Guides/Speaking

Practical Strategies Guide based on Practical IELTS Strategies 2 by Andrew Guilfoyle

IELTS Speaking Practical Strategies: 20 Tips & Answer Formulas

Comprehensive Study Guide • 12 min read • Updated for 2026

Core Mindset

Speak naturally. Be honest. Develop ideas. Use English flexibly — do not memorise scripts.

IELTS Speaking is an interactive communication test, not a memorised speech. The examiner evaluates your natural communicative ability across 4 scoring areas: Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, and Pronunciation.

What the IELTS Speaking Test Rewards

Fluency & Coherence

Speak with flow; connect and organise ideas; avoid long breakdowns.

Lexical Resource

Use suitable words; paraphrase flexibly when you cannot remember a specific word.

Grammatical Range

Use varied grammar accurately (Present Perfect → Past Simple → Detail).

Pronunciation

Be understandable; use stress, rhythm, and intonation to support meaning.

5 Core Habits:1) Answer the actual question, 2) Give a reason, 3) Add an example or detail, 4) Paraphrase instead of freezing, 5) Stop when complete.

20 Practical Speaking Tips

Detailed breakdown of the 20 tips from Practical IELTS Strategies 2.

1. The Basis of Good Speaking

General

Main idea: Relax, be natural, be honest, and speak.

✓ Do this:

Use normal spoken English, let stress and intonation carry meaning, and keep going even if a sentence is not perfect.

✗ Avoid:

Trying to sound like a memorised essay, speaking unnaturally fast, or planning every sentence before you say it.

Example / Application: "Well, I really enjoy swimming because it helps me relax."

2. Some Useful Grammar

General

Main idea: Use grammar that helps you talk about experiences, routines, and your life.

✓ Do this:

Use Present Perfect for experience ("Have you ever...?"), switch to Past Simple for definite times ("I went there last year"), and use frequency words naturally (usually, often, rarely).

✗ Avoid:

Trying to show every tense in one answer, or using complex grammar that you cannot control.

Example / Application: Experience -> Present Perfect -> Past Simple -> Detail ("Yes, I have. I went to Thailand two years ago, and I really enjoyed the food.")

3. 'Topic-ise' Your Life

General

Main idea: Turn everyday life into many IELTS topics.

✓ Do this:

Pick one ordinary event each day and speak for 1 minute asking: who, where, when, why, how often, what happened? Reuse real experiences.

✗ Avoid:

Preparing only fixed answers to predicted questions.

Example / Application: One real trip can answer questions on travel, transport, friendship, weather, food, and culture.

4. Respond to the Situation

General

Main idea: Treat the test like a natural but professional conversation.

✓ Do this:

Answer the examiner directly, use natural body language and eye contact, and think honestly before answering if needed.

✗ Avoid:

Calling the examiner "sir" or "madam" repeatedly, complimenting them, or using memorised formal openings.

Example / Application: Address the human examiner sitting in front of you, not an imaginary auditorium.

5. Respond to the Culture

General

Main idea: Be open, direct, honest, and relevant.

✓ Do this:

Answer what was actually asked. Say "not really" or "I haven't thought about that" when true, then explain why.

✗ Avoid:

Secretly switching to a memorised topic or giving irrelevant background instead of answering.

Example / Application: "To be honest, I'm not really into art, because I've always preferred outdoor sports."

6. About Discourse Markers

General

Main idea: Use linking language to organise ideas — but only when it fits.

✓ Do this:

Use simple markers (well, actually, anyway, so, however, on the other hand) and match the marker to the meaning.

✗ Avoid:

Starting every answer with the same phrase, or stacking markers: "Well, basically, actually, you know..."

Example / Application: Use concluding markers like "So, that's probably the main reason" when an answer is complete.

7. About Words & Paraphrasing

General

Main idea: Use words appropriately; paraphrase when the exact word is missing.

