Many IELTS candidates approach the Speaking test with false beliefs or misunderstood expectations, especially about Part 2, the “Long Turn.” These misconceptions can lead to anxiety, ineffective preparation, and lower scores.
This lesson will help you identify and debunk the most common myths related to IELTS Speaking Part 2. By understanding what the test really measures and what the examiner truly expects, you can approach this section with confidence and focus on what matters most.
One of the most widespread myths is that candidates must speak for exactly two minutes, or they will lose marks. This is not true.
The IELTS Speaking Part 2 instruction is:
“You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes.”
That means:
You can speak for less than two minutes, and you will not be penalized, as long as your answer is developed and coherent.
If you finish early, the examiner may prompt you with a follow-up question.
The examiner will stop you once you reach two minutes. You do not need to manage your own time precisely.
What really matters:
Your ability to speak fluently and stay on topic. It’s better to speak naturally for 1 minute and 30 seconds than to force yourself to speak for 2 minutes with repetition or irrelevant content.
Each cue card includes a main topic and three to four bullet points. Many candidates mistakenly believe they must answer each point in order, or they will lose marks.
But in reality:
The bullet points are optional suggestions to help organize your talk.
You can reorder, combine, or skip them, as long as your response is coherent and relevant to the main topic.
The examiner evaluates your language ability, not your ability to follow a list.
What really matters:
Focusing on the main topic and speaking with depth, clarity, and flow. If you develop just two bullet points with rich detail, that’s often better than rushing through all four with little substance.
Another common fear is that pausing to think will hurt your score. While frequent hesitations or unnatural pauses can affect fluency, occasional thinking pauses are perfectly normal and do not lower your score.
The examiner knows you are under pressure and speaking without a script. What they look for is:
Smooth transitions between ideas.
The ability to recover from a pause and continue speaking.
Use of filler phrases to manage hesitation naturally.
Examples of natural filler phrases:
“Let me think for a moment…”
“That’s an interesting question…”
“I haven’t thought about it before, but…”
What really matters:
Your ability to maintain flow and coherence, even with minor pauses. Practicing regularly will help you reduce nervous hesitations over time.
Many test takers believe that they need to mimic a native speaker’s accent to score well in pronunciation. This is false.
IELTS is an international test, and the pronunciation score is based on clarity, not accent. You can have:
A regional accent (Indian, Nigerian, Chinese, etc.)
A slight non-native pronunciation
As long as your speech is easy to understand, your pronunciation score can be high.
In fact, examiners are trained to accept all varieties of English.
What really matters:
Clear word stress, intonation, and accurate sound production. Focus on being understood, not on imitating a native accent.
Some students worry about getting unfamiliar topics like “Describe a historical monument” or “Talk about a traditional festival.” The truth is:
You are not graded on factual accuracy or real-world knowledge.
You are free to invent or imagine details.
Examiners are assessing your English language skills, not your expertise.
You can talk about:
A made-up person or place
An exaggerated or fictional story
Personal experience, even if it’s loosely related
What really matters:
Your language use—vocabulary, grammar, fluency, and pronunciation. Creativity is encouraged if it helps you express yourself better.
Some candidates fear the examiner is looking for reasons to fail them. This mindset increases stress and reduces performance.
The truth is:
IELTS examiners are neutral and trained to assess your speaking fairly.
They follow strict marking guidelines.
Their role is to evaluate, not to judge or intimidate.
Many examiners are supportive and will maintain a professional but friendly demeanor.
What really matters:
Approach the Speaking test as a conversation, not an interrogation. Relaxing into the task helps you perform better.
Some candidates prepare long, pre-written responses and try to memorize them. This strategy is risky because:
Examiners are trained to detect memorized speech.
Memorized answers often lack natural intonation and fluency.
You may be off-topic if the question differs slightly.
Even using template phrases (e.g., “I would like to talk about…”) is fine, but your main answer should be spontaneous.
What really matters:
Practice thinking and speaking in real time. It’s better to make small mistakes in a natural response than deliver a perfect but robotic monologue.
It’s a common belief that using complex or rare words automatically increases your score. However:
Overusing unfamiliar or awkward vocabulary can make your speech sound unnatural.
Incorrect usage of “big words” can lower your lexical resource score.
Examiners prefer appropriate, topic-specific vocabulary used correctly.
Instead of trying to impress with difficult terms, focus on:
Clear expression
Synonyms and paraphrasing
Collocations (e.g., “make a decision,” “catch a cold”)
What really matters:
Quality over quantity in vocabulary. Choose words that fit the context and are used correctly.
To prepare effectively for IELTS Speaking Part 2, you must:
Trust official IELTS sources (e.g., IELTS.org, British Council).
Practice under real test conditions, not scripted scenarios.
Ask qualified instructors to evaluate your performance based on the real band descriptors.
Stay updated with current test formats and avoid outdated advice.
The best strategy is a balanced, realistic approach: understand the test structure, practice regularly, and aim for natural, fluent communication.
Here is a recap of the key misconceptions and truths about IELTS Speaking Part 2:
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| You must speak for exactly 2 minutes | Speak for up to 2 minutes; it’s okay to be slightly under |
| You must answer all bullet points | Bullet points are optional suggestions |
| Pausing to think lowers your score | Natural pauses are acceptable |
| A native accent is required | Clarity matters more than accent |
| You must know the topic | Ideas can be invented or imagined |
| The examiner wants you to fail | The examiner is neutral and supportive |
| Memorizing answers helps | Memorization is penalized |
| Fancy words improve your score | Natural, correct vocabulary is more effective |
By dispelling these myths, you can focus on what truly improves your performance and increases your IELTS Speaking band score.