The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a widely accepted test to assess the English language skills of non-native English speakers. Individuals wishing to migrate, study, or work in foreign countries can take the test. It consists of four sections – Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. In each section, candidates are allotted a score between 0 to 9. The average of all the scores obtained in all the sections is taken.
There are two types of IELTS exams - IELTS Academic and General Training. Aspirants wishing to pursue their education abroad take the Academic test, whereas aspirants seeking job opportunities take the General Training test.
Table of Contents
IELTS Speaking Section
The Speaking Section of IELTS lasts for 11 to 14 minutes, where the candidates participate in a face-to-face interview with a trained IELTS examiner. It follows the same format for both Academic and General Training tests.
The examiner evaluates the candidate based on four assessment criteria
Fluency and Coherence:
This refers to maintaining a constant level of continuity while speaking. This is achieved by linking the language and ideas to form a coherent and connected speech.
Lexical Resource:
This refers to the range of vocabulary a candidate uses while answering questions. Using a wide range of vocabulary in your language can help the candidates get a good band score provided that they use uncommon words in the proper context.
Grammatical Content and Accuracy:
Candidates are evaluated on their ability to use a combination of grammatical structures in the sentences.
Pronunciation:
Most candidates confuse pronunciation with the accent. However, they are not supposed to speak with any type of accent. Instead, their speech should be clear so that the examiner can easily understand every word they utter.
IELTS Speaking Section Format
The format of the IELTS speaking test is not too difficult to understand. It’s a face-to-face virtual test. The entire speaking test is divided into 1, 2, and 3 parts. The total duration of the speaking test lasts 11-14 minutes. In the first part, the examiner asks basic questions about you, such as about yourself, your family, your ID, and the pronunciation of your name. This section runs about 4-5 minutes.
The examiner gives you a task card, which is well-known as a cue card to pick a topic. The applicant gets 1 minute to prepare the answer and up to 2 minutes to speak the answer. The examiner may or may not ask any further questions. The overall duration of the second part is 3-4 minutes. The examiner asks 4-5 questions connected to Part 2. These are abstract kinds of questions. The third part, too, lasts for 4-5 minutes.
IELTS Speaking Topics: Parts Wise
Some common topics are covered in every part of the IELTS speaking test. Now go through some of the most important topics and practice the questions before sitting for the test.
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics:
These are some common topics:
Study | Sports | Flowers | Hobbies | Friends | Birthdays | Bicycles | Daily routine |
Work | Leisure time | Food | Happiness | Going out | Health | Shopping | Neighbors & Neighborhoods |
Hometown | Clothes | Reading | Childhood | Weather | Social Media | Music | Internet |
Art | Computers | Transport | Newspapers | Dictionaries | Family | Home | TV |
Work:
Questions
- Do you describe your job to me?
- What is your ideal job?
- Why did you choose this job?
- Why do you change your profession?
- Do you like your job?
- Do you want to switch careers?
Family:
Questions
- How much time do you spend with your family?
- Who is closest to you in your family?
- Do you live with your family?
- How many members are there in your family?
IELTS Speaking Topics, Part 2:
To speed up IELTS speaking test preparation, you have to go through these topics and questions.
Exercise | Occasion | Language | Health | Vacation |
Business | Study | News | History | Event |
Communication | Art | Old people | Holiday | Celebration |
Book | Journey | Environment | Photograph | Conversation |
Journey | Kindness | Food | Respect | Favorite place |
Law | Gift | Furniture | Relax | Zoo |
Study
Questions:
- Which subject do you like to study most?
- Why do you like that subject?
- Where do you study that subject?
- In which country do you like to study?
- Do you want to get a job in a field similar to your study?
Art
Questions:
- What kind of art do you like?
- When did you first see this art?
- Where did you see that art?
- Why did you like that art?
IELTS Speaking Topics, Part 3
As the part 3 topics completely depend on the topic you choose in the part 2. Let’s see some of the common topics and questions related to that topic.
Advertising | Celebrities | Environment | Holiday | Transportation | Socializing |
Art | Culture | Leadership | Money | Weather | Toy |
Company | Decision | Movies | Travel | Help | Work |
City | Electronic Devices | Family | Nature | History | Plans |
Books | Education | Friends | Punctuality | Money | Rules |
Clothes | Food | Furniture | Business | School subjects | Restaurants |
Books:
Questions
- Do you prefer to read e-books?
- What kind of books do children read?
- When do you read books?
- Do you prefer to read books rather than watch movies?
Business
Questions
- What are the most popular businesses in your country?
- What are the challenges facing businesses in your country?
- What do you prefer, business or job?
- Is business stressful nowadays?
- What are the attributes of a successful businessperson?
Important Resources to Read About IELTS:
IELTS Speaking Questions With Answers
Part | Category | Questions | Answer format |
Part 1 | Work | What work do you do? What do you enjoy most about your work? What are your main duties? Where do you work? |
Describe your designation,
Some aspects of your work that interest you the most
Describe the roles you fulfill daily.
Name the firm you work for |
Part 1 | Study | Where are you studying?
