How Does IELTS Speaking Work? Parts 1, 2 and 3

Who should make Speaking a priority?

• Candidates whose written English is good but who freeze when they speak
• Candidates who can't organise what to say on the Part 2 cue card
• Candidates who find it hard to balance fluency and pronunciation
• Candidates whose nerves stop them showing what they know

How is IELTS Speaking structured?

Speaking is an 11–14-minute, three-part, one-to-one interview with an examiner, and it is the same in Academic and General Training. Each part brings a different skill to the fore; knowing the format in advance helps you anticipate what is expected on the day and keeps your nerves in check.

• Part 1: introductions and short questions on familiar topics (home, work, hobbies)
• Part 2: talking about the topic on a card (the cue card) for one to two minutes, after one minute to prepare
• Part 3: a more abstract discussion that builds on the Part 2 topic and goes into more depth

How do you prepare for the Part 2 cue card?

The cue card is the part most candidates find hardest, because you have only one minute to prepare. Using that minute well is the key to keeping your talk going for one to two minutes without drying up. In lessons we practise jotting down quick notes on the prompts printed on the card and turning your idea into a talk with a beginning, a middle and an end.

IELTS Speaking assessment criteria

• Fluency and Coherence: speaking smoothly and keeping your ideas connected without getting stuck
• Lexical Resource: range of vocabulary and using it appropriately for the topic
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: variety and accuracy of sentence structures
• Pronunciation: clear, intelligible speech, with appropriate stress and intonation

How do you balance pronunciation, accent and fluency?

The aim in Speaking is not to have a particular accent but to be understood; the Pronunciation criterion measures how clear your speech and intonation are, not your accent. On the other hand, concentrating too hard on pronunciation and hesitating can break your fluency. The right balance is to keep your ideas flowing while staying easy to understand, and that balance only comes with regular rehearsal.

How our Speaking mock tests work

The most effective Speaking preparation is regular one-to-one rehearsal in the test format. In a Speaking mock test you go through all three parts of the real test from start to finish, then get immediate feedback against the four criteria: you are shown, point by point, where you got stuck, which word you used wrongly and how you could have developed each answer further.

What does it take to move from band 6.0 to 7.0?

In band 6.0 speaking the ideas come across, but pauses are frequent and words get repeated. To reach 7.0 you need to extend your answers and back them up with linking words such as 'because', 'for example' and 'on the other hand', use a wider range of vocabulary and sentence structures, and steer clear of memorised answers. We measure that gap in Speaking mock tests and close it with targeted practice.