IELTS Speaking: Basic Information

The IELTS Speaking Test is the final part of the exam. Your test will be at some time between 1.30pm and 5.00pm. You can take only your ID document into the exam room.

The test lasts between 11 and 14 minutes. You will be interviewed by an examiner who will record your conversation. Timing is strictly controlled by the examiner, so don't be surprised if he or she interrupts you during an answer.

There are 3 parts to the Speaking Test:

1. Introduction/ interview: around 10 questions in 4 to 5 minutes.
2. Short presentation: talk for 2 minutes with 1 minute to prepare.
3. Discussion: around 5 questions in 4 to 5 minutes.

Preparation is the key to a good score in IELTS Speaking. Different skills are tested in each part, so you need to know exactly what to do. 

We can predict the kinds of questions that the examiner will ask. We'll prepare ideas, possible answers and good vocabulary for each part of the test.

Comments

[Tomo]

Dear Simon,

Thank you very much for sharing all the useful information!

I am wondering how my speaking would be graded if I make a presentation less than a minute or one and a half minutes in part 2? How bad could it be? It often happens when I have unfamiliar topics.

Thank you for your feedback in adavance.

[Simon]

Hi Tomo,

You are supposed to speak for 1 to 2 minutes. It's best to keep going if you can - if you speak for less than a minute, the examiner will not be very impressed (I think that part 2 is your best chance to impress the examiner).

One and a half minutes is fine, if what you say is good - some people speak quickly and can say a lot in this amount of time.

My best advice is that you should practise speaking for as long as you can. Give examples or tell a story about yourself. Practice makes perfect!!

Good luck

[Tomo]

Dear Simon,

Thank you for your prompt response.

I understood and I try my best to practice until my next IELTS, which is coming this end of month.

Again thank you very much!

[Simon]

No problem Tomo

[Charles]

Dear Simon,

Thank you very much for sharing all these information.

I'm taking my IELTS exam (academic) on March and I would like to know how the overall band score is calculated. Is it the arithmetic average? 25% for each part? Thanks again.

Charles

[Simon]

Hi Charles

I'm glad you find the site useful.

Yes, each part is worth 25%. Good luck in March!

[sukhwinder k deol]

Dear Simon,
why our conversation is recorded in speaking test...??????

[Simon]

Hi Sukhwinder,

It's recorded so that another examiner can listen to it if there is a problem, or if you ask for a re-mark.

[nesa]

Hi dear Simon
Thank you for Your amazing website.I did IELTS test last week.something happened,I want to know what is the meaning? examiner wrote number on the piece of paper.I saw he marked 2 at least for 3 times but after that as his speed was very high and I had to concentrate , I couldnt see anything. Is it possible to let me know what were those number.
Thank you in advance
by

[Simon]

Hi Nesa,

The examiner was probably making notes or writing down minutes. Don't worry - he/she wasn't writing your scores!

PS. Try to ignore what the examiner is doing - focus on your answers.

[nesa]

Hi
thank you very much. it was kind of you to reply me

[Sameer]

HI Simon,
However, it was my first time to visit this site but i find this site very useful for my test. i have registered for 22 october 2011. I would probably need further help of you. thanks

[Simon]

Hi Sameer,

I'm glad you found the site. Keep following the lessons - I'm sure they will help.

[Mel]

Hi Simon,

I just got my result yesterday, sadly
Listening 7.5
Reading 9.0
Speaking 6.5
Writing 7.0

I need 4 bands 7.0. Are there any chance for me, if I remark the test? I took the ielts test in IDP Australia... :(
Please give me some advices

Many thanks
Mel

[saif]

hi Simon thank you for question and answer. i want some more practice of section 2 or 3 in speaking. than you so much Simon.

[zainab]

Is ielts target band 7 and your ebook available here is the same book?

[Simon]

Hi Mel,

Yes, there is a chance, so maybe it's worth trying. Good luck!

...

Hi Zainab,

'Target band 7' is not my book.

[Jean-Luc]

Hi Simon,

Is the examiner you meet in the test room the same person who marks your test? I ask this because after the examiner had told my friend that the speaking test was over, they proceeded to engage in an extended conversation about various topics and the examiner asked a lot of personal questions. I think he was the last candidate for the day.

To me this seems a tad unlike what an examiner in official capacity would do.

[Jean-Luc]

Hi Simon,

Another question I'd like to bring up is: how safe is it to express strong opinions? For example, if the topic is about sports, and I say, "Well personally I HATE football...", and the examiner happens to be a loyal ManU fan, have I just shot myself in the foot?

I suppose this pertains to the writing tests as well, but on the speaking test it's harder to resist the urge to reach over and grab the collar of the guy who just plainly stated that he hates your favourite sport. I know examiners try their best to be impartial, but nobody's perfect after all.

I suppose it's safe to assume that controversial topics such as religion and politics will never appear on the IELTS.

[Simon]

Hi Jean-Luc,

Yes, the examiner you meet (in the speaking test) is the person who decides what score to give you. I guess your friend's examiner already had a clear idea of the score, and just felt like having a chat - I agree that it's not normal procedure though!

You shouldn't worry at all about giving your true opinions about things like sport. Examiners are told very clearly in their training sessions to focus on language and not opinions. You're right to assume that truly controversial topics are avoided.

[Leigh]

Dear Simon,
i don't know how long i spoke for in the second part of my speaking test because i didnt have a watch with me to time myself. will it affect my score if i did not even reach a minute and how much damage can that cause?
thanks

[Pink]

dear Simon,
I gave IELTS test 22/09/2012 in Dekin University at Burwood (melbourne) Campus. My complain is about Speaking Test only.

My Speaking test Date was 22/09/2012 at 13:20. So I gave my speaking test very well but at 15:20 they called me on my mobile saying that they didn't record my test but examiner had scored your test. It took alomst 3 hours to realize them that they didn't record my speaking test. I was surprised and worried because It was my 4th attempt to get required IELTS band but it never happen before and I didn't heard from anywhere else like this.

Well they said you have to come back to test centre again so that they can record my speaking test as they said examinor already scored my test. I trust them and coprate with them and I came back at test centre same day around 17:00 but they just didn't recorded my test again, in rush they took a totaly different Speaking test again, they didn't explain me that I will get score according to my previous Speaking Test or according to this on. So I was confused and couldn't get this that If they saying that examinor already scored your test and they only want to record of my Speaking Test again then why they took a different Speaking Test again. so they will give me score accordingbecause of occured harassment and unusual circumstances(after spending my all day in the test centre I was tired and in rush to get back to test centre on time) effect my speaking test so I only got 5.5 band in Speaking test. But before in normal circumstances, in my two recent attempts to get required IELTS band I had scored 6.5 in my Speaking Test.

So I wasn't satisfied with the alternative arrangements made by Dekin University staff test to record my Speaking Test again.

[swapna]

hi simon..plz help me out if u can im having a problem with my left finger in which d authorities take fingerprint during d listening and speaking session nd i was banded with my finger in which dey take my biometric nd im having exam nearby,so what should i say them they wont allow me if i didnt give my finger print so what shall i say them dis made me very tensed rather dan my xam thinking
thanku plz see my comment nd reply..