How to Add Details in IELTS Speaking and Improve Your Score?

Most students know how to speak correct English but get nervous on the actual IELTS Speaking test day. Nervousness can make you forget to add details, speak briefly, or struggle to convey your thoughts clearly. If you’ve experienced this or worry it might happen, don’t worry. In this blog, we’ll explore why students struggle to add details in IELTS Speaking and how to overcome these challenges.

Why Students Struggle to Add Details in IELTS Speaking? 

Here are some reasons why students struggle to add details in the IELTS Speaking: 

1. Anxiety and Nervousness

One of the main reasons students give short answers is anxiety, sometimes linked to glossophobia (fear of public speaking). This fear can make you freeze or rush your answers. While brief responses are usually okay in IELTS Speaking Part 1, in Parts 2 and IELTS Speaking Part 3, they can prevent the examiner from properly evaluating your fluency and coherence.

2. Inadequate knowledge 

Another reason students struggle to add details in the Speaking exam is that they are questioned on something which they don’t have much knowledge about or have very limited knowledge.

3. Being unable to determine when to add details

Students often fail to speak for an extended period because they don’t know if they should elaborate more on their responses or just stick to single-sentence responses.

How to Add Details While Speaking?

In part 1 of the speaking exam, you are usually asked simple questions. Though you can give the answers to those questions in one or two sentences, you should not do so because the examiner might not be able to evaluate your fluency and coherence appropriately. So, always aim to add supporting details to your answers. The more you speak in part 1 of the Speaking exam, the more likely you are to speak fluently, confidently, and given details in parts 2 and 3 of the Speaking test.

1. Practice! Practice! Practice!

The most important thing to get rid of nervousness is to speak as much as you can. Find someone to speak to in English and hold day-to-day conversations in the English language. 

2. Record yourself

Find IELTS Speaking cue cards online and try to speak on them for 3 to 4 minutes. Record yourself saying them, and then listen to yourself. Analyse your answers and check where and how you can improvise on your answers. 

3. Talk to some knowledgeable people.

Find someone knowledgeable who can pay attention to your mistakes and guide you on how to improve them. Moreover, that person can also help you convey your thoughts and ideas in a better manner.

4. Mistakes

Don’t be so concerned about the mistakes that you commit while practising. This extra consciousness will make you commit mistakes you would have otherwise not made. In fact, errors will help you identify your weakness because it is only by mistakes that you can determine that you need to improve.

5. Read 

Make a habit of reading books, magazines, articles and so on loudly. This will help you build command of English words, and you will also feel more confident, and it will also help you build your knowledge on various topics. The more you read on various topics, the more you will be able to learn different vocabulary. 

Why Adding Details Matters in IELTS Speaking?

• IELTS Speaking Part 1: Helps the examiner evaluate your fluency and vocabulary. Don’t just give one-line answers.
• IELTS Speaking Part 2 (Cue Card): Requires you to speak for 1–2 minutes. Adding examples, reasons, and personal experiences is essential.
• IELTS Speaking Part 3: Involves discussion questions where you must explain, justify, and give opinions. Here, detailed answers demonstrate higher-level thinking and language skills.

Pro Tips for IELTS Speaking

• Use linking words like for example, as a result, in addition, however to connect ideas naturally.
• Practice different vocabulary topics like sports, work, technology, or social issues.
• Familiarize yourself with recent IELTS Speaking questions to build confidence.
• Join IELTS online classes to get structured guidance and personalized feedback.

Adding details in IELTS Speaking is a skill that improves with practice, reflection, and guidance. By practicing daily, recording yourself, reading widely, and learning to elaborate naturally, you can speak confidently and achieve a higher band score. Remember, fluency, coherence, and vocabulary are all evaluated, so focus on speaking with confidence and substance.

Also Check:

• 10 Useful IELTS Speaking Tips to Impress the Examiner
• IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics and Questions with Answers 2025
• Linking Words for IELTS Speaking Section
• IELTS Speaking Recent Actual Tests with Suggested Answers for IELTS 2025
• Useful Idioms for IELTS Speaking to Score Band 8.0+
• IELTS Pronunciation Guide 2025
• 75+ Common English Words Used in IELTS Speaking Test
• Ough Words With Pronunciation