This One Thing is Killing Your IELTS Speaking Score

This one thing is killing your IELTS speaking score,

and here is how to fix it.

(gentle music)

Hello, this is Keith from the Keith Speaking Academy

and the YouTube channel English Speaking Success.

There are lots of no-nos when it comes to IELTS speaking.

I mean, things you shouldn't do.

Like writing out your answer first and then memorizing it.

Don't do that.

The examiner will know and mark you down.

Like trying to use complex vocabulary

you don't really understand.

Don't do that. You'll just make more mistakes.

Like using slang and trying to sound cool.

Don't do that. The examiner might not understand.

Like speaking like a book or speaking like a robot.

All of these are mistakes that students make.

But the most important one is one

that you probably can't guess.

Can you guess? Have a guess.

Pause the video, write down in the comments

what you think the big mistake is.

(animation whooshing)

Now you are back.

I'm going to tell you what that one mistake is,

what to do instead so that you can speak more fluently

and do your best in the IELTS speaking test.

(animation whooshing)

Okay, so the one big mistake

that is killing your IELTS speaking score,

it's nothing to do with grammar,

nothing to do with vocabulary or fluency.

It's something much deeper,

and it's something that many people don't talk about.

And I think, as teachers, we should talk more about this.

The mistake is having the wrong mindset.

You see, the reality is I think many students

have negative thoughts.

Like, "Oh, I'm no good at English."

"Oh, I'm going to forget all the vocabulary I've learned."

"What if I freeze?" "Oh, I'm so nervous."

"I'm not ready." "Oh, IELTS is just a headache."

"I just want this to finish."

So how do we fix this?

Well, when preparing for ILETS, work on your mindset.

Change negative thoughts for positive ones

and practice doing this.

Even one minute a day, just practice changing the thoughts.

It's as important as your vocabulary practice

and your grammar practice.

Practice changing your mindset.

So instead of "I'm no good at English,"

"My English is where it is, and I accept it."

It doesn't help thinking you are lower than you are

or wanting to be higher.

It doesn't change anything. Accept where you are.

Of course, you continue working to get better,

but right now is now, accept where you are.

"I'm going to forget the words that I've learned."

No. Focus on communication, not vocabulary.

"I'm going to communicate well."

"What if I freeze?"

"What if I speak fluently?"

That's a much nicer thought to have.

"I'm not ready." Well, change that for, "I'm ready enough."

You will never be completely ready for anything,

for IELTS, for marriage, for a new job, ever.

Just be ready enough and think, "I'm ready enough."

"Oh, IELTS is a headache."

"IELTS is fun. I'm going to enjoy the test."

And if you don't believe it's fun, come and join my courses

and you'll see how fun IELTS can be.

But that thought, "I'm going to enjoy the test,"

can help so much.

"Oh, I just want this to finish."

Change that for, "I'm going to enjoy the test."

And we know, from research,

we know that enjoyment increases performance.

For me on a personal level,

I experience this and practice this.

When I go to the dentist or I'm giving the big presentation

or a speech, I normally wake up nervous and negative

and I just change my thoughts.

"I'm going to enjoy this. I'm going to enjoy this."

Even when I was going to have two teeth out,

on the way to the dentist, I changed the mindset,

"I'm going to enjoy this."

And it's amazing how it changes the energy around you.

(animation whooshing)

These are things you can do in preparation.

On the day of the test,

also take time to focus just before the test.

A good tip is just go to the toilet.

Get yourself in a closed space on your own

and just think, "I'm going to enjoy this test."

"Whatever happens, I'm going to enjoy it."

"Even if I freeze, I'm going to enjoy it."

And then when you are in the test,

control your speed, control your pace.

Focus on communication more than vocabulary.

Speak naturally.

Relax.

Breathe.

And smile.

And all of that mindset and practice

of changing your mindset is going to change the energy

and change your performance in a big way.

And if you're still not sure, try it out.

Or come and join the Gold course.

IELTS Speaking Success Gold,

an online course to help you become a more confident speaker

and ace the IELTS speaking.

It's fun and professional

and will help you get the score you need.

You can check out more details in the link below.

If it's right for you, go ahead,

and I'd love to see you on the inside.

I hope you enjoyed this video. I hope it was useful.

Please do remember, subscribe, turn on notifications.

Remember, mindset is something you control.

Nobody else.

Whatever happens around you, you can control your thoughts.

You just need to practice doing it.

That's it.

If you want the PDF to review all of this,

click below and download it, and you can use that

to help you become a more confident speaker

and do well in your IELTS speaking test.

If you're taking the test soon,

I wish you the very best of luck.

Take care, my friend. Bye-bye.

(uplifting music)

(uplifting music continues)