50+ Most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) By Test Takers Regarding IELTS

Here are 50+ frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the IELTS in general and its Writing and Speaking parts. 

GENERAL IELTS FAQs

Question 1. Can I use my IELTS score to apply to American universities?
Absolutely. IELTS score is currently accepted by most universities in the world. Particular university’s website should supply more detailed information.

Question 2. What’s the main difference between IELTS and TOEFL?
Both tests are constructed in a completely different way. In practice, TOEFL requires students to be able to understand future lectures and seminars at the university. It does not focus on communication as much as IELTS. The latter checks whether you will be able to easily convey your meaning to professors and classmates abroad. Also, IELTS emphasises language accuracy by paying close attention to grammar and lexis.

Question 3. If my IELTS score is 5.5, what is its TOEFL equivalent?

Score Comparisons
 

IELTS Score  - TOEFL Score
9  118-120
8.5  115-117
8  110-114
7.5  102-109
7  94-101
6.5  79-93
6  60-78
5.5  46-59
5  35-45
4.5  32-34
0-4  0-31
 
IELTS SPEAKING FAQs

Question 1. What criteria are used to assess my speaking?
There are 4 main categories examiners refer to when giving a score, namely Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Pronunciation.

Fluency indicates how fluid your speech is, how many pauses you make. It is not about your speed but rather about hesitation, searching for words. The more you pause the lower your fluency score.

Coherence means you speak logically and all the facts match. Your speech has content that makes sense to the listener. The more ‘Why/what do you mean?’ you hear from the examiner, the lower your coherence is.

Lexical Resource represents vocabulary you use throughout your test. If you are targeting scores from 6 to 9, you need to make sure that your answers contain idioms and correct collocations. The more the better but be careful not to sound too artificial.

Grammatical Range focuses on your sentence structures and grammar mistakes. Be sure to use a variety of structures, from simple sentences to complex ones. The number of mistakes matters as well if you want to cross over band 6. The fewer mistakes the better.

Pronunciation is not only your accent but also particular sounds. Is your speech easy to understand? Do you use correct intonation and chunking in phrases? Many students worry that American accent is treated unfairly, as IELTS is a British test. This is not the case. Generally speaking, examiners listen for elements of native accents, be it American, British, Australian or Canadian.

Question 2. What shall I focus on for Band 6 and higher?
There seems to be a significant gap between Bands 6 and 7. Your coherence needs to be intact at all times and you need to be able to speak at length easily with a good number of linking words. You need to have enough vocabulary for a variety of topics, which means you should not be looking for words. The examiner needs to hear idiomatic expressions and parts of language, which are not common for day-to-day conversations. After all, IELTS is an academic test. What’s more, your grammar should be correct with only a few basic mistakes from time to time. Plus your speech needs to be understood effortlessly by the examiner.

Question 3. How long is the Speaking test?
Part 1 = 4 to 5 minutes
Part 2 = 3 to 4 minutes
Part 3 = 4 to 5 minutes

Which adds it up to between 11 and 14 minutes. Examiners target a 15-minute interview most of the time.

Question 4. How to speak better and with native (British/American) accent?
The only effective way to improve your accent is to not only listen to authentic materials (such as CNN or BBC) but also mimic pronunciation. Try to shape your lips as native speakers do. Observe their body language. Listen to English songs as it is also a grand way to make progress.

Question 5. Why don’t examiners show any emotions?
IELTS examiners are trained to remain unemotional and inexpressive. Don’t take it personally. Their smile or the lack of it will not affect your score.

Question 6. What shall I do if I have no idea about the topic?
Well, that seems to be a problem for many test takers. As the age to speak but actually having nothing to say. Not all answers must be your own ideas or opinions. What’s important is that you keep going. Use your parents’ conversations and TV news to broaden your general knowledge.

Question 7. How to extend my answers?
Don’t answer in the form of monosyllabic responses, such as ‘Yes, no, I agree etc.’ If you are using an adjective to describe your favourite book, explain what it means it’s ‘fascinating’ and why you think so. Try to go on until the examiner stops you.

Question 8. I’ve taken the test thrice and keep getting 6.5. Why am I not improving?
Probably because you don’t know what your problems are. Ask your teachers to assess your English based on IELTS Speaking Test criteria. It’s always better to know where our shortcomings are. This way we can focus on fixing them.

