Top 8 Tips to Score Above 8.0 in IELTS Speaking

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Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

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1. Use a Variety of Tenses in Your Responses

2. Make the Most of Idioms

3. Tránh sử dụng quá nhiều many/much/very

4. Stalling for Time

5. Elaborate on What You Just Said

6. Provide simple responses to straightforward questions

7. Minimize word repetition

8. Add Adverbs Before Adjectives in Sentences

1. Use a Variety of Tenses in Your Responses

In everyday speech, we often default to using the Simple Present tense because it’s the most straightforward, easy-to-use, and commonly understood. However, incorporating multiple tenses will help you score higher in the speaking test without the need to memorize complex vocabulary. You can rely on just three basic tenses: Simple Present, Simple Past, and Simple Future, which will already earn you points. For example, when the examiner asks you: "Do you work, or are you a student?" you could respond: "I am an English Lecturer at Ton Duc Thang University. I used to work at ILA Vietnam. I don't have any plans for my future, but I will probably go abroad to...". Just like that, you’ve used all three basic tenses in one answer.

Simply use basic tenses in your sentences

2. Make the Most of Idioms

Incorporating idioms in your speaking test can give you a major advantage. Using idiomatic expressions shows that you’ve done your research and have reached a higher level of proficiency. This will definitely impress the examiner, and your speaking score will likely improve. Some idioms that will help you score well in this section are:
Try my hand at...: to attempt something
Once in a blue moon...: rarely
Blow away!!!: to be overwhelmed
Under the weather: feeling really bad
...a big fan of = I like: to really enjoy something
Bring home the bacon: to earn a living
Couch potato: to be lazy
Spill the beans: to reveal a secret
One smart cookie: to compliment someone who is intelligent
Easy as pie: very easy

Using idioms helps boost your score

Maximize the use of idioms

3. Tránh sử dụng quá nhiều many/much/very

Sử dụng many/much/very là một cách để diễn đạt điều gì đó với nghĩa là "rất nhiều". Nhưng bạn hãy tưởng tượng nếu xuyên suốt cả buổi trong phần thi speaking của mình, bạn chỉ dùng những từ thông dụng như many/much/very thì giám khảo sẽ nghĩ gì về trình độ nói tiếng Anh của bạn? Muốn đạt IELTS 8.0 nhưng lại chỉ sử dụng những từ đơn điệu liệu có xứng đáng? Hãy thay đổi những từ ấy bằng các cụm từ chỉ mức độ khác được cho là "cao siêu" mà hiếm ai sử dụng. Ví dụ, thay vì nói: "There are many people in the theater" thì hãy nói: "There are a ton of people in the theater", hoặc thay vì dùng: "I have much money" thì hãy thay bằng: "I have a lot of / lots of money". Khi muốn nói đến vấn đề giao thông, bạn hãy nói: "There's loads of traffic" thay vì dùng "There's much traffic",...Điều này sẽ giúp cho câu nói của bạn trở nên hay hơn, không còn nhàm chán nữa và sẽ giúp bạn ghi điểm trong mắt giám khảo vì trình độ sử dụng từ ngữ của bạn.

Dùng những cụm từ chỉ mức độ khác thay cho many/much/very giúp bạn dễ dàng ghi điểm cao

Tránh sử dụng quá nhiều many/much/very

4. Stalling for Time

A useful tip during the speaking section is when the examiner asks about topics you're not familiar with, something you rarely discuss. In such cases, try "stalling for time." This doesn't mean avoiding the topic or dragging out irrelevant talk to fill the time, but rather, start with familiar phrases to introduce the subject. Use common starter sentences like: "Well, that's an interesting question...", "I’ve never thought about that before, because..., but...", and so on. If the examiner throws a surprise question like: "How many types of transport are there in Vietnam?", and you can't think of an immediate answer, begin with something like: "There are several types of motor transport in Vietnam," and then proceed by listing your answers step by step: "Firstly...", "Secondly...", "Finally...". These time-stalling techniques help make your responses sound more polished. Just have a few phrases ready to buy yourself some time.

Stalling for time is a helpful trick to give you some space to think through challenging questions.

Stalling for time

5. Elaborate on What You Just Said

It's common to focus solely on answering the question directly without providing further explanation. For example, when an examiner asks: "Do you work, or are you a student?", simply answering "Yes, I'm a student" might seem incomplete. This can lead to the examiner probing for more details, which can cost you points. Instead, you should expand on your answer: "I'm a student. Currently, I'm studying Information Technology at Ton Duc Thang University, and I aspire to become a developer." This provides a fuller, clearer response and demonstrates a more developed thought process.

Elaborating on your answers makes them more comprehensive and clearer.

Elaborate on what you just said

6. Provide simple responses to straightforward questions

Avoid over-elaborating your answers. When the examiner asks you a question, try to respond clearly in just 2-3 sentences. Remember, the speaking test consists of two parts, and the examiner will ask many questions in each section. Therefore, concise and to-the-point answers are ideal. Long-winded responses may result in losing points, as the examiner doesn't have time to listen to unnecessary details.

Simply explain your answer in 2-3 short and complete sentences

Respond simply to straightforward questions

7. Minimize word repetition

It's common to hesitate when answering questions because you might not have the right words ready. Even native speakers sometimes struggle with this. As a result, examiners are usually understanding if you can't respond instantly to a surprise question. However, remember that if you're unsure, pause for a second or two to think rather than repeating words you've already used. For example, saying, 'My hometown is Da Nang. Da Nang is...is...is' will likely frustrate the examiner, and it may cost you points, even if your answer is grammatically correct.

Effective methods to avoid repetition:

Change your sentence structure
Use synonyms
Substitute words
Use pronouns like 'that' or 'those' instead of nouns
Use 'This/These + noun replacement'
Place 'those' before 'who'
Employ ellipsis (omitting words)
Use 'The former' and 'The latter'

Repetition can cost you valuable points.

Minimize the use of repeated words.

8. Add Adverbs Before Adjectives in Sentences

To achieve high scores in the IELTS exam, it's essential to showcase your extensive vocabulary to the examiner. Therefore, using more complex and sophisticated words is key. However, when you enter the exam room, you might forget the elegant and intricate words you've learned because they're rarely used in everyday conversation.

Even if you speak English frequently, you tend to use simpler words for communication. A helpful tip is to insert adverbs before basic adjectives, which allows you to form new phrases that enhance the quality of your responses. For instance, instead of saying: 'Ho Chi Minh City is crowded,' try adding 'incredibly' before crowded, making it: 'Ho Chi Minh City is incredibly crowded,' which sounds more impressive. A simple sentence like: 'I just bought a nice mobile phone,' can be improved to: 'I just bought an extremely nice mobile phone,' which sounds much more appealing.

By simply adding an adverb before the adjective, you create a new adjective phrase.

Add an adverb before an adjective

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