If you're watching this, chances are you're frustrated. Maybe you've taken the IELTS Speaking test multiple times and you're still stuck at Band 5 or 6, even though you know you're much better than that. Maybe your friends say your English is great, but the IELTS examiner just doesn't agree.
My Official Band 9 Score, Breakdown & TRF for Verification
You're not alone. I hear this all the time, and that's exactly why I created this lesson as part of the Ultimate IELTS English Speaking Course. Today, I'll break down the 5 most common IELTS speaking mistakes that keep dragging scores down, plus share how you can fix them step by step.
These aren't the obvious mistakes you might expect. These are the hidden saboteurs that make capable English speakers sound unnatural and awkward during their IELTS speaking test, leading to disappointing band scores despite strong English ability.
The Hidden Problem: "Exam Brain"
Before we dive into the specific mistakes in IELTS speaking, I need to explain something that most IELTS teachers don't even discuss: what I call "Exam Brain."
The Coffee Shop vs. Exam Room Phenomenon
At the Coffee Shop
You're with a friend, chatting about weekend plans. You're relaxed, laughing, using natural expressions, maybe even making jokes. Your English flows effortlessly.
"Oh, I'm thinking of going to that new restaurant downtown. Have you been? I heard it's amazing!"
In the Exam Room
You sit across from the IELTS examiner. Something switches in your brain. Suddenly you're not just speaking English – you're performing it. Everything goes wrong.
"I am contemplating visiting a newly established dining establishment in the urban center..."
This 'Exam Brain' phenomenon is the root cause of all 5 mistakes we're about to discuss.
Your brain decides that normal, natural English isn't good enough for the test, so it tries to create this artificial, "test-worthy" version of English. But here's the thing: the examiners don't want artificial – they want authentic.
Mistake #1: The Formality Trap
The first common mistake in IELTS speaking test is what I call the Formality Trap. This happens when 'Exam Brain' convinces you that you need to sound extremely formal and precise.
Robot Speak (Wrong Approach)
Question: "What's your job?"
Robot Response: "I am currently employed in the field of marketing and advertising. This occupation presents numerous challenges. However, I find great satisfaction in the creative aspects of my professional responsibilities."
Sounds like it was written by a computer trying to sound human!
Natural Speech (Right Approach)
Question: "What's your job?"
Natural Response: "Oh, I work in marketing. It's pretty stressful, but I love the creative side of it. There's always something new to work on."
Natural, conversational, and shows personality!
The examiner has heard robotic speech patterns hundreds of times, and it screams "I'm not comfortable with English – I'm just reciting memorized phrases." The irony is that your natural conversational English is actually much more impressive.
The Solution: Trust Your Natural Voice
- • Use contractions like "I'm" instead of "I am"
- • Show enthusiasm when talking about things you enjoy
- • Let your personality shine through
- • Remember: the examiner wants a conversation, not a speech
- • Practice with our SpeakPrac app for natural feedback
Mistake #2: The Stress Response
The second major mistake is the Stress Response. This happens when you become so anxious about avoiding mistakes that you actually create more problems.
Here's how it typically plays out: The examiner asks a simple question like "Do you enjoy cooking?" But instead of giving a quick, natural response, your 'Exam Brain' starts overthinking everything.
What's Happening in Your Mind
Mental Checklist Overload:
- • "Let me check my grammar..."
- • "I need impressive vocabulary..."
- • "Is my pronunciation crystal clear?"
- • "What's the most complex way to say this?"
Meanwhile: Awkward silence grows in the room...
Result: You finally deliver an over-crafted response that took way too long, and the examiner is thinking "Why did such a simple question take so long to answer?"
I once had a student who could chat with me for hours about her travels using rich vocabulary and complex grammar naturally. But in practice tests, she would pause for 10-15 seconds before every answer, even for questions like "Where are you from?"
The Truth About Perfection
Native speakers make small grammar mistakes all the time in conversation. They stumble over words, restart sentences, use "um" and "ah" occasionally. What they don't do is pause for ages to mentally edit every sentence before speaking. Give yourself permission to be imperfect.
Mistake #3: The Vocabulary Show-Off
The third mistake is closely linked to the others: the Vocabulary Show-Off. This happens when you think you need to use the most advanced, sophisticated vocabulary possible to impress the examiner.
You want every single word to be long and "intelligent," but here's what actually happens: you end up using words incorrectly or in unnatural contexts, which has the opposite effect.
Real Student Example
Thesaurus Victim (Wrong):
"My residential locality possesses numerous recreational establishments and commercial edifices that facilitate social congregation and economic transactions."
Sounds like he swallowed a thesaurus!
Natural Communication (Right):
"My hometown has lots of great restaurants and shops where people like to hang out."
Clear, natural, and shows better English skills!
Key insight: For Band 7-8+ scores, accuracy matters more than complexity. The examiner would rather hear you use common words correctly than advanced words incorrectly.
Think about it this way: if you were talking to a friend and they constantly used unnecessarily complex words in weird contexts, you'd think they were trying too hard. The IELTS examiner feels the same way.
