1. Overview
During the latter half of 2018, IELTS candidates were eager for reliable guidance on the speaking module. The website makkarIELTS became a focal point for learners seeking guesswork that is, educated predictions about likely speaking questions, trends, and scoring nuances. The period from September to December 2018 saw a surge in traffic, with thousands of students downloading PDFs, watching video analyses, and sharing personal experiences in the sites comment sections.
2. How the Guesswork Was Compiled
The MakkarIELTS team employed a threestep approach:
- Data Mining: They collected realtime speaking test reports from forums, social media groups, and official IELTS feedback released by test centres.
- Pattern Analysis: By coding each reported question into thematic categories (e.g., travel, technology, environment) the team identified recurring motifs.
- Expert Validation: Two certified IELTS teachers reviewed the patterns, crosschecked them against the official IELTS Speaking band descriptors, and refined the predictions.
Because the study was limited to a fourmonth window, the predictions are most accurate for test dates falling within that same semester. Nevertheless, many of the identified trends have persisted in later exams.
3. Frequently Appearing Topics (SeptDec 2018)
The analysis highlighted seven core topics that appeared in at least 40% of the speaking tests during the examined period:
- Travel & Holidays describing a memorable trip, discussing preferred travel methods, or planning future vacations.
- Technology & Gadgets impact of smartphones, internet usage, or future tech predictions.
- Education & Learning favourite subjects, learning styles, or online education.
- Environment & Climate recycling habits, personal responsibility for climate change, or favorite natural places.
- Work & Career ideal job, worklife balance, or memorable workplace experiences.
- Food & Health typical meals, healthy eating habits, or cooking experiences.
- Culture & Traditions festivals, family customs, or cultural differences encountered while traveling.
While the exact wording of questions varied, the underlying themes remained consistent. Knowing these clusters allowed candidates to prepare relevant vocabulary, ideas, and personal anecdotes in advance.
4. Practical Tips for Using the Guesswork
Below are actionable steps candidates can follow to turn the MakkarIELTS predictions into tangible speaking performance gains.
4.1 Build a Flexible Idea Bank
For each of the seven themes, write down 810 personal experiences, opinions, or observations. Keep the notes shortbullet points are enough. The aim is to have a readytouse pool of material that can be adapted to different prompts.
4.2 Practice Chunked Speaking
IELTS examiners value fluency and cohesion. Practice delivering responses in three chunks:
- Introduction (1520seconds): Briefly restate the question in your own words.
- Development (4560seconds): Use two or three of your prepared ideas, linking them with connectors such as for instance, on the other hand, or as a result.
- Conclusion (1015seconds): Summarise your point or give a forwardlooking statement.
4.3 Record and SelfEvaluate
Use a smartphone or a free online recorder. After each attempt, listen for:
- Pronunciation clarity are any sounds consistently unclear?
- Lexical range did you use at least two lesscommon words per theme?
- Grammar accuracy aim for no more than two slips per twominute answer.
4.4 Simulate the Real Test Timing
Part1 questions last approximately 45minutes, Part2 requires a 1minute preparation and a 2minute response, and Part3 involves deeper discussion for 45minutes. Practicing under these timed conditions builds stamina and reduces anxiety on the actual day.
4.5 Seek Feedback From Qualified Tutors
The MakkarIELTS platform offers a commentreview feature where teachers comment on uploaded audio files. Use this free service to gain insight into bandspecific strengths and weaknesses.
5. Conclusion
The Speaking Guesswork initiative by MakkarIELTS for SeptemberDecember2018 is a prime example of datadriven test preparation. By analysing real candidates reports, identifying dominant themes, and providing a clear preparation roadmap, the site helped many learners approach the speaking module with confidence.
Key takeaways for aspiring testtakers are:
- Focus on the seven highfrequency topics identified for that period.
- Develop a personal idea bank for each topic, ensuring relevance and authenticity.
- Practice structured, timed responses and record yourself for continuous improvement.
Even though the IELTS exam evolves, the methodology behind the 2018 guesswork remains valid: systematic analysis of past papers, targeted preparation, and consistent practice are the pillars of a high speaking band score.
