IELTS Speaking Exam
The IELTS Speaking test lasts 11–14 minutes and is the same for both Academic and General Training. It is a face-to-face interview with an examiner and is divided into three parts.
Jump to Section
Part 1 Speaking
Introduction and Interview (4–5 minutes)
This section is designed to make you feel comfortable and get you talking naturally about familiar topics.
What happens:
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The examiner will introduce themselves and ask you to confirm your identity.
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You’ll answer general questions about your home, work, studies, and interests.
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Questions are simple and conversational, for example:
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“Do you work or study?”
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“What do you like about your hometown?”
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“How often do you use the internet?”
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Part 2 Speaking
Long Turn (3–4 minutes)
This section tests your ability to speak at length on a given topic.
What happens:
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You’ll receive a task card (cue card) with a topic and three or four bullet points to guide your answer.
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You have one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to speak.
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After you finish, the examiner may ask one or two follow-up questions.
Example topic:
Describe a book you’ve recently read.
You should say:
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What the book is
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What it is about
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Why you decided to read it
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And explain what you liked or disliked about it
Part 3 Speaking
Discussion (4–5 minutes)
This section is a two-way discussion on broader or more abstract topics related to Part 2.
What happens:
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The examiner asks deeper, opinion-based questions.
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You’ll discuss ideas, trends, and social issues, for example:
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“Do you think reading habits are changing among young people?”
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“How do you think technology has influenced education?”
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