How to Use Correct Grammar in IELTS Speaking

🔑There is no correct tense for any particular answer in the IELTS speaking test. It depends on what you want to say.

🔑When talking about the present time, you can use tenses with the word 'present' like present simple, present continuous, present perfect simple, and present perfect continuous.

🔑When talking about the past, you can use tenses like past simple, past continuous, past perfect, used to, and would.

🔑When talking about the future, you can use tenses like will, going to, present continuous for the future, and might or could for possible futures.

🔑To practice activating the grammar, make sentences that are true for you with the different tenses.

Is there a correct tense to use for every answer in the IELTS speaking test?

—No, there is no correct tense for any particular answer. It depends on what you want to say.

What tenses should I use when talking about the present?

—You can use tenses with the word 'present' like present simple, present continuous, present perfect simple, and present perfect continuous.

What tenses should I use when talking about the past?

—You can use tenses like past simple, past continuous, past perfect, used to, and would.

What tenses should I use when talking about the future?

—You can use tenses like will, going to, present continuous for the future, and might or could for possible futures.

How can I practice using the different tenses accurately?

—Practice activating the grammar by making sentences that are true for you with the different tenses.

00:00Did you know that ninety percent of students make a grammar mistake in the first few answers of their IELTS speaking test?

00:17In this video, Keith from the Keith Speaking Academy shares tips on how to use correct grammar in IELTS speaking.

00:52The short answer is that there is no correct tense for any particular answer in the IELTS speaking test. It depends on what you want to say.

02:23Generally speaking, there are three types of situations that require different kinds of grammar in IELTS speaking: the present time, the past, and the future.

05:56When talking about the present, you can use tenses with the word 'present' like present simple, present continuous, present perfect simple, and present perfect continuous.

09:00When talking about the past, you can use tenses like past simple, past continuous, past perfect, used to, and would.

12:23When talking about the future, you can use tenses like will, going to, present continuous for the future, and might or could for possible futures.

14:18To practice activating the grammar, make sentences that are true for you with the different tenses.