The IELTS Speaking test is assessed based on four official criteria, each contributing 25% to your final Speaking Band Score. These are:
Fluency and Coherence
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Pronunciation
Understanding these descriptors is essential to knowing what the examiner expects during Speaking Part 2, also called The Long Turn. In this section, you will speak for 1–2 minutes on a topic without interruption. The examiner will carefully listen and evaluate your performance based on how well you meet these four criteria.
Let’s break down what each criterion means, how it is assessed, and how you can improve your performance in each area.
Fluency refers to your ability to speak smoothly, naturally, and at length without frequent pauses or hesitation. Coherence refers to how logically and clearly your ideas are connected and structured.
In simple terms, the examiner wants to know:
Can you talk for two minutes without breaking down?
Do your ideas flow logically and smoothly?
Can you link ideas with appropriate connectors?
The examiner listens for:
Speed of speech without unnatural pauses or repetition.
Logical flow of ideas.
Use of linking devices like “first of all,” “in addition,” “for example,” “however,” and “finally.”
Ability to stay on topic and develop ideas fully.
Speaking too slowly or too fast.
Overusing fillers like “uh,” “you know,” “like,” or “umm.”
Going off-topic or being disorganized.
Repeating words or phrases too often.
Practice speaking for two full minutes on various cue card topics.
Use the PPF method (Past-Present-Future) to structure your response.
Record yourself and listen for pauses, repetitions, and disorganized thoughts.
Use signposting language such as “Let me begin by saying…” or “What’s more…” to guide your response.
Lexical Resource refers to your range and accuracy of vocabulary. This includes:
Variety of words and expressions.
Use of topic-specific vocabulary.
Ability to paraphrase effectively.
Use of idioms, collocations, and less common expressions.
The examiner checks:
Whether you can use a wide range of words to express meaning.
Your ability to choose appropriate words for the context.
How naturally you use idiomatic language.
How well you can avoid repeating basic vocabulary.
Relying on basic words like “nice,” “good,” “bad,” or “a lot.”
Using inappropriate or unnatural expressions.
Overusing memorized phrases or idioms incorrectly.
Failing to paraphrase the cue card prompts.
Create a vocabulary bank for common IELTS Speaking topics.
Learn and practice using synonyms to express the same idea differently.
Include phrasal verbs, adjectives, and topic-specific terms in your responses.
Practice speaking about one topic in multiple ways using different vocabulary sets.
Example:
Instead of saying “The city was very beautiful,” try saying “The city was absolutely stunning, with picturesque views and vibrant streets.”
This criterion evaluates:
The variety of grammar structures used.
The correctness (accuracy) of those structures.
You are expected to use both simple and complex sentences without too many errors.
The examiner observes:
Use of different sentence structures, such as:
Conditionals (e.g., If I had more time, I would…)
Relative clauses (e.g., The person who inspired me…)
Complex tenses (e.g., Present perfect, past continuous)
Verb tense consistency and subject-verb agreement.
Ability to use question forms, negations, and modals correctly.
The frequency and type of grammar errors.
Sticking only to simple sentences.
Misusing tenses, especially past vs. present perfect.
Making errors in articles (a, an, the) and prepositions.
Using incomplete or fragmented sentences.
Practice building complex sentences with connectors like “although,” “while,” “because,” and “even though.”
Use a variety of tenses as appropriate to the situation—past for storytelling, present for reflection, future for prediction.
Review common IELTS grammar structures: passive voice, reported speech, conditionals.
Write out cue card responses and have them corrected by a teacher or language partner.
Example:
Basic: “I visited a museum.”
Advanced: “I visited a museum that showcased modern art, which I found incredibly fascinating because it represented current social themes.”
Pronunciation is not just about sounding like a native speaker. It refers to:
Clarity of speech.
Use of correct intonation (rise and fall of pitch).
Word stress and sentence rhythm.
How easy you are to understand overall.
The examiner listens for:
Ability to produce sounds correctly (e.g., /th/, /v/, /r/).
Appropriate word and sentence stress to highlight meaning.
Use of intonation to show emotion and intention.
Chunking—dividing speech into natural phrases.
Monotone speaking—no variation in pitch or tone.
Mispronouncing common words or topic-specific vocabulary.
Not stressing the correct syllables.
Speaking too fast, making it difficult to understand.
Practice shadowing: Listen to native speakers and repeat after them line by line.
Use tools like YouGlish or ELSA Speak to practice specific words.
Record yourself to check if your speech sounds natural and smooth.
Focus on intonation and rhythm by reading aloud dramatic texts or speeches.
Example:
Compare:
Flat tone: “The city was beautiful and I liked visiting it.”
Natural tone: “The city was beautiful, and I really enjoyed visiting it.”
To improve your performance in Part 2, regularly evaluate your speaking using the official IELTS band descriptors. Create a self-assessment checklist like this:
Did I speak fluently for 2 minutes without unnatural pauses?
Did I use a variety of vocabulary with some topic-related words?
Were my grammar structures diverse and mostly accurate?
Was my pronunciation clear and easy to follow?
Record your answer to a sample cue card, listen back, and give yourself a score from Band 5 to Band 9 in each category. Over time, you’ll identify your strengths and areas to work on.
Understanding what the IELTS examiner is listening for during Speaking Part 2 can dramatically increase your score. Here is a quick summary of each criterion and what you should aim to demonstrate:
Fluency & Coherence: Speak continuously and logically. Avoid frequent pauses.
Lexical Resource: Use a rich variety of words and expressions. Paraphrase naturally.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Show command of different sentence types and use them correctly.
Pronunciation: Speak clearly, with proper stress and intonation to enhance understanding.
By focusing on all four areas equally in your preparation, you’ll become a more confident and well-rounded speaker—exactly what the examiner wants to see.