This list comes from the mistakes candidates whose first language is Uzbek or Russian make most often. Most of them can be fixed with one or two weeks of focused practice.
Grammar
1. Leaving out articles
Uzbek and Russian have no articles, so "I live in big city" feels natural. It should be "I live in a big city". The rule of thumb: "a" before a countable thing mentioned for the first time, "the" before something already known.
2. Avoiding the present perfect
Not "I live here since 2015" but "I’ve lived here since 2015". With "since" and "for", use the present perfect.
3. The third-person "-s"
Not "My brother work in a bank" but "My brother works...". It is the ending most often lost in speech.
4. Word-for-word translation
Not "I have 20 years" but "I’m 20". Not "make a photo" but "take a photo".
Pronunciation
5. The "th" sound
"think" becomes "sink" or "tink". Practise with your tongue between your teeth.
6. "w" and "v"
Tell "very" and "worry" apart. For "w" the lips are rounded; for "v" the top teeth touch the bottom lip.
7. Word stress
"deVElopment", "eCOnomy", "PHOtograph" against "phoTOgraphy". Wrong stress can make a word unrecognisable.
Answer length and shape
8. Part 1 answers that are too short
"Yes, I do." and nothing more. Always add a reason or an example. More: the Part 1 guide.
9. Running out after one minute in Part 2
No examples under the prompts. The shape: the Part 2 guide.
10. Memorised answers
Examiners recognise memorised text by its intonation, and it scores low for Fluency. Memorise phrases, not whole answers.
Fluency
11. Pausing with "uh" and "erm"
Use natural fillers instead: "Well...", "Let me think...", "That’s an interesting question...".
12. "very" and "good" over and over
Instead of "very good": "excellent", "really useful", "absolutely fantastic". Instead of "very big": "huge", "enormous".
Reading is not enough: speak
In IELTS Buddy an AI examiner talks to you as in the real test and gives an estimated band on all 4 criteria. 3 mock tests are free.
To plan your preparation: the 30-day plan.
Reading is not enough: speak
In IELTS Buddy an AI examiner talks to you as in the real test and gives an estimated band on all 4 criteria. 3 mock tests are free.
