IELTS Speaking Scoring
IELTS Speaking accounts for 25% of your total Band Score. There are three parts to the Speaking section and each part fulfils a specific function in terms of interaction pattern, task input and test takers output. The Speaking test is carried out face-to-face with a trained IELTS examiner. Every test is digitally recorded and consists of three parts:
Part 1 – Personal Introduction
The examiner introduces him/herself and confirms your identity. He/She then asks you some general questions on some familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies and interests. To ensure consistency, questions are taken from a script and the conversation lasts for 4–5 minutes.
This part of the test focuses on your ability to communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences or situations by answering a range of questions.
Common Topics in Part 1 that may be included:
- Work
- Study
- Hometown
- Home
- Art
- Bicycles
- Birthdays
- Childhood
- Clothes
- Computers
- Daily routine
- Dictionaries
- Evenings
- Family & Friends
- Flowers
- Food
- Going Out
- Happiness
- Hobbies
- Internet
- Leisure time
- Music
- Neighbours
- Newspapers
- Pets
- Reading
- Shopping
- Sport
- TV
- Transport
- Weather
- Remember you are being graded on your speaking ability, not the correctness of the answer. There is no right or wrong answer.
- Avoid repetition of examiner's question as a part of your answer. Understand the question and rephrase it in your own language.
Part 2 – Topic Discussion
In this part, the examiner will give you a task card which asks you to talk about a particular topic, includes points to cover in your talk and instructs you to explain one aspect of the topic. Test takers are given one minute to prepare their talk, and are given a pencil and paper to make notes. The examiner asks you to talk for 1 to 2 minutes and then asks one or two questions on the same topic. This part of the test focuses on the ability to speak at length on a given topic (without further prompts from the examiner), using appropriate language and organising ideas coherently.
- Avoid repetition of examiner’s question as a part of your answer. Understand the question and rephrase it in your own language.
- Do not try to use complicated words in your conversation if you are not comfortable. Keep it simple and casual. However, if you can use advanced vocabulary, it will be of advantage.
Part 3 – Further Discussion
In Part 3, the examiner and the test takers discuss issues related to the topic in Part 2 in a more general and abstract way and, where appropriate, in greater depth. This part of the test focuses on the ability to express and justify opinions and to analyse, discuss and speculate about issues.
- Try being as detailed as you can when answering. Develop your responses to each question rather than just answering in a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
- When given a Task Card, use the same verb tense in your answer as the question on the card.