IELTS Speaking is an 11-14 minute conversation with an examiner. It has three parts, and each one expects a different kind of answer: short answers about yourself, a talk of up to two minutes from a card, and a deeper discussion.
The three parts
| Part | What happens | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Short questions about you, your studies or work, your interests | 4-5 minutes |
| Part 2 | A topic on a card: 1 minute to prepare, 1-2 minutes of speaking | 3-4 minutes |
| Part 3 | Deeper, more general questions on the Part 2 topic | 4-5 minutes |
Marking criteria
- Fluency and Coherence - speaking without stopping and in a logical order.
- Lexical Resource - range of vocabulary and expressions.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy - different tenses and complex sentences.
- Pronunciation - clear, easy-to-understand speech.
How to raise your band
- In Part 1 do not stop at "yes/no": extend the answer with one reason or example.
- In Part 2 use the preparation minute to note 2-3 keywords for each point on the card, then speak for the full 2 minutes.
- In Part 3 support your opinion with a reason and an example, compare and generalise.
- Record your answers and listen back: cut down fillers such as "um" and "er".
