makkarIELTS Speaking Guesswork MayAug 2019

What Was the Guesswork Initiative?

In the middle of 2019, the popular IELTS trainer makkarIELTS launched a series of videos and blog posts called Speaking Guesswork. The aim was simple: to analyse the speaking questions that appeared in the official IELTS practice tests released between May and August 2019 and to guess which topics were likely to recur in the actual test.

The series quickly gained traction because it combined three things that candidates love:

• Realtime data from the newest test materials.
• Practical tips on how to answer each question type.
• Clear explanations of why certain themes keep appearing.

Why Focus on MayAug 2019?

Those four months were a turning point for the IELTS Speaking test. The British Council had updated its question bank, adding more everydaylife scenarios and fewer abstract topics. That shift meant candidates who prepared with older material risked being caught offguard.

makkarIELTS noticed three major trends during this period:

1. Greater emphasis on personal experience questions (e.g., Describe a memorable trip).
2. A noticeable rise in environmentrelated prompts (e.g., What can individuals do to protect the environment?).
3. Consistent use of comparative structures in part2 tasks (e.g., Compare two festivals you have attended).

Key Themes that Dominated the Question Set

1. Travel and Leisure

Travelrelated questions appeared in almost every Part2 cue. Candidates were asked to talk about places they had visited, trips they wanted to take, or holidays that left a lasting impression. The trends suggested examiners were looking for candidates who could:

• Use descriptive vocabulary (e.g., breathtaking, bustling).
• Apply a simple chronological structure (when, where, what, how you felt).
• Show personal reflection not just facts.

2. Daily Routines & Work Life

Questions about daily habits, job responsibilities, and study routines were especially common in Part1. The Guesswork videos highlighted that examiners favour answers that demonstrate:

• Varied verb tenses (present simple, present continuous, past simple).
• Natural collocations (e.g., catch up on emails, hit the gym).
• Brief but relevant anecdotes.

3. Environment and Sustainability

Ecoconcern became a hot topic. Prompts such as What can people do to reduce waste? or Describe a green initiative in your city appeared repeatedly. Success strategies included:

• Linking personal actions to larger community impact.
• Using specific nouns (recycling, composting, renewable energy).
• Balancing optimistic outlooks with realistic challenges.

4. Cultural Traditions

From festivals to local customs, cultural talk was the backbone of many Part2 tasks. A favorite example: Talk about a traditional celebration you enjoy. The analysis revealed a pattern examiners liked answers that:

• Explain the origin of the tradition.
• Describe personal involvement.
• Compare it briefly with another tradition.

Practical Preparation Strategies from the Series

Build a Topic Bank

Instead of memorising full answers, collect a list of 3040 highfrequency topics (travel, food, environment, education, technology, etc.). For each, jot down 56 useful vocabulary items, common collocations, and a personal anecdote. Rotate the list weekly to keep the material fresh.

Practice the 1234 Structure

The series promoted a simple framework for Part2:

1. Introduction restate the cue in your own words.
2. Chronology give a logical sequence (when, where, who).
3. Details sensory language, feelings, challenges.
4. Wrapup reflect on why the experience matters.

Using this scaffold keeps the answer organised and saves time during the test.

Record, Review, Refine

makkarIELTS urged learners to record themselves answering a cue, then listen for:

• Filler words (uh, like).
• Pronunciation slipups.
• Missing linking phrases (moreover, as a result).

Each session should end with a 30second summary of improvements.

Mock Interviews with a Partner

Simulating the test with a speaking partner builds confidence. The partner should play the examiner, ask followup questions, and give quick feedback on fluency and coherence. Rotate roles to experience both sides of the conversation.

Common Pitfalls Identified in the Guesswork Review

Even after extensive preparation, candidates often stumble on a few recurring issues:

• Overrehearsed answers sounding memorised reduces natural flow.
• Limited lexical range repeating the same adjectives or adverbs.
• Ignoring the cue drifting offtopic, especially in Part2.
• Monotone delivery lacking intonation makes speech sound flat.
• Insufficient comparison many prompts expect a brief contrast.

Being aware of these traps helps learners selfmonitor during practice.

What the Data Says About Scoring Trends

Based on the analysis of the MayAug 2019 test set, the following scoring trends were observed:

The Guesswork analysis showed that candidates who incorporated at least two of the highfrequency vocab lists per answer and used a mix of simple and complex sentences consistently hit the 7.0band mark.

How to Use the Guesswork Insights Effectively

1. Integrate the vocab banks into daily speaking drills replace generic words with topicspecific options.

2. Adopt the 1234 framework for every Part2 response to guarantee coverage of all required points.

3. Schedule weekly mock tests that mirror the timing of the real exam (Part1: 45min, Part2: 2min, Part3: 45min).

4. Review feedback objectively focus on one criterion per session instead of trying to fix everything at once.

5. Stay updated although the MayAug 2019 set is now historic, the pattern of everydaylife topics continues to dominate the speaking test.

Final Thoughts

The Speaking Guesswork MayAug 2019 series remains a valuable resource for anyone aiming to boost their IELTS Speaking score. By recognising the recurring themes, applying a solid answer structure, and practising with targeted vocabulary, candidates can move from generic responses to confident, highscoring performances.

Remember, the test evaluates how naturally you can communicate about familiar subjects. Use the insights from the guesswork analysis as a roadmap, not a script, and let your own voice shine through.

For more tips, explore the full video playlist on makkarIELTS YouTube channel or download the complimentary PDF Speaking Topic Bank 2024.