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So, we got this question from a member of our private Facebook group (Feel free to join, it’s free!)

How do IELTS examiners know if I am giving a memorized answer in the Speaking test?

The only candidates that use memorised phrases are low-level candidates. So, what generally happens is a lot of what they say is inaccurate, but then they will use a memorised phrase that is 100% accurate that uses language that is way above their level.

For example, if a candidate can’t use 3rd person verbs or articles correctly and struggles with the past simple, but can use the idiom “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”, then you know that the idiom is a memorised phrase. After using it, they will go back to their broken English.

A good example
It is really easy to see memorised phrases. Imagine if I tried speaking your language, made a real mess of it, then suddenly came out with a quote from a famous writer from your country, then went back to my messy way of speaking your language. You would think “Wow, he can’t say what he did yesterday clearly, but he can quote (insert famous person here)”.

It would be very easy for you to see that I memorised that particular phrase. It is the same for IELTS examiners.

Read an interview with an IELTS Speaking examiner here and find out what they are looking for.