Writing Sample 1: From my IELTS Speaking Course
IELTS Speaking: Fluency and Coherence
The key to a successful performance
The Fluency and Coherence criterion of the IELTS speaking test comprises only 25% of your score and receives equal weight with the other three scoring criteria. It is, however, the key to a good mark in the speaking test. Speaking fluently helps more than your score in Fluency and Coherence—it also makes it more likely that you will do well in the other three criteria and that you will feel more confident during the test. If you can speak fluently and coherently, you are more likely give a performance that is natural and showcases your ability to communicate clearly.
Defining fluency and coherence in the IELTS speaking test
Fluency can be defined as your ability to keep talking easily, without undue effort. Coherence, in the test’s scoring criterion, represents your ability to give organized answers composed of ideas that are clearly linked together and are easy for the examiner to follow. Fluency is extremely important at band 7 and above, while Coherence becomes more essential at band 8 and above.
The main features that the examiner is looking for, as outlined in the band descriptors, are as follows:
- The ability to give long answers without pausing or excessive self-correction is essential. Either of these is normal in speech, and their presence in yours won’t necessarily cause problems in the exam when occurring naturally and infrequently. However, excessive or unnatural pausing or self-correction can be defined together as that which interrupts the flow of communication and distracts the listener from the message. Pausing tends to be the major contributor to problems in this area and is generally the result of inadequate speaking practice.
- . The ability to link ideas together appropriately using spoken discourse markers is another important factor that the examiner will be monitoring. Spoken discourse markers serve the same purpose as the cohesive devices used in writing. However, they are generally not the same words and phrases as those used in writing, and using inappropriate, formal discourse markers, such as ‘furthermore’ or ‘moreover’, is often a cause of difficulty in this area. Using informal or less formal equivalents, such as ‘on top of that’ or ‘another thing is’ will help with you sound more natural in a spoken-English context.
- Finally, the development of your answer is something that is important, particularly in Part 3 of the test. You can think of the development of an answer in the speaking test as similar to the development of your ideas in task 2 of the writing test. Explaining, giving your opinion, or offering an example that is relevant and contributes to clarifying why you think what you think—these are all excellent ways to provide the examiner with a well-developed answer.
Do you need band 8?
As mentioned, the development of your answers is more thoroughly scrutinized at bands 8 and above, so you should keep this in mind when practicing. The reasons for this are outlined in the video that is part of this lesson and also contains a variety of tips for dealing with many of the challenging situations you are likely to face on exam day.
3. Hamvas, Béla. The Seventh Symphony and the Metaphysics of Music
Philosophy. Translated from the Hungarian. Published in Pilvax Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 2, December, 2006 and various places online.
Sample:
Full translation:
Dunajcsik, Mátyás. The Scarcity Shop
Fiction. Translated from the Hungarian. Published in Pilvax Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 2, June, 2005.
Sample:
Full translation: