TOEFL iBT & IELTS Academic · TOEFL & IELTS English Skills
IELTS Speaking
A face-to-face interview in three parts lasting 11 to 14 minutes.
Five concepts — the IELTS Speaking interview as a skill set, not a brochure. Same three parts and four criteria for Academic and General Training: face-to-face with an examiner, recorded, 11–14 minutes. Format facts live in the tables; the cards teach what to do under each part.
- TOEFL iBT & IELTS Academic
- Medium level
- 5 concepts
- 5 practice questions
1Three parts, one face-to-face interview
IELTS Speaking is a live interview with a certificated examiner, not a computer-only task set. The whole test lasts 11–14 minutes and always runs in fixed order: Part 1 (introduction and familiar topics), Part 2 (individual long turn from a task card), Part 3 (discussion linked to Part 2). Academic and General Training share this Speaking paper.
Each part changes the demand — short personal answers, then sustained talk, then more abstract analysis — so prep that drills only Part 2 leaves the other two under-rehearsed.
Figure. Speaking always runs Part 1 → Part 2 → Part 3 face-to-face. Drilling only the long turn leaves the short answers and the abstract discussion under-rehearsed.
| Part | Length | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Introduction & interview | 4–5 minutes | Answer questions on familiar topics (home, work/studies, interests) |
| 2 — Long turn | 3–4 minutes (incl. 1 min prep) | Speak from a task card for up to about 2 minutes; notes allowed |
| 3 — Discussion | 4–5 minutes | Discuss more general / abstract ideas linked to the Part 2 topic |
On a standard IELTS Speaking test, which part comes immediately after the cue-card long turn?
- Part 1 familiar-topic interview
- Part 3 discussion linked to the Part 2 topic
- A separate computer Speaking module
Order is fixed: Part 1 → Part 2 (long turn) → Part 3. Part 1 is first, not after the long turn. Speaking is face-to-face with an examiner for Academic and General Training alike — there is no separate computer Speaking module in the standard IELTS paper.
2Four criteria, equal weight — including pronunciation
Examiners score the whole interview against four criteria: Fluency and coherence, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy, and Pronunciation. The four are weighted equally; a weak Pronunciation band pulls the Speaking score as hard as a weak Lexical band.
Pronunciation is about being understood without undue effort — stress, rhythm and clarity — not about sounding British or American. An accent alone is not a penalty.
Figure. Fluency, Lexical resource, Grammar, and Pronunciation share the Speaking score. Pronunciation is clarity of stress and rhythm, not sounding British or American.
| Criterion | What the examiner listens for |
|---|---|
| Fluency and coherence | Keep going at a natural pace; link ideas so the talk is easy to follow |
| Lexical resource | Range and precision of vocabulary; paraphrase when a word is missing |
| Grammatical range and accuracy | Mix of structures used accurately enough to carry meaning |
| Pronunciation | Intelligibility — clarity, stress, rhythm — not a specific accent |
A candidate speaks with a clear regional accent, keeps ideas connected, and uses a good range of vocabulary, but long silent pauses break the talk. The main criteria hit hardest are
- Pronunciation only — any non-British accent is penalised
- Fluency and coherence — long silent hesitation hurts more than accent alone
- Lexical resource only — pauses prove the vocabulary is too narrow
Long silent pauses are a fluency/coherence problem. Accent by itself is not a Pronunciation fail if speech is clear. Pauses do not automatically prove a Lexical failure when the stem already grants a good vocabulary range.
3Part 2: one minute of keywords, then the full long turn
In Part 2 the examiner hands you a task card that names a topic and bullet prompts (describe a person, place, event or object, and explain one aspect). You get one minute with pencil and paper, then you speak for up to about two minutes until the examiner stops you.
The prep minute is for keywords covering every bullet — not full sentences. Full sentences waste the minute and still leave you reading; keywords let you hit each prompt and keep talking for the full turn.
Figure. The prep minute is for keywords covering every bullet. Full sentences waste the minute and leave you reading; keywords let you hit each prompt for the full turn.
Use the prep minute
- Scan every bulletRead the topic line and each prompt on the card so you know what must be covered.
- Note keywords onlyJot one or two words per bullet — title, reason, detail, why it mattered — not scripted sentences.
- Speak the full turnOpen, hit each prompt in order, and keep expanding with detail until the examiner stops you around two minutes.
Cue card: 'Describe a book you enjoyed. You should say: what it was, why you read it, what it was about, and why you enjoyed it.' Best use of the one-minute prep?
- Write a full opening paragraph so you can read it aloud for fluency
- Jot keywords for each bullet (title, reason, plot, enjoyment) so every prompt is covered
- Ignore the bullets and plan one dramatic story ending only
Keywords mapped to each bullet keep the long turn on-task for the full time. A read-aloud paragraph burns the prep minute and sounds scripted. Dropping the bullets leaves prompts uncovered when the examiner expects them.
4Parts 1 and 3: response, then reason, then example
Short answers starve Fluency and Lexical resource. In Part 1 and Part 3, a band-friendly shape is Response + Reason + Example: answer clearly, say why, then add a concrete detail. One-word yes/no replies give the examiner almost nothing to score.
Natural fillers ('well', 'I suppose') can bridge while you think; long silent gaps hurt Fluency more than a small grammar slip in a developed answer.
Figure. In Parts 1 and 3, answer clearly, say why, then add a concrete detail. One-word replies give the examiner almost nothing to score on Fluency or Lexical resource.
