IELTS Speaking
IELTS Speaking Guide: Format, Criteria and a Practice Plan
Published Oct 6, 2026Band scores mentioned on this page and in WitSpeak are estimates for practice. Official scores come only from the real IELTS test.
IELTS Speaking is an 11 to 14 minute face-to-face interview in three parts: short questions about you (Part 1), a two-minute talk from a cue card (Part 2) and a discussion of wider issues (Part 3). Four equally weighted criteria decide your band: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. Practise all three parts under real timing and score yourself on each criterion.
This guide collects everything we have written about IELTS Speaking in one place. Facts about the format come from the official IELTS Speaking format page; explanations of the criteria paraphrase the public band descriptors. The Speaking test is the same for IELTS Academic and General Training.
WitSpeak is an AI English speaking coach. IELTS-style practice is one of the things you can do in it, alongside everyday conversation, roleplay and pronunciation work. It is not an official IELTS product, and it cannot give official scores.
How is the IELTS Speaking test structured?
The test is a recorded one-to-one conversation with a certified examiner, and it moves from familiar topics to abstract ones.
| Part | Length | What happens | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | 4–5 minutes | General questions about you, your home, work or studies and familiar topics | Part 1 questions |
| Part 2 | 3–4 minutes | A cue card, one minute to prepare, then up to two minutes speaking alone | Cue-card method |
| Part 3 | 4–5 minutes | A discussion of more abstract ideas linked to the Part 2 topic | Part 3 answers |
What are the four assessment criteria?
The examiner gives a band for each criterion. The official page on understanding your score states that the criteria carry equal weighting and that their average gives the Speaking score, so the weakest criterion matters as much as the strongest.
| Criterion | What it measures | What Band 7 sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency and coherence | Speaking at length and linking ideas logically | Long turns without noticeable effort; flexible connectives |
| Lexical resource | Range, precision and paraphrase | Flexible vocabulary with some less common and idiomatic items |
| Grammatical range and accuracy | Variety of structures and how accurate they are | A range of structures, with error-free sentences frequent |
| Pronunciation | How easily you are understood: sounds, stress, intonation, rhythm | All Band 6 features and some Band 8 features |
Every IELTS Speaking guide
Read them in order, or jump to the part that is holding your score back.
- IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions: How to Answer Without Sounding RehearsedAnswer length, a three-step shape and the topic families that repeat.
- IELTS Speaking Part 2: A Cue-Card Method You Can Repeat Under PressureFive trigger words and a story arc that fills two minutes.
- How to Answer IELTS Speaking Part 3 Discussion QuestionsOpinion, reason, example, qualification: a structure for abstract questions.
- IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors Explained: The Four Criteria in Plain EnglishThe four criteria in plain English, Bands 5 to 8 side by side.
- IELTS Speaking Band 7: What It Actually TakesWhere 6.5 loses the half band, criterion by criterion, with a four-week plan.
- IELTS Speaking Fluency and Pronunciation: How to Improve Both Before the TestExam-specific drills for hesitation, connectors, word stress and rhythm.
A four-week IELTS Speaking practice plan
Keep every recording. Comparing Week 1 with Week 4 shows progress more reliably than how practice felt. If nerves are the main obstacle, short daily sessions help more than one long weekly session.
- Week 1, diagnose: record two full tests (Parts 1, 2 and 3 in one go) and score each criterion separately. Note which one is lowest.
- Week 2, short answers: daily Part 1 practice, ten minutes, focused on the weakest criterion. Answer each question twice.
- Week 3, long turns: one Part 2 card and its Part 3 discussion every day, with one minute of preparation and strict timing.
- Week 4, simulate: three full mock tests on different topics. Compare them with Week 1 and choose the next focus.
How to practise IELTS Speaking in WitSpeak
When you choose the IELTS path in WitSpeak, you set a target band and exam date and get a personalised practice plan. Sessions are run by an AI examiner and follow the real structure:
- Full mock test: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 in sequence, timed like the real test.
- Single-part practice: Part 1 questions, Part 2 cue cards with a one-minute preparation phase, or Part 3 discussions.
- Feedback on the four criteria after each session, with an estimated band per criterion, a corrected transcript and a stronger model version of your own answer.
- Progress over time: estimated band trends, best and average results, and recurring mistakes to work on.
- Shadowing practice for rhythm and pronunciation between mock tests.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the IELTS Speaking test?
Between 11 and 14 minutes in total, according to the official format. Part 1 lasts four to five minutes, Part 2 three to four minutes including one minute of preparation, and Part 3 four to five minutes.
Is IELTS Speaking different for Academic and General Training?
No. Both versions use the same Speaking test, with the same three parts and the same four assessment criteria.
How is the IELTS Speaking band calculated?
The examiner awards a band for fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. Official IELTS guidance says the four carry equal weight and their average gives the Speaking score.
Is WitSpeak an IELTS app?
WitSpeak is an AI English speaking coach. IELTS-style practice with mock tests and per-criterion feedback is one of its modes, next to everyday conversation and pronunciation practice. It is not affiliated with IELTS.
Are WitSpeak band scores official?
No. WitSpeak gives estimated bands to guide practice. Only certified IELTS examiners give official scores, in the real test.
How long should I prepare for IELTS Speaking?
It depends on your current level and target band, so there is no reliable fixed timeline. A four-week cycle of diagnosis, focused practice and full mock tests shows which criterion to work on next.
Sources
Format and scoring facts on this page come from these official IELTS sources. Spotted something out of date? Tell us on our support page and we will fix it.
Rehearse the whole test out loud
Run an IELTS-style mock test with an AI examiner and see your estimated band on all four criteria.