✓ Do this:

Choose words you can use correctly. Explain unknown words in simple English (what it looks like / what it does / why it is used).

✗ Avoid:

Forcing rare vocabulary you do not control, or stopping completely in silence because one word is missing.

Example / Application: "A syringe? It's the thing doctors use to put medicine into your body with a needle."

8. Say Why, Exemplify (and Stop)

Part 1

Main idea: Extend a simple answer with a reason and/or example — then finish.

✓ Do this:

Answer first -> Say why -> Give one concrete example -> Stop once complete.

✗ Avoid:

One-word answers or talking indefinitely just to sound fluent.

Example / Application: "Yes, I do, because it helps me relax. For example, I usually swim with friends on Sunday mornings."

9. Divide into Sides

Part 1

Main idea: When your opinion is mixed, talk about both positive and negative sides.

✓ Do this:

Use "In some ways... but...", "On the one hand... on the other hand...", and mention pros and cons before stating your position.

✗ Avoid:

Pretending you have a strong yes/no opinion when you do not.

Example / Application: "I like city life because it is convenient, but it can also be noisy and stressful. Overall, I still prefer it."

10. Divide and Ride

Part 1

Main idea: If a question is too general, state that it depends on a factor and divide it into groups.

✓ Do this:

Divide by young/old, city/country, rich/poor, traditional/modern, or weekday/weekend.

✗ Avoid:

Forcing one universal answer to a question that obviously varies.

Example / Application: "It depends on age. Younger people may use social media constantly, while older people might use it mainly for messages."

11. Cue Through, Wind Down, Cue Due

Part 1

Main idea: Follow topic changes, show when you are continuing, and signal when you are finished.

✓ Do this:

Use short bridge words (sure, okay, right), signal continuation naturally, and end with a clear final sentence and falling intonation.

✗ Avoid:

Continuing after running out of ideas, or filling silence with repeated "um... you know...".

Example / Application: Falling tone signals to the examiner that your answer is finished and prompts the next question.

12. The Long Turn: Thinking First

Part 2

Main idea: Use prep time to choose the easiest story or example, not to write full sentences.

✓ Do this:

Compare possible examples quickly, choose the one with the most memories/content, and think deeply before writing.

✗ Avoid:

Automatically choosing the first idea or writing so much that you don't think about what you will say.

Example / Application: A vivid personal memory allows 2 minutes of effortless speech filled with authentic feeling.

13. Notetaking (The OCOE Framework)

Part 2

Main idea: Use a simple story structure and keyword notes (trigger ideas, not a script).

✓ Do this:

Use O (Orientation) | C (Content/Characters) | O (Outcome) | E (Evaluation). Write keywords, dates, and feelings.

✗ Avoid:

Writing complete sentences or reading notes word-for-word.

Example / Application: "Siem Reap / 2025 / friends -> Angkor sunrise -> missed bus -> laughed a lot -> unforgettable trip"

14. Getting Started

Part 2

Main idea: Start simply and specifically; keep an eye on the time.

✓ Do this:

Name the specific person/place/event quickly: "I'm going to talk about..."

✗ Avoid:

Long ceremonial introductions or drifting from the specific topic into a general lecture.

Example / Application: Get straight into the topic to leave plenty of time for narrative details and reflections.

15. Getting Through It (Look -> Ask -> Talk)

Part 2

Main idea: Use the cue-card bullets as prompts to keep moving smoothly.

✓ Do this:

LOOK at cue -> ASK yourself a question -> TALK from the answer. Follow chronology (before -> event -> result -> reflection).

✗ Avoid:

Trying to memorise a single fixed order for every cue card.

Example / Application: Cue: "where you went" -> Ask: "Where did I go?" -> Talk: "Well, I went to Siem Reap..."

16. More about Tones & Intonation

Part 2

Main idea: Use intonation, stress, pauses, and rhythm to organise blocks of speech.

✓ Do this:

Stress important content words, use pauses between idea blocks, and let your tone show interest and feeling.

