In this tutorial, you will learn

* 3 tips for making notes in Part 2 of the IELTS speaking test

* 3 things you need for a high band score in IELTS speaking Part 2

* why some students are stuck on 6.5

This will help you in your exam because:

* Effective notes will improve your speaking performance and IELTS score.

* Notes help you focus on what’s important.

* You’ll learn how to get a speaking band score of 7.0 in IELTS.

There are 3 speaking sections in the test. In Part 2, you have to talk about a topic for 1-2 minutes. The topic is given on a cue card. Topics are usually based on your personal experience.

Examples: 

* Describe something you liked very much and bought for your home

* Talk about a very difficult task you succeeded in doing as part of your work or studies

* Describe a website you have bought something from

In Part 2 of the IELTS speaking exam, you should:

* show the examiner that you can talk at length on a topic

* organise and develop related ideas

It’s also a good opportunity to demonstrate the range of your vocabulary.

The IELTS examiner will hand you a topic card/candidate task card. On this card is the topic you need to speak about and some bullet points. The bullet points are prompts to help you plan your talk.

The examiner will give you instructions and paper and a pencil to make notes. You have 1 minute to plan your talk before you begin to speak.

Use this minute to think about the topic and the bullet points/prompts on the topic card. Make notes to help you plan the flow of your talk.

*

TIP 1:Do not write complete sentences – you don’t have enough time!

Cue card example

Talk about a book you recently read that you enjoyed.

You should say:

* the name of the book

* why you read it

* what you thought about it

and explain what you enjoyed about reading the book.

Example notes

* 12 rules for life by Jordan Peterson, psychology, philosophy, self-help

* recommended, good reviews

* practical, insightful, different, good for self-improvement

* self-reflection, learning, better understanding, thought-provoking

*

TIP 2: As a guide, 20-25 words should be enough for your notes.

When the examiner asks you to begin speaking, you should speak on the topic for 1-2 minutes. Don’t worry about the time. The examiner will tell you when the 2-minute time limit is up.

You must try to speak about the topic for at least 1 minute. If you don’t it can affect your speaking score negatively.

At the end of the time, the examiner will ask you a couple of closing questions related to the topic and what you said.

Part 2 of the speaking test only lasts for around 3-4 minutes.

Why is making notes for IELTS Speaking Part 2 important? 

Your talk should be organised. There should be a logical flow to your ideas and how you develop them during the time you speak.

Think of it as a short presentation. There should be:

* an introduction, setting the scene

* the main part of the talk which expands on the topic

* an ending which shows you have finished talking

If your talk is not organised well, it will be difficult for the examiner to follow what you’re saying.

You will not get a high score!

How can I score more than 6.5? 

A portion of the marks awarded for Part 2 speaking is based on coherence and fluency.

What is coherency? 

When you speak coherently,