Mistake #4: The Overthinking Loop
The fourth mistake is what I call the Overthinking Loop. This is when you treat every IELTS question like it's a university essay prompt that requires deep philosophical analysis.
I see this especially in Part 1 of the speaking test. The examiner asks something straightforward like "Do you prefer tea or coffee?" and students sit there thinking intensely as if they're about to solve world hunger with their answer.
Overthinking Mind
"Okay, this question seems too simple. There must be a deeper meaning here."
"Maybe I should discuss the cultural significance of both beverages?"
"Or analyze the health benefits? Create a complex comparison of flavor profiles?"
Result: Long pause, over-complicated answer
Natural Response
Simple & Effective:
"I'm definitely a coffee person. I can't function in the morning without my cappuccino. I do enjoy tea sometimes in the evening though – it's more relaxing."
Why it works: Natural, fluent, expandable
The IELTS Speaking test isn't measuring how intellectually deep your answers are – it's measuring how well you can communicate in English. This is especially important in Part 1, where questions are designed to be conversation starters, not debate topics.
Practical Tip
If you find yourself thinking for more than 2-3 seconds about a Part 1 question, you're overthinking it. Go with your first instinct and expand naturally as you speak. The examiner wants to see casual small talk – the kind of chat you might have with a colleague or acquaintance.
Mistake #5: The Robot Voice
The final mistake is the Robot Voice. This happens when you become so focused on pronouncing every single word perfectly that you sound unnatural and miss the bigger picture of pronunciation.
Students with this problem speak very slowly and clearly, making sure every word is perfectly pronounced. They think this will get them a high pronunciation score, but it actually does the opposite.
Real English Pronunciation Features
Robot Voice Problems
- • Every syllable pronounced equally: "com-for-table"
- • Unnatural slowness and over-clarity
- • Sounds like reading a shopping list
- • Loses natural speech rhythm
- • Missing stress patterns and intonation
Natural Speech Features
- • Words link together naturally
- • Important words are stressed
- • Voice rises and falls naturally
- • Natural rhythm and flow
- • Comfortable pace with variation
Real English pronunciation isn't about individual word clarity – it's about rhythm, flow, stress patterns, and intonation. When you speak unnaturally slow and clear, you lose all of those natural features that examiners want to hear.
The Devastating Impact on Your Band Scores
Now let me show you how these "Exam Brain" symptoms directly translate to lower band scores across all four IELTS Speaking criteria:
Fluency & Coherence Impact
- • Overthinking Loop: Long pauses, hesitation
- • Stress Response: Unnatural rhythm
- • Formality Trap: Stilted delivery
Lexical Resource Impact
- • Vocabulary Show-Off: Inappropriate word usage
- • Formality Trap: Unnatural register
- • Stress Response: Limited range due to fear
Grammar Impact
- • Stress Response: More errors under pressure
- • Overthinking: Over-complex structures
- • Robot Voice: Unnatural sentence rhythm
Pronunciation Impact
- • Robot Voice: Unnatural stress and rhythm
- • Stress Response: Inconsistent intonation
- • All Mistakes: Loss of natural speech patterns
Even if you're strong in some areas, these issues can drag your overall score down to that frustrating Band 5-6 plateau. You might be excellent at grammar in writing, but when 'Exam Brain' kicks in during speaking, stress-induced mistakes start piling up.
The Most Important Realization
This is why so many students tell me: "I don't understand why my speaking score is so much lower than my other skills." Your English isn't the problem – the pressure is the problem. Once you learn to let go of that pressure and trust your natural voice, you'll discover the truth I build my entire teaching philosophy on: Anyone can speak English – and that means you too.
Breaking Free from Exam Brain: Your Action Plan
Now that you understand the root cause and the five specific IELTS speaking mistakes, here's your step-by-step action plan to break free from 'Exam Brain' and unlock your natural speaking ability:
Step 1: Embrace Your Natural Self
- • Record yourself having a casual conversation with a friend – notice how naturally you speak
- • Practice IELTS questions with the same casual, conversational tone
- • Remember: the examiner wants to meet the real you, not a test version of you
- • Use contractions, show emotions, let your personality shine
Step 2: Practice Quick Responses
- • Set a 2-3 second rule for Part 1 questions – no longer thinking time
- • Go with your first instinct, then expand as you speak
- • Practice with our SpeakPrac app for realistic timing pressure
- • Remember: simple, fluent answers beat complex, hesitant ones
Step 3: Use Appropriate Vocabulary
- • Focus on using common words accurately rather than complex words incorrectly
- • Build vocabulary naturally through our vocabulary flashcards
- • Test new words in casual conversation before using them in the exam
- • Remember: clarity and accuracy beat complexity
Step 4: Develop Natural Pronunciation
- • Listen to native speakers and focus on rhythm, not individual word clarity
- • Practice linking words together naturally
- • Work on sentence stress – emphasize important words, de-emphasize function words
- • Use our pronunciation flashcards for targeted practice
- • Record yourself and compare to natural speech patterns
Step 5: Practice Under Realistic Conditions
- • Create mock exam conditions with timing pressure
- • Practice speaking to strangers or join conversation groups
- • Record full practice tests and analyze your natural vs. artificial moments
- • Focus on fluency and coherence over perfection
- • Get consistent feedback through our structured practice tools
Prevention Strategies: Stopping Exam Brain Before It Starts
The best way to handle 'Exam Brain' is to prevent it from taking over in the first place. Here are proven strategies to maintain your natural speaking ability even under exam pressure:
Mental Preparation
- • Remind yourself: "I'm having a conversation, not performing"
- • Visualize the examiner as a friendly person interested in your ideas
- • Practice positive self-talk: "My natural English is good enough"
- • Review successful conversations you've had in English
Physical Preparation
- • Practice deep breathing before speaking
- • Maintain good posture and eye contact
- • Use gestures naturally as you would in conversation
- • Smile when appropriate – it affects your voice tone
Recovery Techniques: Getting Back on Track During the Test
Even with preparation, you might catch yourself falling into 'Exam Brain' during the actual test. Here's how to recover quickly and get back to natural speaking:
The Mental Reset Technique
When you notice 'Exam Brain' taking over:
- Pause briefly – It's okay to take a moment
- Take a breath – Reset your nervous system
- Tell yourself – "I'm just having a conversation"
- Respond naturally – As if talking to a friend
- Continue forward – Don't dwell on the reset
Building on This Foundation
Understanding these common mistakes is crucial, but it's just the beginning. This lesson integrates with several other key areas of the Ultimate IELTS English Speaking Course:
Test Format Mastery
Understanding what the IELTS Speaking test actually measures helps prevent 'Exam Brain'.
