雅思口语在2008年8月开始对发音专门进行评分，很多考生的成绩因此受到了一定影响。考生没有获得高分的原因有很多，有以下几个主要原因：
1. 发音不准确
比如长短音不分，如Short\shot。找不到重音，如Obvious。混淆发音，如Shop\Soap\Soup。不会发音，如 Souvenir。但考生不会因为用英式、美式或澳式发音而被扣分或加分。考虑到绝大多数的IELTS口试考官都来自英联邦国家，故英式或澳式发音相对会获得考官主观上的认同感。
2. 思维过于简单
考生在考试中对问题的回答只会用YES/NO，例如问：Is there a difference between the relationship of neighbors in the countryside and that in the city? 答：Yes.或只用“半句话”来回答，如：Yes, there is a difference。以上两种方式都相当于没有回答，自然得不到分数。
3. 词汇量不足
例如：在描述一个人时，总是喜欢用Beautiful, Interesting, Challenging, Good, Warm-hearted, Nice等尽人皆知的一般性词汇，得分就当然低。如用较复杂的词汇就容易博取高分，如：Generous, Responsible等。同时，尽量不要用形容词来概括地回答问题，而是用细节性描述的手法来深入地回答和解释向考官展示自己驾驭英语的能力。对IELTS口语考试中的绝大多数问题都应当回答三句以上(不包括考试刚开始时的前几个一般性问题)。
4. 语法不清
单复数不搭配，如：My Dad like movies。时态错误，如：Last year, I graduate (graduated) from XXXX university。冠词错误，如：a children (child)。搭配错误，如： take after (care) of yourself 等。
5. 太流利
IELTS考官最忌讳的就是考生在考试前利用“机经”把大量的问题的答案背下来用来应付口语考试，而且，由于绝大多数考生在考试前并没有在使用英语的国家长时间生活过。因此，在回答问题时太流利，滔滔不绝，问一答十，考官只会得出一个结论：你在作弊！所以影响分数。
为了更好的准备考试，考生在准备口语过程中一定要注意如下几个方面。
1. 词汇量
IELTS口语考试需要准备的词汇并非越多越好，关键是要把常考的特定场景常用的有关短语和重点词汇收集好，并通过实战演练达到能够熟练地应用。比如：节日、体育、人物、服装、博物馆、食物和个人背景等。以博物馆为例，我们至少要分清它的类别：History Museum\Art Museum\Military Museum\Natural Museum\Public Museum\Private Museum\Specialized Museum.
2. 思维方式
西方人对问题的思维比较直接，而东方人的思维比较喜欢迂回曲折。IELTS口语考试的考官绝大多数是土生土长的洋人，因此考生要想得高分就必须能够适应西方的逻辑和语言习惯。否则，考官会认为你思维不清晰而所答非所问或故意回避问题掩饰语言能力的不足。
例如问：Is there a difference between the relationship of neighbors in the countryside and that in the city? 答：There is a difference between the relationship of neighbors in the countryside and that in the city. 这就是典型的不直接回答。答：Well, I guess people are closer in the countryside ***.这才是考官期待的回答方式。
2009年雅思口语展望
雅思口语题每三个月左右增加些新题
Can you show me your ID card?
What’s your full name?
What can I call you?
Where do you come from?
Are you working or studying?
Hometown
Please describe your hometown.
What is worth visiting in your hometown?
Music
What music do you like? Why?
What musical instrument do you like?
Are there any friends around you playing some instruments, like piano or guitar?
Have you ever listened to someone playing a musical instrument?
What musical instrument do you enjoy most and why?
Can you play any musical instrument?
Do you often go to the concert?
Shopping
Do you like shopping?
Who does the shopping in your family?
What do you often buy when you go shopping?
What don’t you like when you go shopping?
Where do you like to go shopping?
What style of shopping do you like?
Sport
What sports are popular among Chinese people?
Should we teach sports to children? Why?
What is the role of sports?
Do you think sports can help you relieve your mood?
Film
Do you like to watch films in the cinema or at home?
Why do you like to watch films?
What kind of films do you like?
How often do you go to the cinema?
What’s the difference between American films and Chinese films?
Reading
What/where/who/
TV vs Radio
Do you like to watch TV or listen to the radio?
When do you watch TV?
What’s your favorite program?
Weather
Internet
What do you do with internet?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of internet?
Do you think that life is better with the internet?
When did you begin to use the internet?
What’s the influence of the internet on you?
Living place
Where are you living now?
Do you like your living environment?
Is it good or bad for children?
Is there anything for improvement?
Clothing
What kind of clothes do you like?
What’s the difference between the opinions of men and women on clothes?
Do you like buying clothes?
Do you often wear formal or informal clothes?
Do you think that color is important when you buy clothes?
Park
What do people grow in park?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of parks?
What do people do in the park?
Age
What’s the most important age in your culture?
Do people have different pressure at different ages?
Did you have a happy childhood?
What’s the happiest age for you?
Photography
Do you like taking photos?
On what kind of situations do you take photos?
Could you tell me one of your happy experiences of taking photos?