Question 9. I’ve practised with Cambridge books (4 to 9). What other materials could I use to prepare well?
Past papers can help you master the test itself but they will not be helpful with skills and general English comprehension. Also, make sure you’re using authentic materials prepared by professionals, not books written in your native language.

Question 10. What shall I do if my examiner interrupts me? Is it good or bad?
Don’t let it worry you. Examiners need to control the time of the interview, so if he or she interrupts you it is most probably because your answer isn’t clear enough. Interruptions and additional questions (like ‘Why?’) are used to clarify your meaning. However, you should be aware that if an examiner needs to make sure they understand what your idea is, your Coherence score will most certainly be affected.

Question 11. What shall I say if the examiner speaks too fast and I can’t catch the question?
Ask her or him to repeat the question or slow down. It’s better to make sure you understood clearly than start answering a completely different question. You will be off-topic then. In normal natural conversation speakers ask for clarification all the time.

Question 12. How can I overcome my grammar mistakes?
First, make sure you know the correct grammar. Oftentimes candidates realize they have just made a mistake but they are afraid to correct it, thinking it will affect their score. Self-correction is a very crucial skill in any language. It shows you have awareness of grammar and your mistakes become errors. 

Question 13. Why do I need sophisticated vocabulary for the Speaking test? It seems pretentious.
You don’t need it but it helps if your dream is Band 7 or higher. Remember that IELTS tests whether you can survive in an academic environment when you go abroad. Professors at universities use sophisticated vocabulary. You need it, too.

Question 14. How to classify and learn vocabulary in a clear way?
There is an abundance of methods to learn vocabulary in a productive way. But first and foremost you should check what type of a learner you are. There are three main kinds: a visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learner. The first one learns through seeing while the auditory one needs to hear to remember. The last one wants to feel and experience to know. It’s important to know which category you fall into.

You can use this concept from psychology called SCREAMS.
- Say key vocabulary words
- Use Concept mapping or word webs
- Read words in context
- Extract personal meaning
- Actively learn through using the new word frequently
- Memory formation (sense-making) based on usefulness of the word
- Self-monitoring for new opportunities to use the newly learned word

Always learn vocabulary in thematic groups (books, food, sounds etc.). A randomly heard word is not going to stay in your long-term memory if your brain cannot connect it with something you already know.

Question 15. How can I practise Speaking by myself?
You can practice speaking by yourself but the feedback will be missing. Having a study buddy is always a good idea. You can correct each other and benefit from each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It is also a good idea to record your practice sessions and then hand them in to your teacher. A professional linguist will be able to locate problematic areas faster and more effectively.

Question 16. Do I need to jot anything down in Speaking Part 2?
It is not a must. Paper and pencil are provided to candidates for the purpose of organizing their long-turn. A lot of test takers take notes but never use them during Part 2. If you decide to write something down, be certain to make use of it.

Question 17. I know quite a good number of high-level vocabulary but when it comes to my Speaking test my mind goes blank and I can’t use any of them. What shall I do?
It’s one thing to understand the words you see in a text or hear around you, but a completely different thing to be able to apply them by yourself. Before coming to your IELTS Speaking Test, try to place 5 ‘good words’ in one complex sentence. The more you’ll practise the easier it will get.

Question 18. How to speak coherently?
Firstly, listen to the question carefully. If it starts with ‘when’, talk about the time and not a place where something happened. Then, expand your answer as much as you can but still focus on the main topic you decided to use. Making mind maps helps with coherence. Remember to ask the examiner to clarify or repeat the question if you are not sure what it refers to.

Question 19. What shall I do a week before my test?
It sounds like a cliché, but you have studied hard and prepared for the past month or so. Now is the time for your brain to absorb all the knowledge and organize it. Do not memorize any answers! Think in English! Watch some good English films, read gripping books, talk to native speakers. Keep your stress levels tamed.

Question 20. How to sound more natural?
Expose yourself to authentic listening and visual material put together by native speakers of English. BBC and CNN websites yield plenty of functional language material. Mimic chosen pronunciation by speaking out loud and shaping your lips properly. Copy, copy, copy!

Question 21. Shall I memorize the best answer?
Never should you do that! Examiners hate memorized answers and it is extremely easy to discern them. A lot of candidates tend to lose logic once they forget one word in a sequence. This will take your score down drastically.

