0:00 For advanced speakers of English, generic advice doesn't really work.
0:06 So, how do you go from a 7.5 to a band 8 in IELTS
0:10 speaking?
0:11 Let's find out.
0:18 Hello, it's Keith from the Keith Speaking Academy.
0:21 And today, I have another IELTS speaking success story.
0:25 This is an interview with 20A.
0:28 He is from China, and he now lives in Australia.
0:32 He did his masters in teaching about 2 years ago,
0:37 and right now he's applying for the permanent residency in Australia,
0:42 for which he needs a band 8 in order to teach there as well.
0:48 When he joined the IELTS speaking gold course and my fluent grammar course,
0:54 he was already an advanced speaker.
0:57 He had a 7.5 in IELTS speaking,
1:00 but he was struggling to get the band 8 that he needed.
1:05 This is his story of how he did it.
1:13 Hello, 20A.
1:14 Hi Hi.
1:14 How are you?
1:16 I'm good.
1:17 How about yourself?
1:19 I'm very well, thank you.
1:20 I'm good um and looking forward to talking to you
1:23 and discussing the topic of IELTS speaking
1:26 and and your journey today.
1:29 Oh, thank you for having me.
1:31 Not at all, it's a pleasure.
1:32 So, let's begin.
1:33 Maybe if you could give us a bit of background about yourself,
1:37 who you are, where you're from, what you're doing, that would be great.
1:43 Um well, my name is 20A.
1:45 I'm originally from China.
1:47 Now, I work and live in Australia as a teacher.
1:51 So, um the reason why I need to take the IELTS test was
1:56 because I need to like um to get the COVID qual- qualification registration
2:02 as I need.
2:04 And part of that uh was for uh migration as well.
2:08 So, yeah.
2:10 I'm very happy I got a band 8 on my speaking.
2:15 Um I'm really happy about my result, to be honest.
2:18 That's good.
2:24 Yeah.
2:24 Let Let me ask you about
2:25 as as you're kind of you've been preparing for IELTS,
2:29 and in particular IELTS speaking, I mean,
2:31 what for you were the biggest challenges and difficulties with that?
2:37 I think well, this is actually a tough question for me.
2:41 The I think each stage of IELTS preparation has different sort of challenges for
2:49 me,
2:49 to be honest.
2:51 If I if I had to say,
2:54 I would probably say like different emotional experiences.
2:58 Like in the beginning,
3:00 I used to be very confused about how I'm going to prepare for the
3:05 IELTS test,
3:06 especially speaking, cuz I it's kind of a daunting test,
3:10 if I had to say.
3:12 If I've been really honest.
3:14 And um you probably would hear lots of different uh voices,
3:19 like um like you you might not get the result that you need,
3:25 especially if you are like top performers.
3:31 Yeah.
3:31 Kind of And also, the marking criteria is very vague,
3:36 and it's really hard to understand, to be honest.
3:39 So, and that's part of the the major challenges as well,
3:43 because there there's nobody there to help you.
3:47 Mhm.
3:47 Yeah, and you have to get through almost everything to get the score
3:50 that you need.
3:52 Yeah.
3:53 Right.
3:53 And ano- another challenge I'd say it's really about the practical approach to the
4:00 speaking.
4:01 Like um cuz um yeah, as I mentioned before, marking criteria is confusing,
4:07 and also what kind of way should be considered for speaking, it's very confusing,
4:13 cuz like examiner probably have different perspectives to judge your levels um and yeah,
4:20 just everything can be right or can be wrong,
4:25 it's just really hard to know.
4:26 Mhm.
4:28 When you say to judge what is good speaking,
4:30 do you mean what makes a good answer?
4:33 What makes good English?
4:36 I mean well, to be more specific, I mean,
4:40 it's to deliver a good level of English.
4:43 It's It doesn't really matter about how well you deliver your answers.
4:48 But what is so-called good English?
4:53 Uh you know, it's a very broad concept.
4:56 Yeah, and I guess many people, myself included, used to struggle with this.
5:02 That's interesting.
5:03 I I totally agree.
5:04 I think in particular for speaking,
5:07 it's difficult for for people to understand what is good English.
5:10 Um because in writing, it's a bit more straightforward,
5:14 but English is English speaking is a bit more complex.
