IELTS Speaking test analyzes the speaking abilities of the students in the English language. Students appearing for the exam should be aware of the IELTS exam pattern to ensure an organized preparation for their test. The main purpose of the IELTS Speaking section is to understand if the candidate is proficient in communicating in English in everyday life including day-to-day conversations or communicating in the professional sphere.
IELTS Speaking part 1 is the introduction and interview section where the examiner checks the identity of the test taker. The main focus of the task is to assess if the candidate has the ability to communicate, state opinions and give information on everyday topics or experiences.
The main focus of the IELTS Speaking part 2 is to assess the ability of the candidate to speak at length, using apt language, organizing ideas, accurate grammar and fluency. This section consists of cue cards with variety of IELTS Speaking topics .Candidates have 1 minute to prepare their talk and can make notes . The candidates then would have 1-2 minutes to speak precisely on the topic. In the IELTS Speaking Part 3 which is about discussion, mainly focuses on having a concise discussion on the topic of IELTS Speaking Part 2.
The following IELTS Speaking strategies would help candidates enhance their practice for the exam effectively:
The IELTS Speaking test has certain criteria based on which students are awarded their scores. These criteria are as follows:
The IELTS Speaking Score is based on the marking criteria which enables students to achieve effective scores. Accordingly, IELTS Speaking Band Score ranges from 0-9 judged on the basis of these four criteria. In terms of taking admission in top universities, students need to score band 7 or higher while in many universities a 6.5 band score is also accepted.
The calculation of the IELTS Speaking Band Score is done by calculating the arithmetic mean and determining the total score gained in the section. So if someone receives a band score of 7 in the speaking section, the score would be calculated in terms of receiving scores in each criteria for instance, 7+8+7+8/4= 7. The table would help in better understanding of the same:
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Fluency and Coherence | 7 |
| Lexical Resource | 8 |
| Pronunciation | 7 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8 |
| Total IELTS Speaking Score | 7 |