Question 22. Shall I look at the examiner while speaking?
Yes. Normally, eye contact is a weighty part of a conversation. If you are too shy to look into your examiner’s eyes, pick a spot right behind their head on the wall. Focus on it. To the examiner it will seem like you are still maintaining eye contact. Psychology claims that people who avoid eye contact are potential liars.

Question 23. Can I sing a song if the topic is related to music?
Well, it depends on how relaxed you feel your Test is. I know of instances of candidates singing but mostly because they couldn’t keep on talking for 2 minutes. It’s always better to keep it professional and academic.

Question 24. Shall I correct my grammar or pronunciation mistakes when I realize I made them?
Yes, but right after you’ve made them. Don’t say: ‘By the way, that sentence I used three questions ago was wrong.’ Correct instantly and you will seem as a student with language awareness, which is a highly valued attribute.

Question 25. Can I ask the examiner to explain words I don’t know? Is it going to affect my score?
Examiners can basically explain words only in Parts 2 and 3. So don’t ask: ‘Could you rephrase the question?’ in Part 1. They simply cannot do that. Only repeating a question once is allowed in Part 1. Asking for vocabulary simplification will affect your Lexical Resource score.

Question 26. I only covered one point in Part 2. Is that a problem?
The points provided on a card in Part 2 are only there to help you organize your answer. You do not need to stick to them strictly. Just make sure you cover your topic and you will be fine. Answers like: ‘Moving on to the second point…’ are not examiners’ favourite.

Question 27. The examiner stopped me. Will this affect my score?
Usually when an examiner stops a candidate it means candidate’s answer was clear and comprehensive. It simply means you were still talking when the time earmarked for your answer came to an end. Nothing to worry about.

Question 28. Can I ask the examiner to change my topic in Part 2?
Unfortunately no, you can’t. The topics are chosen for you before you enter the exam room. One part of being a capable English speaker entails the ability to talk about any topic.

Question 29. How can I come across as more confident during my test?
Try to maintain eye contact. Sit up and react to questions with appropriate body language.  ‘Don’t be a robot!’

Question 30. Can I give short answers?
You can, but it will affect the Grammatical Range criterion. Follow one simple rule: ABS, which stands for ALWAYS BE SPEAKING! And you’ll be fine. Beyond everything, you have come to the test to exhibit your English at its best.

Question 31. Does being fluent mean I need to speak fast?
No, it does not. This concept is often mistaken. Being fluent means you do not need to pause too often to search for language to express yourself. Your speech pace has nothing to do with it.

Question 32. Will the examiner give me a higher score if I dress well and look pretty?
Your attire is not a subject of assessment. Dress smart but comfortably. Also, contrary to what many female candidates believe, putting on heavy make-up to impress the examiner is not the most tenable notion.

IELTS WRITING FAQs

Question 1. On what factors is my Writing assessed?
There are four criteria used for writing evaluation. Three of them are identical for Task 1 and 2 (Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy), whereas one differs.

In Task 1 it is called Task Achievement and in Task 2 Task Response.

Coherence represents logic of your writing and cohesion stands for linking words and the way you connect your ideas with each other. Lexical

Resource means vocabulary you use, including collocations and idioms, but also spelling errors you make.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy conveys the meaning of grammar errors as well as punctuation. The more error-free sentences you can write the higher your score will be.

As for Task Achievement in Task 1, it focuses on covering all requirements of the task, presenting a clear overview, categorizing information well and developing response in a clear way.

Similarly, in Task 2, a candidate should not only present the main ideas but also extend and support them without overgeneralizing. Ideas need to be shown in a detailed way and supported with relevant examples.

Question 2. What shall I focus on for Band 6 and higher?
In the Writing test, presenting a clear overview is extremely pivotal. Make sure you cover all major features. You may skip the details but the bullet points need to be present. In Task 2, your position should be obvious as well. The information needs to be organized logically and with a progressive trend, which basically means it needs to go somewhere. For Band 7 and higher, the number of grammar mistakes matters as well as your awareness of style and usage of idioms and collocations. The essay should present a wide range of sentence structures including a good number of complex sentences. Your writing does not need to be error free but only some slips should occur. Basically, the examiner needs to feel like nothing could be added to your answer.

Question 3. Which part of my writing test is more important? Task 1 or Task 2?
Task 2 carries 60% of your final score for writing whereas Task 1 holds 40%.

