Most IELTS test-takers are particularly jittery about the IELTS speaking test even when they shouldn’t be! Since IELTS Speaking Test simply tests you for the English language required to articulate your thoughts and feelings in a day-to-day context. However, you are scored based on coherence, grammatical accuracy, fluency, and lexical resources you use in your answers. In this blog, we will introduce you to all the questions you can expect on the IELTS Speaking Test for you to practice and perfect. Let’s go!
IN THIS BLOG:
- IELTS Speaking Test
- IELTS Speaking Topics: Part 1
- IELTS Speaking Topics: Part 2
- IELTS Speaking Topics: Part 3
- IELTS Exam Pattern
IELTS Speaking Test
The IELTS speaking test is a section of the test in which the test-taker sits for a face-to-face interview with the IELTS examiner, who is typically a native English speaker. The interview is structured more like a conversation between the examiner and the test taker. It allows you to talk to the examiner naturally on a familiar topic.
The IELTS Speaking Test has three parts, and it lasts for about 11-14 minutes. In IELTS Speaking Part 1, you are asked a series of general introductory questions typically intended to ease the candidate into the test. In IELTS Speaking Part 2, you are required to speak on a familiar topic for 2 minutes straight, although this part can be tricky for some. In Part 3 the examiner can ask you a range of different questions, sometimes based on the topic you had been speaking on in IELTS Speaking Part 2 or any other well-known topic.
Speaking |
Details |
Time Duration | 11-14 Minutes |
IELTS Speaking Test Fee | $0 |
Total Questions | 3 Parts |
Part 1 | Introduction and Interview (4-5 mins) |
Part 2 | Long Turn – Asked to speak at length on a given topic (3-4 mins) |
Part 3 | Discussion on a familiar topic (4-5 mins) |
IELTS tests are generally conducted on weekends, but IELTS Speaking Test is not necessarily conducted on the same day as the other three sections. This means three of the four sections of IELTS, namely – listening, reading, and writing are held on the same day, while the speaking section can be conducted on the same day or within the next 7-10 days, depending on the slots available. The IELTS exam fee of INR 15,500 includes the Speaking Test charges, and students are not required to pay any additional amount.
IELTS Speaking Topics: Part 1
During IELTS Speaking Part 1, the examiner can ask you a range of different questions revolving around yourself, your life, and your country. IELTS Speaking Part 1 goes on for 4-5 minutes, in which the examiner will ask you around 12 questions. Given below are sample IELTS Speaking topics for Part 1:
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic: About You
- What is your name?
- What is the meaning of your name?
- How important is your name to you?
- Have you ever changed your name? Why? Or why not?
- Do you currently work or study?
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic: Work
- Can you describe your job to me?
- Why did you choose that job?
- Can you describe a typical day at work?
- What are the things you enjoy about the job? Why?
- Do you want to switch jobs? If so, why?
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic: Study
- Are you currently studying?
- What is your major?
- Why did you choose this subject?
- What do you find most interesting about your subject?
- Is there anything you don’t like about the course or the subject?
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic: Past Times
- What do you usually do during your free time?
- Why are you doing these things?
- Do you have some other hobby or interest?
- Do you want to try some other activities in your free time?
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic: Home Town
- What’s the most exciting part of your town/village?
- Would you say it’s an excellent place to live? (Why?)
- What do you like the most about your hometown?
- Is there anything your town is famous for?
- How has your town changed over the years?
- Do you prefer to live in a town or a village?
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic: Accommodation
- Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in?
- How long have you lived there?
- What do you like about living there?
- What sort of accommodation would you most like to live in?
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IELTS Speaking Topics: Part 2
IELTS Speaking Part 2 is a face-to-face interview with the examiner for about 3-4 minutes. During the IELTS Speaking Part 2, the examiner will give you a topic card. After getting the topic card, you will have 1 minute to gather your thoughts about the topic. You also have the option to pen down pointers you will cover in your answer. After a minute, test-takers must start talking for 2 minutes straight or until the examiner interrupts. The topics for your extempore are primarily based on stories about yourself or something that has happened in your life.
