IELTS Speaking Test

Saitama University

Lesson 1IAN HURRELL

Plan for the next 5 days

Day Date Content

1 15th Introduction to the IELTS speaking

2 16th Part 1

3 17th Part 2

4 18th Part 3

5 19th Review and Test day advice

Content

Pro tips to help you perform well in each part of the

speaking test

Practice activities to improve fluency and pronunciation

Key vocabulary, grammar and phrases for each part of

the test

Lots of practice questions

Self study advice

What you will need

Computer with a good internet connection

Textbook – IELTS Academic 14 – Cambridge

Notebook / Paper for activities

Class slides will be shared after each class

Pen / Pencil

IELTS Pro Tip #1 – Enthusiasm

Show enthusiasm to talk

Show the examiner that you want to talk a lot

Be positive and try to talk a lot about each

question

Add details

Who / what / when / where / why

Enthusiasm could improve your score

IELTS Pro Tip #2 – Understand the rubric

Lets take a look at the

Rubric for the IELTS

speaking test

Speaking FOUR ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

25%

Fluency and

coherence

25%

Lexical

resource

25%

Grammatical range

and accuracy

25%

Pronunciation

Having

the right

vocabulary

to express

meaning

Having the

grammar

and syntax

to produce

a coherent

answer

Speaking

logically

without

much

hesitation

Producing

natural

speech that

can be

understood

In other words... the 4 criteria

Speaking Test Bands

Bands 1-3 = Non-proficient speaker

Bands 4-5 = Non-fluent Speaker

Bands 6-7 = Fluent speaker

Bands 8-9 = Near-native speaker

Band 6

Fluency & Coherence

Lexical Resource

Grammatical range & accuracy

Pronunciation

Pro Tip #3 Understand the format

1. Personal conversation = 5mins

2. Speech = 4mins

3. Discussion = 5mins

Total = 14 mins

12

The examiner will ask general questions about the test taker and a range of

familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies and interests.

examiner introduces him/herself and confirms test taker’s identity

four to five minutes

follow-up “Why/Why not?” questions

How does Part 1 (introduction and interview) work?

TRAINER WORKSHOP

Speaking | Part 1

13

The examiner will give the test taker a task card about a simple topic, which

includes points to cover in the talk.

the test taker is given one minute, a pencil and paper to make notes

topic is simple: a person, event, place, object

test taker is expected to speak for two minutes in long turn

examiner tells test taker when to stop

examiner may ask a rounding off question to conclude the long turn

How does Part 2 (individual long turn) work?

TRAINER WORKSHOP

Speaking | Part 1

14

The examiner asks further questions that are connected to the topic of Part

2.

the questions are more abstract and general than in Part 1

the level of language is therefore expected to be more sophisticated

the examiner is free to follow up and ask for justification and explanation

from the test taker

How does Part 3 (two-way discussion) work?

TRAINER WORKSHOP

Speaking | Part 1

IELTS Pro Tip #4 – Test attitude

Have a good test attitude

The test is NOT testing your ideas and opinions

The test is testing your ability to communicate in

English

Think of the test like a performance

You have 14 minutes to show the examiner your

best English

ALWAYS speak in full sentences

Try to give extended answers

IELTS Pro Tip #5 - Self study

It is important to get as much information about the test

as possible

Go to IELTS related websites

Watch many practice tests

Official IELTS website

https://www.ielts.com/prepare

Questionnaire

Please take a few moments to complete

this questionnaire.

https://forms.gle/9RPSHbSwvuVHrVem6

Homework

1. Read the Rubric carefully and try to understand each aspect

well

2. Check part 1 questions on p74 of your textbook and prepare

answers ready for the start of class tomorrow

3. Check the IELTS Official website

Watch the “speaking band comparison” video

Read the “Using discourse markers to communicate in IELTS Speaking” article

Schedule

Day Date Content

1 15th Introduction to the IELTS speaking

2 16th Part 1

3 17th Part 2

4 18th Part 3

5 19th Review and Test day advice