How was your first day?
What are you pursuing?
What is your favorite subject? |
Name of your institution
Memories of your first day
The course you are currently pursuing.
The subject you like the most |
Part 1 | Art | What kind of art appeals to you?
Do you think you are good at it?
From where did you learn it?
What is the most famous art in your country? |
Describe the art that you find appealing. It can be anything such as painting, music, or literature.
Do you consider yourself good at that art?
Did someone teach you the skill, or did you know it yourself?
Describe the well-known art in your country. |
Part 1 | Childhood | Did you enjoy going to school as a child?
What is your best childhood memory?
What did you enjoy doing as a child?
Did you have a lot of friends when you were a child? |
Justify why/ why not, you enjoyed going to school as a child?
Talk about your best childhood memories.
The answer would include the things that made you happy as a child.
Talk about your childhood best friends. |
Part 1 | Hometown | Where is your hometown?
What is the oldest place in your hometown?
How often do you visit your hometown?
What was it like growing up there? |
Describe the place where your
hometown is located.
Name the oldest place in your hometown.
You can mention the last time you visited.
Talk about some of your best memories of your hometown |
Part 1 | Book | Describe a book you have recently read. | You can say,
What type of book is it?
What is it about?
Who is the author?
What sort of people would enjoy it? |
Part 1 | Communication | Describe some advice you gave to someone. | You can say
Whom you gave it to?
What was the advice?
What did the other person say after listening to that advice?
Did that person listen to your advice? |
Part 2 | Daily routine | What is your favorite part of the day? | You can say
Which part of the day do you like the most?
What do you do at that time?
What are the aspects that make it your favorite part of the day? |
Part 2 | Exercise | Describe an exercise you know. | You can say
What is it?
How is it performed?
Where did you learn it from?
What age group is it suitable for?
Why do you think it is a good exercise? |
Part 2 | Family | Describe a close family member. | You can say
Who is it?
What relationship do you have with the person?
What are the qualities of that person?
What do you do together? |
How to Score Well on the IELTS Speaking Test- Some Tips
- Don’t memorize answers, especially in part 1. Memorized language doesn’t give the examiner an accurate idea of your English-language skills. The examiner will tell if you have memorized your answers, which may influence your final band score.
- Don’t use long and complicated words just to impress. Keep it short and simple. You could pronounce them wrong, which can lead to a low band.
- Use a wide range of grammatical structures, with both complex and simple sentences while speaking. The sentences should be grammatically accurate.
- Be fluent. Fluency is essential to get a good speaking band score. Do not hesitate or stammer while speaking. Be fluent and start speaking immediately after getting the questions. Be expressive, do not pause to think, and then answer. Practice well before the test to speak fluently.
- Speak confidently and avoid using filler words. Fillers are used when you don’t know what to say. You cannot use connectors and fillers to keep speaking. Whatever you speak should be relevant and must meet the purpose of the question.
- Expand your vocabulary to speak some good but less frequently used words. Check the pronunciation as it’s an important part of speaking. A good score will depend upon how well you pronounce your English words.
- Practice the common topics and questions of all three parts of IELTS speaking. It will help you speak confidently without any hesitation.
- Avoid repetition. Do not repeat words, sentences as well as ideas. The more unique you are with your ideas and words, the better band you will get. Try not to rush and quickly finish off with the test.
Conclusion
Preparation is the key to success in IELTS. The IELTS examination is conducted to check the ability of non-native English speakers to integrate and communicate in an English-speaking country during their stay. Speaking is an important part of the migration process. Applicants must prepare well for the speaking test to get a good band. For more tips and tricks on the IELTS speaking topics, consult the experts at upGrad Abroad.
Read More About IELTS:
FAQs
What are the common speaking topics for IELTS?
Although the examiner can ask questions on any topic from the candidate. Common speaking topics are related to work, study, hometown, childhood, art, fashion, bicycle, birthdays, etc.
How many questions will be asked in IELTS Speaking Part 2?
In the second part of IELTS Speaking, the examiner assigns a cue card to the candidates containing a topic they have to speak about for two minutes. Once they are finished speaking, the examiner asks three to four follow-up questions.
Can I use a lot of phrases and idioms to boost my score?
Using words and idioms can be an effective tool to boost your IELTS score. However, candidates must ensure that they use them appropriately in the relevant context.
Is IELTS speaking marked immediately?
Yes, the examiners evaluate the candidates immediately while taking their speaking tests. However, the candidates are clueless about being assessed as they move forward with their speaking test. The result for each section is available in 5-7 days in case of online and in 14 days in case of offline tests.
Why is the IELTS speaking test recorded?
IELTS Speaking test is recorded for several reasons. The primary reason is to check whether the candidate has given the correct score to the candidate. The secondary reason is to keep a reference if a candidate applies for revaluation.
What are the common categories of questions in IELTS Speaking?
Some of the popular IELTS Speaking questions are; Art, Family, Hometown, Culture, Daily routine, Communication, etc.
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Disclaimer
The above tips are the Author's experiences. upGrad does not guarantee scores or admissions.