The three parts
- 1Part 1 — Introduction and interview (4–5 min): familiar questions about you, your home, work, studies and interests.
- 2Part 2 — Long turn (3–4 min): you get a task card, one minute to prepare, then speak for up to two minutes on the topic.
- 3Part 3 — Discussion (4–5 min): deeper, more abstract questions linked to the Part 2 topic, where you explain, compare and justify opinions.
The four criteria
| Criterion | What the examiner is judging |
|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | How smoothly and continuously you speak, and how logically your ideas connect — pausing to think is fine; long hesitation and self-correction is not. |
| Lexical Resource | The range and precision of your vocabulary, including idiomatic and topic-specific language used naturally. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | The variety and correctness of your sentence structures — using complex sentences without losing control of them. |
| Pronunciation | How clear and intelligible you are, including stress, rhythm and intonation — a strong accent is fine as long as you're easy to understand. |
备注
There is no marking criterion for opinions or knowledge. The examiner does not judge whether your ideas are 'right' — only how well you express them in English. You cannot say the wrong thing, only say it in a way that limits your language.
What examiners actually reward
- Extending answers. A one-sentence reply gives the examiner nothing to score — give reasons, examples and details.
- Speaking at a natural pace with connected ideas, rather than reciting a memorised speech (examiners are trained to spot rehearsed answers).
- Using a genuine range of grammar — mixing tenses and complex structures — even at the risk of small errors.
- Clear pronunciation over a 'perfect' accent; being understood matters far more than sounding native.
- Paraphrasing when you don't know a word, instead of stopping — recovery is a fluency skill.
提示
The most common quick win is simply saying more. Many candidates have band-7 language but score 6 because they answer in short, safe sentences. Treat every question as an invitation to explain and give an example.
要点总结
- 11–14 minutes, three parts, same test for Academic and General Training.
- Four criteria, each 25%: Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, Pronunciation.
- Your opinions aren't graded — only how well you express them.
- Extend your answers and keep speaking; short replies are the most common reason strong speakers score low.
Book a live speaking session with an instructor
Practise IELTS Speaking常见问题
What are the four IELTS Speaking criteria?
Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Each is worth 25% of your Speaking band.
Does my accent affect my IELTS Speaking score?
Not directly. Pronunciation is judged on how clearly and intelligibly you speak — stress, rhythm and intonation — not on having a native accent. A strong accent is fine as long as the examiner can understand you easily.
Are my opinions graded in the Speaking test?
No. Examiners assess your English, not your ideas or knowledge. There is no right or wrong opinion — what matters is how fluently, accurately and clearly you express it.
How long is the IELTS Speaking test?
It lasts 11 to 14 minutes and has three parts: a short interview, a one- to two-minute long turn from a task card, and a discussion of more abstract questions.