IELTS Track
Speaking exam preparation with part-by-part practice, band score estimates, and the four official IELTS marking criteria.
The IELTS Speaking exam is an 11–14 minute live interview conducted in three parts. The SpeakNow IELTS track lets you practise each part individually or run a full mock assessment. The AI coach scores you using the same four criteria used by certified IELTS examiners.
Exam structure
Part 1 — Introduction & Interview (4–5 min)
Short questions about familiar topics: your home, work or study, hobbies, and daily life.
How to approach it: Aim for 2–3 sentence answers that include a reason or a brief example. Focus on natural conversational flow rather than textbook-style answers. Avoid one-word responses.
Example answer structure: "I enjoy hiking because it gets me away from screens. Last weekend I walked a trail near the coast and it was really refreshing."
Part 2 — Long Turn / Cue Card (3–4 min)
You receive a cue card with a topic and 3–4 bullet points. You have 1 minute to prepare, then speak uninterrupted for 1–2 minutes.
The AI cue card is displayed on screen during the preparation window. Cover all bullet points and close with a short conclusion.
Recommended structure: Introduction → Main points (one per bullet point) → Conclusion.
Tip: Use the full preparation minute. Jot mental notes against each bullet point rather than trying to memorise a script.
Part 3 — Discussion (4–5 min)
Follow-up questions linked to the Part 2 topic, more abstract in nature. These questions require you to compare, speculate, and give well-reasoned opinions.
Recommended structure: Claim → Explanation → Example → Conclusion.
Useful openers: "In my view…", "This is partly because…", "A good example would be…", "It depends on whether…"
Band descriptors
| Band | CEFR approx. | What it sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | B1 | Partially coherent; noticeable pauses; limited range; frequent errors |
| 5.5 | B1+ | Generally able to communicate but with some hesitation and repetition |
| 6.0 | B2 | Mostly effective; occasional repetition; adequate range; some errors |
| 6.5 | B2+ | Willing to speak at length; good coherence; some imprecision |
| 7.0 | C1 | Flexible and fluent; good range; minor errors only |
| 7.5 | C1+ | Fluent with occasional hesitations; wide range; mostly accurate |
| 8.0 | C1/C2 | Fluent with only occasional difficulty; accurate and varied |
| 8.5+ | C2 | Effortless; sophisticated range; fully accurate |
Four marking criteria
Your AI band estimate is calculated across four independent criteria — the same ones used by certified IELTS examiners:
Fluency & Coherence — Can you speak at length without long pauses? Are your ideas logically connected and easy to follow?
Lexical Resource — Do you use a wide range of vocabulary? Can you paraphrase when you cannot find an exact word?
Grammatical Range & Accuracy — Do you use a mix of simple and complex structures? How frequently do grammatical errors occur?
Pronunciation — Is your speech easy to understand? Do you use natural stress and intonation patterns?
Each criterion receives an independent score (1–9, half-band steps). The overall band is the mean of the four scores.
Important: Band estimates from SpeakNow are AI-generated coaching signals, not official IELTS scores. Always sit an official exam at an accredited test centre for visa, university, or employer requirements.
Next: IELTS Assessment — what to expect during the full mock exam, and how to prepare.