IELTS Speaking Parts 1, 2 and 3: what to expect and how to practise

The Speaking test takes 11–14 minutes. Each part asks you to use English in a different way. Learning those differences helps you practise the right skill instead of delivering the same kind of answer to every question.

Part 1: introduction and interview, 4–5 minutes

After introductions and an identity check, you answer questions about familiar subjects. Practise giving a direct answer and adding a relevant detail. For example: ‘I study engineering. I particularly enjoy the practical classes because we get to test our designs.’ This is a practice pattern, not a required sentence count.

Part 2: individual long turn, 3–4 minutes in total

You receive a topic card and one minute to prepare notes. You then speak for up to two minutes, with brief follow-up questions possible afterward. During practice, choose one concrete example quickly and write a few prompts. Leave room to explain why the experience mattered rather than spending the whole turn describing its setting.

Part 3: discussion, 4–5 minutes

The conversation develops the Part 2 theme into broader issues. Practise moving beyond your own experience: identify a group, explain a possible cause, and consider an alternative. A story about a useful phone might lead to a discussion about how technology affects work or relationships.

Practise changing gears

• Answer a familiar question naturally, with one useful detail.
• Prepare a cue card for exactly one minute, then record a long turn.
• Use the same theme to discuss a wider issue, including a reason and an example.
• Listen again: did you answer the actual question, or only talk about the topic?

Our mock separates Part 2 preparation from speaking on screen; both belong to the same part. Practice phases can advance early, so a mock may be shorter than the official test. AI feedback is an estimate for learning, not an official IELTS result.