Revision:
IELTS Speaking
Welcome to IELTS Speaking page. Use the resources below to prepare for your exams.
The IELTS speaking exam consists of 3 parts,
taking approximately 30 minutes overall.
Part 1: Introduction (4–5 minutes)
- The examiner will begin by asking your name and checking your identification.
- After introductions, you’ll answer questions on familiar topics like:
- Your work or studies
- Your hobbies or interests
- Your home or family life
Part 2: Individual Speech (3–4 minutes)
- You’ll receive a task cue card with a specific topic to discuss.
- You’ll have 1 minute to prepare your response and can make notes.
- Then, you’ll speak for 1–2 minutes on the topic.
Part 3: Discussion (4–5 minutes)
- This section expands on the topic from Part 2.
- You’ll engage in a deeper conversation with the examiner, discussing abstract ideas or broader themes.
Example Question:
- When is the best time to make new friends?
- Why is friendship important in today’s world?
- How can people maintain friendships over the years?
- What qualities make someone a good friend?
IELTS Speaking Scoring
Your performance in the Speaking test is evaluated based on the IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors. These include:
- Fluency and Coherence – How well you organize your ideas and maintain the flow of conversation.
- Lexical Resource – The range and accuracy of vocabulary you use.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy – How effectively you use grammar.
- Pronunciation – The clarity and naturalness of your speech.
With consistent practice and the right approach, you’ll be well-prepared to excel in the IELTS Speaking test. Good luck!
Lesson 1:
Short Responses
In this lesson, we will focus on crafting the basic framework for short responses for Parts 1 and 3 of the IELTS Speaking test.
1.1 Understanding The Format
Part 1: Answering Personal Questions
In Part 1, the examiner will ask you personal questions like “Do you enjoy your job?” or “What do you do in your free time?” require answers that are neither too short nor overly detailed. A Band 9 response should be clear, with a direct answer, followed by a brief explanation or example.
Part 3: Opinion-Based Questions
In Part 3, the examiner will ask more complex questions that require you to express your opinion or analyze an issue. For instance, you might be asked, “What are the advantages of working from home?” In this case, you should give a clear opinion, supported by logical reasoning or examples.
1.2 Memorize the Structure
To make sure every response is organized and relevant, here is a framework that works for EVERY short response. Applying this throughout Part 1 and 3 is fundamental to getting a high score.
Question: "Do you enjoy your job?"
Point
Give a clear, definitive answer to the question.
Yes, I really enjoy my job,
Explanation
Expand your answer, by describing the logic flow behind the argument.
because it allows me to be creative and work on interesting projects.
Example
Support your answer with statistics, or a historical/personal event.
For instance, last week, I designed a marketing campaign that received great feedback from my team.
Notice how the response is clear, relevant, and avoids repetition. The answer directly addresses the question, provides a reason, and includes a short example.
If you have reached this far, congratulations. You have built a basic framework for your short responses. In the upcoming lessons, we will further enhance your response with vocabulary, sentence structures and other details.
Pro Tip
You should always avoid over-explaining, or restating your argument again and again, which most candidates will do under pressure. Aim for 45 seconds for each answer. If you exceed the time length, the examiner will cut you off in order to keep the total duration of the Speaking Test under 15 minutes, which could affect your performance.
You are now ready to move onto the next lesson.
Lesson 2:
Long Responses
In this lesson, we will focus on crafting the basic framework for long responses for Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test.
2.1 Understanding The Format
Part 2: Individual Speech
In Part 2 of the Speaking test, you are given a topic card and 1 minute to prepare your answer. During the preparation, you can write your flow on the topic card. You then need to speak for 2 minutes on the topic. This section tests your ability to organize your thoughts and deliver a coherent, detailed response.
The topics will circulate around your personal experience. The topic card will contain 3-4 points, and you have to respond to all of them in your speech, which makes your time management very important. For example,
Talk about a person who has inspired you.
