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This is an interview with one of the IELTS speaking examiners that works with us.  If you would like to do a full IELTS speaking test with an examiner and receive a detailed report on your speaking and what you need to do to get higher marks, then you can purchase one here. Have a look at the example in the link too; just scroll down.

A while ago, we asked the members in our private Facebook group (Feel free to join) whether they had any questions about the IELTS speaking exam.  These are the questions they came up with.

1. Is it difficult to be an examiner? Why did you become one?
2. Do you like examining?
3. How much are examiners paid?
4. How has the pandemic affected examining?
5. How can I improve my speaking?
6. What gets high marks in the speaking exam?
7. What stops people getting high marks in the exam?
8. Why do the examiners stop you talking and interrupt you?
9. Who marks the speaking exam?
10. Is it a good idea to use idioms?
11. Why do Indians always get band 6?
12. What tips do you have for candidates?
13. Is it the examiner that gives the final marks?
14. Do you ever make mistakes?
15. What is the most common mistake you see candidates make?

And this IELTS speaking examiner answered them all!!

1. Is it difficult to be an examiner? Why did you become one?

To become an IELTS examiner, you need Band 9.0 English or to be a native speaker that works in ELT (English Language Teaching).  I became an examiner in Tokyo as I had a lot of students who were going to do the exam.  Before becoming an IELTS speaking and writing examiner, I was teaching IELTS but I had no idea what I was doing.  To be honest, if you aren’t an examiner, you don’t really know what the students need to do in the exam to reach their potential.  It is unfair for all those IELTS teachers out there but it is 100 true.

2. How much are examiners paid?

It varies depending on the country you work in.  For speaking, it generally works out about 30 GBP per hour, but it depends on the country and its currency.  It hasn’t changed for the 15 years I’ve been examining.

      3. Do you like examining?

Yes, as I said, the pay hasn’t changed for 15 years or so.  I don’t do it for the money.  I actually enjoy meeting people and you meet some very interesting people.  I’m also a speaking examiner for other Cambridge exams like KEY, PET, FCE and CAE but they are very rigid.  In IELTS, in Part 3, I can actually talk to the candidate and ask them to develop their ideas.  It is by far the most accurate language test in the world.  Every other language test in the world is trying to copy it.

4. How has the pandemic affected examining?

It was strange at first, doing the speaking test with masks on.  Part of my job is to make the candidate feel at ease and they couldn’t see if I was smiling or encouraging them to continue and this made it tougher for the candidate at first.  However, now, we are all so used to wearing masks indoors that it isn’t such a problem.

5. How can I improve my IELTS speaking?

Knowing what you have to do is key to IELTS speaking ad knowing what the examiner is looking for is also important.  What you need to do though is find out what you would get if you did an IELTS speaking exam tomorrow.  The problem is that only IELTS examiners can tell you and that is why you really need to get yourself an IELTS examiner to assess your speaking.  Unless you are trained by IELTS, you can’t apply the criteria to candidate’s speaking accurately.

So, firstly, do a speaking test with an examiner.  Then, use the advice to guide your learning.  If the feedback says you need to work on articles, then work on articles.  If the advice is to work on supporting your ideas with examples, then this is what you need to work on.  It’s actually very simple.  The problem is that many candidates come for the test with absolutely no idea what their level of speaking is and this leads to lots of disappointment.

6. What gets high marks in the speaking exam?

If I can get through the exam with the candidate and it has been like talking to someone in the pub, having a chat, then they are usually Band 7+.  Basically, if the candidate can extend their answers and justify what they say, then they have a good level of English.  If there are parts I can’t understand then this means that they are generally lower.  Hesitation is also a big part of lower-level speakers.  They tend to stop and look for words, or they try to use an idiom in completely the wrong way.

Part 3 is the part that makes the final decision though.  It is here that the examiner can really push the candidate and seed if they have the language to discuss, sometimes, quite challenging ideas.

After examining for a year or so, it becomes very easy to apply the criteria to the candidate.

7. What stops people getting high marks in the exam?

Lots of things.  Speakers from certain countries have different problems.  Articles (a/an/the) are a big problem for lots of speakers (South/South East Asians, Eastern Europeans, for example).  Pronunciation can cause real problems as it is difficult to understand what people say (South East Asians) sometimes as their language is so different.

