IELTS Speaking — 151 topics with sample answers
The Speaking test is eleven to fourteen minutes in three parts. Below is every topic we cover, each with a written sample answer — and you can record your own answer to any of them and have it marked on the four official criteria.
-
Part 1 · 4–5 minutes
55 familiar topics — the warm-up questions about you
-
Part 2 · the long turn
54 cue cards — one minute to prepare, then speak for two
-
Part 3 · 4–5 minutes
42 discussion topics — the abstract follow-up to your cue card
The IELTS Speaking test format
The Speaking test is a face-to-face interview lasting eleven to fourteen minutes in total. It is identical for Academic and General Training, and it is recorded so it can be re-marked.
Part 1 — Introduction & interview
Four to five minutes of familiar questions about you: your home, work or studies, and everyday habits. Answers should be two to three sentences with a reason or example, not one word and not a speech.
- Answer the question directly, then add one reason or example.
- Aim for 20–30 seconds per answer — a single word costs marks, and so does a long story.
- Use natural, everyday vocabulary and contractions. Part 1 is not the place for rehearsed "impressive" words.
Part 2 — Long turn (cue card)
You are given a card with a topic and a few bullet prompts, one minute to prepare notes, then you speak for one to two minutes without interruption before one or two short rounding-off questions.
- Use the full minute: jot down a few short notes, one per bullet, not full sentences.
- Follow the bullets in order so the examiner hears a clear structure.
- Keep talking until the examiner stops you — running out of things to say early costs Fluency marks.
Part 3 — Discussion
Four to five minutes of more abstract questions linked to your Part 2 topic. This is where Band 7+ candidates pull ahead by giving an opinion, comparing, and speculating rather than just describing.
- State a position, then justify it — don't just describe the topic, argue a point about it.
- Use discourse markers naturally: "that said", "on balance", "broadly speaking".
- Speculate with modals — "it might well", "that would probably" — instead of only flat statements.
How IELTS Speaking is scored
Examiners give an equally weighted score for four criteria and average them. Knowing the practical difference between a Band 6 and a Band 7 answer is the fastest way to target your practice.
| Criterion | Band 6 | Band 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & coherence | Talks at reasonable length but may hesitate, repeat or self-correct; links ideas with a limited range of connectors, not always used naturally. | Talks at length with little noticeable effort and a clear train of thought; uses a wider range of connectors fairly naturally. |
| Lexical resource | Enough vocabulary to discuss familiar and some unfamiliar topics, though word choice is sometimes imprecise; usually paraphrases when stuck. | Wider vocabulary including some less common words and everyday idiomatic phrases; paraphrases smoothly when the exact word doesn't come. |
| Grammatical range & accuracy | Mixes simple and complex sentences; grammar mistakes are frequent but rarely block the listener's understanding. | Uses a range of complex structures with some flexibility; most sentences are error-free, with only occasional slips. |
| Pronunciation | Generally clear, but mispronounced words or flat intonation occasionally make it harder to follow. | Clear and easy to follow throughout, with stress and intonation used naturally to help meaning. |
Common questions
How long is the IELTS Speaking test?
Eleven to fourteen minutes in total, in three parts, face to face with an examiner. It is recorded.
Are the three parts marked separately?
No. One set of four criteria — fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation — is applied to the whole test, so a weak Part 2 pulls down the same band your Part 1 fed into.
Is the Speaking test the same for Academic and General Training?
Yes, identical. Only Reading and Writing differ between the two.
Can I practise speaking without a microphone?
Yes. Speak out loud, use a timer to keep to the exam length, and write your key points in a notes box instead of full sentences — that is closer to what the real one minute of Part 2 preparation feels like.
What should I do in the one minute of Part 2 preparation?
Write one short note per bullet point on the card — a word or phrase, not a sentence — and put them in the order you will say them. Trying to write out full answers wastes the minute and leaves you reading instead of speaking.
How can I move from Band 6 to Band 7?
Look at the four criteria, not just vocabulary. A Band 7 answer keeps talking with little hesitation, uses a wider range of linking language naturally, produces mostly error-free complex sentences, and stays clear throughout — improving all four together matters more than adding rare words to an otherwise Band 6 answer.
Does it matter if I disagree with my own Part 2 topic?
No. The examiner is marking your English, not your opinions or your life story. If a cue card doesn't match your real experience, it is fine to invent plausible details — fluency and accuracy are what count.