Do the 3 parts of the speaking test carry equal weighting when your score is calculated, or is one part more important?
The simple answer is that the 3 parts are not scored separately; the examiner rates the student's performance as a whole. In this sense, neither part is more important.
However, it's useful to think about the 3 parts like this:
- Part 1 is supposed to be quite easy (like a warm-up), so you won't get a high score if you only do well in this part.
- Part 2 is when the examiner really gets a chance assess how good you are. He/she will now have an idea of what scores to give you.
- During part 3, the examiner is making his/her final decision. A good performance here can boost your score.
When preparing for the exam, my advice is to spend most of your time on part 2. This is the part that you can really work on in terms of topics and techniques.
Hi.
I'm completely agree with you. All the remaining part are easy to say whereas in part 2, maybe I will face a topic that I don't have a very good idea to express it or to talk about but it will not let me to stop talking and I will speak until the examiner will stop me.
Posted by: Adel Ansari | Friday, March 16, 2012 at 12:12
Hi Adel
Agree is a main verb and it does not need any To be verb befor. All forms you can use with the Agree, are:
Agree with .... : I I totally agree with the idea that says ...
Agree That ....: It was agreed that elections would be held on May.
Agree on/about .... : They don't agree about about all the mentioned subjects.
Agree to do Something : They agreed to play again on next saturday.
Agree on : We will manage to agree on a date for the next meeting.
Agree to : Frank Won't agree to his sister going into a nursing home.
you can find More information on Longman Dictiaonary or other Dictionary.
Posted by: Mohammad | Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 08:55
Hi Mohammad,
Thanks for your notification
Posted by: Adel Ansari | Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 09:57
Dear Simon,
Is it possible to give a balanced opinion in part 3?
I have read this question for discussion "Do you think people enjoy relaxation better in the city or in the countryside?". I intend to give supports for both sides and begin my answer with "It depends...".
Thanks a lot!
Posted by: Miracle | Monday, March 19, 2012 at 07:19
Yes, that's fine Miracle.
Posted by: Simon | Monday, March 19, 2012 at 14:45
hi friends this is first time iam attending ielts,if any one can provide recent cuecad topics please
Posted by: neethu | Monday, March 19, 2012 at 16:12
Hi Simon, my IELTS teacher who is also an Ielts examiner told me that Part 1 is the most important and the speaking examiner usually has a general idea
what score you get. Is it true?
Posted by: Lu liang | Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 06:56
Lu liang,
Part1 questions are supposed to be the easiest ones for the entire test and I'm sure the examiner can have a "general idea" of what score to give you. HOWEVER, Part2 is even more important and the examiner will make adjustments to your score depending on the quality of your speech. As for Part3, as Simon mentioned, they are the type of questions that can boost your score and that's when the examiner will make his or her final decision.
Think about it, if you were to give "perfect" answers in Part1 and do poorly for the rest of the test, how can an eximaner determine your score based on only your Part1 answers? Remember, the score is the OVERALL score of the whole test, so you must speak well in all parts if you are looking for a high score.
Cheers,
Martin
Posted by: Martin | Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 16:34
Lu liang,
Are you sure your teacher is an IELTS examiner? From my understanding, current IELTS examiners are NOT allowed to provide tutoring services and I believe this is against IELTS policy...
Simon,
Not sure if it is proper to ask you this, but please correct me if I am wrong as I would like to clear my doubts about this.
Thanks,
Martin
Posted by: Martin | Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 16:42
Hi Lu Liang,
Martin is right (read his comment below yours), it's impossible to get a good score if you ONLY do well in part 1. Although I agree that it's often possible for teachers/examiners to get an idea of a student's level very quickly, this doesn't mean that your score is decided straight away.
...
Hi Martin,
I'm not sure what the exact rule is, but they don't police it very well. While I was an examiner, I taught and helped to create an IELTS preparation course at the University of Manchester! Most of the IELTS examiners that I know also teach IELTS courses.
Posted by: Simon | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 21:06
I see! So I guess my information was wrong.
Thanks for your time to explain this!
Cheers,
Martin
Posted by: Martin | Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 22:31
No problem.
Posted by: Simon | Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 10:56
hai simoniam a constant visitor of your site ,i took my ielts exam on march 8th.i got 6.5 for eacxh module. in the speaking test my examiner told me time is up i couldnt finish the questions .i couldn t understand why he told like that.during part 3 i explained md my answers. could u pls give me a feed back. how i have to do in part 1&3 i took the exam so many times this is the first time i lost for speaking thanking you
Posted by: anitha | Monday, April 02, 2012 at 21:33
Hi Anitha,
Don't worry. The examiner was probably happy without what you had already said.
Posted by: Simon | Tuesday, April 03, 2012 at 17:07
Hello Simon,
I was wondering how difficult is to obtain a band 5,5 in speaking?Could you please tell me?
Thank you!
Posted by: Florin | Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 14:56
Hello Simon,
Please give me an answer for the question above.
Thank you!
Posted by: Florin | Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 16:59
hi Simon
i greatly appreciate ur selfeless purpose of helping so many..
i also observed dat u promptly reply to everyone..grt work..
regards
Dolly
Posted by: dolly | Monday, April 16, 2012 at 06:34
It's not too difficult Florin. You're lucky because many students need a 7.
...
Hi Dolly,
I'm afraid I don't reply so promptly these days. I get too many comments now, and I can't answer them all unfortunately. Thanks for your support!
Posted by: Simon | Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 14:39
I did my speaking exam today, and the questions were not so difficult but i think the examiner was a bit in hurry at that time because im the last participant so i did not think that he did pay an attention to me, also im kinda worry because he did laugh when heard my answer, I have no idea why he laugh seriously..no idea...i think i could answer every question very well, but maybe he surprised with my answer.
now im worry...did i make a mistake??
1st what is ur full name, where u come from, where u live, questions related house ...in this part i kinda missed up the question" he did ask about my opinion" and i answered in general..then he said "not in general but for you"..
2nd my dream job... yeah..he did laugh in this part
3rd future carrer...also he did laugh in this part.
this is my 2nd exam...in my 1st exam i got 7.5 for my Speaking and i hope i could at least maintain this score.
so what does it means if an examiner laugh when she/he listen to your answer? im really worry about my score now....
Posted by: abetjupe | Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 12:49
hi
if someone work well in part 2 and 3 but bad in part 3 he will get high scor
Posted by: ezzo | Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 17:59
hello...
kindly help me to relieve my stress...
i did well in 1 part..but i talked only about 1 min in 2 part ..examiner got little amaze and started to ask in third part,,,i did well in third part...better then first one..so how many bands I will get you guess?
Posted by: Dhaval Patel | Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 13:49
Hi ...i did well in part 1 ...but speak for about only 1 min in second part..however i did even better in part 3 except some grammatical mistakes ..so what u think how many band i will get ..please reply me
Posted by: Dhaval Patel | Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 14:02