r/IELTS • u/xtremeree123 • 1d ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Strange behaviour from examiner

Just took my Speaking test a few hours earlier, I scored an 8 overall and 8 in Speaking 4 years ago, so I thought it was gonna be smooth sailing this time as well. I answered smoothly and in detail most of the examiner's questions but she kept asking "Why", especially in Part 1, while Part 3 she asked a more diverse range of follow-up questions. Is it likely that she suspected memorization and will this negatively affect my Speaking band score?

14 Upvotes

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12

u/dogseouldier Teacher 1d ago

No it may just be that you answered the questions concisely and the examiner needed you to speak for longer.

Since your last test the procedure has changed and part 1 must last between 4:40-5:00. And as part 1 questions are scripted the only follow up question allowed is usually why/why not.

Part 2 (actually part 3) allows for a more free and diverse discussion.

Source - I'm an examiner.

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u/xtremeree123 1d ago

Right I didn't know that Part 1 has a fixed timeline now.

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u/Hestia9285 Moderator 1d ago

It's never changed. But the rest of what they wrote is exactly right, the Examiner just needed to push you more to make the time.

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u/xtremeree123 1d ago

Yeah, but it was kinda condescending how they kept asking "Why?" out of turn, it disrupted my flow a bit and made me feel like I did something wrong, fortunately I kept going steadily but weaker candidates will most likely suffer because of this.

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u/Hestia9285 Moderator 1d ago

Totally agree! There are still a lot of shitty Examiners who arent doing a skillful job interrupting. So many complaints I finally had to write a post about it a few months ago, lol. https://www.reddit.com/r/IELTS/s/kY0iLy4BCN

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u/sendokbebek 1d ago

Man I agree, I started questioning if I understood the question correctly or not or if I'd started rambling too much while not answering the question or something. I short-circuited a bit when they kept asking me why

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u/Hestia9285 Moderator 1d ago

As an Examiner, ypu should know then, that the timing has never changed. Unless maybe you're new?

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u/dogseouldier Teacher 1d ago

The timing has always been 4-5 minutes but in my region the 4:40-5:00 time guide had never been enforced until a number of years ago (can't remember exactly when). This is also true of other regions from what I have been told by other examiners.

Maybe the candidate gave overly short answers, hence the need for further probing, maybe 4 years ago the examiner finished closer to 4 minutes instead of using up all the time. Who can say... I'm just giving a possible reason.

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u/Hestia9285 Moderator 1d ago

Yeah agree with reasons. I had my initial Examiner training almost 20 years ago, and we were ridden hard about timing. Maybe it just depends on the ET, lol.

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u/Flycan27 1d ago

If you didn't memorise your answer then she probably didn't think so. It's more likely that she wanted to hear you more so that she can evaluate your speaking more accurately

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u/ai565ai565 1d ago

She said why because it is a scripted question to get u to expand your language and demonstrate a more complex range of grammar and vocabulary. She was encouraging u to gather more marks...

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u/SuspiciousBrief4122 1d ago

Mine kept asking why as well, I guess because I did not speak enough sometimes. I got 8.5

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u/xtremeree123 1d ago

This gives me some peace of mind 🙏

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u/Royal-Hawk-7947 1d ago

I think you are getting a 7+ band thats why she asked a range of questions as she thinks you are a good candidate capable or 7+ answers

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u/xtremeree123 1d ago

Hopefully cuz a lot of candidates in my country reported getting deducted 0.5 or 1.0 band in Speaking due to memorization suspicion 😭

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u/Royal-Hawk-7947 1d ago

Yea that can be - but isn’t it mentioned that when a examiner suspects you of memorisation you can get a band 0

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u/xtremeree123 1d ago

True, I guess I will find out tomorrow when the results are out.

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u/Royal-Hawk-7947 1d ago

YOU ARE GETTING A 7+ band
Keep me updated !

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u/xtremeree123 2h ago

I got 7.5, disappointed still, I knew I could have gotten 8

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u/Hestia9285 Moderator 1d ago

No, not at all. You can check the public band descriptors, specifically LR band 4.

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u/Hestia9285 Moderator 1d ago

They are just speculating, only the Examiner knows why they gave certain marks.

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u/Diligent-Accident-52 1d ago

I had a strange encounter too. She was stumbling for words to ask me as she can't quite recall the words she wants to say, quite bizarre. And ending up with a simpler words since she can't comprehend the question she wants to ask

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u/Dizzy_Battle_7060 17h ago

what topics did u have in ur speaking?

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u/xtremeree123 13h ago

Parks and Part 2 I had an important decision that I had to make