Picture this: You’re sitting in the exam room, palms slightly sweaty, waiting for the examiner to ask the first question. You’ve practised for weeks. You know your vocabulary. But then, nerves kick in, and you make a simple mistake that you know you shouldn’t have made.

Sound familiar? It happens to the best of us. In my years of teaching, I’ve seen brilliant students lose marks not because their English wasn’t good enough, but because they fell into common traps.

The good news? These mistakes are easy to fix once you know what they are. Let’s look at the most common speaking errors that might be lowering your score—and how to fix them today.

1. The “Over-Smart” Answer: Forcing Idioms

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a student say, “It is raining cats and dogs.” To be honest, native speakers rarely use that phrase anymore! It sounds forced and unnatural.

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is trying to cram in complex idioms just to impress the examiner. If you use an idiom incorrectly or in the wrong context, it actually lowers your score because it shows a lack of natural control.

What to do instead: Focus on natural collocations. Instead of “raining cats and dogs,” say “it’s pouring down.” Instead of “he is a couch potato,” say “he really enjoys lounging around.” Use language that fits the context comfortably.

2. The Silent Pause (and How to Fill It)

Silence is your enemy in the Speaking test. A long pause can make the examiner think you don’t understand the question or can’t find the words. But let’s be real—sometimes you just need a moment to think.

The mistake isn’t thinking; it’s thinking silently.

What to do instead: Use fillers. These are natural phrases native speakers use to buy time. Phrases like:

• “That’s an interesting question…”
• “I’ve never really thought about that before, but…”
• “Let me see…”

This keeps the fluency going while your brain catches up. For more strategies on maintaining flow, check out our general IELTS Speaking tips.

3. The “One-Word” Trap

“Do you like listening to music?”
“Yes.”

If you answer like that, you’re making it very hard for the examiner to give you a high score. Why? Because you haven’t given them any language to mark! Short, closed answers are a major fluency killer.

What to do instead: Always extend your answer. Follow the “Answer + Reason + Example” formula.
“Yes, absolutely. I’m a huge fan of jazz because it helps me relax after a long day at work. actually, I just bought a new record last week.”

See the difference? You’ve shown grammar, vocabulary, and fluency in just two sentences.

4. Memorised Answers (The Robot Voice)

Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers from a mile away. If you start reciting a perfect paragraph about your hometown that sounds like it came from a textbook, the examiner will stop listening. Worse, they might interrupt you with a new question to test your real English.

Your intonation often goes flat when you recite memorised text, making you sound robotic.

What to do instead: Be spontaneous. It’s okay to make small grammar slips if your communication is natural. Focus on answering the specific question asked, not the one you prepared for. You can practise with our Part 1 model answers, but use them for ideas, not for memorisation.

5. Getting the Tense Wrong

This is a classic grammar slip. The examiner asks, “What did you do last weekend?” (Past tense), and you answer, “I go to the cinema.” (Present tense).

It seems simple, but under pressure, it’s easy to forget. The examiner carefully listens to check if your answer matches the grammar of the question.

What to do instead: Listen for the auxiliary verb in the question. If you hear “did”, think PAST. If you hear “will”, think FUTURE. If you hear “have you”, think PRESENT PERFECT. It’s a small mental check that makes a big difference.

6. Repeating the Question

Candidate: “What is my favourite colour? My favourite colour is blue.”

While this isn’t a terrible mistake, it’s a wasted opportunity. Repeating the question word-for-word doesn’t show any vocabulary skill. It just parrots the examiner.

What to do instead: Paraphrase!
Examiner: “What is your favourite colour?”
You: “I’ve always been really drawn to blue…”

For Part 2, where you have to speak for two minutes, having a range of vocabulary is crucial. Check out our Part 2 Cue Card topics to practise paraphrasing different subjects.

Final Thoughts

Improving your speaking score isn’t just about learning new words; it’s about unlearning these bad habits. The next time you practise, record yourself. Do you hear any of these mistakes? If you do, don’t worry—awareness is the first step to improvement.

Remember, the examiner wants you to do well. They are looking for communication, not perfection. Relax, breathe, and just talk to them like a human being.

You’ve got this! Good luck with your preparation.

For more official guidance on how the Speaking test is marked, you can visit the official IELTS website.