Welcome to IELTS Speaking
A conversation, not an interrogation.
IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face assessment with a trained examiner, lasting 11 to 14 minutes and divided into three parts. Unlike the other three skills, it’s the only section of IELTS conducted as a live conversation rather than a written or recorded task.
Many candidates focus their preparation entirely on vocabulary and grammar, but Speaking also rewards confidence, natural pacing, and the ability to develop an answer rather than giving a short, memorised response.
This section will walk you through when the assessment actually begins, what happens in each of the three parts, how to use your one minute of Part 2 preparation time effectively, and how examiners score your performance.
Choose where to begin
Explore IELTS Speaking
Before Part 1 starts
When the Assessment Really Begins
Understand how the impression you make starts earlier than most candidates realise.
11–14 minutes
The Three Parts of the Speaking Test
Learn what to expect from Parts 1, 2 and 3, and how they differ from each other.
One minute
Using Your Preparation Time
Turn your one minute of Part 2 preparation time into a genuine speaking advantage.
How you’re scored
Band Descriptors
Understand the official criteria examiners use to assess your Speaking performance.