IELTS Speaking — Official Guide
A single-file, printable, beginner-friendly handbook to structure your speaking practice: descriptors → vocabulary → quick answers → cue-card framework → expansion templates → Band-9 self-check.
Tips:
Use 15–30 min/day micro-practice (see study plan).
Accessible, printable, and customizable — replace placeholders with your experience.
Visual Map — Learning Flow
Quick NavigationBand Descriptors (Plain English)
CoreFour load-bearing criteria used by examiners. Learn them, show them, and self-check against them.
| Criterion | Plain-English summary | Do / Don't checklist (scoring cues) |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | Speak smoothly, at a natural pace. Organize ideas so listeners can follow easily. |
|
| Lexical Resource | Use a range of words accurately and naturally, including topic-specific words. |
|
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Use varied sentence structures and make only occasional, non-impeding errors. |
|
| Pronunciation | Be intelligible: clear stress, rhythm, and natural intonation. Accent is fine so long as you are easy to understand. |
|
Scoring cue (quick): Aim to demonstrate balance across the four criteria. A Band 8–9 answer: steady fluency + broad vocabulary used precisely + varied grammar with few slips + clear pronunciation that rarely causes misunderstanding.
Vocabulary Toolbox
Use - Don't forceSimple, memorable words grouped by common IELTS topics. One-line definition + one-line example. Hover advanced words for a compact glossary.
Home
cozy — comfortable and warm.
Example: "My living room is cozy, so I relax there after work."
Example: "My living room is cozy, so I relax there after work."
versatile — useful in many ways.
"A versatile sofa saves space in a small flat."
"A versatile sofa saves space in a small flat."
Study
pedagogy — the method and practice of teaching.
"Good pedagogy focuses on student engagement."
"Good pedagogy focuses on student engagement."
repress — to hold back or control (feelings, memories).
"I try not to repress anxiety; instead I manage it with breathing."
"I try not to repress anxiety; instead I manage it with breathing."
Work
foster — to encourage development.
"Managers can foster teamwork by sharing responsibilities."
"Managers can foster teamwork by sharing responsibilities."
viable — workable or practical.
"We proposed a viable solution that needed little extra funding."
"We proposed a viable solution that needed little extra funding."
Travel
memorable — worth remembering.
"That train journey was memorable because of the scenery."
"That train journey was memorable because of the scenery."
nuance — a small, subtle difference.
"I noticed nuance in the way locals greet each other."
"I noticed nuance in the way locals greet each other."
Technology • Health • Environment
innovate — to introduce new ideas.
"Startups innovate to solve old problems."
"Startups innovate to solve old problems."
candid — frank and honest.
"Be candid about challenges during interviews."
"Be candid about challenges during interviews."
sustainable — able to be maintained long-term.
"We need sustainable energy solutions."
"We need sustainable energy solutions."
Glossary tooltip: Hover any underlined word to see a short definition. Don't force rare words — accuracy > quantity.
Part 1 — Quick Impact
2–3 linesAnswer promptly with 2–3 line compound replies. Use connectors, vary sentence openings, and add a quick reason or example.
Q: How often do you go out with friends?
Answer: "I go out with friends fairly often; not only does it help me relax after a busy week, but it also gives me a chance to catch up and share ideas."
Tip: stress key words (fairly often / relax / share).
Q: What do you like about your home?
Answer: "Although my apartment is small, it feels cozy and functional, and I particularly like the natural light which makes the space feel open."
Tip: use "although" to add contrast; end with a quick reason.
Pronunciation tip: use rising intonation on short questions and falling intonation when finishing statements. Practice stress on content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives).
Part 2 — Cue Card (Dual Framework)
STAR × WHWECombine STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) with WHWE (Who, How, What, Explain) to build a 1–2 minute story. Use target vocabulary and 1–2 compound-sentence LINKERS to maintain flow.
STAR
- Situation: set the scene briefly.
- Task: explain your role or goal.
- Action: what you did (one or two steps).
- Result: outcome and a reflection.
WHWE
- Who: participants (you, others).
- How: method or approach.
- What: the event or object.
- Explain: why it mattered; final takeaway.
Note-to-speech suggestion: Practice by recording a single STAR story, then listen and adjust. Use your phone voice memo or browser TTS: highlight text → right-click → "Speak" (or use any free TTS with natural voice). Repeat 5 times focusing on varied intonation.
