IELTS speaking: how to do well in all three parts

Practise now: IELTS speaking mock test (a computer examiner asks the questions) · 30 cue cards with sample answers · Part 1 and Part 3 questions

What the examiner listens for

Four equally weighted criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource (vocabulary), grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. You don't need a particular accent. You need to be clear and easy to follow.

Part 1: introduction and interview (4–5 minutes)

Short questions about familiar topics. Give a direct answer, then one or two extra details.

Do you enjoy cooking? → Yes, I do, especially on weekends. I've been trying to cook more Australian dishes since I moved here. Last week I made my first pavlova, which was a bit of a disaster, but fun.

Sample topics: your hometown, work or study, weekends, weather, food, technology, transport.

Part 2: the long turn (3–4 minutes)

You get a task card and 1 minute to prepare, then speak for up to 2 minutes. Use your minute to jot down 4–5 keywords, one for each prompt on the card, plus a story or example.

Practice card: Describe a time you helped someone. You should say: who you helped, what the problem was, what you did, and explain how you felt about it.

Open the speaking recorder to practise speaking for a full two minutes.

Part 3: discussion (4–5 minutes)

Broader questions linked to Part 2. Why do some people find it hard to ask for help? Should schools teach volunteering? Give your view, a reason, and an example, and consider the other side.

Useful phrases: It depends on… · On the one hand… on the other hand… · A good example of this is… · I'd probably argue that…

Tips that make a difference

• Don't memorise answers. Examiners recognise them, and they can lower your score.
• It's fine to ask: Could you repeat the question, please?
• Extend, don't list. Explain why, and give examples.
• Use a range of tenses naturally: past experiences, present habits, future plans.
• Practise out loud every day, even for five minutes. Record yourself, or practise with a friend, a conversation group at your local library, or a tutor.

Pronunciation is a quarter of your speaking band. Our pronunciation guides by first language cover the sounds that most often affect clarity, with practice you can listen to.