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IELTS Speaking Test | What You Need to Know

The IELTS speaking test is an oral interview between the IELTS candidate and an IELTS examiner.

The entire interview process lasts around 11-14 minutes and consists of three different sections. Find out what to expect during the speaking test below.

IELTS Speaking Test Part 1 | Introduction & Interview

(4-5 minutes)

In this section the IELTS examiner will introduce himself/herself and ask you to introduce yourself and confirm your identity.

The IELTS examiner will then continue to ask you some general questions on topics such as: home, family, work, studies and your interests.

Example questions from part 1 IELTS Speaking test:

Let’s talk about where you grew up.
  • Can you describe the place (town, city, village) where you grew up.
  • Are you still living there?
  • Do any of your family members still live there?
  • Has the place changed much since you were a child?

IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 | Individual Long Turn

(3-4 minutes including preparation time)

In this section the IELTS examiner will ask you to talk about a particular topic which he/she will give you on a ‘topic card’.

The card will include certain points that you should include in your response.

You will be given 1 minute to plan and think about your response before you begin to speak.

You will be given paper and a pencil to make some notes to help you plan how to respond to the questions.

You will be expected to talk about the topic for 1-2 minutes.

The IELTS examiner will tell you when the time is up.

When you have finished your response, the IELTS examiner will ask you one or two questions related to the topic to finish this section of the interview.

Example Part 2 Question Topic Card (Cue card)

Describe a sports event you attended
You should say:
- What the event was
- When and where it took place
- Who was there with you?
And explain how you felt while watching it.

Follow-up question: Have you ever played this sport yourself?

Explore an example IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 Cue Card and follow-up questions

.

IELTS Speaking Test Part 3 | Discussion Questions

(3-4 minutes)

In this section of the IELTS Speaking test the IELTS examiner will ask you some more questions related to the topic in part 2.

You will be expected to be able to discuss more abstract concepts and ideas in this section at greater length.

This section, as the title suggests, is more of a discussion with the examiner than simply questions and answers.

Example Part 3 Questions

Let’s discuss watching sport...
  • Why do some people prefer watching a sport in person and others on television?
  • What effects can excessive sports viewing have on people's physical health?
  • In what ways do you think the experience of watching a sport has changed over the years?
  • How might technology change sports viewing in the future?
Finally, let's discuss sports celebrities...
  • What responsibilities do people in the public eye have to their fans and sponsors?
  • How has social media impacted how famous athletes interact with their fans?
  • Is it important for sports celebrities to make charitable contributions? Why or why not?

The IELTS Speaking score is based on 4 different factors described in the Official IELTS speaking band descriptors:

  • Grammatical Range & Accuracy
  • Lexical Resource
  • Pronunciation
  • Fluency & Coherence

All IELTS Speaking tests are recorded for quality and security purposes.

Sample IELTS Speaking Questions & Answers

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Good luck with your IELTS exam!


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