IELTS Speaking: the importance of part 2

A few people have asked me what will happen if they do badly in part 2 of the speaking test. Is it still possible to get a high score?

In theory, it is still possible to get a reasonably high score (maybe band 7) if you do badly in part 2, but you would need to give excellent answers in part 3. In practice, candidates rarely recover from a bad part 2; I don't remember anyone who made a mess of part 2 but suddenly did a fantastic part 3.

My advice: You should consider part 2 as the core of your speaking test. It's your best chance to show how good your English is, and it's the examiner's best chance to listen carefully to your use of language (so it's probably the point at which most examiners get a clear idea of what score to give you).

The good news is that you can prepare for part 2. Click here to get started!

Comments

[Wendy]

Thanks Simon

This is Wendy who commented in the last speaking post and I think this answers my questions well enough. I'm less worried now and l'm expecting at least a passing score I guess, because I know the reason I did badly in part 2 was due to the time issue with the examiner, but I am quite sure that part 3 went as well as I did it the first time.

[Pete]

Hi Simon.

My speaking result was 8.0, I took the IELTS on 15th December. I did ok in part2, and I also did well in part3. I used a lot of less common phrases and idioms. I forgot everything about grammar when speaking, the only thing I focused was trying to link ideas and spoke as clearly as possible, with a normal speed(Not so fast). The examiner who tested me didn't even smile or interrupted. As you mentioned earlier, ignore the examiner and focus on only answering questions as well as we can.

[Saima]

Hi Friends
Few days are left in my ielts exame.
I need someone native or good speaker to have practice to improve my speaking. My skype id
is (ielts4me).
Thanks in advance

[Natasha]

Hope for the best tomorrow.

[namita]

Hi Simon,
Please tell me what can we speak on below topic of speaking

Describe the cultural dance represented by famous television program in your country.

*Every one can guide me on this

[Gracia]

Hi Simon,
I am really confused about how to write this topic,

International travel often makes people more prejudiced rather than more board-minded. What are the causes of this? Suggest some solutions.

I'm not quite understand the task and have no ideas about it.

Thank you very much and everyone can share ideas with me.

[Samantha]

Dear Simon,

I'm a student from Malaysia. I had been preparing IELTS 3 weeks before my test date. I was lucky indeed to get to know your website. It was really helpful and it did reduce my nervousness on the test day itself. My minimum requirement was band 6.5. I was expecting this score but it turned out to be better: an overall score of 7.5.

Listening: 7.5
Reading: 8.0
Writing: 7.5
Speaking: 7.0

The writing score gave me a shock. I used to be weaker in writing part. Your essays and advices definitely gave me a boost. I don't know what else to say but THANK YOU. You are so great. :)

[Simon]

Hi Gracia,

I don't think that's a real IELTS question - I think someone has invented it. It would be best to ignore it and prepare some different topics instead.

...

Congratulations Samantha!

I'm glad my advice helped you with your writing.

[Valencia]

Hi Simon,

I took IELTS on 15th Dec 2012 and my result is
L:8 R:8.5 W:6.5 S: 7.5

I think I could do better at writing had not I been so nervous during the test. Overall, I am pretty satisfied with my result since I only had 3 weeks to prepare and the scores are good enough to pass the english requirements at my targeted unis.

I only studied from this website and your advice was extremely useful for me, especially on writing and speaking. Really appreciate your effort in teaching us. I just can't thank you enough :)

[G4f]

Hi All,

I am preparing for the ielts test in the 2 next months. I look for someone who want to practice IELTS speaking and share exp as well. My Target is 7.

Btw my name is Hieu from Vietnam. Hope to talk to you soon.
Catch me by skype giagia_01

[mithin]

Hii simon..
i completed my ielts speaking today..but it was not well performed by me..i was structed in 2nd session...so tell me it would be effect my ielts score.
thank you..

[Wendy]

Hey Mithin (person above me),

If you do well for parts 1 and 3, you'd be surprised by how your results turn out. I just got my results today and though I did a terrible Part2 (The topic was vehicle I would like to own someday, which I was *completely unprepared for*) i.e. Not many points & barely went past 1 minute of speaking, long pause at end. I did well for the other parts and was surprised with a score of 8.0 today.

[Neha Pawar]

HI Simon,

I had IELTS Speaking on 20th Jan. I didn't understood my topic. my topic was "Describe a present Someone has given you" but I had described on "present you have given someone".

Please let me know that it will impact on my IELTS Speaking Score. I am very much upset for the same.

[Simon]

Don't worry too much Neha. It will probably only have a small effect.

[saiful]

Hi Simon, My name is Saiful. I would like to IELTS exam within two months,but i can not understand listing. I can not speaking properly
as well.Please help me how can i will improve my confidence.
Saiful

[abdul aziz]

HI Simon ! My name is ABDUl. My exam is in next months but I not understand Witting and speaking as well . Please help me how can I do well .
MY Skype ID is
aziz78670

[tsewang]

Hi simon, i had my exam 1 week ago, waiting for my results (fingers crossed). I didn't do quite well in writing task 2. I think I didn't give strong points and also repeated some words a lot. I'm really scared. Will it affect my writing score a lot?

[satya .k]

hi this is satya from india , i did my ielts exam but scored only 5 bands . so plz help how to over come the reading and writing sections any one plz give me guide lines for this exam . my target is 7 bands .

this is my contact number 08500990055
plz give me a big support for ielts exam per pose if any one having the same problem plz call me . we r ptaticeing speaking section