Best prompt of ChatGPT 4o to practice English speaking (Cambridge IELTS)

In this post, I decided to put ChatGPT 4.0 to the ultimate test by using it as a practice tool for the IELTS Speaking exam, specifically focusing on the Band 6 criteria. As someone who is always eager to explore innovative learning methods, I was curious to see whether this advanced AI could effectively assist in language training. Spoiler alert: The results were surprisingly impressive! 🎉

Whether you’re preparing for the IELTS, seeking new ways to practice speaking, or simply interested in how AI is transforming education, this post is for you! For those of you looking to replicate my experiment, I've shared the exact prompt I used at the end of this post.

Down below is the video, I've also provided the text version of it if you are interested. 

 

 

Setting the Stage

First, I set up the practice session by giving ChatGPT a clear set of instructions:

1. Who I Am: My native language and proficiency level.
2. What I Want to Practice: The specific aspects of oral English for my IELTS exam and the reasons behind it.
3. How I Want to Practice: The manner in which I want ChatGPT to interact with me, including how it should respond to my answers.

Getting Started with ChatGPT

Since I'm currently in China, I had to use a VPN to connect to ChatGPT, which sometimes caused a slight delay. But once I was connected, the real test began.

ChatGPT: "Hi James, how’s it going? What can I help you with today?"

Me: "Hi, my native language is Cantonese, and I want to practice my oral English for my IELTS speaking exam. I’ll show you my prompts. If you're interested, you can take a quick look; if not, you can skip to the next part."

ChatGPT: "Absolutely, James. I understand your requirements. Let's get started. Here’s your first question: What are some of the benefits of living in a big city? Go ahead and give me your answer when you’re ready."

The Practice Session

I answered ChatGPT’s first question, keeping it simple and straightforward.

My Answer: "Wow, that's a very good question. I think living in a big city is good because I can enjoy different restaurants, and it's easier to find jobs."

ChatGPT Feedback: "Thanks for your response, James. Here’s your feedback based on the IELTS speaking band 6 criteria:

• Fluency and Coherence: Your answer was clear and easy to understand, but try to expand your ideas more by giving examples or reasons.
• Lexical Resource: You used basic vocabulary well. Try to incorporate more descriptive words or phrases.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Your sentences were generally correct but simple. Try to use a mix of simple and complex sentences.
• Pronunciation: Your pronunciation was clear. Keep practicing to maintain clarity and add more intonation for a natural sound."

Encouraged by the detailed feedback, I asked ChatGPT to dive deeper into the next question.

Me: "I think you gave me a great answer and feedback. For the next question, can you explain exactly what the problem was and how to expand my ideas?"

ChatGPT: "Got it, James. I’ll be sure to explain how to expand your ideas and provide specific guidance. Here’s your next question: How do you think technology has changed the way we communicate with each other?"

My Answer: "Technology has made our lives much more convenient. For example, I can talk to my friends whenever I need using WhatsApp or WeChat. It's very helpful."

ChatGPT Detailed Feedback:

• Start with a General Statement: Technology has revolutionized the way we communicate, making it faster and more efficient.
• Provide Specific Examples: For instance, instant messaging apps like WhatsApp and WeChat allow us to send messages instantly.
• Explain the Significance: This is particularly helpful for staying in touch with family and friends who live far away, eliminating the delays of traditional mail or emails.
• Add More Points: Moreover, video calls through platforms like Zoom have become essential, especially during the pandemic, for both personal and professional communication.

Final Thoughts and Takeaways

After thoroughly testing ChatGPT, I found it to be an excellent tool for practicing languages—or any other subject, for that matter. The feedback was both detailed and structured, which significantly helped me improve my responses. However, there were a few things to keep in mind:

• Speed: ChatGPT sometimes responds too quickly, making it difficult to take notes.
• Specific Instructions: To get the best feedback, you need to provide ChatGPT with specific, detailed questions.
• Instruction Following: While ChatGPT follows instructions well, it's not perfect. But with more time and training, it will certainly get better.

Using ChatGPT can save you a lot of money on language courses or private tutors. If you haven’t subscribed yet, I highly recommend it. It’s only $20 a month, and it’s definitely worth the investment.

Closing Thoughts

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Prompt that I used:
Who: My name is James and my native language is Chinese, I have ok English speaking skill

What: I wanna practice my English speaking skills

Why: I am taking an IELTS exam to apply for permanent residency in Canada and my goal is to get a band 6 in IELTS speaking

How to practice : I want you to ask me questions from IELTS speaking task 3, you will ask me 1 question, please make sure the questions you ask are as close as authentic task 3 questions. then I will give you my answer, and you will wait for my order to continue to the next question.

How to respond:  You will be acting like a real IETLS speaking test instructor, and you can ask follow up questions if you think it’s necessary. Then I want to you give me feedback according to the IELTS speaking band description after a single complete question. As I said, I want to achieve band 6, so please make sure your feedback is following the band 6 instructions. In your feedback, I want you to tell me where I can improve in terms of vocabulary and grammar structure and so on. And when you give feedback, I want you to slow down, because I will have to have time to take notes, so please ask me if I’m ready for your next tip before continuing in case I need more time to write down stuff.