IELTS Speaking Tips: 10 Tips, Common Mistakes and a Part 2 Sample Answer

Many Hindi speakers get stuck in IELTS Speaking because they think in Hindi and translate. This guide gives you IELTS speaking tips: the test format, how you are scored, 10 useful tips, common mistakes that often come from Hindi, and a Part 2 sample answer.

Prefer Hindi? यह पोस्ट हिंदी में पढ़ें.

IELTS Speaking format

The Speaking test is a one-to-one conversation with an examiner (face to face or on video call). It is recorded and lasts about 11 to 14 minutes.

Part	Time	What happens
Part 1	about 4–5 minutes	Introduction and short questions on familiar topics (home, work, study, hobbies)
Part 2	1 minute preparation + 1–2 minutes speaking	You get a cue card and speak alone on the topic
Part 3	about 4–5 minutes	A deeper discussion linked to the Part 2 topic

How are you scored?

On four equally weighted criteria: Fluency and Coherence (speaking smoothly and in order), Lexical Resource (vocabulary), Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation.

10 tips for Hindi speakers

• Think in English; do not translate. Answer directly in the simple English you know.
• In Part 1, do not stop at yes or no. Give 2–3 sentences: answer + reason + a short example.
• In Part 2, write 5 keywords, not sentences, in your 1 minute of preparation. Use a structure: introduction → who/what/when/where → why and how you felt → ending. Practise the full 2 minutes with a timer.
• In Part 3, give opinions and reasons. Phrases like “In my opinion…”, “It depends on…” and “On the one hand… on the other hand…” help.
• Use English fillers while thinking: “Well,”, “Let me think…”, “That’s an interesting question.” Avoid Hindi fillers like “matlab” and “woh”.
• Aim at three pronunciation targets: V and W (very / wary), the TH sound (think, this: not “tink” or “dis”), and word stress (photograph vs photography). In Hindi every syllable gets similar weight; English does not. Stress the important syllables.
• Paraphrase: instead of “very good” say “excellent” or “outstanding”; instead of “I like” say “I’m fond of” or “I really enjoy”.
• Avoid long memorised idioms. An idiom in the wrong place backfires. A few correct ones beat many forced ones.
• Vary your grammar: not only short sentences; add some with “although…”, “because…”, “if…” and “which…”.
• Record yourself. Listening back on your phone is the fastest way to catch your own mistakes.

8 common mistakes (often from Hindi)

Wrong	Better	Why
I am having a car.	I have a car.	Verbs like have and know are not normally used in the -ing form
I am knowing him.	I know him.	Same rule as above
We discussed about the plan.	We discussed the plan.	No “about” after discuss
I did my graduation in 2020.	I graduated in 2020. / I completed my degree in 2020.	“Graduation” can mean the ceremony
He is my cousin brother.	He is my cousin.	“Cousin” already covers brother and sister
I have a doubt.	I have a question.	“Doubt” means uncertainty or suspicion
I will revert back.	I will get back to you. / I will reply.	“Revert back” repeats the idea
It is too much good.	It is very good.	“Too much” means more than is needed

A Part 2 sample answer

Cue card: Describe a place you like to visit.

I’d like to talk about a park near my house called Lodhi Garden. I go there almost every weekend, usually early in the morning, because it’s quiet and the air feels fresh. It’s a large place with old tombs, tall trees and a lot of birds. I usually walk for about half an hour and then sit on a bench with a cup of tea. The main reason I like it is that it helps me relax after a busy week. It also reminds me of my school days, when we went there for a picnic. Overall, it’s the one place where I can forget my stress, and I hope I can keep visiting it for many years.

Look at the structure: which place and when you go → what it is like → what you do → why you like it → a closing thought. The same structure works for any cue card.

A 4-week practice plan

Week	Focus
1	Part 1: 10 questions a day, each answer in 2–3 sentences
2	Part 2: one cue card a day, with a timer, recording your voice
3	Part 3: answers with opinion + reason + example
4	A full mock test (11–14 minutes), then listen back and improve

Frequently asked questions

Does accent matter in IELTS Speaking?

An Indian accent is not marked down on its own. What matters is that you are clearly understood: correct stress on important words, a steady pace and accurate sounds.

How long should I prepare?

It depends on your level. As a rough guide, 4 to 8 weeks of daily practice can improve how you answer a lot. Fluent English takes longer.

For interview English too, read Top 14 Interview Questions and Answers, and practise with AI speaking prompts.

Related reading

• Top 14 Interview Questions and Answers
• English Speaking Practice: 30 Daily Sentences
• 25 Office and Interview English Words
• English Speaking Practice with AI