Sep 28, 2026

So why does this happen? And more importantly, what can you do about it?

1. You don’t have to tell the truth

This is something many students don’t realise.

You don’t have to tell the truth in IELTS Speaking.

If the examiner asks you about something you don’t really do, like cooking, gardening or watching films, you can make something up. What matters is that your answer responds to the question and allows you to demonstrate your English. In fact, trying to remember a real answer can sometimes make speaking more difficult.

Imagine the examiner asks:

Do you enjoy cooking?

If you’re trying to give a completely truthful answer, you might start thinking:

Do I actually enjoy cooking? When was the last time I cooked? What did I make? Do I really enjoy it?

While you’re thinking about all of that, you’re not speaking English.

Instead, you could simply say:

“Yes, I actually enjoy cooking, especially on weekends. I usually make something simple like pasta because I find it quite relaxing. I also like experimenting with different ingredients.”

You don’t need to worry about whether this is exactly what you do in real life. You’ve answered the question, you’ve developed your answer, and you’ve created an opportunity to use your English.

In the speaking test, your answer doesn’t have to be true. It just needs to work.

2. Don’t just talk because you think your answer needs to be long

Of course, there’s another problem. Some students hear that they need to give longer answers and take this too literally. They start talking… and talking… and talking. But longer doesn’t automatically mean better. Remember what you’re doing in the IELTS Speaking test. It’s a language test. The point is to show your ability to communicate in English.

So don’t think:

“How can I make my answer as long as possible?”

Think:

“How can I use this question to show what I can do in English?”

• Can you explain a reason?

• Can you give an example?

• Can you compare two things?

• Can you use a natural collocation?

• Can you use a more complex grammatical structure when it is appropriate?

These things are much more useful than simply adding sentences that don’t really say anything.

3. Give yourself something to say

A simple way to develop most answers is:

Answer → Why → Detail/example

For example:

Do you enjoy reading?

Instead of:

“Yes, I do. I like reading.”

Try:

“Yes, I really enjoy reading, especially non-fiction. I find it useful because I can learn about things that I wouldn’t normally encounter in everyday life. For example, I’ve recently been reading about psychology.”

You don’t need a complicated idea. You just need one reasonable idea and somewhere to take it. And if you can’t think of a real example, make one up.

4. Learn language, not just answers

Another reason your answers may be short is that you simply don’t have enough language readily available. You may have lots of vocabulary in your passive knowledge, but when you need to speak, you can’t access it quickly enough.

This is why learning topic-related words, chunks, and collocations can make such a difference. For example, if you’re discussing technology, it is useful to know expressions such as:

• have a significant impact on

• have a negative impact on

• keep up with the latest developments

• spend a considerable amount of time

• rely heavily on technology

• be exposed to different opinions

These are not things you need to force into every answer. But when the topic is relevant, they give you language that can help you develop your ideas. So don’t just learn individual words.

Learn words that naturally go together and phrases that you can actually use when speaking.

5. Show that you’re willing to develop your answer

You don’t need to give a huge answer to every question. But you should be willing to develop your ideas.

Compare these:

“Yes, I like travelling.”

and:

“Yes, I really enjoy travelling, mainly because I get to experience different cultures. I especially like visiting places that are very different from my hometown.”

The second answer isn’t enormous. It simply shows that you’re willing and able to do something with the question. That’s the skill you want to practise. You don’t need to speak forever. You need to be able to take an idea and develop it naturally.

6. And here’s the bigger problem: ideas come from what you know

Sometimes students say:

“I don’t know what to say.”

And they genuinely don’t. This isn’t always an English problem. If you’ve never thought about a topic before and know very little about it, generating ideas will naturally be difficult. That’s one reason reading is so useful for IELTS Speaking.

When you read regularly, you collect more than vocabulary. You collect ideas, opinions, examples and information. You start to know something about different subjects, and that gives you something to talk about when a similar topic appears in the test. You don’t need to read complicated academic books.

A few short articles a day about different topics can be a good starting point. Engoo Daily News is one useful resource for this because it has articles on a wide range of topics. The more you know about the world, the more material you have available when you need to speak.

Try this in your next speaking practice

Take five IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions.

For each question:

1. Answer the question directly.
2. Give a reason.
3. Add a detail or example.
4. Try to use one useful phrase or collocation.

For example:

Do you like your hometown?

Answer: Yes, I do.
Reason: I like it because it’s relatively quiet.
Detail: It’s also surrounded by a lot of greenery, so it’s a pleasant place to live.

You don’t need to memorise this. You don’t need a perfect answer. And you don’t need to tell the truth. You just need to practise taking a simple idea and doing something with it in English. That’s how you move from giving short answers to becoming a more confident and flexible speaker.

Talk soon,

Iman