Academic and General Training
IELTS Speaking format
11 to 14 minutes with an examiner, in three parts
Part 1: Introduction and interview
The examiner asks general questions on familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies or interests.
For exampleDo you work or study?
Try Part 1 in the free testPart by part
| Part | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Introduction and interview | 4 to 5 minutes | The examiner asks general questions on familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies or interests. |
| Part 2: Long turn | 3 to 4 minutes | You get a task card, one minute to prepare with pencil and paper, then talk for up to two minutes. The examiner may ask one or two questions on the same topic. |
| Part 3: Discussion | 4 to 5 minutes | You and the examiner discuss issues linked to the Part 2 topic in a more general and abstract way. |
How it is marked
Four criteria, each a quarter of your Speaking band:
- Fluency and Coherence
- Keeping going without long pauses, and linking your ideas so they are easy to follow.
- Lexical Resource
- The range and precision of your words, and how well you explain around a word you do not know.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- A mix of simple and complex sentences, and how many are free of errors.
- Pronunciation
- How easily you are understood: sounds, word stress and the rise and fall of your voice.
Where and how you take it
- With an examiner
- Always a human examiner: face to face in the same room, or by video call.
- IELTS Online
- Speaking is by video call with an examiner. The format, timing and scoring are the same as at a test centre.
- Which day
- On computer, the same day as the other papers. Some centres hold it up to 7 days before or after.
- Recorded
- Every Speaking test is recorded.
Practise it
Questions people ask
How long is the IELTS Speaking test?
11 to 14 minutes, in three parts.
How long do I talk in Part 2?
You get 1 minute to prepare, with pencil and paper for notes, then talk for up to 2 minutes. The examiner stops you when the time is up and may ask one or two questions. The whole part takes 3 to 4 minutes.
How is IELTS Speaking marked?
On four criteria of equal weight: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Your Speaking band is the average of the four.
Is the Speaking test on the same day as the other papers?
On computer, yes: before or after Listening, Reading and Writing. Some test centres hold it up to 7 days before or after the test date.
Is the Speaking test recorded?
Yes. The Speaking test is recorded.
Is IELTS Speaking the same for Academic and General Training?
Yes. Both take the same Speaking test.
Sources
- 1IELTS, Academic test format: SpeakingChecked 12 October 2026.
- 2IELTS, IELTS scoring in detailChecked 12 October 2026.
- 3IELTS, IELTS OnlineChecked 12 October 2026.
- 4IDP IELTS, IELTS Speaking testChecked 12 October 2026.
- 5IDP IELTS, IELTS on computerChecked 12 October 2026.