If you are looking at the IELTS Speaking test and feeling completely overwhelmed, I understand exactly where you are coming from. When I started, the odds felt stacked entirely against me.
I was born with a severe mid-high frequency hearing impairment. In plain terms, I cannot hear certain English consonant sounds clearly, like "s" or "t." I wear hearing aids to communicate, but even with them, noisy environments or fast speech make conversations incredibly difficult to follow.
On top of that, I didn't have the advantage of an elite education. I went to a Chinese-medium high school in Hong Kong that didn't focus on English teaching. My English foundation was essentially stuck at a primary-school level, my vocabulary was small, my accent was heavy, and I had no one to practice English with at home.
To top it all off, I was a massive introvert. For me, speaking out loud to strangers wasn't just tough — it was my worst nightmare.
When I first looked at the IELTS requirements, I felt completely defeated. But I eventually built a practical system that worked for me. If you are struggling with a weak foundation or anxiety, here is exactly how I dealt with it, day by day.
How I Prepared for IELTS Speaking Every Day
Because of my hearing loss and my introverted nature, standard advice like "just watch movies" or "listen to podcasts" didn't cut it. I had to focus on deliberate, daily actions that pushed me out of my comfort zone.
1. Forcing myself to talk to different people. As an introvert, this was the hardest barrier to cross. But I realized my fear of speaking up was holding me back far more than my limited vocabulary. I forced myself to speak out loud to different people whenever I got the chance. It was uncomfortable at first, but building the muscle memory of simply opening my mouth was the only way to break the anxiety.
2. Mimicking native speakers online. Because I can't hear high-frequency sounds perfectly, my pronunciation had a very heavy local accent. I spent time listening closely to native English speakers online, paying attention to how they formed words and practicing along with them — aiming for a clearer accent that an examiner could easily understand.
3. The recording and reflection method. Every single day, I recorded myself practicing exam topics on my phone. Playing the clips back was painful at first, but it was the most valuable tool I had. I didn't just listen to how I sounded; I used the playback to reflect on the actual content — pinpointing where I paused too much, repeated myself, or let my ideas fall apart.
The Mistakes I Wish Others Wouldn't Make
There is a lot of conventional advice that simply doesn't work well for self-study. To save time and money, avoid these two traps:
- Hiring expensive private tutors. It's tempting to think throwing money at a tutor will solve your problems. In my experience it's expensive and often less effective. A tutor can't do the heavy lifting for you — the real progress happens in the quiet, repetitive daily work of practicing, recording, and correcting yourself, with tools you already have for free on your phone.
- Obsessing over advanced vocabulary. Don't waste energy memorizing obscure words to force into the exam. Many candidates ruin their fluency because they pause constantly trying to remember a "fancy" word. The examiner wants communication, not a vocabulary recital. Clear, simple English used correctly always beats complex language used poorly.
The 3 Core Elements That Saved My Score
When I stopped panicking and shifted to a practical strategy, my performance changed. Focus on these three and your preparation becomes far more manageable:
- Confidence. The test is as much about psychological management as language. Even if your grammar has errors or your accent is noticeable, speaking clearly and owning your voice changes the entire dynamic of the room.
- Structure and explanation. Instead of impressive words, focus on how you build answers. Give your direct answer, then immediately explain more — use simple connectors like "because…" or a brief example to flesh out your response.
- Logical content. Your response must make sense. When nerves kick in, it's easy to ramble. Take a split-second to organize your thoughts so your point follows a logical path. A straightforward, easy-to-follow argument is exactly what the examiner is looking for.
You do not need perfect hearing, an elite school background, or an outgoing personality to clear this hurdle. What you need is a practical structure, daily consistency, and the willingness to speak up despite the discomfort. If I could manage it under my circumstances, you can absolutely do it too.
Practice the way the real exam works
The single habit that moved my score was daily, recorded practice with honest feedback. That is exactly what PrepPal's IELTS Speaking practice is built for — a realistic, three-phase session with band-aligned feedback, so you can hear yourself, see where the marks go, and improve a little every day.