Expert tips and strategies for this part of the IELTS Speaking test. Includes sample responses and key vocabulary for Band 7+.
Originally published July 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
The IELTS Speaking Test lasts 11-14 minutes.
The test has three parts, where you are interviewed by a trained examiner. You are not allowed to use a dictionary during the test. IELTS Academic and IELTS General students take the same test and it is marked in the same way.
The three parts of the test are as follows;
IELTS Speaking Part 1
Duration: 4-5 minutes
You will be asked questions on familiar topics, like your hobbies, family, where you are from, what your hometown/city is like, etc.
The topics might include;
Your studies/education
Hobbies/sports
Your family
What kind of movies, books, tv shows or music you like
What you like to eat / where you like to eat
Your job
Where you live
IELTS Speaking Part 2
Duration:3-4 minutes
First, the examiner will give you one minute to think about the question and make notes. Next, you will speak for 1-2 minutes uninterrupted. Then the examiner will ask you a further two or three questions about what you have said.
For example: you might be asked a question like this on your cue card >>
“Describe an interesting place you have visited”
You should say;
When you visited?
What you did when you were there?
What activities you could do there?
Would you recommend it to others?
IELTS Speaking Part 3
Duration:4-5 minutes
The examiner will ask you further questions related to the question topic from part 2. This will give you the opportunity to discuss more abstract ideas.
The cue card used as an example above was asking you about a place you had visited. Further questions might include;
Why do you think the tourist industry is growing?
How do people choose a destination for their holiday?
Some people like to take a package holiday, while others prefer to explore and organise the trip themselves, why is this?
IELTS Speaking Criteria
The IELTS Speaking Test is designed for you to be able to talk about, describe and explain your own experiences and opinions.
You will be assessed on the following criteria;
Fluency and Coherence
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Pronunciation
It is important that you take the time to read the IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors and familiarise yourself with what is expected for the higher scoring bands. Like other parts of the test, you will be given a band score from 0-9. With the academic students aiming for a band score of 7, the criteria is as follows;
Non-native speakers who can express themselves on most subjects but frequently pause to think of words or ideas, mostly get a band score 5 or 6. Native speakers would be expected to get an 8.5 or 9.
The examiner is looking for your ability to speak English well, expressing your own opinions and feelings. Your score will be lower than a 7 if you make frequent mistakes or the examiner has trouble understanding you and what you are trying to say.
Requirements from universities and immigration agencies vary. Most students will need at least a band score 6 for undergraduate study. For postgraduate study or immigration, a band score 7 is generally required.
Curated resources to boost your IELTS preparation. Practise with authentic English materials used by successful candidates.
Originally published July 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, we will take a look at my top 5 picks from TED Talks.
Listening to talks or lectures will really help you to develop your listening skills for the IELTS Listening Test. Listening to something that interests you can make studying more fun and can raise your enthusiasm. If you just practised listening with IELTS test papers you might get bored and lose interest. Dividing up your listening practice into sections, where you study both listening test papers and other sources will be helpful.
Listening to various sources like TED Talks, will not only help you to develop your listening skills but also to improve your use of general English. Non-native speakers often develop their language skills by watching TV shows or movies. For more academic content, listening to TED Talks or TED-Ed is a great way to listen to different accents and test your listening abilities.
Take a look at my top 5 TED Talks below and let me know what you think in the comments!
1. Do Schools Kill Creativity? – By Sir Ken Robinson
This talk is not only saying a lot about the education systems around the world but the speaker is very funny. When I first watched this video, I was laughing so much and I thought that he was not only an excellent public speaker, engaging with the audience but he supported his key points with really funny moving stories. I also share his views about the arts being seen as lesser subjects in schools and colleges and I am hopeful that one day that mindset will change.
Listen to the talk and see what you think, make some notes on the following questions >>
What are the key points?
What do you think of the speaker?
Did you enjoy the talk?
What is his opinion on the school systems?
How did the talk make you feel?
Did you write down any unknown vocabulary?
2. What I saw In The War – Janine Di Giovanni
Listen to the talk and see what you think, make some notes on the following questions >>
What are the key points?
What do you think of the speaker?
Did you enjoy the talk?
How did the talk make you feel?
Did you write down any unknown vocabulary?
3. The Man Behind Tesla, SpaceX, SolarCity by Elon Musk
Listen to the talk between two people and see what you think, make some notes on the following questions >>
What are the key points?
Do they agree or disagree on anything?
How well did you understand the content?
Did you write down any unknown vocabulary?
4. Rethinking Infidelity… A Talk For Anyone Who Has Ever Loved By Esther Perel
Ester Perel is a Psychotherapist and her talks are very popular!
Listen to the talk below and see what you think, make some notes on the following questions >>
What are the key points?
How well did you understand the content?
Did you enjoy the talk?
Did you write down any unknown vocabulary?
