IELTS Speaking Time Duration- Time Limit: Ajmal Dass
In this article, you will know:
- IELTS speaking module
- IELTS speaking time and parts
- What is IELTS speaking cue card?
- Cue card tips
- Marking criteria of IELTS speaking module
- Components of IELTS speaking test
- Increase your ability for speaking
- Practice for IELTS speaking test
- IELTS speaking bands description
IELTS speaking test- an overview
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. There are two types of IELTS test:IELTS Academic vs. IELTS General. IELTS test is conducted in two modes- face to face and online known as computer based test (cbt).
Among the four modules, IELTS speaking is the most demanding one in the sense that it requires your presence of active mind, vocabulary, knowledge and performance.
Basically, there are three main parts of IELTS speaking test. Talking about IELTS speaking time duration, Part 1 consists of 4 to 5 minutes, Part 2 takes 3 to 4 minutes while Part 3 consists of at least 4 to 5 minutes.
In the context of IELTS speaking time limit or IELTS speaking time duration, let us discuss these 3 parts in detail:
IELTS speaking time duration and parts
There are 3 parts of IELTS speaking test. These are:
Part 1- introduction and interview: introductory questions
Part 2- individual long turn: cue card
Part 3- two-way discussion: follow up questions
This table will help you know about IELTS speaking test time and also its parts. Let us discuss them in detail.
Part 1: introductory questions
It is based on introductory questions and its weightage is 1 band out of 9. In part 1, the examiner asks you introductory questions. These questions are too short and easy. Through these types of questions, your examiner judges your ability of fluent speaking and also confidence level.
Introductory questions consist of your name, hometown, hobby, education, game and about your family.
Basically, your examiner gives you 4 to 5 minutes to answers 8 to 10 questions in this part.
Part 2: cue card or task card
In IELTS speaking part 2 which is known as cue card or task card, you are given 1 minute time to prepare notes on a white paper that will help you to talk on that particular topic. Moreover, you have to speak 1 or 2 minutes on the given topic. During this time, your examiner controls your time length.
IELTS ‘Cue card’ plays a crucial role in IELTS speaking test. Through this cue card, the examiner judges your ability of coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, pronunciation, fluency and sentence structure sense in the given situation.
To conclude this part, you are given 3 to 4 minutes to finish the portion of cue card completely.
Cue card tips
Cue card is the most important part in IELTS speaking test as it carries 6 bands. You need to practice these tips regularly before your exams:
- Practice your IELTS speaking cue card as much as is possible.
- For preparing speaking test part 2, 1 minute time is given to you. You need to use this time wisely by writing main points in the bullet form.
- Your good fluency, coherence and sentence structure have a good impact in the preparation and performance of IELTS speaking test.
- Record your own speaking for up to 2 minutes and then listen to it again to find your mistakes and weak points.
- Don’t worry about the time limit of cue card. You should keep on speaking until your examiner stops you, as she or he is noting down the time duration by the help of stop watch.
Part 3: follow up questions
In part 3, the examiner asks you more questions which are related to the part 2. This part of the test is also very much important and gives you opportunity to discuss your opinion, ideas and analysis in detail in front of the examiner.
In part 3, the examiner asks you 4 to 6 questions and you are to give answers in 4 to 5 minutes.
Marking criteria for IELTS speaking module
There are four marking elements which are established by your IELTS speaking examiner to award bands in IELTS speaking test.
This table will help you understand the marking criteria of speaking test:
Fluency and Coherence (FC)
1. The ability to speak fluently, without repeating, taking pauses, and having the know-how to self-correct.
2. Know the usage of the right words, vocabulary, and grammar.
3. Speak coherently with appropriate and strong cohesive features.
4. Have a clear knowledge of the topic that is being asked to speak on.
Lexical Resource (LR)
1. Make correct use of collocation.
2. Use a varied range of words/vocabulary.
3. Avoid making mistakes.
4. Know how to paraphrase the questions while giving answers.
5. Use less common vocabulary.
Grammar Range and Accuracy (GR)
1. Sentences should be well structured.
2. Word flow and sentence construction should be accurate.
3. Tenses should be used in the right manner.
4. Answers should be grammatically correct.
Pronunciation (P)
1. Use rising and falling intonation.
2. Correct pronunciation of words.
3. Ability to be understood throughout the test.
Tips and guidelines for IELTS speaking test
Following tips and tricks will help you a lot to perform well in IELTS speaking test:
Increase your speaking ability
For achieving good bands in IELTS test, you need to understand the test format of IELTS speaking test and also improve your listening skill.
These some tips can help you to increase your speaking ability:
- Prepare yourself in the best possible way before the test.
- Speak with others for speaking confidently and clearly.
- Listen to the audio recordings, as good listeners are good speakers.
Practice for IELTS speaking test
Before taking IELTS speaking test, you need to practice at home, in the IELTS classroom under the supervision of your IELTS instructor, through apps or online channels.
These tips help you to practice for IELTS speaking test:
- Don’t use big and new words.
- Use correct grammar structure for speaking.
- Don’t worry about your accent.
- Expand your answers.
- Avoid repetition of words which are used in questions.
- Practice to use body language.
- Practice to think in English.
Work on cohesion and coherence
Coherence is the logical arrangements of your talk and shows how every part of your answer is connected to another. Cohesion is the effective grammatical link of words.
In short, cohesion is all about the connecting of sentence of its level while coherence is about the connection of ideas.
In simple words, thematic unity is coherence, while verbal unity is cohesion and their proper use is the guarantee of 7 to 9 bands.
Improve your task response
The essence of the whole speaking module is task response, and if you do not fulfil the requirements of task, you are not given good bands. So, answer should be according to the sense as well as tense of the question.
You want to improve your task responses then you need to follow these important tips:
- First of all, you need to pay attention to the main hints of cue card.
- Write these hints in a proper arrangement in the bullet form, not in sentence form.
- Plan your specific points for speaking about more than 2 minutes.
- Avoid irrelevant details.
Don’t repeat the structure and vocabulary of questions
If you want to get good bands in IELTS Speaking test, focus on these tips:
- Use a variety of different words.
- Avoid repetition of words.
- Expand your sentence length and structure.
- Don’t use the same pronoun again in this test.
- Using compound and complex structures is helpful in getting good bands.
IELTS speaking bands description
Following table demonstrates the IELTS Speaking band description:
Frequently asked questions about IELTS speaking time limit/duration
Q: 1 What is the IELTS speaking test?
IELTS speaking test is held in 11 to 14 minutes. In speaking test, examiner asks many questions and judges your fluency, accuracy and vocabulary completely.
Q: 2 How many parts are of IELTS speaking test?
There are 3 parts of IELTS test. Part 1 consists of introduction questions and answers. Part 2 contains preparation of cue card. Part 3 consists of two way discussion.
Q: 3 How many questions are asked you in IELTS part 1?
You are asked 8 t 10 questions. You are to give them answers in 4 to 5 minutes.
Q. 4 How much time is given to you for preparation of part 2 Cue card?
You are given 1 minute time to prepare yourself for speaking on cue card.
Q: 4 Is there a time limit for IELTS speaking test ?
Yes. The total time duration of IELTS speaking test is 11 to 14 minutes.
Q: 5 How long should my answers be in Part 3 of the speaking test?
Your answer should be of 4 to 5 sentences, because your examiner gives you 4 to 5 minutes to answers the questions.
Q: 6 Can I ask for the question to be repeated?
Yes, you can say to your examiner to repeat question.
