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    IELTS Speaking practice

    Every question in the examiner's voice, a sample answer for each one, and a way to answer it out loud.

    • 631 questions
    • All three parts
    • Free, no sign-up
    Try today's questionsSit a full mock test
    A calm desk by a window with a microphone, headphones, an open notebook and a cup of tea

    Today's questions

    One question from each part, in the order the test runs. A new set every day.

    1. Part 1The internet

      Is there anything about the internet you find frustrating?

      Get it scored
      Sample answerBand 8
      1. Answer
      2. Example
      3. Feeling

      Yes, the sheer amount of clutter you have to wade through to find anything useful. Half the time I open a page and I'm hit with cookie notices, pop-up adverts and a video that starts playing on its own. By the time I've closed them all, I've forgotten what I was looking for in the first place.

      wade through
      deal slowly with a large amount of something
      Half the time
      very often
      in the first place
      originally, at the very beginning

      57 words · about 25 seconds spoken

    2. Part 2Cue card

      Two mugs and a plate of homemade biscuits on a kitchen counter in warm light

      Describe a family member you are close to.

      You should say:

      • who the person is
      • how much time you spend together
      • what you like doing together
      • and explain why you are close to them
      Rehearse it on the clock Samples at Band 6, 7 and 8

    3. Part 3Family and upbringing, following on from the card

      Pros and cons

      What are the advantages of growing up in a large family?

      Get it scored
      Sample answerBand 8
      1. Upside
      2. Downside
      3. On balance

      The biggest advantage is that you're never short of company, and you learn to share, negotiate and compromise from a very young age, which are skills that serve you well later on. The flip side is that attention and money are spread more thinly, so a quieter child can easily get overlooked amid the noise. Even so, most people I know from big families say the closeness they gained outweighs any drawbacks, especially as siblings become a support network in adulthood.

      never short of company
      always have people around you
      The flip side is that
      the disadvantage of the same situation is
      outweighs any drawbacks
      is more important than the disadvantages

      81 words · about 35 seconds spoken

    The test in 14 minutes

    Three parts with one examiner, 11 to 14 minutes, the same for Academic and General Training.

    1. A small round table with a glass of water and a notebook in a bright, quiet room

      Part 1 · 4–5 min

      The interview

      Short questions about you: where you live, your work or studies, then two or three everyday topics.

      Answer in 15–25 seconds

      Answer→Reason→Example

      52 topics · 264 questions
    2. A blank index card, a pencil and a small sand timer on a wooden desk

      Part 2 · 3–4 min

      The long turn

      A cue card to talk about for up to two minutes, after one minute to prepare. One or two short questions follow.

      Talk for 1–2 minutes

      1 min notes→2 min talk→1–2 questions

      115 cue cards
    3. Two cups of tea on a table by a large window overlooking a city

      Part 3 · 4–5 min

      The discussion

      Broader questions on the cue card's subject, where you give and defend views, compare and look ahead.

      Answer in 30–45 seconds

      My view→Why→Example→But

      28 themes · 252 questions

    Every topic

    How the examiner marks you

    Four criteria, each a quarter of your Speaking band.

    • Fluency and Coherence

      Talking at length without searching for words, with ideas that follow on from each other.

      Band 7 sounds like

      Speaks at length without noticeable effort and links ideas with a range of connectives.

      Practise the long turn

    • Lexical Resource

      The range and precision of your words, and how well you paraphrase when one escapes you.

      Band 7 sounds like

      Uses some less common and idiomatic words, with a feel for which words go together.

      Build your vocabulary

    • Grammatical Range and Accuracy

      A mix of simple and complex sentences, and how many come out without errors.

      Band 7 sounds like

      Uses a range of complex structures, and many sentences are free of errors.

      Practise grammar

    • Pronunciation

      How easy you are to understand: sounds, word stress, rhythm and intonation. Not your accent.

      Band 7 sounds like

      Easy to understand throughout, with stress and intonation used well, if not every time.

      Work on pronunciation

    The average is rounded down to the half band below, so your weakest criterion costs the most. Band calculator

    Questions

    How long is the IELTS Speaking test?
    11 to 14 minutes, in three parts: a 4 to 5 minute interview, a 3 to 4 minute long turn that includes one minute to prepare, and a 4 to 5 minute discussion. It is the same test for Academic and General Training.
    Who will I be speaking to?
    A trained IELTS examiner, in the room or, at some test centres, by video call. The conversation is recorded.
    Can I ask the examiner to repeat a question?
    Yes. In Part 1 the examiner can repeat a question but not explain it. In Part 3 they can put it another way.
    Can I make notes in Part 2?
    Yes. You get a pencil and paper for the minute of preparation and can look at your notes while you talk. The notes are not marked.
    How is the Speaking band worked out?
    The examiner gives a whole band for each of the four criteria: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. They count equally. The average is rounded down to the half band below, so 7, 6, 6 and 6 make Band 6.
    Do I need a British or American accent?
    No. Pronunciation is marked on how easy you are to understand, not on which accent you have.