The IELTS Speaking Test takes between 11 and 14 minutes and consists of an interview between the test taker and a trained and certified examiner. During the Speaking Test, you’ll answer questions from a certified examiner and will have a guided conversation with them. To get a good score on the Speaking Test, you need to acquire automatic language skills. In addition, you will earn points for your accent and pronunciation.

The IELTS Speaking Test begins with a greeting followed by three parts. You will be graded on your ability to greet, so it’s important you’re prepared for it. Now, let’s take a look at three parts of the Speaking Test:

Part 1: Test takers answer general questions about themselves and a range of familiar topics, such as their home, family, work, studies, and interests. (4-5 minutes)

Part 2: Test takers are given a card that asks them to talk about a particular topic. They have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner may then ask one or two questions on the same topic to finish this part of the test. (3-4 minutes)

Part 3: Test takers are asked further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. These questions give the test taker an opportunity to discuss more abstract issues and ideas. (4-5 minutes)

Speaking Test Part 1: Sample questions

Let’s talk about your hometown or village:

a) what kind of place is it?
b) what’s the most interesting part of your town/village?
c) what kind of jobs do the people in your town/village do?
d) would you say it’s a good place to live? (why?)

Let’s move on to talk about accommodation:

i) tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in.
ii) how long have you lived there?
iii) what do you like about living there?
iv) what sort of accommodation would you most like to live in?

Speaking Test Part 2: Candidate Task Card

Describe something you own which is very important to you. You should say:

a) where you got it from
b) how long you have had it
c) what you use it for; and 
d) explain why it is important to you.

You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Questions and Topics

Eating habits

1. Tell me about the types of food that people eat in your country.
2. How healthy is your country’s food?
3. Why do you think different cultures have different table manners?

Shopping

1. Is shopping a popular activity in your country
2. How have shopping habits changed over recent years?
3. To what extent do you think advertising affects the way people shop?

Sports

1. What types of sports are popular in your country?
2. What are the benefits of playing a sport?
3. How can sports bring people from different countries closer together?

Transport

1. How do most people travel long distances in your country?
2. Have the types of transport people use changed much over the last few decades?

To improve your chances of getting a high band score, it is important to understand the Speaking Test format and the four criteria that decide your band score:

i) Pronunciation  –  you can pronounce words and express your ideas with appropriate stress, intonation, and rhythm
ii) Lexical Resource  –  you use words appropriate for a given topic and can communicate clearly even when you forget a specific word or phrase
iii) Grammatical Range and Accuracy  –  you can form sentences with multiple parts (clauses) using correct pronouns and verb tenses
iv) Fluency and Coherence  –  you can speak comfortably (without long pauses or confusing links between ideas) and be understood easily

Conclusion

It’s not difficult to improve your speaking skills; however, under the pressure of test conditions, it is much more challenging to speak fluently and correctly when English is not your native language. So, it is recommended to take plenty of practice tests beforehand. Good luck!

Once you’re ready to take the IELTS Speaking Test, book your seat in advance.

If you want to book your IELTS test in advance, visit IELTS AOLCC. We have IELTS Test Centres available in Mississauga, Kingston, London, and Brampton. All our test centres are equipped with the necessary amenities. 

If you have any other queries, do reach out to us at  (905) 306-0666  or send an email to ielts@aolccollege.ca.