You should include:
Who they are
How you know them
What they’ve done to inspire you
Why they are important to you
2.2 Memorize the Structure
It is very difficult to come up with a full speech from scratch in just 1 minute. Therefore, the best way to approach Part 2 is to always apply a simple structure, so you can spend time focusing on the content instead. Start with an introduction, follow with the main points, and conclude with a final thought. For the example above, you could structure your answer like this:
Question: "Talk about a person who has inspired you."
Introduction
Respond to the topic question first.
One person who has inspired me deeply is Dr. Jane, the renowned primatologist and environmentalist. Although I’ve never met her in person, I feel a profound connection to her work through the books she has written, documentaries about her life, and interviews I’ve watched online.
The main points
Then, respond to the sub points one by one.
Dr. Jane is a British scientist and one of the world’s leading experts on chimpanzees. She is best known for her groundbreaking work in the National Park, where she studied the behavior of wild chimpanzees for over 60 years.
I first learned about her during a biology class in high school, where her research on animal behavior was briefly mentioned. Intrigued, I began to explore her work in greater depth by reading her autobiography and watching documentaries about her life.
What makes Dr. Jane so inspiring is not only her dedication to science but also her tireless efforts to protect the environment. Despite facing criticism early in her career for not having formal scientific training, she made revolutionary discoveries about chimpanzee behavior. Her ability to combine scientific rigor with compassion for living creatures is something I deeply admire.
Dr. Jane's work has had a profound impact on how I view the natural world. She has shown me that even one individual can bring about significant change if they are passionate and persistent. Personally, her work has also inspired me to become more environmentally conscious and to consider pursuing a career in a field where I can contribute to the betterment of the planet.
Conclusion
Wrap up your speech by summarizing the content you just said.
In summary, Dr. Jane is not only a pioneer in her field but also a symbol of hope, resilience, and compassion. I believe her example will continue to motivate me in my own life as I strive to make a positive impact in whatever way I can.
Pro Tip
Use linking phrases like “First of all,” “Another reason is,” and “Finally” to make your response flow naturally. We will cover lexical resources in the upcoming section.
Practice speaking for the full 2 minutes without hesitation.
2.3 Drafting Your Response
After you have memorized the above structure, you can fully utilize the 1 minute preparation time by writing the content that fits into our framework.
Normally, we recommend using a bullet point list, which saves time and allows for easy viewing while you are speaking. However, you can adopt any method that works best for you, such as flowcharts and brainstorming diagrams.
Here is an example of a draft for the example above:
Who They Are
- British scientist
- Chimpanzee expert
- National park
How I Know Them
- Biology class –> read research
- Interested, read her books, etc
What They’ve Done
- Discoveries
- Env protection
- Compassion to living creatures
Why They Are Important
- Change how I view world –> one person can bring difference
- Passion, persistent
- Env conscious
Remember that you just need to write down the ideas briefly without connectives. With the draft at hand, you can also have a general idea of how much time you should spend on each sub topic, which prevents overrunning.
Also, it is completely fine to fake the stories if you can’t recall them! It is also acceptable to fake some statistics to support your argument, which can be a useful tool for you to come up with things to say.
You are now ready to move onto the next lesson.
Lesson 3:
Fluency and Coherence
Fluency and coherence are crucial for a high Speaking score. This refers to your ability to speak smoothly without frequent pauses and to organize your ideas logically.
3.1 Improving your Fluency
Strategy 1: Skip the hesitation
The main challenge for candidates is that their thinking speed often cannot match their speaking speed. As a result, it is common for them to replace the pauses with filler words like “eh” and “um” that fill in the blank spaces. However, it is actually much better to leave them blank!
Practice recording yourself speaking continuously without using filler words. This will help improve your fluency and show the examiner that any hesitation is not due to a lack of language skills.
Strategy 2: Slow down instead of stopping
Fluency means maintaining a smooth speaking speed over time. However, many candidates run out of content and stop suddenly, like hitting a wall.
To remove this effect in your speech, here’s a simple but effective tactic: Whenever you feel like you are about to be stuck at the next sentence, try to slow down gradually, and raise the speed back up after you have passed through the gap.
