In the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Speaking and Writing tests, there are a few strategies that some individuals opt for, one of which is the use of memorised answers. While this approach may seem advantageous on the surface, it can have its drawbacks when it comes to your actual test performance.
In this blog, we will explore challenges that may arise from relying too heavily on memorisation in your IELTS exam. Understanding these drawbacks is important for those seeking success in the test, as it can offer valuable insights into the importance of adaptability and genuine language proficiency.
Is memorising IELTS Speaking responses a wise strategy?
Memorisation, as an approach to tackling the IELTS Speaking test, poses certain challenges, particularly in terms of achieving authentic pronunciation and responding naturally to questions. To illustrate this, let's consider the responses to a common question:
"Do people in your country prefer to use public transport or private transport?"
Response A (memorised)
âAustralia is a diverse country and due to hectic schedules, people use a variety of transport options. Just like in my hometown, it has all the facilities such as buses, taxis and trains. So, people prefer to use public transport instead of private transport.â
Response B (impromptu)
âHmmm. Itâs really hard to say I guess, because it really depends on whether you are based in a large city or a small town. I suppose in the countryside, people have to rely on their own cars, coz I have to admit, there are barely any services put on for them at all. In the big cities, like Melbourne, there are so many options for public transport and the roads are so jammed with cars, that catching a bus, or a train would be less problematic. Not sure about trams though, as they move along at a snailâs pace, I would say.â
When we look at these two answers, we can notice that in Response A, some of the memorised information doesn't match the question very well, unlike the person in Response B.
In Response A, it's not clear why being a diverse country is connected to using public transport, and it's also unclear why busy schedules are linked only to public transport. These ideas could apply to private transport too. Also, since the question is about people in your country, there's no need to talk about 'all the facilities' in your hometown.
Here's one big problem with using memorised language â sometimes, it doesn't really match the question.
Also, look at the person in Response B. They emphasise certain words (the ones in italics) to express their feelings. When you talk naturally without planning, you tend to do this, and it actually helps your pronunciation sound better because you use more stress, rhythm, and intonation. But when you rely on memorised sentences, it's harder to show these feelings, and as a result, your pronunciation doesn't sound as good. Keep in mind that pronunciation counts for 25% of your total score.
So, to conclude relying on memorised answers makes it more challenging to achieve a higher score on your IELTS Speaking test.
Read more: Get your preparation guide on IELTS test
Is memorising IELTS Writing responses a wise strategy?
Some people prefer using memorised sentences in their IELTS. They use these same sentences for different writing questions, but there are risks in doing this. Let's check out a writing task example and compare using memorised sentences to not using them. We'll focus on just the beginning part.
Task:
Some people think it is a good thing for primary school children to have a mobile phone to take to school every day.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Response A (memorised)
With the development of society, mobile phones are becoming more and more important in our daily lives. Some people claim it is useful for primary school children to bring one with them daily, while others oppose this view and challenge this notion. I am a supporter of the former view, and the following paragraphs will expand on the above-mentioned arguments and provide a plausible conclusion.
Response B (impromptu)
Ownership of mobile phones has become so common these days, and so some people have suggested that primary school learners should also possess one, taking it with them to school each day. This essay will explain why this view is justified for both safety and family coordination reasons.
Now, let's check out the memorised answer first. You'll notice that there isn't much in this answer that actually relates to the question.
The question is about whether it's good for young kids to have mobile phones. But when you look at this answer, a lot of it doesn't really talk about that. Instead, it uses a lot of standard sentences that don't really fit the question:
"With the development of society, mobile phones are becoming more and more important in our daily lives. Some people claim it is useful for primary school children to bring one with them daily, while others oppose this view and challenge this notion. I am a supporter of the former view, and the following paragraphs will expand on the above-mentioned arguments and provide a plausible conclusion."
So, basically, it's a lot of fancy words that don't really answer the question directly.
In an essay, you might need to use some common phrases (like 'some people claim'), but these shouldn't take over your introduction. It's actually better to make sure your introduction fits the question well.
This introduction has some words and phrases that don't directly connect to the question:
1. âWith the development of societyâ
(There is no mention of this in the task.)
2. âare becoming more and more important in our daily livesâ
(This is not mentioned in the task.)
3. âwhile others oppose this view and challenge this notionâ
(There is no mention of two sides to the argument in the task â only one opinion is actually mentioned. This person has invented their own question!)
Now, if you check out the unplanned introduction, you'll notice that much more of what's said actually has to do with the task at hand:
âOwnership of mobile phones has become so common these days, and so some people have suggested that primary school learners should also possess one, taking it with them to school each day. This essay will explain why this view is justified for both safety and family coordination reasons.â
The writer has also briefly previewed the theme of the body paragraphs:
âsafetyâ for body paragraph 1
âfamily coordinationâ for body paragraph 2
So, in summary, using memorised sentences may not be very helpful in your writing. That's because it reduces the amount of useful language and vocabulary related to the topic that the examiner can check. On the other hand, writing without planning tends to stay more on-topic.
Additional read: Score high in IELTS test with top study material
At last, it's not a good idea to memorise answers when you're getting ready for your IELTS test. Examiners can usually tell when you're using memorised content, and it's better to use your own thoughts and ideas. If you are still confused about anything related to IELTS and want to know more about the same, you can get in touch with your nearest IDP IELTS test centre. Our Team of IELTS experts will help you with your questions.