IELTS Speaking Tips

The IELTS speaking section is 3 parts. In each part, you will speak with a real person, called an assessor. 

The 3 parts are a combination of questions, conversation, and speeches.

Part 1:  Personal Questions

The first part of the test is an introductory conversation about you. The assessor will ask you a variety of questions about a personal topic.  

Personal Questions Tips

• It is easy to give short answers. Don’t. Expand your answers as much as  possible. Using examples can help.

• The questions are about you, so you should have no difficulty with the topic.

• Focus on what the question is asking.  Listen for the question words (e.g. Where,  When, etc.)

Part 2: Long Turn

In part 2 of the speaking test, you are given a card with a topic and some key points. You are expected to speak about that topic for 1-2 minutes.

Here is an example question:

Describe a vacation you have taken.
You should say:

• Where you went
• What activities you did on the vacation
• How much you enjoyed the vacation and if you would return to the same place

Long Turn Tips

• Brainstorm and take notes.  Use your notes to guide your answer.

• Address each point on the card.  Use the order as an outline for your speech.

• Use the vocabulary on the card as a prompt.  For example, using the questions above, you would say something like this:
• Some activities I did on my vacation were…  

• Give specific examples and reasons.

• Use transitional words.

Part 3: Discussion

In Part 3 of the speaking test, you will be asked to have a discussion about the topic in Part 2.  The assessor will ask you questions about the topic.  

Here are some example questions:

• What strategies do people use to find a job?

• What is the difference between a successful and unsuccessful worker?

• How do you think the job market will change in the future?

These questions are more detailed than the questions in the first two parts of the test. You will be expected to think more deeply. There are a number of tasks you may need to complete:

• Discuss the past
• Provide an opinion
• Persuade and convince
• Compare and contrast
• Discuss current trends
• Speculate about the future
• Describe a process
• Recommend solutions to problems

Discussion Tips

• Use the proper verb tense or grammar structure depending on the question.  

• Use examples to expand on your answers.

• Use phrases to state your opinion:
• In my opinion, 
• I believe, 
• I feel, 

Those are the three parts of the IELTS speaking section. Below are some general tips for IELTS speaking.

IELTS Speaking Tips

Before the Test

1.  Practice your speaking as much as possible.
Any practice will help. Chat with your friends, classmates, or 
teachers. Even talking to yourself will help!

2.  Study the 3 different parts of the speaking section.
Use the information above to understand each of the three 
parts.

3.  Improve your grammar and vocabulary skills.
This is evaluated in the speaking section.

4. Improve your pronunciation.
This is also evaluated in the speaking section.


During the Test

1.  Speak clearly and loudly.
The assessor needs to understand and hear you to give you a good score.

2.  Use proper body language.
Make eye contact, use good posture, and smile.

3.  Speak formally. 
Don’t use slang or informal words. This is a formal activity.

4.  Stay on topic.  
Focus on the question and don’t discuss unrelated ideas.

5.  Use the question in your answer.  
This will keep you organized and allow the assessor to follow your ideas. For example, you could start a question like this:

• One reason I enjoyed my last vacation was…

6.  Have a clear conclusion to each of your answers.
This is similar to the point above. A good conclusion will help with organization. For example:  

• “That is why I enjoy reading.”  

7.  Use a wide range of grammar structures.  
Recognize the difference in grammar in each question. Some ask about the present, others the future, past, or hypothetical 
situations.

8.  Use transitional words and signposting
This will help with organization too. (e.g. Also, next, therefore, however, another, the second)

9.  Use examples when possible.
Examples help build your content. Introduce your examples 
with the right phrases:

• For example…
• Such as…

10.  Don’t memorize your answers when preparing.
You don't want you answers to sound rehearsed. Also, you 
really don't know which questions you will get, so memorizing is a waste of time.

11.  Use descriptive words when describing things.
Instead of saying “good”, use words like “incredible” or 
“exceptional”.  This will really help your vocabulary score.

12.  Explain any name from your own language. 
Examples could include festivals, holidays, foods, locations, or events.

Here is an example:

• My favourite food is Paella, which is a traditional Spanish dish made with seafood, rice, and vegetables.

13.  Don't ask for explanations.
The assessor cannot explain a question. He or she can repeat the question, so ask if you do not understand:  

• “Could you repeat the question please?”

14.   Explain and elaborate completely.
The assessor will not help you or prompt you for more 
information. You must elaborate and say enough to receive a good score. Think about the differences in these three answers:
What is your favourite sport?

• “I don’t have a favourite sport.”
• “I like baseball.”
• “I like baseball.  I play every Saturday on a team.  I am the pitcher.  I have played for the last 5 years.”

The third answer is much better because it is detailed.

15.  Never give up. 
Even if you make mistakes, don’t know what to say, or can’t think of anything, keep going. Scoring half the points is better than zero.   



Common IELTS Speaking Mistakes

• Shifting or improper verb tenses
• Using articles improperly or omitting articles
• Using the wrong form of the word (e.g. safe vs. safely)
• Using improper vocabulary choices

IELTS Speaking Scores
The speaking section is scored equally in 4 categories:

• Fluency and Coherence
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy
• Pronunciation