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IELTS Speaking tips and tricks

The Speaking test is a conversation, not an exam of facts. There are no right or wrong opinions. The examiner wants to hear you speak at length, clearly and naturally.

Time
11–14 minutes
Parts
3
Part 2
1 min to prepare, 2 min to talk
Marked on
Fluency, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation

⭐ Top 5 tips if you only read one thing

  1. 1.Extend every answer: answer, give a reason, add an example.
  2. 2.Use the full minute in Part 2 to make short notes on each point.
  3. 3.In Part 3, compare, give reasons and talk about the future.
  4. 4.It's fine to pause briefly or correct yourself. Keep talking.
  5. 5.Don't memorise answers. Examiners notice, and it lowers your score.

Part 1: questions about you

  1. Give 2–3 sentences

    A one-word answer gives the examiner nothing to mark. Answer, then add why or when.

    Do you like cooking? → Yes.

    Yes, I do, especially at weekends when I have more time. I usually make dishes my mother taught me.

  2. Don't overdo it

    Part 1 answers should be short and natural, about 15–20 seconds. Save long answers for Parts 2 and 3.

  3. Use the right tense

    Listen to the question: "Did you…" (past), "Do you…" (present), "Would you…" (future or imagined).

Part 2: the long turn

  1. Plan with keywords, not sentences

    In your preparation minute, write 3 or 4 words for each bullet point. Sentences take too long to write and read.

  2. Follow the card

    Talk through the bullet points in order. They give your talk a natural structure.

  3. Tell a story

    Add details: when, where, who, and how you felt. Stories are easy to extend and sound natural.

  4. Keep going to 2 minutes

    The examiner will stop you. If you finish early, add how you feel about it now or what you learned.

  5. Useful starters

    Simple phrases help you begin and move between points.

    I'd like to talk about…

    The main reason I chose this is…

    Looking back, I think…

Part 3: the discussion

  1. Answer, explain, example

    Give your view, explain why, and support it with an example from your country or experience.

  2. Talk about people in general

    Part 3 is about society, not just you. Use phrases like many people, in my country, the younger generation.

  3. Compare and speculate

    Show range by comparing past and present, and imagining the future.

    Compared with twenty years ago…

    In the future, it's likely that…

    If governments invested more, …

  4. Buy thinking time naturally

    It's normal to pause and think before a difficult question.

    That's an interesting question. I haven't thought about it before, but…

  5. You can ask for clarification

    If you don't understand a Part 3 question, ask the examiner to explain or rephrase it.

Fluency and pronunciation

  1. Fluency beats perfection

    Small mistakes are fine. Long silences and constant restarts hurt your score more.

  2. Self-correct quickly

    If you notice a mistake, fix it and carry on. It shows control.

  3. Your accent is fine

    You don't need a British or American accent. You need to be clear: stress the right syllables and speak in natural chunks.

  4. Practise out loud every day

    Record yourself answering a question for 2 minutes, then listen back. You'll hear your habits quickly.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • One-word or one-sentence answers
  • Reciting memorised answers
  • Stopping early in Part 2
  • Speaking too fast because of nerves
  • Using complicated words you're not sure of

Now put these tips into practice

Tips work best when you use them under real test conditions.

Practise with the AI examiner