IELTS Speaking Test

Test Format and Tasks

• 11 to 14 minutes
• One-to-one interview, candidate and examiner alone
• Recorded
• Three sections

Part 1: Introduction & interview

Basic Introduction about yourself and some familiar topics

• 4 to 5 minutes
• Home town
• Family
• Job
• Studies
• Interests and hobbies
• Likes and dislikes
• Other similar topics

Part 2: Mini-presentation

Talk for about one minute on a subject selected by the examiner.  The examiner will give you the topic on a card.  You will also be given a paper and pencil to make notes. You have one minute to make some notes.

• 3 to 4 minutes total
• One minute to prepare the talk
• Notes allowed while preparing
• Prompts given to facilitate the content
• No interruptions while delivering the talk

Part 3: Discussion 

Questions related to topic in Part II

• 3 to 5 minutes
• Giving opinions
• Extensive discussion on issues related to the topic
• Ability to express abstract ideas and support opinions appropriately

Assessment Criteria

The test is a measure of effective communication in English. Your performance is assessed in 2 main areas:

1. Fluency and Coherence

• Content - ideas
• Delivery – pace
• Organisation – structure

2. Language use

• Vocabulary – range & accuracy
• Grammar – range & accuracy
• Pronunciation – clarity and accuracy

Speech Functions

In preparing for the test, you need to understand what is meant by speech functions and how they form the basis of the IELTS Speaking Test.  

Examples of speech functions

• Providing personal information
• Providing non-personal information
• Expressing opinions
• Explaining
• Suggesting
• Justifying opinions
• Speculating
• Expressing a preference
• Comparing
• Summarising
• Contrasting
• Narrating
• Paraphrasing
• Analysing

Example Task: Part 1 - Interview

The examiner will introduce him or herself to you and ask you your name. You will then be asked to talk about your interests, studies or working life.

Example 

        Family

• Do you have a large or small family?
• Tell me something about them.
• How much time do you spend with your family?
• Do you get on well with your family?
• What sort of things do you do together?

Example Task: Part 2 - Mini-presentation

• You will be given a topic to talk about for 1-2 minutes.
• You will be allowed 1 minute to prepare what you are going to say.
• You can make some notes to help if you wish.

Example

• Describe a teacher who has influenced you in your  education.

You should say:

• where you met the teacher
• what subject they taught
• what was special about them

and explain why this teacher influenced you so much.

Example Task: Part 3 - Discussion

This is a more in-depth discussion of issues related to topic of Part 2.  

• Although it is called a discussion, it is still questions from the examiner and answers from the candidate. 
• You are expected to give your opinions with some justification.The examiner will ask you questions designed to get you to express your opinion on some broad social topic.

• Modern society is often called "materialistic". Why do you think this is?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of commuting long distance to work?
• What is the role of advertising?
• How do you think the Internet will affect buying patterns in the future?

• Think about questions people ask when they want to get to know someone.
• Check and practise the vocabulary you need to answer this type of question.
• During the interview, try to relax and pretend you are talking to a new friend.

2 During the talk.

• Relax and enjoy telling the examiner about the topic.

• Topics are selected so that you can talk about something which is interesting and personal.

• Use your notes, but remember to look at the person (the examiner) you are speaking to.

• Re-phrase the question in your own words
• Decide if any key words raise new questions
• Have a clear view on the questions
• Make sure you can give two sensible reasons to back your opinions

1 Preparation before the test. 

• There are often questions which compare the past with the present. So use tenses carefully. Check you can use past and present tenses correctly, and can use language of comparison.

• There are often questions about the future - what you think will happen. Check you can use this language of speculation. 

2 During the discussion.

• After you hear the question, re-phrase it in your own words. 
  e.g “How has education changed in your country in the last 10 years”? 
  “You want me to talk about the changes in education in Hong Kong in the last 10 years, well, I think …” 

• If there is a word in the question that you don’t know, ask what it means. Ask the examiner to repeat the question if you didn’t understand it.

• At the end of your answer, show clearly you have finished. Refer back to the question. 
  e.g. “I think that’s all the main changes in education in Hong Kong.”