IELTS Academic Format: Speaking
"Essential information you need for the IELTS Academic Speaking test"
What does the IELTS Speaking test involve?
A speaking test is an assessment designed to evaluate an individual’s proficiency in spoken language. It typically involves a structured interaction between the test-taker and an examiner, during which the individual responds to questions, discusses various topics, and demonstrates their ability to communicate effectively.
The IELTS Speaking test is an 11-14 minute assessment divided into three distinct parts:
- Part 1: You engage in a dialogue with the examiner, discussing general topics such as your background, interests, and daily life.
- Part 2: You are given a task card with a specific topic and are required to speak for 1-2 minutes. This allows you time to organize your thoughts before presenting your ideas.
- Part 3: This section involves a deeper discussion related to the topic from Part 2. You’ll elaborate on your ideas and engage in more complex conversations with the examiner.
Highlights:
- Time Duration: Approximately 11-14 minutes.
- Number of Questions: The test consists of three parts, with various questions posed throughout.
- Task Types: This includes a variety of formats, such as personal questions, topics for extended speaking (often referred to as cue cards), and in-depth discussions related to the initial topics.
- Answering: Test takers respond verbally to the examiner’s questions. There is no written component; instead, communication is assessed based on fluency, coherence, pronunciation, and the ability to articulate ideas effectively.
- Marks: Each part is scored according to specific criteria, with marks awarded for fluency, coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range, and accuracy.
Question Formats:
- Personal Questions
- Cue Card Topics
- Follow-up Questions
- Opinion-Based Questions
- Hypothetical Situations