The IELTS Speaking test is a face-to-face conversation with an examiner. It lasts 11 to 14 minutes, has three parts and is recorded. Your band comes from four criteria. Each criterion is equally weighted, and your Speaking band is an average of the four. Knowing what each one means tells you exactly what to practise.
The three parts
| Part | Length | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Introduction and interview | 4–5 minutes | General questions about familiar topics: home, work or study, hobbies. |
| 2. Long turn | 3–4 minutes | A task card, 1 minute to prepare, then you talk for up to 2 minutes. |
| 3. Discussion | 4–5 minutes | More general and abstract questions linked to your Part 2 topic. |
The four criteria in plain English
| Criterion | What it means | What to practise |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency and coherence | How smoothly you keep talking, and how clearly your ideas connect. | Answer in full ideas, with a reason or example. Use natural linkers: actually, the main reason is, that said. |
| Lexical resource | The range and precision of your vocabulary. | Topic words for common themes, and paraphrasing when you don't know a word. |
| Grammatical range and accuracy | The variety of structures you use, and how accurately. | Mix tenses naturally, and use conditionals and complex sentences, not just short simple ones. |
| Pronunciation | How easy you are to understand, and how you use stress and intonation to get meaning across. | Clear word stress and sentence stress. Your accent itself isn't assessed; you need to be easy to understand. |
Each criterion counts the same. Strong vocabulary can't fully make up for weak grammar or long pauses. Find your weakest criterion and work on that first.
What doesn't affect your score
- Your opinions. You aren't assessed on whether your ideas match the examiner's, only on how well you express them in English.
- Your accent. Your accent isn't part of the criteria and doesn't affect your score. What matters is being easy to understand.
- Your topic knowledge. The test isn't checking what you know about a topic. If you're unsure, use your own experience or give your opinion.
- Asking the examiner to repeat a question. It's acceptable to ask, and much better than answering the wrong question.
A quick self-check
- Record yourself answering one question from each part.
- Listen back. Where do you pause for a long time? Which words did you repeat?
- Pick one criterion to improve this week, and practise only that.
The fastest way to get feedback is to practise out loud with BandIQ Speaking practice: you get an estimated band, corrections and a model answer. For each part, see our Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 guides.
Frequently asked questions
How is IELTS Speaking marked?
On four criteria: Fluency and coherence, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy, and Pronunciation. Each criterion is equally weighted, and your Speaking band is an average of the four.
How long is the IELTS Speaking test?
11 to 14 minutes, in three parts. It is face to face with an examiner and it is recorded.
Do I need a native accent for a high Speaking band?
No. Your accent is not part of the criteria and does not affect your score. Pronunciation is about being easy to understand and using features like stress and intonation to get your meaning across.
Does the examiner mark my opinions?
No. You aren't assessed on whether your ideas match the examiner's, only on how well you express them in English.