This article will tell you everything you need to know about the

IELTS speaking exam in 2019, including step-by-step strategies,

video lessons and practice resources. Below you’ll find:

1. What is the IELTS Speaking test?

2. What is the examiner looking for?

3. IELTS Speaking Part 1

4. IELTS Speaking Part 1

5. IELTS Speaking Part 1

6. Marking Criteria

7. IELTS Speaking Lessons

8. IELTS Speaking Topics

9. IELTS Speaking Tips

10. Pronunciation

11. Vocabulary

12. Fluency

13. IELTS Speaking Practice

14. How to Assess Your Own Speaking Skills

 15. FAQs

16. Next Steps

What is the IELTS Speaking test?

The speaking test is broken down into three parts:

1. Part 1 is about YOU. They will ask you familiar, everyday

questions about your life. This will last around 4-5 minutes.

2. Part 2 is sometimes called the ‘long turn’. You will be given

a cue card and you will have 1 minute to prepare your

answer. You will then be asked to speak for up to 2

minutes.
 3. Part 3 is more abstract. This is your opportunity to really

develop your answers and discuss the issues brought up by

the examiner. This will last 4-5 minutes.

What is the examiner looking for?

It is extremely important that you understand what the IELTS
examiner is looking for in the speaking test. However, it is
equally as important to know what the examiner does NOT
want you to do.

This video should give you a strong idea of what the examiner
needs to see to award you a Band 7 or above in the speaking
test:

The examiner does NOT want to see:

 How many answers you have memorised.

 How many ‘big’/’fancy’/’high-level’ words you know.

 How many different grammar structures and tenses you

know.

 How ‘British’ or ‘American’ your accent is.

The examiner DOES want to see:

  How well you can communicate through spoken English.

There is a little more to it than that, as you will see below.

However, you should always remember that the examiners
in the IELTS speaking exam are simply testing if you can
open your mouth and communicate in English.

Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be. Keep it

simple!

IELTS Speaking Part 1

In part 1 you will be asked questions on familiar topics such as
your hometown and your family. Click below for lots of sample
questions and answers.

 Part 1 Common Topics and Sample Answers

Simple yet effective ways to extend your answers in Part 1 of the

Speaking test.

 Easy Ways to Extend Your Answers

10 quick tips on what you should and shouldn’t do in Part 1.

 Part 1 Dos and Don’ts

IELTS Speaking Part 2

This part of the test allows you to speak for longer on a given
topic.

You will be given a card with a particular topic on it, and this will
include key points that you should talk about.