5:18 There's no kind of fixed and hard rules, to some extent.
5:22 It's really interesting.
5:23 Yes.
5:24 So, as as you were preparing, how did you overcome those challenges?
5:33 Um in my mindset, I just believe I can speak well,
5:37 because um I used to talk to native speakers quite a lot.
5:41 So, I mean, I I used this
5:44 as the main reason
5:45 that I can do well on my speaking test.
5:49 Yeah, and that's Yeah.
5:54 That's how I uh went through the speaking part of the test.
6:00 Mhm.
6:00 And other than that, honestly,
6:03 another reason why I want to take IELTS it's um to be a IELTS
6:07 teacher in the future.
6:08 Yeah, I'm so sorry I didn't mention in the beginning.
6:11 I know It's fine.
6:13 It's fine.
6:14 >> >> Yeah.
6:14 Yeah.
6:15 Yeah.
6:15 Yeah.
6:15 Yeah.
6:16 Yeah, well, honestly, um I really would love to to become a IELTS teacher
6:21 specialized in speaking.
6:24 Yeah, I mean, this is the one honestly I feel the most com- the
6:28 confident and comfortable with.
6:30 Mhm.
6:30 Absolutely.
6:31 And I And And I'm
6:32 And I'm confident that in the future I will be uh able to have
6:37 my own course to help with um students,
6:42 no matter where they come from.
6:44 Yeah.
6:44 Great.
6:45 That's great.
6:46 Do you mention the problem of band descriptors, and it's it's really confusing.
6:51 How What did you do with about that?
6:57 Um good question.
6:58 Actually, I well, um honestly,
7:04 it took me a while to gradually understand what that means.
7:09 I actually, you know,
7:13 I started to understand a little bit more since I joined the gold course,
7:18 because you are explaining everything clearly, including test techniques, your model answers,
7:26 and your simplified band descriptors.
7:29 Mhm.
7:30 So, yeah.
7:32 >> Yes.
7:33 And I remember >> Yeah.
7:34 Yeah.
7:34 Yeah. you you you simplified them even more, right?
7:38 You did an amazing job on trying to if you like,
7:41 understand them much much more clearly,
7:45 so they would be a practical tool for you, I think, right?
7:49 That's correct, cuz that makes everything easier for me.
7:54 So, yeah.
7:56 I mean, the most also the most important thing is also not just about
8:01 band descriptors,
8:03 it's really about how you refine your language,
8:07 how you get to the language level that you need,
8:11 so that you can be confident to talk to the examiners.
8:14 Mhm.
8:14 Yeah.
8:15 Yeah.
8:16 This is also another thing, cuz like band descriptors can be there,
8:20 you can make it as easy as you can,
8:22 but the most important is like how are you going to deliver your speaking
8:26 skills on the test day.
8:28 And um how are you going to apply your language naturally uh to the
8:34 examiner.
8:35 I know this is a very very tough,
8:37 and everybody has their own style of language.
8:41 I can't say for every everybody, to be honest, but for me,
8:46 I feel um your model answers are very helpful, your exam techniques yeah,
8:54 are amazing as well.
8:56 I mean, I also adapt
8:57 and change a a little bit to suit my my style of learning.
9:02 >> >> Yeah.
9:03 I think that's so important.
9:04 That is so key.
9:05 Yes, cuz everybody learns in a slightly different way.
9:10 Um >> Yeah.
9:10 How did you handle the stress of IELTS?
9:14 Cuz it is is a high-stakes exam.
9:16 It's a stressful.
9:18 How did you handle that?
9:23 I think um very important you need to have a um study buddy.
9:28 Like Mhm.
9:30 I actually uh met a lot of people from the gold course.
9:34 So, I jump in the the practice session on a regular basis.
9:39 I'm very very likely I got a speaking buddy
9:43 that I can practice speaking every single day.
9:45 Sometimes we we might help help out each other with writing
9:50 or and other modules
9:51 as well.
9:52 So, I think having a speaking buddy is very important for you,
9:56 cuz uh they are part of your journey.
9:58 They are your people who can understand your struggles and your strengths.
10:03 You know, yeah.
