1 · Pronunciation
Hear it, see it, say it
IELTS tip. In the Speaking test, a wrong short vowel can change the word you mean: pen and pan, or bad and bed. Choose three vowel pairs that you confuse and use them to check your speech when you record a practice answer. In the Listening test, hearing the short vowels clearly helps you catch words such as ten and tan, or ship and shop, when they carry the answer.
How to make it
- Say sit, set, sat in a row and feel your jaw open step by step.
- For cup, keep your lips relaxed and make a short, central 'uh'.
- For hot, open your mouth, round your lips a little and keep the tongue low and back.
- For put, round your lips a little and keep the sound very short.
sit, set, sat, cup, hot, put, bed, bad, luck, look