IELTS Speaking
IELTS Speaking: how the test works and how to score higher
The Speaking test is an 11–14 minute conversation with an examiner, in three parts. Here is what each part asks of you, how it is marked, and real questions candidates reported, with sample answers you can hear.
The three parts
Part 1 4–5 minutes
Short questions about you: home, work or study, and everyday topics. Answer in two to four sentences.
Part 2 3–4 minutes
A cue card. You get one minute to make notes, then talk for up to two minutes on your own.
Part 3 4–5 minutes
A discussion that widens the Part 2 topic: opinions, comparisons and reasons, about people in general.
How it is marked
Four things, each counting for a quarter of your band.
Fluency and coherence
Keep talking without long stops, and link your ideas so they are easy to follow.
Lexical resource
The range and precision of your words, including natural phrases and collocations.
Grammatical range and accuracy
A mix of simple and complex sentences, and how few mistakes you make in them.
Pronunciation
How easy you are to understand: sounds, word stress and rhythm. Your accent itself doesn't count against you.
What lifts a Band 6 to a 7
- Talk at length without searching for words. A short “well” is fine; a long silence isn't.
- Link ideas in more ways than “and”, “so” and “because”: “although”, “which”, “that's why”, “the thing is”.
- Use some less common words and natural phrases correctly: “cracked up”, not “laughed a lot”.
- Mix in longer sentences with clauses, keeping most of them free of mistakes.
Part 2 cue cards with sample answers
Band 6, 7 and 8 answers, out of 140 real cards.
Part 3 questions and answers
The discussion that follows each card, with a Band 7 answer to every question.
Try a full Part 2
Sign in free, take a cue card with the examiner, talk for two minutes and get a band score with one thing to fix.