IELTS Speaking Interview: 10 unmissable tips from an examiner

We spoke to an IELTS Speaking Examiner and asked them what they look and listen for when conducting an IELTS Speaking interview with candidates. They gave us some outstanding tips that we wanted to share with you. This post looks inside the mind of an IELTS Speaking Examiner to better understand how they assess your speaking interview performance.

IELTS Speaking Interview Examiners are not looking for robotic responses or memorized answers—they want to see how well you can communicate in a real-life conversation. To help you excel, here are 10 unmissable tips an IELTS examiner told us for IELTS candidates and how you can use them to boost your score.

IELTS Speaking Interview tip 1: Talk as You Would to a Friend or a Talk-Show Host

The IELTS Speaking Interview test is not an interrogation. Examiners want to see how naturally and fluently you can communicate. They gave us this helpful piece of advice to pass along to you. When you are in your interview, imagine that you are talking to a friend over coffee or answering questions in a friendly interview on a talk show. Keep your tone relaxed and conversational. Avoid using overly formal language and focus on speaking as naturally as possible.

For example, instead of saying, “I am highly interested in outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling because they contribute to my physical well-being,” say, “Oh, I love hiking and cycling! They keep me fit and help me clear my mind.” This sounds more natural and engaging.

IELTS Speaking Interview Tip 2: Talk About What Interests You and What You Are Passionate About

Examiners are not seeking generic, textbook answers in an IELTS Speaking Interview. They want to hear your perspective. If you are passionate about music, travel, or technology, try to bring those interests into the conversation. Passion naturally makes your speech more dynamic and engaging.

For example, if you are asked about a place you would like to visit, don’t just say, “I want to visit Paris because it is a famous city.” Instead, talk about how much you love art and how seeing the Louvre Museum or the Eiffel Tower excites you as someone passionate about urban architecture.

Speaking about your passions naturally spurs your own creativity and helps you think of ideas, feelings and impressions that you can speak about in your interview answers.

IELTS Speaking Interview Tip 3: Be Spontaneous. Speak as You Think. Think in English

A common mistake many candidates make is trying to mentally translate from their native language before speaking. This often results in awkward pauses and unnatural phrasing. Instead, practice thinking in English so that your responses flow naturally.

For instance, if you are asked, “What do you like to do in your free time?” you should not pause to translate each word in your head. Just jump in and start speaking: “Oh, in my free time, I love watching movies, especially thrillers. They keep me on the edge of my seat.”

IELTS Speaking Interview Tip 4: Be Confident. Smile. Believe in Your Ability

Candidates hesitate too much or second-guess themselves, which negatively affects their fluency. They also told us that you should not overly worry about making minor grammatical errors, speaking with confidence can make a great impression.

Smiling and using natural body language can also help you relax and feel more comfortable. This also helps make your examiner more comfortable in their interactions with you. Giving the examiner a good impression will have a positive impact on your score.

IELTS Speaking Interview Tip 5: Open Your Mouth Wide. Don’t Mumble

Help your examiner give you a good score! Our examiner told us that they want you to do well. The advice they gave is to make sure your pronunciation is clear and that you are easy to hear and understand. Open your mouth, articulate your words, and speak with clarity.

A common issue among test-takers is mumbling due to nervousness. To avoid this, practice speaking in front of a mirror or recording yourself. If your face feels slightly tired after the test, it’s a good sign—you’ve been enunciating properly! If you can do this with a smile, even better!

IELTS Speaking Interview Tip 6: Use Natural, Everyday Conversational Language

When candidates use overly complex or ‘big’ words, often candidates project a stiffness that does not seem as natural. Their advice was don’t use vocabulary that you wouldn’t normally use in daily conversation.

Instead of saying, “It is imperative that one engages in physical activities to maintain optimal health,” simply say, “It’s really important to exercise to stay healthy.” The goal is to sound natural, not like a dictionary. Using everyday words will also help to improve your fluency.

IELTS Speaking Interview Tip 7: Relax. It’s a Friendly, Supportive Conversation

Many test-takers feel anxious about making mistakes, but the IELTS Speaking test is not about perfection but communication.

A good piece of advice the examiner told us is that you should go into your interview knowing that it is not the IELTS examiner’s job to trick you. Their job is to listen to how well you can express your ideas.

Treat your interview as a normal conversation rather than a formal exam.

IELTS Speaking Interview Tip 8: Give Extended Answers. Always Say ‘Because…’

You probably already know that short, one-word or one-sentence answers won’t help your score. Always expand on your responses.

A simple trick which is to always say ‘because’ a lot. If you make a statement and then add ‘because’ it prompts you to add further explanation and details to your responses.

For example, if asked, “Do you like reading?” don’t just say, “Yes, I do.” Instead, say, “Yes, I love reading because it helps me relax and learn new things. My favorite genre is mystery novels because they keep me engaged and excited.”

IELTS Speaking Interview Tip 9: The Best Sign? If the Examiner Keeps Interrupting You

Some test-takers panic when the examiner interrupts them. However, this is actually a great sign! We were told by the examiner that this means you’re talking fluently and giving extended answers. What might seem like an interruption is because the examiner is satisfied with your answer and has to stop you to move on to the next question. If this happens, don’t be discouraged—take it as a positive indicator that you are performing well.

IELTS Speaking Interview Tip 10: Steer the Conversation If Needed

Another helpful insight we were given is that if you’re asked about something you’re not familiar with, feel free to steer the conversation toward something related that you can talk about.

For instance, if you’re asked about television shows but you don’t watch TV, you can say, “I don’t watch much TV, but I do spend a lot of time on TikTok, which has great content on travel and food.” This way, you still engage with the topic in a way that is relevant to you.

Final Thoughts

The IELTS Speaking test is not about memorizing answers or sounding like a textbook—it’s about being able to communicate naturally and effectively. By focusing on confidence, fluency, spontaneity, and engaging conversation, you can impress the examiner and achieve a higher score. So, relax, be yourself, and enjoy the conversation. The more comfortable and natural you sound, the better your results will be!