Strategy 3: Use connected speech
Connected speech is a new requirement under fluency and coherence in IELTS’s recently issued band descriptors. It is also a tactic that very few candidates know about.
Normally, candidates spit words out individually one by one, each with discrete syllables. However, this is NOT what the examiner wants to hear.
Connected speech happens when words are joined together in natural conversation. Sounds may change, disappear, or be added to make speech flow smoother. For example:
Question: "What do you like to do in your free time?"
Normal Answer
"In my free time, I like to read books and go out with my friends. I usually go for a walk or watch a movie. It depends on my mood."
Answer with Connected Speech
"In my free time, I'd like ‿ to ‿ read ‿ books ‿ n’ ‿ go ‿ out ‿ with ‿ my friends. I usually ‿ go ‿ f’r ‿ a ‿ walk or watch ‿ a ‿ movie. It ‿ depens ‿ on ‿ my mood."
3.2 Improving your Coherence
Strategy 4: Use connectives
Using a wide range of connectives is crucial in your IELTS speaking exam. This shows how you can organize your speech in a logical and natural manner.
Below is a list of connectives, do memorize it and use the words naturally in your sentences.
Simple Connectives:
- And
- Also
- Moreover
- Furthermore
- In addition
- Not only that, but…
- What’s more
Examples in Sentences:
- “I enjoy traveling, and I also love learning about new cultures.”
- “Moreover, this experience taught me valuable life lessons.”
Connectives:
- For example
- For instance
- Such as
- Like
- Namely
- To illustrate
Examples in Sentences:
- “I love outdoor activities, such as hiking and cycling.”
- “For instance, when I was a child, I used to play football every weekend.”
- “I enjoy playing 2 different sports, namely soccer and hockey.”
Connectives:
- But
- However
- On the other hand
- While
- In contrast
- Although / Even though
- Nevertheless
Examples in Sentences:
- “While some people prefer beaches, I enjoy the mountains more.”
- “In contrast to my peers, I prefer studying in the evening.”
Connectives:
- Because
- Since
- As
- Therefore
- Consequently
- As a result
- Hence
Examples in Sentences:
- “I decided to study abroad because it offers better opportunities.”
- “As a result of his hard work, he achieved great success.”
Connectives:
- Similarly
- Likewise
- In the same way
- Compared to
- Just as
- Equally
Examples in Sentences:
- “Similarly, I believe education is a crucial factor for success.”
- “In the same way, younger generations are becoming more tech-savvy.”
- “Basketball is a group sport compared to tennis and badminton.”
-
Connectives:
- First / Firstly / First of all
- Second / Secondly
- Next
- Then
- After that
- Finally
- In conclusion
- Examples in Sentences:
- “Firstly, I think education is essential for personal growth.”
- “After that, we decided to explore the local market.”
Pro Tip
Make sure to use the words naturally and appropriately in your sentences. You can record yourself to view your performance. Forcing these words into your speech without context may negatively affect your score.
You are now ready to move onto the next lesson.
Lesson 4:
Lexical Resource
Lexical resource refers to your vocabulary range and how effectively you use it. To score a Band 9, you need to demonstrate precise word choice, idiomatic expressions, and topic-specific vocabulary.
4.1 Building your Vocabulary
Level 1: Topic-Specific vocabulary
The words below are in-depth terms that are specific to each topic. They are not difficult, and you should be able to recognize most of them. If you do not, look it up and search for its applications.
Using appropriate vocabulary during your IELTS speaking will demonstrate your strong command of the language.
