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Here are some comments from the IELTS speaking examiners here at upmyielts.com.

A few things you need to know about the test.

1. Make sure you know what you have to do in the exam. It is really awkward when people come in without knowing anything about the exam. You ask them about their job and they just talk and talk and talk. The exam is not a chance for you to just speak. You are being tested by the examiner and talking about whatever you like is not a test. So, when the examiner says “Do you work or are you a student?”, don’t go into a long spiel about what you do. Just tell them whether you have a job or you are a student. That is all the information they require!
2. The exam is designed to get progressively harder. Part 1 is easy, Part 2 more difficult and it is Part 3 that is the hardest part. In the IELTS speaking exam, you need to show you can talk about a topic in some depth. You need to use examples to support what you say, state your ideas clearly and be specific.
3. Don’t be overly informal.I have been called, bro, boss, chief, geez (!) by candidates in the exam. Cut that kind of talk out. It is an exam.
4. Don’t be overly formal. You will just sound weird if you start talking formally.
5. Relax. If your speaking is good, this will be reflected in your results. If you use your memorised 3rd conditional sentence but can’t control a/an/the then your grammar mark will be low. The score you get will be a reflection of your English in that 14 minutes.
6. Try and speak for 2 minutes in Part 2. If you run out of things to say, talk about another time when….. Practice this part as it affects what happens in Part 3 and the questions the examiner chooses to ask you.

If you want to do a full IELTS speaking exam with an IELTS examiner, you can order one here.  Look at the report you get and the level of detail in it.  This will help you reach your full potential in the exam.