STAR notes: Situation: group project lagging. Task: organize tasks. Action: introduced simple workflow and daily 10-min standups. Result: we finished ahead of schedule and the team improved communication.
Mini speech (1–2 mins):
"In a recent university project my group fell behind schedule, so I volunteered to coordinate the tasks; not only did I create a simple workflow to split responsibilities, but I also suggested daily ten-minute standups to track progress, and as a result we completed the project early while everyone felt more confident about their role."
Mini speech (1–2 mins):
"In a recent university project my group fell behind schedule, so I volunteered to coordinate the tasks; not only did I create a simple workflow to split responsibilities, but I also suggested daily ten-minute standups to track progress, and as a result we completed the project early while everyone felt more confident about their role."
Target vocab: workflow, confident, volunteer. Placeholder: replace with
<YOUR SITUATION> and <YOUR RESULT>.
STAR notes: Situation: unexpected train delay; Task: keep calm and enjoy the experience; Action: explored the station and spoke to locals; Result: discovered a charming café and made new friends.
Mini speech:
"Once my train was delayed for several hours, so instead of being frustrated I explored the station and chatted with locals; although it wasn't planned, I found a charming café and met friendly people, which turned the delay into one of my most memorable travel experiences."
Mini speech:
"Once my train was delayed for several hours, so instead of being frustrated I explored the station and chatted with locals; although it wasn't planned, I found a charming café and met friendly people, which turned the delay into one of my most memorable travel experiences."
Target vocab: memorable, charming, planned.
STAR notes: Situation: struggled with presentation skills; Task: improve confidence; Action: teacher offered extra coaching and live feedback; Result: grades improved and confidence increased.
Mini speech:
"I once struggled with presenting in class, so my teacher kindly offered extra coaching; she gave clear, candid feedback and practical exercises, and consequently my confidence and presentation grades improved noticeably."
Mini speech:
"I once struggled with presenting in class, so my teacher kindly offered extra coaching; she gave clear, candid feedback and practical exercises, and consequently my confidence and presentation grades improved noticeably."
Use placeholders like
<YOUR EXPERIENCE> and swap vocab (candid, confidence).Part 3 — Discussion Expansion
Deepen • Compare • ConcludeMove from personal examples to general opinions. Use patterns: contrast, cause–effect, example–conclusion. Always link back to your experience where helpful.
Contrast
Frame: "While some people argue X, I believe Y because..."
Example: "While some people think online learning is impersonal, I believe it can be flexible and effective because it allows varied resources and self-paced study."
Cause → Effect
Frame: "Due to X, Y has happened; consequently, Z..."
Example: "Due to rapid urbanisation, cities face congestion; consequently, public transport must be improved to reduce pollution."
Reusable sentence frames
- "One important reason is that..."
- "For instance, ..." (give a brief example), "and this suggests that..."
- "In the long term, this would mean..."
Beginner Templates (Fill-in-the-blank)
CustomizableShort templates for quick use. Click copy to paste into practice recordings.
Part 1 — Template
I usually [verb] when [reason]; although [contrast], I find it helps me to [result].
Part 2 — STAR Template
Situation: <YOUR SITUATION> — Task: <YOUR TASK> — Action: <WHAT YOU DID> — Result: <YOUR RESULT>.
Part 3 — Expansion Frame
Point — Explanation — Example — Conclusion. Example: "I believe X because Y; for example, [short example]; therefore, Z."
Band 9 — Final Self-Check
TickableFAQ — Common Pitfalls & Fixes
Practice short answers and breathing: speak for 30 seconds non-stop on a simple topic. Use filler strategies like paraphrase, then reframe—avoid long silent searches by substituting simpler words.
Yes, only if used incorrectly. Prefer clear, accurate vocabulary. A few well-chosen higher-level words are better than many misused ones.
Use a hypothetical answer: begin with "If I had to..." or generalise from something related. Keep it honest and structure it with STAR or P-E-E (Point, Example, Explain).
Micro Study Plan — 15-minute daily routine
- 2 minutes: Warm-up — one tongue-twister + 2 breaths.
- 5 minutes: Part 1 quick answers — record two questions (2–3 lines each).
- 5 minutes: Part 2 practice — choose one STAR story, speak for 1–2 minutes.
- 3 minutes: Review — listen to the recording, note one improvement and one strength.
Consistency beats quantity. Use the templates and try to add one new vocabulary word each day into your answers.