There is just one version of the IELTS Speaking test for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

As the Speaking questions and topics are the same for both tests, you can be sure that the practice material provided here is suitable for you, whichever version of the IELTS test you are taking.

What to expect

In the IELTS Speaking test, you will have a discussion with a certified examiner lasting between 11 and 14 minutes. This will be interactive and as close to a real-life discussion as possible.

The test has three parts:

  • In Part 1 - you will answer questions about yourself and your family.
  • In Part 2 - you will speak about a given topic, which will be introduced by the examiner on the day.
  • In Part 3 - you will have a longer discussion with the examiner about the topic introduced in Part 2.

How to practise

This practice material is designed for two people working together, so you’ll need to find a study partner to help you. This might be a teacher or a friend.

You should take all three parts of the test one after the other without a break to make sure that your practice session is as realistic as possible. 

Remember to speak clearly and accurately. It is important to say as much as you can (without rushing) and to be spontaneous. Do not prepare answers in advance as you will not have this option when it comes to the real-life IELTS Speaking test. The more natural and authentic you can be, the better the test is likely to go.

It’s a good idea  to record yourself (e.g. via your smartphone or laptop) so that you can go back and check your performance. If you can’t record yourself, ask your study partner if they can do so.

There are two practice tests below. Each test includes questions for your study partner to ask you as well as a sample topic for you discuss.

If you need more guidance, you can also listen to real-life audio recordings of a candidate taking the test.

IELTS practice Speaking test
IELTS practice Speaking test 2

How to review your Speaking test

Listen to your own recordings (if possible) and review your performance with your study partner.   You may want to discuss the following:

  • Think about how you spoke. Were you fluent? Did your speech sound natural? Were you able to express yourself clearly?
  • Did anything prevent you from doing your best? Is there anything you might approach differently next time?  

IELTS Speaking test samples

If you wish to hear samples of the Speaking test, you can listen to the recordings and read the audio transcripts for each part of the test. These are designed to give you an understanding of the format of the test, and they do not represent model answers so you should not try to imitate them.