Speaking

Effective Speaking Sample Learning Tips: Make It Work for You!

November 8, 2025

Hello middle and high school students conquering IELTS!

Do you often use speaking sample answers from books or online? They are usually just in text form, helping you learn vocabulary and how to expand your ideas. But there is an important part that is missed: the “flow” when speaking. Today, let’s learn how to make the sample “your own” to speak more smoothly!

Check the “flow” when learning the sample

When you try to speak a sample sentence, check to see if the flow is good. A simple way is to check if you can say a long sentence in 2-3 breaths without stopping for 4-5 times. If you have difficulty speaking, it means the sample is not suitable for you at the moment.

What to do when the sample doesn't "flow"?

Don't give up! Follow these two steps:

Focus on the best part: If you like the vocabulary in the sample, pick 1-2 of your favorites and simplify the sentence structure. For example, keep the grammar simple and shorten the sentences so you speak comfortably. If you like the idea development, replace difficult words with familiar equivalents that you already know.
Break down to practice: Break the sample sentence into 2-3 small parts, practice each part 4-5 times until you feel comfortable. Then, put them together and practice the whole answer. Like learning the piano, don’t try to play the whole song at once – break it down to make it easier!

Practicing speaking takes time, but it's worth it!

To practice a speaking topic well (getting a score 0.5-1 band higher than your target), you need to practice until you can answer it completely. This takes a lot of time, so:

Plan ahead.
Evaluate whether it is worth the investment. If you are aiming for an overall 6.5 and speaking is not your weak point, prioritize Reading/Listening. If your pronunciation is not good, spending time on Writing is more effective!

Learning from samples is a great way for all levels, from beginner to advanced. But don’t just download a bunch – choose carefully and tailor it to your current level and goals. That way, you’ll learn better on your own!

Chau Thanh Foreign Language Center