Sometimes, candidates just think that they have to speak, after all it is a speaking test!  So, when I ask “Do you work or are you a student?”, they try and talk for as long as possible and this leads to lots of problems as it is clear that they have no idea what they need to do in the test.  When I interrupt them to get them onto the next topic, they think it is rude.

It is a good idea to watch this video before you do the exam

8. Why do the examiners stop you talking and interrupt you?

The exam is strictly timed.  It is recorded for the candidate’s benefit and to check on the examiner to make sure they are doing their job correctly.  If you talk about your job/studies for 2 minutes, which is pretty easy, then the test is not fair.  If you have more time in Part 2 than another candidate, then the test is unfair.  The examiner is there to move you on to cover a range of topics and challenges.

9. Who marks the speaking exam?

The examiner you speak to does.  Once you leave the room, the examiner writes down your marks using the criteria that they have hidden.

10. Who marks the EOR (Enquiry of Results)?

A senior examiner listens to the recording and marks the candidate.

11. Is it a good idea to use idioms?

I speak Spanish and Japanese pretty well.  When I’ve used idioms, I’ve never really used them in the completely correct way.  I would avoid them to be honest, as if you don’t use them correctly, they are considered a mistake.  It is good to try and show a range of vocabulary but you don’t need to use “It’s raining cats and dogs” to get there.  Use what is natural for you.

12. Why do Indians always get band 6?

Ha, I’ve heard this before.  This is a bit of a stereotype.  What often happens though is, and I have heard this from other examiners, is that many South Asians have a wonderful vocabulary but pronunciation and grammar are huge issues.  So, you have people that have read books in English and can talk about it “raining cats and dogs” etc but cannot use articles and have trouble with v/w and t/d sounds along with L1 interference (the effects of their first language).  I think it may just be because the majority of candidates that do the exam are Indian.

13. What tips do you have for candidates?

As well as making sure you know what you need to do, don’t book an exam unless you are ready to do it.  IELTS is really important and it is sad when you see someone come for the test and they say they are doing the exam to be reunited with their family in Canada, for example, and need Band 7 in speaking, but they are nowhere near Band 7 level.  I know, it is an interview and not meant to be advertising, but the reason I work with upmyielts is because they are one of the few organisations that can actually help candidates and save them money.  Do a speaking exam with one of the examiners here.  It’s 20 GBP and may save you doing the exam again (160+ GBP).  The same goes for writing.

14. Is it the examiner that gives the final marks?

Yes, it’s the person that you speak to that marks your speaking.  Once you leave the room, they use the criteria and give you your marks for the across the 4 parts of the criteria.

15. Do you ever make mistakes?

With marking?  As I said before, we never find out if the EOR was successful or not.  However, all examiners are checked every year and we have no idea when we are being checked.  So, for example, if I score a candidate 8776 and the senior examiner listens to it and gives 8777, then that is flagged and I have to listen to the recording again to see what I gave a 6 not a 7.  Timing is often wat most examiners struggle with though.  If the candidate is given an extra second, this is flagged up and we have to do more training.  It is very strict.

As for personal mistakes, yes.  Last month I deleted 2 of the recordings and we had to call the candidates to get them to come back and do the exam again!  Mistakes happen!

16. What is the most common mistake you see candidates make?

There are lots really.  As I said before, some candidates think that because it’s a speaking test, they have to speak and speak and speak.  They don’t understand that it’s a test that is designed to give them lots of different challenges that get progressively harder.  In terms of language, something I see a lot is students that have come into the room armed with a few set phrases that they want to use.  They are often idioms!  The candidate has learnt them and so they want to use them no matter if it’s in the right context of not.  This happens a lot and 99% of the time, they are used incorrectly.

17. What advice would you give to test takers?

Just be yourself in the test.  The examiner will guide you through it.  You If you need Band 7, which most people do, you need to work on your accuracy and fluency.  These are the ones that stop most people from getting higher marks.  If you can’t present ideas and support them, then you are looking at Band 6 for Fluency.  If you can’t use a/an/the then this will stop you getting past Band 6 for Grammar.

Also, avoid using low frequency vocabulary.  The rarer the vocabulary, the more specific its usage and you will more than likely make a mistake with it.

If you have more quesitons, then please write them in the comments below and an IELTS speaking exmainer will answer them.