{"id":1710033,"date":"2019-06-10T10:47:44","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T09:47:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/humorous-knowledge.flywheelsites.com\/?p=1710033"},"modified":"2021-04-23T19:43:39","modified_gmt":"2021-04-23T18:43:39","slug":"ielts-speaking-accent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ieltsadvantage.com\/2019\/06\/10\/ielts-speaking-accent\/","title":{"rendered":"Is accent important?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is accent important in the IELTS speaking test?<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

However, pronunciation and accent are two different things.<\/p>\n

This article will explain the reasons why your accent is NOT important in the IELTS speaking test<\/strong> (and why you shouldn\u2019t waste your time worrying about it).<\/p>\n

The main reason is simple: the examiner doesn’t judge you on your accent.<\/h2>\n

In the speaking test, you will be assessed on these four main criteria:<\/p>\n

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  1. Fluency and Coherence<\/li>\n
  2. Lexical Resource<\/li>\n
  3. Grammatical Range and Accuracy<\/li>\n
  4. Pronunciation<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The IELTS speaking marking scheme<\/a> doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

    Pronunciation vs. Accent<\/h2>\n

    Pronunciation<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

    In comparison, your accent<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

    To see what I mean, take a look below at the trailer for HBO’s Chernobyl<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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