Overview of the IELTS Speaking Test
The IELTS Speaking Test is a face-to-face interview designed to assess your spoken English skills. It lasts between 11 to 14 minutes and is divided into three parts. The test is the same for both Academic and General Training candidates and is conducted by a certified IELTS examiner.
In Part 1, you’ll answer general questions about yourself, your home, family, work, studies, and interests. Part 2 is a long-turn task where you speak for 1–2 minutes on a topic given on a cue card, after having 1 minute to prepare. In Part 3, you’ll engage in a more detailed discussion related to the topic in Part 2, exploring ideas and expressing opinions.
Your performance is evaluated based on four key criteria: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. The Speaking test is designed to feel like a natural conversation, and strong performance here demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively in English in real-life situations.