10:04 Yeah, so I remember this at this kind of experience really made me
10:10 so comfortable in my IELTS journey cuz I cuz in real life not everybody
10:16 understands your struggle,
10:18 especially like IELTS test.
10:21 Yeah, I mean, if I mean, if people never experience the exam stress,
10:28 they they are not going to they are not able to understand you fully
10:31 to be honest.
10:33 Yeah.
10:33 Right.
10:34 Right.
10:34 Yeah, it's a very a very unique thing.
10:37 So, that kind of human contact
10:38 and being with other people it kind of helps.
10:44 Yeah, exactly.
10:46 And part of that is helpful teach helpful resources
10:52 that can help as well
10:53 because I because your mind yeah,
10:57 constantly is looking for an answer.
11:00 So, once once your questions or once your practice has been on track,
11:06 you will automatically relieve your stress without even trying it.
11:10 Right.
11:10 Right.
11:11 What was your I mean,
11:12 originally what was your original speaking score when you started preparing for IELTS?
11:17 Original one was still band 7.5.
11:21 I'm from band 7.5 to 8.
11:24 Um I experienced a little bit of struggles like um Yeah.
11:34 Things through some struggles that including generic generic advice.
11:40 Yeah, because I because but still not very difficult.
11:47 The most important thing was the helpful feedback
11:53 that um helped me cross through the the band 7.5 ceiling.
11:59 Right.
11:59 >> Yeah.
11:59 That being said, it still didn't take me for a very long time.
12:03 So, roughly like from band 7.5 to band 8, 2 months.
12:09 Mhm.
12:10 Right.
12:11 Good.
12:11 Good.
12:13 So, as you as you're now well,
12:17 you you've got your your band 8 in speaking.
12:19 For students who are watching,
12:21 what tips and advice would you give people who are starting to prepare for
12:27 their IELTS test now?
12:32 I recommend um people should join the gold course
12:35 and they will probably see all the magics cuz I cuz your gold your
12:41 course has covered almost everything.
12:44 I mean, it depends on what the level they are looking for for uh
12:48 band 7 or band 7.5 gold course probably is is pretty much enough.
12:55 And band 8 plus probably people need to use uh fluent grammar
13:00 as well because because band 8 requires sus Yeah,
13:06 sustainable uh intonation patterns.
13:10 And also you need to make sure
13:11 that most most of the words you need to pronounce clearly
13:15 and also make sure you can communicate clearly throughout.
13:18 It's really about precision and your like consistency.
13:24 And in terms of other tips,
13:26 I guess um to get to get a speaking buddy to uh to be
13:31 a part of your IELTS journey
13:33 and I'm I'm pretty sure
13:34 that will help you a lot.
13:36 Yeah, and especially if they can give you helpful feedback to yeah, that's Yeah,
13:44 that's going to be uh very valuable in uh for your IELTS experience
13:51 and you will get the result
13:52 as far as you can.
13:54 Yeah.
13:54 Right.
13:56 Yeah.
13:56 Yeah, so um there isn't there is no shortcut to be honest.
14:04 Yeah.
14:04 But you one thing you have to do is try to speak English
14:10 as much as you can
14:11 and apart from that try you can pick up language chunks from the gold
14:19 course and try to make sentences
14:22 because that can um like build the cash casual informal language
14:29 and language language chunks
14:31 that you need for your IELTS speaking.
14:34 Mhm.
14:35 Yeah.
14:35 And and also on the test day,
14:37 try to use um like a vocabulary 100% that you know.
14:43 Yeah.
14:43 You don't have to really show off any fancy vocabulary
14:47 and sentence structures like like
14:49 that because you need to sound
14:51 as natural as you can.
14:53 Right.
14:54 Like you're just having a natural conversation with somebody.
14:58 Yeah.
14:58 Yeah.
14:59 Yeah.
14:59 Yeah.
15:01 >> >> Brilliant.
15:01 Maybe maybe took one
15:03 or two mock tests with Keith before your test day
15:06 because he can help you.
15:09 >> >> Because because he can help you with
15:13 because he can give very helpful feedback
15:15 that you will know what to do before leading up to the test.
15:20 Yeah.
15:20 I think that's that's probably the most practical thing to do.
15:24 Yeah.
