The IELTS Speaking exam is made up of 3 Parts:

Part 1 – The Interview  (4 – 5 minutes) – maximum is 5 minutes as examiners must move to Part 2 at 5 minutes

Part 2 – The Long Turn – (3 – 4 minutes)

You are given a task card/booklet.

ONE MINUTE to prepare – take notes.

TWO MINUTES to speak.

The examiner will sometimes ask you 1 or 2 ‘follow-up questions’, depending on how much time is left.

 

Part 3 – Discussion 3 – 5 minutes – maximum time allowed for the speaking test is 14 minutes. Usually, clients finish between 11- 14 minutes.

Common Topics:

Technology

• Communication
• Technology
• The Internet

Personal

• Daily routines
• Exercise
• Sport
• An important possession

Trips

• Travel
• A journey
• A tour

Culture

• Family
• Society
• Festivals
• Language/s
• Music
• Food

Considered difficult

• Fine Art
• A Gift
• An Animal

 

Example Task cards for Part 2:

Describe an environmental problem that has occurred in your country.

You should say:

• The cause of the problem
• What effect it has had on your country
• The steps, if any, that have been taken to solve this problem

Explain why you think this problem is so important to solve.

 

Procedure:

The idea is to talk for 30 seconds on each bullet point

In the minute you have to take notes,

Flair out three ‘talking points’ at the end of the bullet point

(put your Task card on the paper given to you)

farmers burning stubble

* The cause of the problem is a lack of government policy

lack of education

 

the air has been polluted

* What effect it has had on your country:    people cannot breathe

people cannot see

 

control cars/buses

* The steps, if any, that have been taken to solve this:    change the law(s)

issue goggles and masks

TEST WISE:

– The examiner expects you to speak for a minimum of 1:31 seconds or for a maximum of 2 minutes.

– If short of 2 minutes, he or she will ask you a follow-up question in the hope you will speak for another 10 – 15 seconds.

– If you speak for 2 minutes, the examiner will abruptly end this part of the exam with: ‘Thank you, that is the end of Part 2’.

– You are expected to answer all the questions on the Task Card.

Remember:

The task card is a guide.

You must stay on topic (e.g. Talk about an environmental problem in your country)

The three points are guiding points.