Scoring Criteria
Learn exactly how examiners evaluate your speaking to focus your efforts correctly.
Skill Development
Develop natural vocabulary and grammar usage.
Independent Practice
Learn to practice effectively at home without falling into artificial patterns.
Natural Development
Build authentic fluency and pronunciation skills.
Essential Tools for Natural Speaking Development
Breaking free from 'Exam Brain' requires consistent practice with the right tools. Here are the resources I recommend to help you develop and maintain natural speaking patterns:
SpeakPrac App: AI-Powered Practice
Our SpeakPrac app helps you practice in a private, pressure-free environment with instant feedback on naturalness, fluency, and specific areas for improvement.
- • Record responses and get immediate transcripts
- • Receive AI feedback on all four IELTS criteria
- • Track progress over time to see improvement
- • Practice without human judgment or pressure
Targeted Flashcard Systems
Our specialized flashcard decks help you build natural language patterns:
- • Vocabulary flashcards for appropriate word usage
- • Pronunciation flashcards for natural speech patterns
- • Grammar flashcards for automatic structure usage
Comprehensive Course Materials
Access additional resources to support your natural speaking development:
- • Free IELTS speaking tips and strategies
- • Complete lesson transcripts and action checklists
- • Sample questions and natural response examples
- • Email newsletter with additional tips and insights
Key Takeaways: Your Path to Natural Speaking
The journey from artificial "Exam Brain" to natural, confident speaking isn't about learning new English skills – it's about unlearning the habits that block your existing abilities.
Remember These Essential Truths
- Exam Brain is the real enemy: The pressure to be "perfect" creates artificial speech patterns
- Natural beats artificial every time: Examiners prefer authentic communication over robotic precision
- Your conversational English is your strength: Trust the speaking ability you already have
- Simple and clear beats complex and confusing: Effective communication is the goal
- Minor mistakes are normal: Even native speakers make small errors in conversation
- Practice under realistic conditions: Build comfort with the test format and timing
- Recovery is possible mid-test: Use reset techniques if you catch yourself being artificial
The Liberation Mindset
Once you understand that your natural English is not only acceptable but preferred by examiners, a weight lifts from your shoulders. You stop trying to be someone else and start being the best version of yourself. This confidence transformation is immediately apparent to examiners and often marks the difference between Band 5-6 scores and Band 7+ achievements. Remember my core teaching philosophy: Anyone can speak English – including you, with your natural voice and authentic personality.
Your Next Action Steps
Knowledge without action won't improve your IELTS speaking score. Here's your immediate action plan:
This Week's Practice Plan
Record Yourself (Today)
Have a 5-minute conversation with a friend, then record yourself answering IELTS questions. Compare the naturalness – where does 'Exam Brain' kick in?
Practice Quick Responses (Daily)
Use the 2-3 second rule for Part 1 questions. Practice with our SpeakPrac app for realistic timing.
Build Natural Patterns (This Week)
Choose one area (vocabulary, pronunciation, or fluency) and focus on natural usage patterns. Use our targeted flashcard systems for structured practice.
Continue Your Journey
This lesson provides the foundation for avoiding common speaking mistakes, but it's part of a comprehensive system. Your next steps in the course will help you build specific skills while maintaining this natural approach.
Previous Lesson
Build confidence and fluency through effective independent practice techniques.
Lesson 10: Practice at HomeComplete the Course
Return to the main course page to review all lessons and continue your journey.
Complete Course OverviewContinue Your IELTS Speaking Journey
This lesson is part of our comprehensive Ultimate IELTS English Speaking Course. Each lesson builds on the previous one to give you complete mastery of the IELTS Speaking test.
