IELTS Speaking test: What all you should know
Updated on 23 January, 2023
Mrinal Mandal
Study Abroad Expert
Study Abroad Expert
The International English Language Testing System is one of the world's most widely accepted English language proficiency tests. It evaluates the candidate's familiarity with the language in four aspects: Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.
IELTS Speaking is one of the essential sections of the IELTS exam that evaluates a candidate's ability to communicate in English. It follows the same format for both Academic and General Training modules.
The IELTS Speaking section usually lasts for 11-14 minutes and is divided into three parts;
There are four primary assessment criteria for IELTS Speaking:
You can answer questions confidently once you know what the examiner expects and wants to know. Here you need to be mindful while answering. Avoid answering in haste if you don’t understand the question; instead, gently request the examiner to repeat the question.
Maintaining eye contact while speaking shows you're confident to share your thoughts. It creates a good impression in front of the examiner and helps you convincingly present your answers.
In the speaking test, the examiner evaluates your English communication skills and expects detailed answers. Therefore, make sure that you justify your answers correctly. Some ways you can do this are by giving examples and presenting facts and figures. This would not only substantiate your responses but also embellish your answers and make you more presentable in front of the examiner.
Vocabulary works as a tool for showing your command over the language. A good vocabulary is a skill that adds up to 25% of your total score. So, make sure you learn new words every day before your speaking test.
Fluency comes with practice and consistency. An excellent way to start is by picking any topic and speaking in front of the mirror. This way, you'll learn about your mistakes and the areas for improvement. Make this a part of your daily routine, and you'll eventually start developing fluency.
Most of the time, Indian candidates get interviewed by foreign examiners whose accent turns out to be an issue. To ensure that you don't go through the same, begin watching English movies and web series with subtitles to understand how words are pronounced in different accents.
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IELTS Speaking Band Score | ||
The below table shows some of the common IELTS Speaking test samples with answers.
IELTS Speaking | Sample |
Part 1 | Home Do you live in a house or a flat? I live in a house that is located in Jaipur, Rajasthan. I have recently shifted there. Which is your favorite place in your home? My favorite place in my house is the balcony of my room. I enjoy sitting there in the mornings and evenings. Can you describe it? Well, it’s not particularly large but quite spacious. There are several plants on the balcony that my mom waters every day. We have kept two chairs and a small table in it. If you could change one thing in your house, what would it be? One thing I would like to change about my house is the design of my washroom. Though it is spacious and beautiful. But there are two doors in it. The entrance of the other door opens from the hall and my room. I would want my washroom only to have a single entry from my room. |
Part 2 | Book Describe a book you have recently read. You can talk about
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Part 3 | Do you think books help in improving vocabulary? Do you enjoy reading books or watching movies? What are the different types of genres you know? Who is your favorite author? |
2. The scores in the speaking section are awarded on the basis of four skills. They are fluency and coherence, lexical resources, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.
3. There is no right or wrong in the speaking section. Applicants will not be negatively marked for any response. The answers will be evaluated by experienced and trained examiners.
4. There will not be any writing involved in this section. Applicants only need to answer and discuss the questions orally.
5. The IELTS speaking section is the shortest one. It is conducted within a maximum of 15 minutes.
6. The speaking section will comprise three sub-sections. Each subsection will be 3-4 minutes long.
7. As a part of the first subsection, the questions will be related to the applicant. There can be questions about his/her interests, family background, hobbies, and reasons for choosing a particular course or educational institution. This segment usually contains predictable questions and is pretty easy to deal with.
8. In the second subsection, applicants will be given a topic and they will need to speak on it for 2-3 minutes.
9. The third subsection is a conceptual one where you will get an opportunity to answer the issues raised by the examiner.
10. Even if you are taking a computer-based IELTS test, you still need to appear for the face-to-face speaking test.
11. The interview is recorded. And the applicants can take the recordings home too if they are eager to mark themselves on their performance.
12. The examiner of the speaking test is the one who decides the results after the interview ends. Therefore, only reputed, trained, and certified examiners give the test.
13. Fluency, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation all earn equal marks in the speaking test. To do well, applicants need to work on all these skills.
2. The IELTS speaking section is conducted within 11-15 minutes, which is much less as compared to all the other sections of the test. It is the shortest section.
3. All the sections of IELTS can be taken in either offline or online mode. The speaking test is conducted offline only.
4. The speaking section is the only IELTS section where the band is based on four factors that have already been stated.
5. IELTS speaking results are declared right after the test by the examiner. For other sections, the test results are declared later.
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Read more: IELTS Speaking Test Format | IELTS Speaking Preparation | IELTS Speaking Topics: Know, Practice & Prepare | IELTS Speaking Band Score
IELTS Speaking may seem like a peculiar task, but it isn't. With the help of the right tips, you can score a good band score on the test.
The IELTS Speaking test lasts up to 11 to 14 minutes.
Some general questions the examiner asks in IELTS Speaking Part 1 are based on topics such as family, friends, work/study, lifestyle, habits, hobbies & interests, and likes & dislikes.
Some general cue card topics are art, book, family, friends, place or event, daily routine, exercise, hobby, journey, and language.
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