IELTS Speaking Test Guide: Helpful Tips

PART 1: Introduction and Interview (4–5 minutes)

This first section involves a friendly, informal exchange. You will answer basic questions about yourself—your background, where you're from, your family, job or studies, and personal interests.

Key Goals:

• Introduce yourself clearly and confidently.

• Communicate fluently and accurately using simple English.

• Show willingness to engage in conversation and offer interesting personal details.

  
  

Tips for Success:

• Smile, make eye contact, and be friendly.

• Answer in full sentences—avoid one-word replies.

• Be ready to talk about your background: where you live, who you live with, your family, and your hometown.

• Prepare and practise descriptions of your job, studies, and hobbies.

• If you're unsure of a question, ask politely for clarification.

  
  

Dos:

• Practice using the past tense when speaking about past experiences.

• Answer each question clearly and provide two or three sentences.

• Be enthusiastic and sound interested in your own experiences.

  
  

Don'ts:

• Don’t admit nervousness or show physical signs like fidgeting or blinking.

• Avoid short, vague answers or appearing uninterested.

• Don’t correct yourself excessively—it may disrupt your fluency.

  
  

Useful Phrases:

• “Good morning, pleased to meet you.”

• “I’m from [country], but I’ve been living in [host country] for [time].”

• “I live with my family / on my own.”

• “My parents work as... / I have two brothers and a sister...”

PART 2: Individual Long Turn (3–4 minutes)

In this section, the examiner gives you a topic card and asks you to speak about it for 1–2 minutes after 1 minute of preparation.

Main Objectives:

• Deliver a detailed, structured response based on the task card.

• Speak fluently and continuously without help from the examiner.

• Cover all bullet points provided on the card.

  
  

Preparation Strategy:

• Read the entire card first to understand the topic.

• Focus on the listed points—these will guide your response.

• Aim to speak for roughly 30 seconds per bullet point.

• If you like, jot down quick notes—but spend most of your time thinking.

  
  

Speaking Tips:

• Practise timing yourself using a watch so you know how long 1–2 minutes feels.

• Do not speak beyond 2 minutes; the examiner may stop you.

• Avoid going off-topic and stay focused on what the task asks.

• Add relevant details if time allows, but stay within the topic.

• Don’t hesitate for too long or stop talking early.

• It’s fine to correct a mistake, but fluency matters more than perfect grammar.

Example Topic Breakdown:

For a topic like “Describe a city or town you know well,” you might include:

• Its location

• The area you know best

• Key landmarks or places to visit

• Why it’s special to you or others

PART 3: Two-Way Discussion (4–5 minutes)

This section is the most demanding. The examiner will ask you follow-up questions related to the Part 2 topic, but the focus shifts to broader and more abstract ideas.

Aims:

• Discuss general issues and express personal opinions.

• Respond with reasoning, comparisons, and speculations.

• Extend your answers and demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary and structures.

Effective Strategies:

• Use simple language to express complex thoughts.

• Speculate when necessary using modals and conditional phrases.

• Vary your opinions using phrases like:

  • “I think that…”

  • “In my opinion…”

  • “It seems to me that…”

  • “If you ask me…”

What to Avoid:

• Don’t repeat what you said in Part 2—extend your thoughts instead.

• Don’t panic if you can’t immediately answer. Say, “Could you ask that in another way?” if needed.

• Don’t rely solely on “will” for future predictions—use a mix of expressions such as “might,” “could,” or conditional clauses.

Possible Discussion Topics:

Practice responding to broader themes such as:

• The environment and global warming

• Health and diet

• Modern education and examinations

• Media and technology

• Family roles and marriage

• The impact of public transport or urban planning

Try talking about these in your native language first to explore your ideas, then practise expressing them in English.

Closing the Interview

When the discussion ends, the examiner will thank you and conclude the test.

What to Do:

• Stay composed until you leave the room.

• If invited, shake hands confidently and thank the examiner.

• Say something polite like, “Thank you for your time. It was a pleasure speaking with you.”

What Not to Do:

• Don’t express relief or comment on how you think you did.

• Don’t ask about your Band Score—examiners cannot give you this information.

Final Thoughts:

The IELTS Speaking test is a challenge, but with solid preparation, it’s entirely manageable. Start practising well in advance—don’t wait until the last minute. With consistent daily effort, you can improve your fluency, vocabulary, and confidence.

Many candidates take the test more than once, especially to gain experience. Note that if you plan to retake it, you must wait three months. That time should be used productively—daily, focused practice is key to gaining a full Band Score increase.

Success Tip: A little effort now leads to great rewards later. Embrace the challenge and keep improving. Learning is a lifelong journey, and every bit of practice brings you closer to your goal.