IELTS Speaking test: the format, how it's scored, and how to practise for free
1 November 2026 · 2 min read
In this guide
The short answer: IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face conversation with an examiner, about 11 to 14 minutes, in three parts. You're scored on four things: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. The single best preparation is speaking out loud against a timer, often, and getting feedback. You can do that free with a speaking rating question every day.
We're not an IELTS coaching centre and our scores are not IELTS bands. For official materials, use the IELTS website (British Council and IDP). What we can help with is the part most candidates under-practise: actually talking.
The three parts
| Part | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Introduction and interview | Questions about you: home, work or studies, hobbies | 4 to 5 minutes |
| 2. Long turn ("cue card") | You get a topic card, 1 minute to prepare, then speak for up to 2 minutes | 3 to 4 minutes |
| 3. Discussion | Deeper, more abstract questions linked to the Part 2 topic | 4 to 5 minutes |
The four criteria
- Fluency and coherence: do you keep going, and does it hang together?
- Lexical resource: range and accuracy of vocabulary.
- Grammatical range and accuracy: a mix of structures, used correctly.
- Pronunciation: how easy you are to understand.
Mistakes we hear most from Indian speakers
- Memorised answers. Examiners notice. Practise structures, not scripts.
- Stopping at 40 seconds in Part 2. Two minutes is long. Practise filling it: point, example, why it matters, a second example.
- Fillers: "basically", "actually", "like". A short pause sounds better.
- Rushing. Speed is not fluency. Around 120 to 160 words a minute sounds steady.
A free 10-minute daily routine
- One rated question on SpeakingLab: 15 seconds to think, 60 to speak, scored on structure, clarity, pace and presence, with your filler count.
- One cue card: set a timer for 1 minute of notes and 2 minutes of speaking. Record it and listen back.
- Fix one thing from your feedback, and do the same cue card again.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the IELTS Speaking test?
About 11 to 14 minutes, in three parts.
How can I practise IELTS Speaking for free?
Speak out loud against a timer every day and get feedback. SpeakingLab's free speaking rating gives you a random question, a 60-second timer and a score with one fix. Use the official IELTS sample questions for cue cards.
Is the SpeakingLab score the same as an IELTS band?
No. It's our own rubric for speaking under pressure. It's useful practice for IELTS Speaking, but it doesn't predict your band.