Extend a short answer
- RespondGive a clear yes/no or stance in a full clause — 'Yes, I really enjoy cooking.'
- ReasonAdd why in one clause — 'It's a good way to unwind after a busy day.'
- ExampleAdd a specific detail — 'On weekends I try new recipes, like Thai curries.'
Examiner: 'Do you like cooking?' Which reply best shows fluency and vocabulary range?
- Yes.
- Yes, I enjoy cooking because it helps me relax after work, especially trying new recipes at weekends.
- Cooking.
The middle reply gives a stance, a reason, and a concrete example. 'Yes.' and 'Cooking.' are near one-word answers — they show almost no fluency development or lexical range.
5Part 3: analyse — opinion, justify, balance
Part 3 moves off your personal anecdote into more general and abstract questions linked to the Part 2 topic — why people travel, how cities change, whether technology helps families. The skill under test is explaining opinions and analysing or speculating, not retelling the Part 2 story.
A workable template is stance → justification → example or contrast. A single undeveloped claim ('Travel is good') leaves the discussion thin.
Figure. Part 3 asks for opinion, justification and balance on a general theme linked to Part 2 — retelling the long-turn story leaves the discussion thin.
Build a Part 3 turn
- Take a stanceAnswer the abstract question directly — agree, disagree, or split the cases.
- JustifyGive a reason that would still make sense for people in general, not only for your Part 2 anecdote.
- Balance or exemplifyAdd a brief example, comparison, or other side so the answer sounds developed rather than slogan-like.
Part 2 was about a book you enjoyed. Part 3 asks: 'Why do many people enjoy reading fiction?' The strongest opening move is
- Retell the full plot of the book from your Part 2 long turn
- Give a general reason (for example escape or empathy), then justify and illustrate it
- Say 'I don't know' and wait for a simpler personal question
Part 3 wants analysis of a general question. Retelling Part 2 narrates instead of analysing. Shutting down with 'I don't know' abandons the discussion the part is designed to test.
Notes
- Three Parts: IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face interview lasting 11-14 minutes. Part 1 (Introduction & Interview) covers familiar topics like home, work, and hobbies; Part 2 (Long Turn) gives a cue card to speak on for 1-2 minutes after 1 minute of prep; Part 3 (Discussion) explores abstract ideas linked to Part 2.
- Four Assessment Criteria: You are scored on Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource (vocabulary range), Grammatical Range & Accuracy, and Pronunciation. All four are weighted equally.
- Part 2 Cue Card: The card asks you to describe something (a person, place, event, object) with prompts. Use the one-minute prep to jot keywords covering each prompt so you can speak for the full two minutes without drying up.
- Extend Your Answers: In Part 1 and 3, avoid one-word replies. Add reasons, examples, and details ('Yes, I enjoy cooking because it helps me relax after work, especially trying new recipes on weekends').
- Part 3 is Analytical: Part 3 questions are more abstract and opinion-based ('Why do people enjoy travelling?'). Give developed, balanced answers with justification, comparisons, and examples rather than simple statements.
Formulas
- Part structure: Part 1 (familiar Q&A) → Part 2 (2-minute long turn from a cue card) → Part 3 (abstract discussion).
- Answer-extension formula: Response + Reason + Example (never a bare one-word answer).
- Cue-card prep: in the 1-minute prep, note keywords for each bullet prompt on the card.
- Long-turn coverage: address every prompt on the cue card and keep speaking for the full 1-2 minutes.
- Part 3 template: give an opinion, justify it, add an example or contrast for balance.
- Fluency aids: use fillers naturally ('well', 'I suppose') to keep talking rather than pausing silently.
Exam traps & shortcuts
- Never answer with a single word — always add a reason and an example to show fluency and vocabulary range.
- Use the Part 2 preparation minute to note keywords for each cue-card prompt so you never run out mid-turn.
- In Part 3, treat questions analytically: give an opinion, back it up, and mention another perspective.
- Keep speaking smoothly with natural fillers instead of long silences; hesitation hurts the Fluency score more than a small error.
Reference tables
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Face-to-face with an examiner (recorded); same paper for Academic and General Training |
| Total time | 11–14 minutes |
| Part order | Part 1 (familiar Q&A) → Part 2 (cue-card long turn) → Part 3 (abstract discussion) |
| Part 2 prep / talk | 1 minute notes; speak up to about 2 minutes |
| Assessment criteria | Fluency & coherence · Lexical resource · Grammatical range & accuracy · Pronunciation (equal weight) |
| Answer shape (Parts 1 & 3) | Response + Reason + Example — avoid bare one-word replies |
Recap
Pin these before you walk into the interview room.
- Order
- Part 1 familiar → Part 2 long turn → Part 3 abstract discussion; 11–14 minutes face-to-face.
- Criteria
- Four equal bands — fluency/coherence, lexis, grammar, pronunciation; accent ≠ automatic penalty.
- Cue card
- Prep minute = keywords for every bullet; keep talking until the examiner stops you.
- Extend
- Parts 1 & 3: Response + Reason + Example — silence hurts fluency more than a small slip.
- Part 3
- Analyse generally — stance, justify, balance — do not only retell Part 2.
Practise IELTS Speaking
Reading is free and needs no account. Practice, mocks and progress live in the app.
- 5 exam-style questions on this topic, with explanations
- A 5-question practice set that ends the chapter
- Timed mocks scored with the real marking scheme
- Readiness tracked per topic, kept on your device