IELTS Speaking

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“Prepare for the IELTS Speaking test with our comprehensive guide covering Parts 1, 2, and 3. Explore expert tips, practice questions, and strategies to improve your confidence and test performance!“

The IELTS Speaking test evaluates your ability to communicate effectively in English. It's a crucial component of the IELTS exam, assessing your fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the three parts of the IELTS Speaking test, provide sample questions and answers, and share valuable tips to help you excel.

What is IELTS Speaking Test?

The IELTS Speaking section is a face-to-face interview of 11-14 minutes duration between you and an examiner, where you will be assessed on your ability to communicate in English. It tests your fluency, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. The test is divided into three parts:

Part 1: Introduction and general questions about yourself and familiar topics (4-5 minutes).
Part 2: You will be asked to speak for 1-2 minutes on a given topic.
Part 3: In this section, the examiner will ask more complex questions based on the topic from Part 2.

Understanding the structure of the IELTS Speaking test is crucial for your preparation. Each part of the test requires different skills, and being familiar with the types of IELTS Speaking questions you'll encounter can greatly improve your performance. Not sure how the IELTS Speaking test is conducted? See the infographic for more information.

ielts speaking

Let's take a closer look at what happens in each part of the IELTS Speaking test.

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview

In IELTS Speaking Part 1, the examiner will ask you general questions about yourself, your family, work/studies, interests, and other familiar topics. This section evaluates your ability to communicate opinions and information on everyday subjects.

Sample Speaking Part 1 Questions

What is your full name?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
What are your hobbies?

IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics

Here is a list of the most common IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics with answers that frequently appear in the IELTS Speaking test.

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Tips

Practice speaking English regularly to enhance fluency and confidence.
Familiarize yourself with common IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics and questions to prepare effectively.
Maintain a friendly and engaging demeanor with the examiner to create a comfortable atmosphere.
Provide extended answers rather than simple 'yes' or 'no' responses to showcase language skills.
Use a diverse range of vocabulary and grammatical structures to exhibit language competence.
Pay attention to your pronunciation and intonation, ensuring clear and understandable speech.
Maintain a natural pace of speech and IELTS Speaking tone, avoiding rushed or overly slow delivery.

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IELTS Speaking Part 2: Cue Card

In IELTS Speaking Part 2, you'll be given an IELTS cue card with a particular topic. After 1 minute of preparation time, you need to speak about that topic for 2 minutes. The examiner may then ask one or two questions related to your response.

Sample Cue Card Topic: Describe a memorable trip you went on.

You should say:

Where you went?
Who you went with?
What you did there?
And explain why it was memorable.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Tips

Understand the topic and task clearly.
Organize your thoughts during the one-minute preparation.
Speak for the full 2 minutes to showcase your language skills.
Use diverse IELTS vocabulary, grammar, and clear pronunciation.
Provide specific examples or personal anecdotes to support your points.
Speak naturally, and confidently, while maintaining eye contact.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Discussion

In IELTS Speaking Part 3, the examiner will ask more in-depth, abstract questions related to the topics discussed in Part 2. The purpose is to evaluate your ability to express and justify opinions, analyze issues, and speculate on possibilities.

Sample Part 3 Questions (Related to Travel):

Why do you think people like to travel abroad?
Do you think tourism creates more advantages or disadvantages?
How can governments encourage sustainable tourism practices?

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics

Here is a list of the most common IELTS Speaking Part 3 topics with answers that frequently appear in the IELTS Speaking test.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Tips

Here are some IELTS Speaking tips to effectively tackle the Part 3 questions:

Pay attention to the questions and understand what you are being asked.
Use specific examples and evidence to support your answers.
Explain your thoughts and ideas clearly and logically.
Use a variety of words and sentence structures in your speech.
Listen carefully to the examiner's questions and respond directly to them.
Organize your thoughts and use linking words to make your speech coherent.
Speak confidently and with a positive attitude.
Avoid giving vague answers and aim to provide detailed and insightful responses.

Boost your speaking skills! Join our IELTS Webinar for expert guidance and practice.

IELTS Speaking Scoring Criteria

Your performance in the IELTS Speaking test is evaluated based on four criteria, each worth 25% of your overall IELTS band score:

Fluency and Coherence: Your ability to speak smoothly and link ideas logically.
Lexical Resource: The range and accuracy of your vocabulary usage.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Your command of English grammar.
Pronunciation: Your ability to pronounce words clearly and use appropriate intonation.

Each criterion is scored on a scale of 0-9. The scores are averaged to determine your overall IELTS Speaking band score.

