The IELTS Speaking test is an 11-14 minute face-to-face conversation with a certified examiner, split into three distinct parts that each test something different.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4-5 minutes)
The examiner asks general questions about familiar topics — your home, work, studies, family, hobbies. This tests your ability to give personal information clearly and confidently in everyday conversation.
Part 2: The Long Turn (3-4 minutes)
You're given a "cue card" with a topic and bullet points to cover. You get one minute to prepare notes, then speak for 1-2 minutes without interruption. This tests your ability to organize and sustain extended speech on your own.
Part 3: Discussion (4-5 minutes)
The examiner asks more abstract questions related to the Part 2 topic, requiring you to discuss ideas, compare, speculate, and justify opinions — the most demanding part of the test.
How Speaking Is Scored
- Fluency and Coherence: Speaking at a natural pace with logical connections between ideas.
- Lexical Resource: Range and precision of vocabulary, including idiomatic language used naturally.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: A mix of sentence structures used correctly.
- Pronunciation: Clarity, not accent — a strong accent with clear pronunciation scores well.
How to Prepare
Practice speaking at length on common topics (not memorized scripts), and get comfortable with the one-minute prep time for Part 2 by timing yourself. Recording your own answers and listening back is one of the most effective ways to catch fluency and grammar issues.
Build your spoken vocabulary and grammar fluency with our free English course.