To study in a country where English is the native language, you must have a good IELTS Academic band score. The Academic test is conducted for all four language skills: listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Here, we are going to the IELTS Academic Speaking test.
The IELTS Academic Speaking test involves a discussion between the candidate and a qualified examiner. It aims to assess the candidate's English communication skills through a structured set of questions and tasks. This section is divided into 3 parts -
Part 1 - The examiner will inquire about general aspects of the candidate's life, such as family, work or studies, and hobbies or interests.
Part 2 - The candidate will receive an IELTS cue card with a topic. They have one minute to prepare for the topic and two minutes to speak about it. Following the speech, the examiner may ask one or two follow-up questions.
Part 3 - This section delves deeper into the topic discussed in Part 2, with the examiner posing more detailed questions for the candidate to respond to.
It is an introduction part where the examiner will ask questions about yourself, your work, family, education, interests, hobbies, etc. The purpose of the introduction is to build the link between you and the examiner so that you get warmed up for the upcoming parts and perform better.
Check some topics that are asked in IELTS Speaking Part 1.
Here are some additional strategies to further enhance your IELTS Speaking test performance.
In part 2, you have to talk for at least 2 minutes on the topic provided by the examiner. The test taker will give you 1 minute to prepare for the topic, and you can draft your response on the paper and start speaking on what you have prepared. This part of the speaking test is called the IELTS cue card and task card. The purpose of this part of the speaking test is to evaluate whether you are able to talk at length or not.
Check some topics that are asked in IELTS Speaking Part 2.
Here are some tips to help you best in the IELTS Speaking Part 2.
It is the last part of your speaking test; you will be asked questions related to the Cue Card given to you. The test taker will ask you questions that are thematically connected to your IELTS cue card. It is a two-way communication, and you are expected to provide descriptive answers.
Mostly, the examiner will ask the question from the following field in IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Here are some tips to help you understand the scoring criteria and perform best in the IELTS Speaking Part 3.
In the IELTS Speaking test, candidates receive a band score ranging from zero to nine. Achieving a band score of 8 indicates a strong command of English. This score is determined by evaluating candidates across 4 equally weighted criteria, which are as follows -
Qualified examiners assess candidates based on these criteria. Scores are given in half or whole bands without negative markings. Moreover, decimal scores are rounded up to the nearest half or whole band.
| Topic | Marking Criteria |
|---|---|
| Fluency and Coherence | 6 |
| Lexical Resources | 7 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8 |
| Pronunciation | 7 |
| Total IELTS Speaking Score | 7 |
Fluency and Coherence refer to the structure and clarity of your speech. Check the tips to improve your fluency.
Lexical Resource assesses your vocabulary. Take into account the following to improve your LR score.
The grammatical Range and Accuracy evaluate your level of grammatical knowledge. To increase your score, follow these tips.
Pronunciation assesses your level of naturalness. You may improve your Pronunciation score by following the tips below.
During the IELTS Speaking test, it is important to avoid some common mistakes. Here are some common mistakes that you should avoid in the IELTS Speaking Test.
To avoid these common errors, you can follow the below-mentioned tricks –
To prepare well for the IELTS speaking part of the test, here are some tips to help you do your best.
For your reference, here is an IELTS Speaking question with sample answers. To improve your academic speaking score on the IELTS, thoroughly go over them.
Here is the sample answer for IELTS Speaking part 1.
1. What is your full name?
My name is Ridhima Saxena.
2. Can I see your ID?
Yes, here is my ID.
3. Where are you from?
I'm from Delhi, India's fourth-largest city and capital. Known as the "city of kings" for its rich history, Delhi is famous for its delicious cuisine and iconic landmarks.
4. Do you work or study?
Currently, I am a student at one of India's top universities. The faculty is friendly and supportive, providing academic education and valuable extra knowledge.
Here is the sample answer for IELTS Speaking part 2.
