IELTS Speaking Test Tips and Advice

The IELTS Speaking test is a crucial component of the IELTS exam, designed to evaluate your English-speaking skills through a face-to-face interview with an examiner. We will walk you through the format of the test, provide essential tips for success, and offer practice tests to help you prepare effectively for your exam day.

What is the IELTS Speaking test format?

There are three parts in a Speaking Test:

IELTS Speaking Part 1: (4–5 minutes) Introduction and interview

The examiner will introduce him/herself and ask you to introduce yourself in addition to confirming your identity. The examiner will ask you generic questions about family, studies, work, and your interests.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: (3–4 minutes) Individual long turn

The examiner will give you an IELTS Speaking cue card with a topic written on it, with some points you may cover in your speech. You will have one minute to think and prepare for the topic; a paper and pencil will be provided to jot down your notes. Once done ideating, you will have a time of one to two minutes to speak on the subject followed by some questions on the same by the examiner.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: (4–5 minutes) Two-way discussion

The examiner will ask more questions related to the topic provided in Part 2 of the Speaking test. You can use this opportunity to talk about more ideas.

IELTS Speaking practice test

Access our IELTS Speaking questions and answers practice test to achieve your desired band score.

• Speaking Part 1 practice test:

Prompt | Recording | Transcript

• Speaking Part 2 practice test:

Prompt | Recording | Transcript

IELTS Speaking tips

Here are some of the IELTS Speaking tips for your reference, you can follow these tips to ensure you are all set to take your Speaking test with confidence:

1. Practice speaking English daily: Regularly engage in conversations in English with friends, family, or language partners. Use language learning apps to practice real-time conversations.

2. Familiarise yourself with the test format: Understand all 3 parts of the IELTS Speaking test. Know what types of questions are commonly asked.

3. Speak clearly and confidently: Focus on clarity over speed. Speaking too fast can lead to mistakes or unclear pronunciation. Maintain a steady pace to think clearly and avoid nervous errors.

4. Extend your answers: Avoid giving yes/no responses. Always aim to elaborate on your answers by providing reasons, examples, or personal opinions.

5. Use a wide range of vocabulary: Include a variety of vocabulary to express your thoughts clearly. Avoid repeating words or phrases. Practice synonyms and idiomatic expressions, but make sure they're used correctly.

6. Practice pronunciation: Focus on correct pronunciation and intonation. Mispronounced words can affect understanding.Record yourself speaking and listen to the playback for any unclear words.

7. Develop fluency by practising timed responses: Set a timer for 2 minutes and speak about a topic without hesitation. It helps improve fluency and coherence.

8. Avoid over-preparation: Rehearsing scripted answers can make your responses sound unnatural. It's important to sound spontaneous and conversational during the test.

9. Use connectors and linking words: Use phrases like "On the other hand," "In my opinion," and "For example" to structure your thoughts and make your answers flow logically.

10. Stay calm and maintain eye contact: Staying calm helps reduce nervousness and0020maintaining eye contact shows confidence.