Intonation and word stress are powerful tools for conveying meaning, emphasis, and emotion in spoken English. By mastering these features, you can enhance the clarity, expressiveness, and impact of your speech. Here are some ways to use them effectively:

1) Rising and Falling Intonation:

Experiment with rising and falling intonation patterns to convey different meanings and emotions. Rising intonation is often used in questions or to express uncertainty, while falling intonation indicates completion or certainty.

 Example:

Rising Intonation: "Do you enjoy traveling?" (Question)

Falling Intonation: "I love exploring new destinations." (Statement)

2) Emphasizing Keywords: Use word stress to highlight important words or ideas in your speech. By placing stress on certain syllables or words, you can draw attention to key points and clarify your intended meaning.

 Example:

"I enjoy reading mystery novels in my free time." (Emphasis on the activity)

"I enjoy reading mystery novels in my free time." (Emphasis on the enjoyment)

3)Expressing Emotion: Adjust your intonation and word stress to reflect the emotions you're trying to convey. Use rising intonation for excitement or surprise and falling intonation for certainty or seriousness.

 Example:

"I'm so excited to visit Paris!" (Emphasis on excitement)

"I can't believe how beautiful the scenery is." (Emphasis on disbelief)

4)Adding Nuance: Use variations in intonation and word stress to add nuance and subtlety to your speech. Experiment with different patterns to convey shades of meaning, attitude, or emotion.

Example:

"I really enjoyed the movie." (Emphasis on the degree of enjoyment)

"I really enjoyed the movie." (Emphasis on the activity)

By mastering intonation and word stress, you can elevate your performance in the IELTS Speaking test and make a lasting impression on the examiner. Practice incorporating these techniques into your speech to sound more natural, expressive, and confident.