The official IELTS by IDP app is here! Download it today.
Find out what English-language skills IELTS examiners look for in your Speaking test, how your Speaking band scores are calculated and more.
The IELTS Speaking test assesses your ability to communicate in English. The examiner awards band scores for your spoken English-language skills. The Speaking test will take place in a face-to-face interview with a qualified IELTS examiner in a quiet room.
IELTS Speaking tests are conducted by trained and certified IELTS examiners. They must hold a relevant teaching qualification and have extensive teaching experience to become an IELTS examiner. When assessing your performance, they work with clearly defined criteria to assess your Speaking test.
Examiners assess your performance against 4 criteria. Fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. Your Speaking results are given as band scores which range from a band 0 to a band 9. Each whole and half band score corresponds to a level of English-language competence.
To find out more about the assessment criteria used by IELTS examiners, search online for the IELTS Speaking public band descriptors.
Band scores
Speaking band scores
Comparing speaking performances across bands 5 to 8
Can you explain the Fluency and coherence criteria in IELTS Speaking?
Our IELTS Expert, Rocco Nigro simplifies one of the IELTS Speaking assessment criteria - Fluency and coherence to help you prepare for the Speaking test.
Can you explain the Lexical resource criteria in IELTS Speaking?
Rocco Nigro, our IELTS Expert, explains what Lexical resource criteria is in the IELTS Speaking test to help understand how your test is assessed.
Can you explain the Grammatical range and accuracy criteria in IELTS Speaking?
Rocco Nigro, our IELTS Expert explains Grammatical range and accuracy - one of the assessment criteria for the IELTS Speaking test.
Can you explain the Pronunciation criteria in IELTS Speaking?
Listen to Rocco Nigro, our IELTS Expert as he breaks the Pronunciation criteria down for you to help prepare better for the IELTS Speaking test.
Previous
Next
Learn More
IRCC announces that IELTS Academic test takers require lower overall band score than other tests.
Previous
Next
Featured news and articles
IELTS preparation resources
Progress Check for IELTS Academic
Prepare for IELTS with Progress Check, an official IELTS Academic practice test. Get a feedback report with indicative band scores.
Book now Cost: 49.95 USD 49.95 USDThe cost varies by location. Contact your nearest test centre for an accurate price.
Progress Check for IELTS General Training
Take an official mock test for IELTS General Training. Get a feedback report with indicative band scores marked by qualified IELTS markers.
Book now Cost: 49.95 USD 49.95 USDThe cost varies by location. Contact your nearest test centre for an accurate price.
