Clear, not accent-free
Pronunciation is one of the four things the examiner scores in IELTS Speaking, along with fluency, vocabulary, and grammar. The key point is simple: you are scored on being clear, not on losing your accent. An Indian accent is not a problem. Millions of people speak clear, high-level English with a Hindi-influenced accent.
So the goal of this guide is intelligibility — making it easy for a listener to catch every word. You do not need to copy a British or American voice. You just need your sounds and stress to be clear enough that the examiner never has to guess. New to the test? Start with the full IELTS Speaking guide.
Common sound patterns (and how to practise them)
Below are sound patterns that are common for many Hindi speakers. They do not apply to everyone, and none of them are mistakes of character — they simply come from the sounds of Hindi and other first languages. For each one, there is a short description, a minimal pair (two words that differ by just one sound), and a practice tip.
| Sound | Common pattern | Example pair | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| /v/ vs /w/ | The two can blend, so both may sound the same. | vine / wine | For /v/, touch top teeth to bottom lip. For /w/, round the lips and do not let teeth touch. |
| "th" /θ/ /ð/ | "th" is often replaced with a t or d sound. | think / tink · this / dis | Put your tongue lightly between your teeth and blow air out for "th". |
| /z/ vs /s/ | A final /z/ can turn into an /s/ sound. | buzz / bus · prize / price | For /z/, let your voice buzz. Touch your throat — you should feel it move. |
| Word stress | Stress can land on the wrong syllable. | hoTEL not HOtel | Say the strong syllable louder and a little longer. Clap on it. |
| Dark "l" | The "l" at the end of a word can sound too light. | feel / fill | For end "l", pull the back of your tongue up and back, like a soft "ull". |
| Consonant clusters | A short vowel can slip into groups of consonants. | school not "is-cool" | Blend the consonants together. Say "skool" as one smooth push, no extra vowel. |
You do not need to fix all of these. Pick one or two that most affect how clear you are, and work on those first.
Why word stress matters most
English is a stress-timed language. That means one syllable in a word is said stronger — louder, longer, and clearer — while the others are softer. Getting the strong syllable right often helps a listener more than any single sound.
Take hotel. Many speakers say HOtel, but English puts the stress on the second part: hoTEL. Or develop — it is deVElop, not DEvelop. When the stress moves to the wrong place, a clear word can suddenly sound unfamiliar, even if every sound is correct.
- Learn stress with each new word. When you meet a word, say it out loud and mark the strong part.
- Stretch the strong syllable. Make it a touch longer and louder, and let the rest go soft.
- Clap or tap on the strong syllable while you say the word. This trains your ear.
- Check longer words, like photography (pho-TO-graphy) or comfortable (COMF-table). These carry the most risk.
A simple practice routine
Small, regular practice beats long, rare sessions. Ten minutes a day is plenty. Here is a routine you can repeat:
- Pick one pattern from the table above for the week.
- Say the minimal pair slowly, ten times each — for example vine / wine — until you can hear and feel the difference.
- Record yourself reading three or four sentences that use the sound. Listen back and ask: can I catch every word?
- Shadow a clear speaker. Play a short clip, pause, and copy the rhythm and stress, not just the words.
- Use it in real speech. Answer a practice question out loud and notice your target sound while you talk.
Feedback is what makes this fast. It is hard to hear your own sounds while you speak. Aflo listens to your answer and shows you, sound by sound and word by word, where a listener might struggle — so you know exactly what to practise. See how the scoring works.
Frequently asked questions
Does my Indian accent lower my IELTS Speaking score?
No. IELTS scores pronunciation on how clear and easy to understand you are, not on your accent. A Hindi-influenced accent is completely fine. Focus on the few sounds and stress patterns that make words easy to tell apart.
Which sound should Hindi speakers work on first?
For many people, word stress helps the most, because putting the strong syllable in the wrong place can make a clear word hard to recognise. After that, pick one sound pair, such as /v/ and /w/ or "th", that most affects how clearly you are understood.
How can I practise the "th" sound?
Put your tongue lightly between your teeth and gently blow air out. Practise minimal pairs like think / tink and this / dis slowly, then use the words in short sentences until the sound feels natural.
Do I need to sound British or American to score well?
No. There is no "correct" accent in IELTS. The examiner only needs to understand you clearly. Keep your own voice and work on clarity, stress, and any sounds that blur together.