Pedagogy (teaching methods)
Curriculum (subjects taught in a course)
Literacy (ability to read/write)
Academic rigor (challenging education standards)
E-learning (online education)
Critical thinking (analyzing facts to form judgments)
Scholarly (related to academic study)
Tuition fees (money paid for education)
Vocational training (job-specific education)
Cognitive development (mental growth)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) (machines mimicking human intelligence)
Automation (using machines instead of humans)
Cutting-edge (highly advanced)
Cybersecurity (protecting internet systems)
Digital divide (gap between tech users and non-users)
Innovation (new ideas/methods)
User-friendly (easy to use)
Virtual reality (VR) (simulated digital environment)
Big data (extremely large datasets)
Blockchain (decentralized digital ledger)
Biodiversity (variety of plant/animal life)
Carbon footprint (environmental impact of CO₂ emissions)
Deforestation (cutting down forests)
Ecosystem (interaction of living organisms)
Global warming (increase in Earth’s temperature)
Renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro power)
Sustainable development (growth without harming nature)
Carbon-neutral (balancing CO₂ emissions)
Endangered species (animals at risk of extinction)
Greenhouse gases (gases causing global warming)
Chronic disease (long-term illness)
Epidemic (widespread disease outbreak)
Well-being (state of being healthy & happy)
Sedentary lifestyle (inactive way of living)
Mental resilience (ability to cope with stress)
Preventive healthcare (avoiding illness before it happens)
Holistic medicine (treating the whole body, not just symptoms)
Life expectancy (average lifespan)
Malnutrition (lack of proper nutrition)
Pandemic (global disease outbreak)
Remote work (working from home)
Job satisfaction (happiness with one’s job)
Work-life balance (balancing job & personal life)
Freelancing (self-employed work)
Downsizing (reducing company workforce)
Entrepreneurship (starting a business)
Blue-collar jobs (manual labor jobs)
White-collar jobs (office/professional jobs)
Gig economy (short-term freelance jobs)
Burnout (extreme work stress)
Cultural diversity (variety of cultures in society)
Gender equality (equal rights for all genders)
Social norms (accepted behaviors in society)
Multiculturalism (coexistence of different cultures)
Ethnicity (cultural identity)
Discrimination (unfair treatment based on differences)
Globalization (worldwide interaction & integration)
Traditions (long-standing customs)
Social media influence (impact of platforms like Instagram)
Generational gap (differences between age groups)
Ecotourism (environmentally friendly travel)
Cultural immersion (deep experience in local culture)
Backpacking (budget travel with minimal luggage)
Heritage sites (historically significant places)
Jet lag (fatigue from time zone changes)
Off the beaten path (less touristy destinations)
Sightseeing (visiting famous landmarks)
Sustainable tourism (travel that benefits local communities)
Wanderlust (strong desire to travel)
All-inclusive resort (hotel with all amenities included)
Cybercrime (online illegal activities)
Juvenile delinquency (crimes by young people)
Rehabilitation (helping criminals reintegrate into society)
White-collar crime (financial crimes by professionals)
Capital punishment (death penalty)
Law enforcement (police & legal authorities)
Corruption (dishonest conduct by those in power)
Prison reform (improving jail conditions)
Recidivism (repeating criminal behavior)
Surveillance (monitoring people for security)
Level 2: Advanced Common Vocabulary
The words below are advanced but can be commonly used regardless of the topic. Incorporating 2-3 of these words will greatly enhance your score. To aid memorization, each vocabulary word includes a sample sentence.
Ramification (a complex consequence of an action)
“The ramification of climate change includes extreme weather patterns.”
Precipitate (to cause something to happen suddenly)
“The economic crisis precipitated widespread unemployment.”
Exacerbate (to make a problem worse)
“Deforestation exacerbates global warming.”
Mitigate (to reduce severity)
“Renewable energy can mitigate carbon emissions.”
Catalyst (something that speeds up a process)
“The pandemic was a catalyst for remote work.”
Proximate (near in time or space)
“The proximate cause of the accident was poor visibility.”
Imminent (about to happen)
“A storm is imminent, so we should stay indoors.”
Subsequent (following in time)
“The initial protest was peaceful, but subsequent clashes turned violent.”
Prolonged (extended in duration)
“Prolonged exposure to loud noise damages hearing.”
Ephemeral (lasting a very short time)
“Social media trends are often ephemeral.”
Substantial (large in size or importance)
“There’s been a substantial increase in housing prices.”
