Is accent important?

Is accent important in the IELTS speaking test?

Pronunciation is a key part of getting a high score in the speaking test. Therefore, it is natural for test-takers to worry about their accent and how it will affect their IELTS score.

However, pronunciation and accent are two different things.

This article will explain the reasons why your accent is NOT important in the IELTS speaking test (and why you shouldn’t waste your time worrying about it).

The main reason is simple: the examiner doesn’t judge you on your accent.

In the speaking test, you will be assessed on these four main criteria:

1. Fluency and Coherence
2. Lexical Resource
3. Grammatical Range and Accuracy
4. Pronunciation

The IELTS speaking marking scheme doesn’t once mention accent. As such, trying to perfect an unnatural American, English or Australian accent is a waste of the time that you should spend working on other areas that will improve your scores.

Pronunciation vs. Accent

Pronunciation is your ability to make the sound of a word clearly and correctly. The IELTS speaking test marks your ability to pronounce words clearly and accurately.

In comparison, your accent is the distinctive way in which you pronounce a word. This can be affected by the place you live, the places where your parents lived or even your social status.

To see what I mean, take a look below at the trailer for HBO’s Chernobyl:

As you can see, the actors all pronounce their lines very clearly. However, they all have different accents.

There are hundreds of different English accents across the world, so it would be unfair for an IELTS examiner to favour just one in particular. In the IELTS speaking test, it doesn’t matter which accent you have as long as your pronunciation is clear and accurate.

What should I focus on?

Instead of trying to impress the examiner with an accent that feels unnatural (or maybe a bit silly), you should focus your time on the factors that actually lead to a higher score in the speaking test.

The resources below are categorised into each of the sections that you’ll find on the IELTS speaking band descriptors. Check them out and let me know what you think in the comments below!

• Fluency and Coherence

Fluency is linked to a number of areas such as grammar, vocabulary and confidence. As such, it might seem like a challenge at first… But you can improve this skillset by keeping it simple and knowing which mistakes to avoid:

7 IELTS Fluency Problems and How to Fix Them
How to Talk About an Unfamiliar Topic in IELTS Speaking

• Lexical Resource (i.e. Vocabulary)

A wide range of vocabulary is one of the strongest tools you could have in the IELTS speaking test.

However, it’s important that you know exactly what the examiner is looking for.

The IELTS examiner doesn’t want you to show off with long or complicated words. But they do want you to use vocabulary as a tool that helps you to clearly communicate with them.

The articles below will show you everything you need to know about IELTS vocabulary:

IELTS Vocabulary Guide
5 Things You Need to Know About IELTS Vocabulary

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy

In the IELTS speaking test, you need to use a range of grammatical structures accurately and appropriately. You can either check out our IELTS Grammar video series here or watch Chris’ video lesson here.

• Pronunciation

Pronunciation is key to getting a high score in IELTS speaking because it can either enhance or damage your entire performance. If the examiner can’t understand what you’re saying, it doesn’t really matter how strong your fluency, grammar or vocabulary are.

The resources below will help you improve your pronunciation skills from home:

IELTS Pronunciation Guide 

Practice Pronunciation at Home for Free 

How to Improve Intonation

Next Steps

I hope this article has given you a better understanding of how you can be successful in the IELTS speaking test. If you need any further help or personalised advice, feel free to send an email to the team at chris@ieltsadvantage.com. Thanks!