Question 4. How many words shall I write in both parts of my writing test? Will I be penalized if I write fewer/more than required?
There is a very clear word count for both parts of your Writing test.

Task 1 should ideally have 150 words whereas Task 2 250. It is ok to exceed by 10%, but remember that the more you write the more mistakes you will most likely make. When it comes to writing too few words, your Task Achievement/Response criterion will be affected. The breakdown of penalties is as follows:

Task 1: 101-140 minus 1 in Task Achievement or Task Response, 51-100 minus 2 in TA/TR and below 51 words will cost you minus 3 in TA/TR category.

Question 5. How much time do I have for each Task?
It is suggested that you spend 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2. But of course it is up to you. Totally you will have 60 min for your Writing Test. Start with the task that you find more troublesome.

Question 6. What can I do if I don’t understand the topic for Task 2 or simply have nothing to say on the topic?
It’s always important to show general knowledge on your IELTS test. However, if you really don’t know anything about the topic and can’t come up with any examples, write anyway. Change a topic slightly and write the essay. You will be penalised for the lack of logic, but the examiner will still assess your grammar and vocabulary. It is still possible to get a Band 3 or 4 even if your essay is completely off-topic.

Question 7. How to make the essay shorter and more to the point?
Start with a plan. Many IELTS takers underestimate the power of a well-thought plan. It takes a minute but helps enormously with writing logically and providing pertinent ideas. Your plan can be in a form of a mind map, spider diagram or just rudimentary annotations. The form does not matter as long as you use it as the basis for your essay.

Question 8. How can I overcome my grammar mistakes?
It may come to you as a surprise, but if only you read or scanned your essay before handing it in, you would be able to spot 50% of your mistakes. From my experience, the lion’s share of candidates does not bother to self-correct their writings. There is definitely enough time to do it, as it only takes a minute. Remember to correct what you can before your essay gets to examiners’ hands.

Question 9. How to be logical in Writing?
Follow the draft! The only way to start logically and stay cogent is to abide by your own strategy. Also, you would want to make sure that you use linking words properly, as for example ‘and’ and ‘but’ express two completely different concepts in one sentence.

Question 10. How can I practise my Writing more efficiently?
Read more. By reading academic sources you will be able to not only broaden your vocabulary but also get accustomed to an assortment of phrases and sentences. Showing your writings to your teacher or classmate is a marvellous inkling too. They will be able to see what you might fail to catch.

Question 11. Can I use a model for my Writing?
It might work for TOEFL writing, but when it comes to IELTS models are just not inclusive enough. Besides, using a model for your introduction and conclusion could uncover your shortcomings. Any examiner is surely qualified to notice the difference between your language and the language used in the model. This will most definitely take your score down.

Question 12. How to make sure my essay is not boring?
There is no good answer to this question. Make sure they provide examples stemming from societal current events rather than their own circle of family and friends. Instead of using your uncle or your cousin to illustrate your point, say it is a trend in your society. This will make your paragraphs stronger and more gripping to read.

Question 13. Shall I use social news and events in my Writing?
Yes, you should. This way your answers will be better rounded and you will come across as a young person who cares about the events in the world. Personalizing your essay isn’t advised as it is against the idea of an academic form of writing.

Question 14. Is there enough time to write a draft?
Yes, because you do not need to write it per se. All you need to do is jot down some ideas and organize them in a logical way, that is in a way which would make sense to you in your further writing process.

Question 15. Can I write in capital letters?
Yes, it is not forbidden, so you are allowed to do so.

Question 16. What is a well-developed paragraph?
Each paragraph should ideally consist of a topic sentence, which tells the reader what the paragraph is about; three to five supporting sentences (providing details, examples) and a concluding sentence, where you wrap up your ideas.

A useful paragraph formula would look like this:
Topic Sentence = 1 sentence
Supporting Sentences = 3 to 5 sentences
Concluding Sentence = 1 sentence

Question 17. Can I use personal pronouns in Task 2?
As mentioned before, IELTS writing is an academic type of writing, so personal pronouns should not occur. Only when expressing your opinion or conviction can you use ‘I’. In order to avoid ‘I’ use group nouns, such as people or society; or refer to a particular part of your essay, e.g. ‘This part of the essay will focus on…’. Definitely steer clear from using ‘I’ in Task 1. Your opinion is also not needed as you are to comment on facts and interpret data given.