Negligible (too small to matter)
“The difference in performance was negligible.”
Exorbitant (unreasonably high)
“The cost of healthcare in some countries is exorbitant.”
Ubiquitous (present everywhere)
“Smartphones are ubiquitous in modern society.”
Infinitesimal (extremely tiny)
“The chance of error is infinitesimal.”
Disparate (fundamentally different)
“The two cultures have disparate traditions.”
Analogous (similar in some way)
“The brain is analogous to a computer.”
Divergent (moving apart in opinion/character)
“Their political views became increasingly divergent.”
Homogeneous (of the same kind)
“The group was homogeneous in age and background.”
Dichotomy (a sharp division)
“There’s a dichotomy between theory and practice.”
Inevitable (unavoidable)
“Technological advancement is inevitable.”
Conceivable (imaginable)
“It’s conceivable that AI will replace some jobs.”
Improbable (unlikely)
“An alien invasion is highly improbable.”
Indisputable (cannot be denied)
“The benefits of exercise are indisputable.”
Speculative (based on guesses)
“His argument was purely speculative.”
Exemplary (serving as a perfect example)
“Her dedication to charity work is exemplary.”
Deleterious (harmful)
“Smoking has deleterious effects on health.”
Meticulous (extremely careful)
“He’s meticulous about details.”
Pernicious (subtly harmful)
“Fake news has a pernicious influence.”
Resilient (able to recover quickly)
“Children are often more resilient than adults.”
Paradigm (a typical example/model)
“The internet revolutionized the paradigm of communication.”
Conundrum (a difficult problem)
“Balancing work and life is a common conundrum.”
Quintessential (representing the best example)
“He’s the quintessential gentleman.”
Dilemma (a tough choice)
“She faced a moral dilemma.”
Pragmatic (practical)
“A pragmatic approach solves problems faster.”
Fluctuate (to vary irregularly)
“Oil prices fluctuate frequently.”
Stagnant (not moving/changing)
“The job market has been stagnant for years.”
Revolutionize (to completely change)
“AI could revolutionize healthcare.”
Obsolete (no longer useful)
“Landline phones are nearly obsolete.”
Persistence (continued effort)
“Success requires persistence.”
You are now ready to move onto the next lesson.
Lesson 5:
Grammar and Accuracy
To achieve Band 9, you must use a wide range of grammar structures accurately. This also includes complex sentences, conditionals, and passive constructions.
5.1 Essential Grammar Structures
A) Complex Sentences (Band 9 Must-Have)
In your responses, you should always look for opportunities to use complex sentence structures. This is done by combining multiple clauses, using the following golden methods:
1. Relative Clauses (who, which, that, where)
"The book, which was written in 1999, revolutionized modern science."
2. Conditionals (if, unless, provided that)
"Pollution levels will drop significantly if governments invest in renewable energy, "
3. Subordinate Clauses (although, despite, whereas)
"Although technology has accelerated communication, it has reduced face-to-face interaction."
B) Other Grammar Structures
Passive Voice
"The data was analyzed using advanced software."
Inversions
"Not only does exercise improve health, but it also boosts mental clarity."
"Rarely do we see such dedication in young athletes."
5.2 Common Grammar Mistakes
As stated in the band descriptors, a perfect grammar with little/no errors is essential in getting a high band score. Below are some common grammar errors. Try to spot them, and click expand to show the correct answer.
A) Article Errors (a/an/the)
She bought an unique gift for her friend.
She bought a unique gift for her friend.
The article “an” is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. “Unique” begins with a consonant sound (/ju:/), so “a” is correct.
I saw a elephant at the zoo.
I saw an elephant at the zoo.
The article “an” is used before words that begin with a vowel sound. Since “elephant” starts with a vowel sound, “an” is correct.
He is the best player in a team.
He is the best player in the team.
Specific nouns require the definite article “the.” Since we are referring to a specific team, “the team” is correct.
B) Subject-Verb Agreement
The list of items are on the table.
The list of items is on the table.
The subject “list” is singular, so the verb must also be singular (“is”).