How to Calculate Your IELTS Speaking Score?

Let's say you received the following scores:

Fluency and Coherence: 6
Pronunciation: 7
Lexical Resource: 7
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: 8

To calculate your overall band score: (6 + 7 + 7 + 8)/4 = 7

Your IELTS Speaking band score would be 7.

The following are the IELTS speaking scoring criteria:

IELTS Speaking marking criteria

Tips for Success in IELTS Speaking

Practice IELTS Speaking practice tests regularly with language partners, teachers, or online resources.
Familiarize yourself with common IELTS Speaking topics and questions.
Record yourself speaking and identify areas for improvement.
Build your vocabulary by learning topic-related words and collocations.
Focus on improving grammatical range by using more complex sentence structures.
Develop active listening skills to understand questions clearly.

10 Advanced Techniques for IELTS Speaking

Use appropriate idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms: Incorporate natural English idioms and colloquial phrases in your speech to demonstrate a higher level of fluency, e.g., "It cost an arm and a leg," or "She was over the moon."
Employ discourse markers to connect your ideas smoothly: Use linking words for IELTS Speaking and phrases like "furthermore," "in addition," "however," "consequently," etc., to link your thoughts cohesively.
Rephrase or clarify your responses when needed: If you feel the examiner didn't fully understand your point, rephrase your response using different words to clarify your meaning.
Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question: Don't hesitate to politely ask the examiner to repeat or rephrase the question if you find it unclear.
Maintain a positive attitude and engage the examiner: Adopt a friendly demeanor, make eye contact, and involve the examiner by asking rhetorical questions or inviting their perspective.
Vary your speech pace, rhythm, and intonation patterns: Modulate your speaking rate, use appropriate pauses, and vary your intonation to sound more natural and engaging.
Give extended responses with relevant details and examples: Expand on your answers by providing vivid examples, personal anecdotes, or hypothetical scenarios to illustrate your points.
Show awareness of current affairs and global issues: Demonstrate your knowledge of contemporary events, socio-economic trends, and international matters when relevant.
Express opinions tactfully and consider different perspectives: Acknowledge alternative viewpoints while respectfully articulating your stance on complex topics.
Highlight your critical thinking skills by analyzing and speculating: Showcase your ability to think critically by examining issues from multiple angles and speculating about potential consequences or future implications.

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid in IELTS Speaking

Providing short or one-word answers: The examiner wants to assess your ability to speak at length, so avoid giving brief, underdeveloped responses.
Memorizing and reciting scripted responses: Examiners can easily identify memorized answers, which defeats the purpose of evaluating your spontaneous spoken abilities.
Speaking too quickly or too slowly: An unnaturally rapid pace can make you difficult to understand, while an overly slow delivery may come across as hesitant or lacking fluency.
Making frequent grammatical or pronunciation errors: While minor mistakes are acceptable, recurring errors in IELTS Grammar, word stress, or intonation can negatively impact your score.
Going off-topic or providing irrelevant information: Listen carefully to the questions and provide focused, relevant responses without deviating or rambling unnecessarily.

By following these strategies, practicing regularly, and staying focused during the test, you can enhance your performance and increase your chances of achieving your desired IELTS Speaking band score.

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IELTS Speaking Practice Test Sample

Here's an IELTS Speaking practice test with example answers for your guidance. Review them carefully to enhance your IELTS speaking score.

IELTS Speaking Part 1 Practice

1. What is your full name?
My name is Ridhima Saxena
2. Can I see your ID?
Yes , Here is my id
3. Where are you from?
I’m from the fourth biggest city in India which is Delhi.This city is also known as the city of kings because of its beautiful history . Delhi is also the Capital of India. It is popular for its delicious food and historical monuments.
4. Do you work or study?
Currently, I study in one of the top most universities in India which has a friendly and helpful faculty. They not only teach subjects but also gives us a lot of extra knowledge.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Practice

Describe your favorite song.
You should say :

What this song is about
When you listened to this song for the first time
How often you listen to this song
And explain why you think it is your favorite

Sample Answer
My favorite song is “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman. This song is about the “American Dream” that is sought after by many people. The singer recounts her childhood struggles, such as her father’s drinking and working day in and day out at a convenience store for little money. At the end of the song, she escapes her family problems and she and her boyfriend go into the city to seek a better life, and perhaps achieve the American Dream they've been hoping for. I listened to this song for the first time in the 90’s when I was a child; it takes me on a ride back to the good old days. The funny thing is that the first time I heard it, I thought it was a man singing because the woman has a very deep voice! However, I think the depth of her voice adds to this catchy song. Nowadays, I listen to this song about once a week. I think this song is my favorite because of the singer’s voice, and the story is just so captivating. When I listen to this song, I can put myself in her shoes and imagine the hardships she has been through. At the end of the song, I feel hopeful that they will find the better life that they are seeking. This song is timeless!

