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IELTS Speaking

WHAT IS IELTS SPEAKING?

In IELTS Speaking Exam, you are going to be evaluated on your English-speaking skills. The examiner takes your verbal interview face to face to assess your skills and this interview is recorded. If your IELTS Exam is paper based, then you could have your speaking test either on the same day as your Listening, Reading, and Writing tests or 7 days before or after the other three tests. However, if your IELTS Exam is computer delivered, then you will have your speaking test on the same day as the other three tests.

WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF IELTS SPEAKING TEST?

The IELTS Speaking test is same for both Academic and General training so, they follow the same format. The test is divided into three parts and lasts for about 11-14 minutes.

PART 1 - In this part, the examiner will introduce himself/herself to you and will check your identity. Then the examiner will ask you some common questions.

For example: questions related to you, your life, your work, studies, home, family, friends, hobbies, interests, lifestyle, likes and dislikes etc. This part usually takes about 4-5 minutes. When answering questions in this part, do not just provide one-word answer or very short answers. Give a bit more information through your answers so that you can put forward your thoughts, reasons, and choices more clearly and effectively but at the same time do not overextend your answers too.

PART 2 - In this part, the examiner will give you a topic to speak on that will be written on a card. There will also be some points mentioned in that card that you should include in your topic. You will be given 1 minute to prepare, along with a pencil and a paper to make some notes during your preparation time. You are then required to speak on the topic for about 2 minutes.

You can get any topic to speak on, however, usually you get topics that you are familiar with and are related to you and your life in some or the other way.

For example: you may be asked to talk about your favourite sport, favourite picture, memorable event in your life, a leader you look up to, an experience that changed your life, etc.

Once, the 2-minute time is over, the examiner will ask you to stop. Then the examiner may ask you a couple of questions related to that topic. This part lasts for about 3-4 minutes.

PART 3 - In this part, the examiner will be asking you some questions that are going to be generically and conceptually related to the topic given in Part 2 of the test. You will have the chance to elaborate and provide a more general expression of your ideas, opinions, and viewpoints through these questions. This part takes about 4-5 minutes.

HOW ARE IELTS SPEAKING SKILLS ASSESSED?

There are 4 factors on which your speaking assessment will be done.

1. FLUENCY AND COHERENCE

This determines how clear and well organized your speech is. When you are answering the questions or speaking on a topic, there should be an effortless flow in your speech to sound more natural and fluent. For coherent speech, you must make sure that you present your answers in a structured way. There should be a link between your ideas and sentences throughout so that it sounds more logical and structured.

2. LEXICAL RESOURCE

This determines how good your vocabulary is. You must use a variety of words instead of repeating the same words to present your views and to express yourself.

3. GRAMMATICAL RANGE AND ACCURACY

This descriptor determines how good and correct your grammar is. You must use a different types of sentence structures in your speech. For example, using a combination of simple and complex sentences. In order to score good on the grammatical range descriptor, you must elaborate on your answers so that there are interrelated parts in your speech to add complexity in your sentences. Similarly, by adding a subordinate clause to your sentence, you are adding more detail to your sentence which adds complexity to the sentence. However, it is equally important that your sentences are grammatically correct. For example, your tenses should be correct or if the sentence ends, your speech must reflect the pause before moving on to the next sentence.

4. PRONUNCIATION

This descriptor assesses how clearly you pronounce your words so that it is understood by the listener. It is true that different people may have different accents and the same words maybe pronounced differently depending on the accent, however, it is important that the words that you use are comprehendible. If the listener is putting a lot of effort to decipher the words in your speech, then you are going to lose marks in pronunciation.

IMPORTANT TIPS

  • 1. Do not speak too fast or too slow.
  • 2. Use discourse markers to organise and link your speech such as moreover, however, as a result, even though, etc.
  • 3. Use intonation in your sentences so that it does not sound like a memorized speech. This way you can also lay emphasis on the important words in a sentence that will help you to express your attitude and opinion more effectively.
  • 4. If you do not know what to say and you need time to think, avoid going completely blank or using fillers such as ahh, aaaa, umm as this may reflect that you are either confused about the question or did not understand the question. Instead, use phrases to fill the gaps while you are thinking such as:

    “Unfortunately, I do not have much knowledge about this field, however, my guess is...”

    By doing this, you will let the examiner know that you have understood the question and at the same time you will buy yourself some time to think.

  • 4. Do not give answers in short sentences. This can give the impression that your speaking skills are very limited including your grammar and vocabulary. So, you must add more information in your answer to express your views in detail with a reasoning. This will give you the opportunity to highlight your speaking skills.

HOW XPERTMYY IELTS WILL HELP YOU?

People are frequently seen to be terrified and nervous about the IELTS Speaking Test. This nervousness not only undermines their confidence, but also causes them to make numerous errors, lowering their speaking score.

This usually occurs because they focus too much on the topic and try to memorize everything while preparing for their speaking test. However, it is critical to understand that rote learning is not a viable option if you want to achieve a high IELTS Speaking score. Always remember that it is not so much what you say as it is how you say it.

At Xpertmyy IELTS, you will learn all the skills necessary to achieve your ideal score. You will not only be prepared for the various topics and questions that may be covered in the exam, but you will also be much more confident and presentable, which will be reflected in your speech and body language.

So why wait? Join us and take the first steps toward your goal.

For example: you must use a variety of sentence structures, different tenses, and correct punctuation.