Each of the students have submitted their assignments.
Each of the students has submitted their assignments.
The subject “each” is singular, so the verb must be singular (“has”).
Neither the teacher nor the students was ready for the test.
Neither the teacher nor the students were ready for the test.
When “neither…nor” is used, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. In this case, “students” is plural, so the verb must be plural (“were”).
C) Tense Consistency
If she will study, she will pass the exam.
The list of items is on the table.
The subject “list” is singular, so the verb must also be singular (“is”).
She walked to school when she saw a dog.
She was walking to school when she saw a dog.
Past continuous (“was walking”) should be used after a past simple verb (“saw”).
They were waiting for hours when the bus had arrived.
They were waiting for hours when the bus had arrived.
Past perfect should be used to indicate an action that occurred before another action in the past.
5.3 Framework for Self-Checking
Throughout your speaking test, keep asking yourself:
Have I used at least 3 complex structures? (Relative clauses, conditionals, inversions)
Are all my verb tenses correct? (Especially past perfect & future continuous)
Are articles (a/an/the) used properly?
Is my punctuation accurate? (Commas before linking words like “which,” “although”)
Memorize this checklist:
✔ No run-on sentences (Use discrete, complete sentences, not just extending)
✔ No missing plurals (“many student” → “many students”)
✔ No incorrect prepositions (“depend from” → “depend on”)
You are now ready to move onto the next lesson.
Lesson 6:
Pronunciation
This lesson breaks down the key elements of native-like pronunciation, common mistakes, and memorizable frameworks to help you sound fluent and confident.
6.1 Pronunciation Techniques
A) Word Stress
Adding stress to certain syllables is crucial to sound native. Mastering the pronunciation of every word to the native level is extremely difficult, but we have formed a golden formula for you that applies to most of the words:
2-Syllable Nouns
Stress on the 1st syllable
TA - ble, PRE - sent
2-Syllable Verbs
Stress on the 2nd syllable
re - CORD, pre - SENT
-tion/-sion words
Stress usually falls on the 2nd last syllable
in - for - MA - tion, va - CA - tion
Longer words
Stress usually falls on the 3rd last syllable
e - CON - o - my, re - SPON - si - ble
B) Natural Intonation Patterns
Intonation refers to the rise and fall of your voice. You can think of it as a curve: the higher the intonation, the louder and sharper your voice becomes, and vice versa. A natural intonation is also a key factor in how native you sound. Most candidates who do not have the correct intonation will either sound weird or forced.
Here is also a handy formula:
Rising intonation for questions. Are you coming? ↗
Falling intonation for statements. I love traveling. ↘
Lists: Rise on each item, fall on the last. I like apples ↗, bananas ↗, and oranges. ↘
6.2 Common Pronunciation Mistakes
Same as grammar, a perfect pronunciation with little/no errors is essential in getting a high band score. Below are some common pronunciation errors.
A) Mispronouncing Vowel Sounds
- ❌ “Sheep” vs. “Ship” (Long /i:/ vs. short /ɪ/)
- ❌ “Cut” vs. “Cart” (/ʌ/ vs. /ɑː/)
Practice minimal pairs:
- “Live” (verb) vs. “Leave”
- “Bad” vs. “Bed”
B) Ignoring Silent Letters
❌ Pronouncing the “k” in “knee”
❌ Saying the “l” in “walk”
Memorize these silent letters:
✔ “B” in “comb”
✔ “W” in “write”
5.3 Framework for Self-Checking
Throughout your speaking test, keep asking yourself:
Are my key words stressed? (Nouns, verbs, adjectives)
Is my intonation natural? (Rising for questions, falling for statements)
Am I linking words smoothly? (No choppy breaks between words)
Are vowel sounds clear? (No mixing up “ship” and “sheep”)
Memorize this checklist:
✔ Stress the right syllables
✔ Use rising/falling tones
✔ Link words naturally
Congratulations!
You have finished the IELTS Speaking Course.
Now, let’s test your knowledge by conducting some speaking mock tests!