IELTS Speaking
How IELTS Speaking is marked
Speaking is marked on four criteria, each worth a quarter: Fluency and coherence, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy, and Pronunciation. The examiner gives a band for each, and your Speaking band is their average.
Fluency doesn't mean speaking fast: it means speaking at length without long pauses, with ideas linked clearly. Pronunciation is about being easy to understand, not about accent.
The four criteria
Fluency and coherence
Speaks at length without long pauses or much repetition, and links ideas clearly.
Lexical resource
Uses a range of vocabulary precisely, paraphrases when a word is missing, and uses some less common and idiomatic language naturally.
Grammatical range and accuracy
Uses a variety of structures, including complex sentences, mostly without errors.
Pronunciation
Is easy to understand throughout, with clear sounds, word and sentence stress, and natural intonation and chunking.
How to answer
Know The Four Criteria
- The four Speaking criteria are fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.
- Fluency and coherence concern speaking smoothly and connecting ideas clearly.
- Lexical resource means the range and choice of words you use.
- Grammatical range and accuracy concern sentence variety and correct grammar. Pronunciation concerns how clearly you say words and use stress and intonation.
Example: Question: What is a useful object in your home?. “A desk is useful because I can study and keep my books in one place. Mine is quite small, but it has enough space for my laptop.” This answer connects ideas, uses topic words and varied grammar. Pronunciation is assessed when you say the answer aloud.
Understand What Bands Reward
- Speaking is assessed against four criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.
- The four criteria are equally weighted. Each describes a different aspect of performance.
- A strong feature or a mistake is evidence, not a guaranteed band. Consider how the whole performance matches the descriptors.
- A transcript cannot show spoken delivery fully, including pace, pauses and intelligibility.
Example: Part 1: Do you enjoy cooking? Spoken sample. Yes, especially when I have time at the weekend. I usually make something simple, such as soup or a pasta dish, because I can adapt it to whatever ingredients I have. I’m not especially adventurous, but I enjoy the process, and it’s a useful way to unwind.
Review Fluency And Coherence
- Listen once for flow: note any long pauses, repeated starts or stretches of steady speech.
- Listen again for coherence: check whether each point answers the question and follows logically.
- Choose one specific strength and one improvement. Support each with a word, moment or time in the recording.
- Make the improvement small and repeatable, such as removing a detour or connecting a reason to an example.
Example: Recording review: answering “Do you prefer studying at home or in a library?”. Recorded answer: “I prefer studying in a library because it helps me focus. Last week, the weather was very warm. For example, at home I often check my phone, whereas in the library I leave it in my bag.” The delivery stayed steady, with no long pauses. Strength: I spoke continuously while explaining my preference. Improvement: “Last week, the weather was very warm” is a detour; I can move straight from my reason to my example.
Review Lexical Resource
- Replay your answer and note vague words such as “good” or “things”, plus content words you repeat.
- Replace a vague word only when a more exact word fits your meaning.
- Paraphrase an idea with different wording; avoid strings of near-synonyms that add no meaning.
- Check revised phrases for natural collocations and unchanged meaning.
Example: Speaking Part 2: Describe a place you enjoy visiting. Review a recorded answer for vocabulary.. I enjoy visiting the local library. It has quiet study areas and reliable Wi-Fi, so it is a practical place to work. I also like its welcoming atmosphere; staff are helpful, and the space feels calm even when it is busy.
Review Pronunciation Clarity
- Record one uninterrupted answer. Replay for the message, then listen again for stress, intonation, and individual sounds.
- Make key content words prominent, but keep small grammatical words lighter; stressing every word can blur the message.
- Use pitch to signal contrast and completed thoughts; avoid flat delivery or rises that make sentence boundaries unclear.
- Check for substituted sounds, weak word endings, and blurred boundaries. Replay an unclear phrase in context, rather than drilling isolated sounds.
- Clear pronunciation means easy-to-follow speech, not copying another accent.
Example: Part 2 prompt: Describe a skill you learned.. Sample recording: “I learned to BAKE BREAD from a neighbour. At first, the dough was DIFFICULT to handle, but I practised each WEEKEND. Now I find the process RELAXING.” Replay note: the capitalised words carry the main stress. Let your voice settle at the end of each finished thought, and check that the final sounds in “learned” and “practised” are audible.
Review Grammatical Control
- Replay a short section of your answer and note its main sentence patterns: simple, compound and complex.
- Check each clause for tense, subject–verb agreement, articles and prepositions.
- Look for useful variety, such as a relative clause or a conditional, not complexity for its own sake.
- Correct errors first, then record the answer again and check that the varied structures remain accurate.
Example: Speaking Part 3: Why do some people prefer working from home?. I think flexibility is the main reason. People who work from home can organise their day around tasks that need concentration, which is harder in a busy office. Although they may miss informal conversations, they often save time because they do not have to commute. If a team agrees clear times for meetings, remote work can be productive without making people feel constantly available.
Practise
Short items from the ielts.coach lessons. Answer them, then check to see why each answer is right.
1Which criterion concerns speaking smoothly and connecting ideas?
2Which criterion concerns the range and choice of words?
3A speaker uses one accurate complex sentence. Which conclusion is justified?
4What can you assess reliably from the written sample in the lesson?
5Your recording has a steady pace and no long pauses. You say, “I chose the evening class because I work during the day. It also fits my routine.” Which is the best specific strength to note?
6In your recording, you say, “I like the park. It is quiet. Anyway, I use it to walk after dinner.” What is the most useful coherence improvement?
7You said, “The library is good because it has quiet places to study and good Wi-Fi.” Which revision is more precise and avoids repetition?
8You said, “The market is popular with residents, and many residents go there every weekend.” Which revision avoids repeating the same idea?
Test hacks
Answer, then add a reason or example
In Part 1, give a direct answer and then one reason or example. Two or three sentences is ideal.
Why it works: One-word answers give the examiner nothing to assess; long speeches aren't needed in Part 1.
Buy thinking time naturally
Use phrases like "That's an interesting question" or "Let me think about that for a second" instead of silence or "umm".
Why it works: Natural fillers keep your fluency up while you plan.
Use the prep minute for keywords
In Part 2 you get one minute and paper to make notes. Write one or two keywords per bullet, not full sentences.
Why it works: Keywords keep you on track for the full two minutes without reading aloud.
Practise with feedback on every answer
ielts.coach builds daily lessons and practice around your interests and level, marks Writing and Speaking like an examiner in seconds, and plans your weeks to test day.