What IELTS really wants: clear speech, not a new accent
Pronunciation is one of the four things the examiner scores in IELTS Speaking, along with fluency, vocabulary, and grammar. It is about how clear and easy to understand you are — not about copying a British or American accent.
So keep your accent. A Filipino accent is not a problem, and it is never "wrong". You only want to make sure each word is easy to hear, that your word stress is clear, and that your voice rises and falls in a natural way. New here? Start with the full IELTS Speaking guide.
Common sound patterns for Tagalog speakers
These are patterns that show up often for many Filipino speakers, because some English sounds do not exist in Tagalog. They do not apply to everyone, and you may already do all of them well. Read them, test yourself, and only practise the ones you need.
/f/ and /v/. Tagalog often uses /p/ where English uses /f/, and /b/ where English uses /v/. So fan can sound like pan, and vote like boat. For /f/ and /v/, rest your top teeth lightly on your bottom lip and let the air pass through. /f/ is quiet; /v/ buzzes.
"th" — /θ/ and /ð/. The two "th" sounds are not in Tagalog, so think can become tink and this can become dis. Put the tip of your tongue lightly between your teeth and blow. /θ/ (think) is soft and quiet; /ð/ (this) buzzes a little.
Short /ɪ/ and long /iː/. English splits these two, but Tagalog does not, so ship and sheep can sound the same. For /iː/ (sheep), smile and make the sound long. For /ɪ/ (ship), relax your mouth and keep it short and quick.
The schwa /ə/. Tagalog vowels are full and clear, so it can feel natural to say every English vowel fully. But English "eats" many unstressed vowels into a soft uh sound called the schwa — the a in about, the er in teacher. Letting weak syllables go soft makes your rhythm sound very natural.
Final consonant clusters. English piles consonants at the end of words, like asked (/askt/) or texts (/teksts/). Many speakers drop the last sound or add a small vowel. Try to keep the final sounds, even if they are quiet — say the -ed and the -s rather than skipping them.
/tʃ/ and /ts/. Sometimes the ch sound (/tʃ/, as in watch) is said as ts. For /tʃ/, start with your tongue as if for t and release it into a soft sh.
Quick reference table
Use this as a checklist. Say each example pair out loud and ask: can a listener hear the difference?
| Sound | Common pattern | Example pair | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| /f/ vs /p/ | /f/ can sound like /p/ | fan / pan | Teeth on lip, blow air softly for /f/. |
| /v/ vs /b/ | /v/ can sound like /b/ | vote / boat | Teeth on lip, add a buzz for /v/. |
| /θ/ (think) | can sound like /t/ | think / tink | Tongue between teeth, blow quietly. |
| /ð/ (this) | can sound like /d/ | this / dis | Tongue between teeth, add a buzz. |
| /ɪ/ vs /iː/ | the two can merge | ship / sheep | Long + smile for sheep; short + relaxed for ship. |
| /ə/ schwa | vowels stay full | about (uh-BOUT) | Let weak syllables go soft: 'uh'. |
| Final clusters | last sounds dropped | asked, texts | Keep the -ed and -s, even if quiet. |
| /tʃ/ vs /ts/ | /tʃ/ can become /ts/ | watch / wats | Release 't' into a soft 'sh'. |
How to practise (a little, often)
You do not need hours a day. A few focused minutes work better. Here is a simple routine:
- Pick one sound from the table — just one for the week.
- Say a minimal pair slowly ten times (ship / sheep), feeling the difference in your mouth.
- Put it in a sentence you would really say (I want to buy a cheap ship ticket).
- Record yourself, then listen back. Can you hear the difference clearly?
- Slow down. Speaking a little slower gives your mouth time to make new sounds, and it makes you easier to follow.
Two habits help more than perfect sounds. First, word stress: put a clear strong beat on the right part of a word (com-FOR-table, not COM-for-ta-ble). Second, intonation: let your voice rise and fall instead of staying flat. These two make you sound clear even when a few sounds are still new.
The fastest way to improve is to hear where a listener stumbles. Aflo lets you speak, then shows you which words were hard to catch and how your pronunciation scores — see how the scoring works.
Frequently asked questions
Will my Filipino accent lower my IELTS Speaking score?
No. IELTS scores clarity, not accent. Examiners are trained to understand many accents. You only need to be easy to follow, so keep your accent and focus on clear sounds, word stress, and natural intonation.
Which sounds should Tagalog speakers practise first?
It depends on you, but common ones are /f/ vs /p/, /v/ vs /b/, the two 'th' sounds, and the short/long i split (ship vs sheep). Test yourself with the pairs in the table and practise only the ones a listener finds hard to hear.
Is it bad to speak slowly in IELTS Speaking?
A little slower is fine and often helps. It gives your mouth time to make clear sounds and makes you easier to understand. Just keep going and avoid long silences; smooth and clear beats fast and rushed.
Do I need to sound British or American to score well?
No. There is no 'correct' English accent for IELTS. You are marked on how clear and easy to understand you are, so a clear Filipino accent can earn a high pronunciation score.