Marking Scheme of IELTS Speaking Section
As the student will be assessed equally in all three sections of the speaking module, we highly recommend that the candidate should practice speaking, and for this, there is a lot of material available online. Also, remember that the bands given in each part of the speaking module will be considered to reach the average bands in the IELTS speaking section. The overall IELTS speaking band score of the candidates is measured by the following four parameters
Fluency and Coherence
Fluency and coherence are the most important parameters that need to be considered by any student. Remember that even if you are fluent in the language, if you deviate from the topic and do not speak on the question that is asked by the examiner, you will be in trouble. So to score high, the students under this parameter are expected to understand the question properly before they answer, especially in the cue card round. The ability of the candidate to understand what is asked will help in achieving high scores, and for this, we have been recommending our students to record their own answers and self-analyse. The more errors you realise the better you get.
Lexical Resource
The lexical resource is a parameter that assesses the candidate's vocabulary and the way they naturally use language and maintain the correct pace. IELTS does not demand you to use a lot of idioms, the word idiomatic expressions only means that the language should have a natural flow of words and thoughts.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Assessment of grammatical range and accuracy evaluates candidates' ability to effectively use diverse grammatical structures. This does not mean that the candidate needs to learn and by heart a lot of grammar rules, even a basic understanding of grammar accuracy and using a mix of structures helps in achieving the desired IELTS score.
Pronunciation
Pronunciation evaluation assesses the candidate's skill to communicate clearly and comprehensively. Reviewing IELTS speaking sample questions can help candidates enhance their pronunciation skills.
Part-Wise Analysis of the IELTS Speaking Section
In the IELTS speaking test, the candidates must answer three parts. Now, let us dive deep into the various IELTS speaking parts and understand what is required to complete this section.
Part 1: Introduction and Questions on Familiar Topics
The preliminary part of the IELTS speaking test is the Introduction and questions on familiar topics. This section is the building block of the conversation between the examiner and the examinee. The examiner receives a first impression of the candidate during part 1 while they answer the candidate answers questions. Hence, the candidates must express themselves clearly in the first part of the IELTS speaking section.
This part would begin with simple introductory questions such as ‘What is your name?’, ‘Are you a student or working?’, ‘What are your favorite hobbies? ’ etc. The immediate next question of the examiner will be based on the answers given by the candidate. Thus, it is always beneficial that the candidate does not reply with complex answers and responds with simple answers to the queries of the examiner. However, the answer should have a reason for the question asked. This section lasts between 4 to 5 minutes and constitutes almost 1/3rd of the entire examination.
In the samples given below, we will now show you a sample answer of a student who seems to be confident but deviates from the main point of the answer. Listen to both the audios shown below so that you understand the difference between a low score and a high score. This sample part 1 will make you think about certain opinions of students scoring low band but thinking that they had spoken well.
Candidates can listen to the speaking sample above designed by Careers360 to have an idea about the questions that have a high probability of being asked in the IELTS speaking section. These samples are designed after careful analysis of the previous year’s IELTS speaking questions and are aimed to help the candidates in their IELTS speaking preparation journey.
Part 2: Individual Long Turn
As mentioned above, all four parameters, fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range, and accuracy and pronunciation evaluation of assessing the candidate’s speaking ability are measured in this section. The candidate is advised to start with an introductory statement, then move on to the core content and conclude the topic giving an apt conclusion. The candidates are given a time frame of 2 minutes for the same, and should also note that they can be stopped at any time by the examiner if they are willing to do so.
Like in the Part 1 sample, we will now show you the same type of mistake generally made by the student, and that is the student's not being able to understand the question properly and answer it by deviating from the main points. In such cases, although the students feel that they have given perfect answers, the result is contradictory. We recommend you listen to the sample IELTS speaking cue cards of both low score and high score to understand the difference.
The above is a sample of part 2 of the speaking section of the IELTS speaking test. The candidate can refer to the sample and gain an idea on how to structure their speech, what to include and what not to, how to use effective vocabulary and give an apt conclusion.
Part 3: Two-Way Discussion
Part 3 is an elaborative discussion on Part 2. The examiner would ask a few general questions on the topic spoken by the candidate. There can be reasoning questions, analytical questions, W/H questions, etc. The candidate is required to answer the questions asked by the examiner to their best ability in a polite manner. While constructive criticism is welcomed, the candidate should keep in mind to never go into a debate with the examiner. This is the longest part of the interview and can last for more than five minutes.
Listen to the sample audios of both low score and high score and understand the errors generally made by the students so that you can self-correct and score your desired bands.
The candidates can listen to this sample conversation of part 3 of the IELTS speaking section. This can give them a clear picture of what to expect in the section. The reasoning abilities of the speaker are expressed in the audio, and this shows how the candidate must answer the questions.
IELTS Preparation Materials
Good IELTS preparation books often include test-taking strategies and IELTS preparation tips to help candidates approach different question types effectively and efficiently. These strategies can significantly improve performance on the exam. Keeping these thoughts in mind, we at Careers360 have designed a collection of seven IELTS preparation eBooks to help the candidates enhance their IELTS preparation.
E-books | Download Links |
IELTS Reading Practice Books | |
IELTS Writing Practice Books | |
IELTS Speaking Practice Books | |
IELTS Listening Practice Books | |
IELTS Preparation Tips 2025 Book | |
IELTS and TOEFL Vocabulary Guide Book | |
IELTS Practice Sets
With the influx of students attempting the IELTS examination, practice is of the essence. Without adequate IELTS practice and preparation, securing admission to the candidate’s dream college is nearly impossible. To help them tackle this challenge, Careers360 has designed a collection of IELTS practice sets such as:
1) IELTS READING
2) IELTS LISTENING
3) IELTS WRITING
4) IELTS SPEAKING
IELTS Speaking Practice Sets
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
ARTICLES |
How to Improve IELTS Speaking Skills: Practical Strategies | Read Now |
Common IELTS Speaking Questions and Model Answers | Read NowIELTS |
About the Author:
Pooja Aggarwal is an experienced trainer with over 15 years of expertise in helping students achieve their educational goals. With a degree in Education, she focuses on clear, patient, and personalised instruction. Her approach has successfully guided students from diverse backgrounds, preparing them for both Academic and General Training modules of various exams in a supportive and engaging environment.