Describe a person you follow on social media
You should say
Sample Answer –
Introduction
In today's world, social media serves as a primary source of information across various domains. Unlike traditional methods, it offers instant access to the lives of prominent figures, making it easier to stay updated.
Who do you follow on social media?
One of my favourite personalities on social media is Gaur Gopal Das, renowned for his life coaching and motivational talks.
How do you know this person?
During the pandemic, I turned to social media for entertainment and enlightenment. While scrolling, I stumbled upon Gaur Gopal Das's video, where he shared insightful advice on navigating challenging times. His words resonated with me instantly.
What does this person post on social media?
Gaur Gopal Das diverges from typical influencers, focusing instead on profound knowledge that can spark positive changes in people's lives. His posts cover many inspirational topics, including problem-solving techniques and spiritual guidance from religious texts.
Why do you follow this person on social media?
I follow Gaur Gopal Das because his teachings inspire me to think differently. Whenever I feel demotivated or anxious, his videos provide a much-needed boost of confidence and strength.
Conclusion
In conclusion, meeting someone like Gaur Gopal Das would be a dream come true for me. His uplifting philosophy, generous nature, and captivating demeanour make him a role model worth following.
Here is the sample answer to IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Question: What can people do on social media?
Answer: Social media serves various purposes, including staying connected with friends and family, following celebrities for entertainment and learning, finding job opportunities, advertising products, sharing videos and talents, connecting with like-minded individuals, and learning new skills like cooking and gardening.
Question: Do you think older and younger people will use the same social media software?
Answer: While people of all ages can access the same social media platforms, younger generations tend to use them more actively for sharing and engagement. In contrast, older individuals may use them more passively for entertainment.
Question: Do older people spend much time on social media?
Answer: Generally, younger generations spend more time on social media compared to older individuals, who may be less familiar with the latest features and prefer other forms of entertainment.
Question: Are non-social media like television and newspapers still useful?
Answer: Traditional media like television and newspapers remain valuable for many people, especially those without internet access. They are often considered more reliable sources of news compared to social media, which can sometimes spread misinformation.
Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using social media?
Answer: Social media allows for accessible communication and talent showcasing, but it also poses privacy risks and can lead to addiction, taking time away from other important activities like studying.
Below, you can check the IELTS Speaking topics with sample answers to get good scores in parts 1, 2, and 3.
The IELTS Academic Speaking Test is conducted to assess your ability to speak English. The examiner takes your speaking test to determine your level of English speaking ability.
For part 2, there is no separate band score, so if you don’t speak for 2 minutes but speak confidently and correctly and give all the answers to parts 1 and 3, you will get a good band score in IELTS.
Yes, many candidates find the speaking test difficult compared to the other tests. The main reason behind this is that it is like an interview process: the test taker asks some questions in English, and you are required to answer them correctly. So, it can be a stressful exercise for many test takers.
A naturally slow rate of speech is completely acceptable in IELTS. You need to avoid long thinking pauses before your responses, but speaking slowly is fine.
Never speak the memorised answers. Many candidates think that remembering scripted answers to all common questions helps to get a good band score. But this is a bad idea. This is because examiners are trained and can easily spot the memorised answers.
No, as long as your pronunciation is correct, your accent does not matter. You need to be aware of the proper pronunciation features, and you are good to go. It is a misconception that you need to use a native accent to score well. However, faking accents can reduce your scores significantly.
Yes, you should. Adding idioms while you speak reflects a good command of the language and gives an impression that you know it very well. But you need to be sure about what idiom to use and where.
The purpose of the IELTS Academic Speaking Test is to assess your language ability to communicate in English, particularly in academic contexts. It evaluates your spoken English skills, including fluency, coherence, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
You can expect different types of questions ranging from personal experiences to abstract topics. Questions may include discussing hobbies, interests, family, and studies or giving opinions on broader issues.
The IELTS Academic Speaking Test is scored based on four criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource (vocabulary), grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. Each criterion is scored on a 0 to 9 scale, and the average of these scores determines your overall Speaking Band Score.