✗ Avoid:

Flat, mechanical robotic delivery or an exaggerated fake accent.

Example / Application: Varying your pitch and pausing at major transition points makes your talk engaging and easy to follow.

17. Buy Time

Part 3

Main idea: Natural thinking time is acceptable when a question is difficult.

✓ Do this:

Say "Let me think for a moment", "I've never really thought about that", or use soft language (probably, perhaps, sort of).

✗ Avoid:

Using the exact same time-buying phrase before every easy question.

Example / Application: "That's quite a difficult question. I suppose one important reason is..."

18. Move to a Groove

Part 3

Main idea: Begin with a specific answer, even if the full answer is not obvious yet.

✓ Do this:

Give one specific point first, qualify what you know, and develop through reasons, examples, division, or comparison.

✗ Avoid:

Rejecting the topic because you are not an expert. The test is about English, not general knowledge.

Example / Application: State the first clear idea, explain the reasoning behind it, and contrast it with an alternative viewpoint.

19. Want to Do It! (Genuine Engagement)

Part 3

Main idea: Show genuine engagement: have something to say, express a real opinion, and make it interesting.

✓ Do this:

Use personal or observed examples, show real attitude (surprise, concern, enjoyment), and find an interesting angle.

✗ Avoid:

Speaking with no real message or forcing a memorised story that does not fit.

Example / Application: When you express authentic feelings, fluency, intonation, and vocabulary improve automatically.

20. The Universal Speaking Procedure

Universal

Main idea: Prepare yourself to speak naturally, answer directly, develop ideas, paraphrase if needed, and finish clearly.

✓ Do this:

Master the 4 core formulas for Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and the Emergency Paraphrasing technique.

✗ Avoid:

Reciting rigid memorized essays.

Example / Application: Use the 4 structured formulas outlined below for each phase of the test.

Universal Speaking Formulas (Tip 20)

Part 1 Formula

QUESTION → ANSWER → WHY → EXAMPLE → STOP

"Do you like cooking?" → "Yes, I do, because it helps me relax. For example, I often cook for friends on weekends."

Part 2 Formula

THINK → KEYWORD NOTES → INTRODUCE → TELL STORY → RESULT → REFLECT

Choose 1 trip → 5-7 keyword notes (OCOE) → Start simply → Chronological events → Say how it ended → Explain how you felt.

Part 3 Formula

BUY TIME (if needed) → ANSWER → REASON → EXAMPLE → OTHER SIDE → CONCLUDE

"It depends on age... Younger people... However, older people... So overall..."

Emergency Formula (When You Forget a Word)

DO NOT STOP → PARAPHRASE (looks like / does / used for) → CONTINUE

"I can't remember the exact word, but it's the tool that doctors use to..."

High-Value Speaking Language

Function	Useful Natural Language
Giving an opinion	Personally, ... / I think ... / I suppose ... / As far as I'm concerned, ...
Giving a reason	because ... / The main reason is ... / That's mainly because ...
Giving an example	For example, ... / For instance, ... / One example would be ...
Contrasting	However, ... / On the other hand, ... / Having said that, ... / Whereas ...
Uncertainty	I'm not completely sure, but ... / It's hard to say. / It depends on ...
Buying time	Let me think for a moment. / I've never really thought about that. / That's quite a difficult question.
Paraphrasing	What I mean is ... / In other words ... / It's the thing that ... / It's used for ...
Concluding	So, that's probably the main reason. / Overall, ... / So, that's about it.

Daily 15-Minute Practice System

1. 3 Minutes

Answer 5 Part 1 questions using Answer → Why → Example.

2. 5 Minutes

Choose 1 Part 2 topic, think 1 minute, speak for up to 2 minutes.

3. 5 Minutes

Answer 2 Part 3 questions; divide the issue when useful.

4. 2 Minutes

Review: Where did you pause? Which word did you need? Could you paraphrase it?

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