SAMPLE SPEAKING TEST

PART 1
  • Examiner: Good morning. Please introduce yourself.
  • Candidate: Good morning. My name is (your name). I am (your age) years old. I am from (city name) which is a city is (country name).
  • Examiner: Thank you. Could you please show me your ID?
  • Candidate: Sure, here is my passport.
  • Examiner: Great. Let’s get started. Are you a student or do you work?
  • Candidate: I am a student. I attend (college/university name) to study (course name).
  • Examiner: What aspects of your studies appeal most to you?
  • Candidate: I find my subject interesting because (give your reasons).
  • Examiner: Ok. Now let’s talk about activities you like to do in your free time. What is your favourite pastime?
  • Candidate: My favourite pastime is (favourite hobby) because (give reasons). However, I also like to listen to music and paint to relieve my stress.
  • Examiner: Good. Now let’s talk about something else. Do you use social media? How much time do you spend on social media?
  • Candidate: I am not a huge fan of social media as it causes a lot of distraction which affects my studies. So, I do not use it every day. However, I have a lot of friends and family with whom I am connected through social media, so I use it few times a week to keep in touch with them.
  • Examiner: Thank you, this is the end of Part 1. Now we are going to move on to Part 2 of the test.
PART 2
  • Examiner: In this Part, I will be giving you a task card and with a topic written on it. You must talk on the topic for 1-2 minutes. You will also get 1 minute to prepare. You can also make notes during that time.
  • TASK CARD
    task-card

    Every year during my summer vacation, me and my family plan a holiday and visit different places in India. This is my favourite time of the year as we explore new places and at the same time spend some quality time with each other, away from the hustle of the daily life. Last year, we visited Taj Mahal, located in Agra city of India. Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and it was developed under the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. When we reached there, the gentle rays of the morning sun were illuminating its beautiful white marbled exterior. Instantly, I fell in love with that place. As I got closer to the door, the detailed features of the fascinating carvings became even more visible. I found it extremely interesting that this historical marvel is a perfect fusion of Indian, Persian, and Turkish architectural styles. The designs are in perfect symmetry and this incredible accuracy is evident. But what impacted me the most was the emotional connection that this place offers and makes you think about the strength of love. Every nook and corner of this place tells a story. It is a story romance, affection, and dedication. Out of all the places, I have ever been to, this place has left an unforgettable impression on me. I truly believe that Taj Mahal is not just a magnificent monument but a living example of the belief that genuine love endures the test of time, much like classic architecture.

  • Examiner: That sounds like a great experience. Do you think you will visit Taj Mahal again?
  • Candidate: Yes, I think I will visit again. I feel the experience provides an insight that touches one’s soul and such experiences must happen again and again.
  • Examiner: How long did it take to reach Agra from your city?
  • Candidate: Well, I can’t be sure as we made few stops during the journey but in my opinion, it took us about 9 hours to reach Agra.
PART 3
  • Examiner: Thank you. Now we move on to the last part of the test where we are going to discuss about Travel and Tourism. What is your take on International Tourism in recent years? Do you see any changes?
  • Candidate: In my opinion, International Tourism has significantly increased in recent years. Especially due to the advancement in technology. For example, everything can be booked online very easily like travel arrangements, accommodation arrangements, etc. People can learn and know more about different places by looking up about them on internet. This is very helpful when you are deciding on which place you would like to go for your vacation. So, I think International Tourism has grown in the past few years.
  • Examiner: Do you suggest that the rise in tourism is usually a good thing?
  • Candidate: A place may see economic gains from more tourism, but there are drawbacks as well such as negative effect on the environment and local cultures. Thus, finding a balance is crucial for sustainable tourism.
  • Examiner: Could you explain some of the advantages and disadvantages of mass tourism?
  • Candidate: Due to mass tourism, new jobs are created which is helpful for the local people as it creates employment opportunities for them. It boosts the country's economy by earning more revenue. However, the downside of mass tourism is that it puts a lot of strain on the environment. Deforestation takes place to create more resorts and hotels. It increases pollution in the city. People throw trash and litter anywhere and everywhere. There is a risk of loss in the local culture. To please and attract tourists, the local culture is modified and presented differently due to which the genuineness of the culture is lost. Furthermore, local cultures may get influenced by new cultures of the tourists which may cause cultural contamination. Lastly, I would say that mass tourism creates financial dependency in various ways, which might have a severe impact on the economy in unforeseeable unfortunate events. For example, during Covid 19 when all the travels were banned, it affected the tourism industry very badly and places that were financially too dependent of the tourism industry, suffered a massive loss.

This is the end of the Speaking Test.

This is only a sample test created for you to have a better understanding of the Speaking Test. It is a good idea that you cover a variety of topics and questions when you are preparing for your actual Speaking Test to be thoroughly prepared.

To learn more about IELTS and for more IELTS related content such as:

  • Vast Repository of unlimited IELTS sample papers with answers and,
  • Mock Tests to assess your preparation for the exam,

Register with us and refer to the Course Overview menu page to connect and enroll in a course with us.

Register With Us

Join Xpertmyy IELTS and embark on your journey towards success and empowering dreams.

For more IELTS related content such as:

  • Vast Repository of unlimited IELTS sample papers with answers and,
  • Mock Tests to assess your preparation for the exam,
  • Register with us and refer to the Course Overview menu page to connect and enroll in a course with us.
  • Join Xpertmyy IELTS and embark on your journey towards success and empowering dreams.
Register With Us
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