IELTS Speaking Resources

Posted by Venture English on June 17, 2018

Overview

The IELTS speaking exam lasts for approximately 15 minutes. The exam is divided into three phases or sections. In phase one you will speak generally about yourself and your personal experiences. In phase two you will speak for an extended period of time, 2 minutes, about a general topic. In phase three you will have to speak about ideas and topics in which you have to express your opinion and support your opinion with cause and reason.

The speaking exam will usually be in a private setting like a hotel room or closed office. You can expect to enter the room and be greeted by the examiner. The first thing the examiner will do is confirm your identity by validating the information and picture in your passport (you must have a passport to take the IELTS exam, so if you do not have one yet then you need to apply for one as soon as possible).

Even though the setting of the exam might be intimidating or seem very formal, remember that this is not a job interview but simply an evaluation of your ability to use the English language. This means that there are no right or wrong answers and you do not need to impress the examiner with your reasoning ability or long winded replies. Think of your speaking exam more like an awkward meeting with a "friend of a friend" who wants to find out more about you and what you think about certain issues.

Grading Criteria

The examiner will grade you based on a certain set of criteria. Each category is worth 25% of your total speaking score.

Fluency and cohesion:

• This describes how fluent and connected your English sounds. Do you speak without much hesitation and do you use a range of different way to connect your ideas?

Lexical resource:

• This describes how wide your vocabulary is. Can you talk accurately about any topic and use idiomatic language?

Grammatical range and accuracy:

• This describes both the range of different grammatical structures you can use and how well you use them.

Pronunciation:

• Can you be easily understood at all times?

Check out our resources below to help you prepare for the exam and develop your speaking skills.

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IELTS Speaking Lessons: 

IELTS Speaking Phase 1 - Common Topics & Questions

A basic look at the types of topics and questions one can expect in phase 1 of the IELTS speaking examination.

IELTS Speaking Phase 1 - More Sample Questions

Even more common questions one can expect to find in the IELTS Speaking Exam. Here is list of 25 questions from 5 different topics. Perfect for preparing for the exam.

IELTS Speaking Phase 2 Tips

In Phase 2 of the speaking test, you are asked to make a presentation on a topic. It will always be something personal, like talking about a holiday you went on or something you enjoy. This is often followed by series of questions that will ask you to exp…

IELTS Speaking Phase 2 - Sample Questions

The second part of the IELTS speaking exam requires the tester to be able to share about their personal experiences that could range anywhere from food to family. The best way to prepare is to practice with a variety of topics and become used to telling s…

IELTS Speaking Phase 3 Tips

In speaking part 3 the tester will be asked some abstract or analytical questions. These will be broadly linked to the topics introduced in part 2 of the exam.

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