IELTS Speaking Test Format and How it is Marked

IELTS Speaking Test Format

The IELTS pattern for the speaking section is quite simple. The speaking section is like a face-to-face interview between the test taker and the examiner/candidate. In IELTS Speaking, grammar, accuracy, coherence and fluency, lexical resources, and pronunciation of a candidate are assessed and analyzed in 11-14 minutes.

IELTS Question Pattern for Speaking

Test takers have to complete three tasks in this section.

In Task 1, the test-taker has to give IELTS a general introduction about himself or herself regarding education, home, family, and work background. The time for this task is 4-5minutes.
In Task 2, the test-taker has to pick up a task card for selecting a topic to talk about with the examiner. The time for this task is 3-4 minutes (including preparation time).
In Task 3, the examiner will discuss whatever is said by the test taker in Task 2 and cross-questions the candidate. This task takes approx 4-5 minutes.

These tasks allow the examiner to check the ability of the candidate to communicate their views on everyday topics, any given topic, and the ability to justify what they have said.

This section is also similar for both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

How it is marked

Marking and assessment

Speaking performances are evaluated by certificated IELTS examiners. All IELTS examiners hold relevant teaching qualifications and are recruited as examiners by the test centers and approved by the British Council or IDP: IELTS Australia.

Scores are recorded in whole and half bands. Detailed performance descriptors have been developed which describe spoken performance at the nine IELTS bands.

Fluency and coherence

This refers to the ability to talk with normal levels of continuity, rate, and effort and link ideas and language together to form coherent, connected speech. The key pointers of fluency are speech rate and speech continuity. The key indicators of coherence are logical sequencing of sentences, clear marking of stages in a discussion, narration, or argument, and the use of cohesive devices (e.g. connectors, pronouns, and conjunctions) within and between sentences.

Lexical resource

This criterion refers to the range of vocabulary used and the precision with which applications and attitudes can be expressed. The key indicators are the variety of words used, the adequacy and appropriacy of the words used, and the ability to circumlocute (get around a vocabulary gap by using other words) with or without noticeable hesitation.

Grammatical range and accuracy

This criterion refers to the range and the accurate and appropriate use of the test takers’ grammatical resources. The key indicators of the grammatical range are the length and complexity of the addressed sentences, the appropriate use of subordinate clauses, and the range of sentence structures, especially to move elements around for information focus. The key indicators of grammatical accuracy are the number of grammatical errors in a given amount of speech and the communicative effect of the error.

Pronunciation

This criterion refers to the ability to produce comprehensible speech to fulfill the Speaking test requirements. The key indicators are the amount of strain caused to the listener, the amount of the speech which is unintelligible, and the noticeability of L1 influence.