15:25 Or you can find another uh like reliable teacher
15:28 that can give you helpful feedback to get the score
15:32 that you need.
15:33 Yeah.
15:34 But if you are aiming just for band 7,
15:36 you wouldn't have to do lots of things.
15:39 But for band band 8 plus levels yeah,
15:43 it's very worthwhile having one
15:47 or two mock speaking tests before before the test day.
15:51 Yeah.
15:51 Yeah.
15:52 Yeah, I agree.
15:52 I think at band 8 level you getting
15:55 that feedback on language
15:57 and exam technique is important.
15:59 As you say, it doesn't have to be with me.
16:01 >> >> It can be with anybody.
16:03 But it's having that feedback
16:05 that that is useful
16:06 and it can really help you zone in on your on your weaknesses
16:10 or areas you need to fine-tune,
16:12 I guess.
16:14 Yeah.
16:14 That that that's right.
16:16 I I think um the reason why I recommend you is
16:21 because I I don't know.
16:22 I just feel like when I speak to you,
16:25 you always make me feel so relaxed.
16:27 Because I because for other teach it really depends on on teachers
16:32 because I worked with other teachers
16:35 as well.
16:36 Some of them they just they really didn't work out.
16:41 Right.
16:41 Work out very well for me
16:41 because especially when they uh they are very particular about the test results.
16:48 They Yeah, because they they used to get me uh into test mode
16:54 so many times and
16:55 that just didn't work out at all.
16:57 Right.
16:58 Right.
16:58 Yeah.
16:58 Yeah.
16:59 Yeah.
16:59 Yeah.
16:59 Into test mode, right?
17:00 That kind of robotic where you're kind of stuck and not very natural.
17:05 That's interesting.
17:05 I think you're right.
17:06 I think it it's
17:06 so important that the to find a teacher who matches your style,
17:11 your way of speaking and learning to make it successful.
17:14 Yes.
17:15 Yeah.
17:16 Yeah, and if you are able to create a a good speaking habit,
17:20 you will actually do the same automatically on uh
17:23 when you talk to um an IELTS speaking examiner.
17:28 Yeah.
17:28 Yeah.
17:29 >> Exactly.
17:29 Exactly.
17:30 So, you can perform well on the day as well.
17:33 Indeed.
17:35 Yeah.
17:35 Yeah.
17:35 Yeah.
17:36 Yeah.
17:36 Yeah.
17:36 Yeah.
17:37 So, I think Go ahead.
17:39 I think I think most most of your courses are very helpful.
17:44 Um the num the number one definite definitely is gold course.
17:48 And and the second I guess is fluent grammar.
17:53 Fluent grammar course is to build your fluency in your pronunciation, grammar.
17:59 Yeah, mostly grammar.
18:02 Uh grammar pronunciation, but also these are very important.
18:05 And gold course is to build your ideas in terms of what to say.
18:11 Right.
18:11 And then in terms of how to say it's really about your like language
18:16 level and how are you going to use your style of language to communicate
18:22 your ideas.
18:23 Yeah.
18:23 Anyway, so um I wish you all the best.
18:28 >> >> Great.
18:28 No, that's fantastic.
18:30 Jinjie, thank you so much for sharing your journey,
18:32 sharing your tips and you know, advice for other students preparing.
18:36 It's going to be very very helpful
18:37 and very useful to a lot of people.
18:40 And I wish you lots of luck.
18:42 I think you will be a great IELTS teacher in the future out there
18:46 in Australia.
18:48 Um and you know, all the best.
18:50 Thank you so much.
18:54 Thank you so much.
18:54 Uh it's lovely to talk to you.
18:56 Yep, and you too.
18:57 Take care.
19:01 Bye.
19:01 So, there you have it.
19:02 A big thank you to Jinjie for sharing his story.
19:06 A big thank you to you for watching as well.
19:09 I hope this was useful and maybe motivational, even inspirational,
19:14 especially if you're looking to get a higher score in your IELTS speaking.
19:19 If you want to find out more about the courses that he mentioned,
19:22 the gold course and fluent grammar, there is a link down in the description.
19:26 You can go and check it out.
19:28 It might be the next step for you.
19:32 That's it for today.
19:33 I look forward to seeing you very soon.
19:36 Take care.
19:36 Bye-bye.
