or acquiescence. It also means to fill with fear.  I see no reason for any examiner to deliberately intimidate any candidate; they get no added benefits whether the candidates pass or fail and thus give them no reason to intimidate.  If the candidate does feel fear towards the examiner, it means that the candidate is afraid of what has been imagined about the examiner. 

Since we established that there is no need to fear the examiner, we can proceed to relax and think about the actual IELTS Speaking test.  You should be prepared for the interview; here are some tips to consider when preparing for the IELTS Speaking test:

·         Be on time – the IELTS speaking sub-test is conducted on a different time or day.  Try to be as early as you can be.  The reason for being early is to allow you to acclimate to the surroundings. You wouldn’t want to start your interview when you just arrived and barely had enough time to catch your breath.

·         Prepare your passport or the identification that you used for registration – although you are not being marked for preparedness, any added stress will not help you relax.  You will also not be allowed to take the test if you don’t have the proper identification.

·         Do not worry about the recording – the interview will be recorded, but the primary purpose of the recording is to make sure the examiner conducts the interview properly; it is only used to assess your score if you ask for a reassessment, which you have to pay for.

To find out what to expect from the IELTS Speaking test click here

For other speaking tips check the Speaking Category