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Practice

1. Why do you think that some local singers or musicians aren’t as successful as some from other countries?
I think that fame is sometimes simply the luck of the draw. I think those born in the United States or other developed countries who play a large role in pop culture are the ones who find success more easily. I think it’s unfair that some are born with privileges that will eventually lead them to fame and wealth. For example, as you see, many famous singers are those who were already born rich or with famous parents. Sadly, it’s all about who you know!
2. Do you think the Internet has affected the music industry? In what ways?
I definitely agree that the internet has greatly affected the music industry. For one, I’m sure that some artists have lost money due to illegal internet downloads. Secondly, now artists are exposed to the world much more easily. In this cyber era, we have so much information at the click of a mouse. I’m sure that it is much easier to get your name out there nowadays. I wonder if the famous will become even more famous!
3. Do you think there will be further changes in the music industry in the future?
As with all things, I believe that the music industry will definitely continue to change. I see that nowadays music is relying more on electronic devices rather than human hands, like in the olden days. I think that nowadays someone doesn’t even need to pick up an instrument to be a musician. I firmly believe that the music industry will become more reliant on technology.
4. Do you think the music young people listen to in your country is becoming more globalized? Why/Why not?
My answer is a definite yes. Nowadays, young people are jamming out to American hits as well as K-pop. American hits have always been globalizing, and continue to globalize at an incredible rate. I think that almost every person can sing along to many American hits! Furthermore, K-pop is becoming a phenomenon for teens around Asia, and perhaps will continue to reach hearts around the globe.

Need more IELTS speaking practice tests? Check out the IELTS Speaking ebook and practice diligently for your IELTS speaking test.

List of Common IELTS Speaking Topics with Sample Answers

Below are some additional speaking practice tests to help you kick-start your IELTS Speaking preparation:

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the speaking test take?

Since the speaking section of the IELTS exam is meant to evaluate your spoken English, it does not take much time. The Speaking test is usually conducted for about 11-14 minutes. Part 1 takes approximately 4-5 minutes. Part 2 will take 3-4 minutes. Part 3 will take 4-5 minutes

How many questions will be asked?

In total, there will be up to 12 questions in part 1. These questions will be based on three varying topics. In part 3, you will have to answer almost 5 questions or more - based on your answer’s length.

Do I need to talk for two minutes in part 2?

Yes, it’s necessary to talk for two minutes to get a good band score. The reason behind this is, to get the band score of 6 and more for the fluency criterion, you must showcase your willingness toward scoring better. This means, there should be no sign of awkwardness towards giving longer answers.

Should I give examples to my answers?

Yes, you would be able to get a higher band score if you gave examples to your answers. Giving examples turns out to be useful, specifically in part 3 of the speaking test. Thus, you can try giving more detailed, longer answers

Will I get a lower score if I ask to repeat the question?

Not at all. You are allowed to ask the examiner to repeat the question

Will I get a lower score if I ask the examiner to repeat the question?

Not at all. You are allowed to ask the examiner to repeat the question. However, make sure that you keep it under a limit. Don’t ask the examiner to repeat more than twice or thrice as it may leave a negative impression on them.

How many parts will be there in the IELTS Speaking module?

In total, you will get up to 3 parts. The first part will be dedicated to question answers. The second part will be about talking about a topic. And lastly, the third part is about discussion on a topic based out of part 2.

Is it going to be a face-to-face test?

Since this speaking module is going to assess fluency, pronunciation, and your confidence with this language, it will be a face-to-face test with an examiner.

What is the marking for this IELTS module?

With this IELTS module, you will be marked in terms of fluency, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Each one of these factors will account for 25% of your entire marking.

Can I correct any mistakes done during the speaking test?

It is absolutely fine to correct your mistakes. However, make sure that nothing impacts your fluency. Also, try to keep corrections as low as possible as every time you stop to rectify your mistakes, your fluency scores will get affected.

What should I do if I cannot think of anything to answer in part 3?

Often, it happens that you will be asked such questions that you would be clueless about or cannot form an answer instantly. In such a situation, you can say, “Honestly, I don’t have any idea about this question as I never thought about it before.” This should suffice