Your topic for IELTS Speaking Part 2 could be anything; you could be asked to describe something you own which is very important to you or a book you have recently read. In both cases here are some questions that you could be asked:
Something important to you:
- Where you got it from
- How long you have had it
- What do you use it for; and
- Explain why it is essential to you.
Book you recently read:
- What kind of book is it?
- What is it about?
- What sort of people would enjoy it?
- Explain why you like it?
IELTS Speaking Topics: Part 3
IELTS Speaking Part 3 is a two-way discussion between you and your examiner, lasting about 4-5 minutes. In this part, the examiner can ask you a broad range of questions based on what you talked about in part 2. IELTS speaking topics for this part offer you a chance to share your candid opinion on more abstract issues and ideas. Topics for IELTS Speaking Part 3 cover a broad spectrum of themes like love, marriage, gender roles, music, city, weather, job, culture, shopping, environment, and many more. As an example, here is a topic and the questions your examiner can ask around it:
Water Pollution
- Is water pollution a problem in your country?
- What are some of the causes of water pollution?
- What can individuals do to try and ensure water is kept clean?
- Do you think problems with the cleanliness of water will improve in the future?
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IELTS Exam Pattern
The Speaking and Listening sections of both IELTS test types – Academic & General are similar in terms of format and difficulty. Given below are IELTS Academic test’s question types, exam patterns, and other details:
IELTS General Sections |
Details |
Reading | |
Test Duration | 60 Minutes |
Total Question | 40 Questions (MCQ) |
Question Type | identifying information/ writer’s views/ claims |
Matching information/ heading/ features, sentence endings/ completion | |
summary/ note/ table/ flow-chart/ diagram label completion; Short-Answer Questions | |
Listening | |
Test Duration | 30 Minutes |
Total Questions | 40 Questions (MCQ) |
Type of Questions | Matching |
Plan/Map/Diagram labeling | |
Form/note/ table/ flow-chart/ summary completion | |
Sentence Completion | |
Writing | |
Test Duration | 60 Minutes |
Total Questions | 2 Tasks |
Task 1 (20 mins) | Describing visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram). [150 words] |
Task 2 (40 mins) | Your response to the point of view/ argument/ problem [250 words] |
Speaking | |
Time Duration | 11-14 Minutes |
Total Questions | 3 Parts |
Part 1 | Introduction and Interview (4-5 mins) |
Part 2 | Long Turn – Asked to speak at length on a given topic (3-4 mins) |
Part 3 | Discussion on a familiar topic (4-5 mins) |
Given below are IELTS General test’s question types, exam patterns, and other details:
IELTS General Sections |
Details |
Reading | |
Test Duration | 60 Minutes |
Total Question | 40 Questions (MCQ) |
Question Type | identifying information/ writer’s views/ claims |
Matching information/ heading/ features, sentence endings/ completion | |
summary/ note/ table/ flow-chart/ diagram label completion; Short-Answer Questions | |
Listening | |
Test Duration | 30 Minutes |
Total Questions | 40 Questions (MCQ) |
Type of Questions | Matching |
Plan/Map/Diagram labeling | |
Form/note/ table/ flow-chart/ summary completion | |
Sentence Completion | |
Writing | |
Test Duration | 60 Minutes |
Total Questions | 2 Tasks |
Task 1 (20 mins) | Writing a letter requesting information, or explaining the question [150 words] |
Task 2 (40 mins) | Essay writing in response to a point of view/ argument problem [250 words] |
Speaking | |
Time Duration | 11-14 Minutes |
Total Questions | 3 Parts |
Part 1 | Introduction and Interview (4-5 mins) |
Part 2 | Long Turn – Asked to speak at length on a given topic (3-4 mins) |
Part 3 | Discussion on a familiar topic (4-5 mins) |
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