5. How Fake News Does Real Harm By Stephanie Busari
Listen to the talk below and see what you think, make some notes on the following questions >>
What are the key points?
How well did you understand the content?
Did you enjoy the talk?
Did you write down any unknown vocabulary?
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
Proven strategies for this IELTS Listening question type. Includes prediction techniques and common traps to avoid.
Originally published July 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, we will take a look at the 5 main listening skills you need to have to be successful in the IELTS Listening Test.
It’s a wonderful idea for you to not only practice with IELTS Listening Tests online but also to listen to talks, podcasts, audiobooks, documentaries, tv shows, the news and movies. Listening to something that you are interested in during your preparation will make you enjoy it more! This will not only help you to develop your listening skills but also to improve your use of general English. Non-native speakers often develop their language skills by watching TV shows or movies. For more academic content, listening to TED Talks or TED-Ed is a great way to listen to different accents and test your listening abilities.
Take a look at the skills needed in this post and practice using the exercises, see how much information you can focus on and how much of it you can understand. There are multiple-choice questions for most of the videos if you visit the TEd-Ed website. Links are underneath each section.
1. Prediction
During your IELTS Listening test preparation, you should aim to practice predicting the answers before you start listening to the recording. Read through the questions and think about the context, what is the main subject? A teacher talking to students? Are the students asking for essay feedback? Get an idea of what the main subject is before you start to listen so that you know what you are listening out for.
Predicting is an important skill to have, it helps you to foresee the content and this makes it easier to understand the speaker.
TIP >> Practice with IELTS test papers and also with talks from TED-Ed, where you can practice predicting answers with multiple-choice questions.
Listen to the talk below from TED-Ed, and answer these questions: Visit the website for multiple-choice questions.
How do kidney stones grow in the first place?
Why are they so painful to get out?
2. Take Short Notes
Taking short notes during your listening practice will help you to determine the right answers. In the test, you are allowed to make notes on the exam paper, so it makes sense to do this during your preparation too. It is particularly useful in the maps, plans and diagrams questions, where you may need to draw lines after listening to directions.
TIP: Listen to a talk/lecture and make short notes on the content.
Listen to the talk below from TED-Ed, and make short notes to answer this question: Visit the website for multiple-choice questions.
How can various compounds impact the way we physically feel, think, and even behave?
3. Synonyms and Paraphrasing
Being able to paraphrase and recognise paraphrasing is also very important. Many of the speakers will paraphrase – the questions may paraphrase using different words with the same meaning (synonyms). Always read the questions before you start listening to the recording.
TIP: Practice by listening to a talk/lecture and writing down any vocabulary you do not know. Then look up the words and keep a note of the meaning. Keeping a vocabulary notebook is a great idea, to help you to learn new words.
Listen to the talk below from TED-Ed, and make a note of any words you do not know, look for the meaning of the words and check for synonyms in a thesaurus. Visit the website for multiple-choice questions.
4. Recognising Sequencing
When you hear someone talking through a process or a lecture they are about to give, they will most likely use sequencing, for example, words like; first of all, secondly, next, after that and finally. When you hear these words you know where you are in the talk and what the speaker is going to say next. It will make it much easier for you to find your answers in the recording if you can recognise the sequence of events.
TIP: Listen out for the language of sequencing when you listen to a talk/lecture.
Listen to the talk below from TED-Ed, and make a note of the sequencing words used. Visit the website for multiple-choice questions.
How does the speaker talk you through the process?
Do they sign post certain steps with words you recognise?
5. Understanding Opinion and Attitude
You should be able to understand how the speaker feels or thinks about a subject. For example, in a talk about travelling, you may hear views on certain places and how they feel when going there. This can help you to understand how they explain their opinions and views through the language they use.
TIP: Listen to a talk/lecture and think about how the speaker is thinking and feeling. Make notes and consider the vocabulary they are using.
Listen to the talk below from TED Talks, and see if you can answer the questions below;
How does the speaker feel about allowing children to be creative in school?
How does he share his opinion on the subject?
What vocabulary does he use to give his opinion? I think…. / In my view etc
How does the speaker support his opinions? with examples?
What kind of examples does he share?
What is his overall attitude to the education system?
Proven strategies for this IELTS Listening question type. Includes prediction techniques and common traps to avoid.
Originally published July 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, we will be looking at how you can understand the IELTS Listening Test Band Scores for both the Academic Test and The General Training Test.
The IELTS Listening Test has 40 questions with each correct answer given one mark. The score you get out of 40 is then converted into a band score. The scores are reported in both whole and half bands.
The table below shows the average number of marks required to attain a certain band score in the IELTS Listening Test.
Number of correct answers
IELTS Listening Band Score
39-40
9
37-38
8.5
35-36
8
32-34
7.5
30-31
7
26-29
6.5
23-25
6
18-22
5.5
16-17
5
13-15
4.5
11-12
4
IELTS Listening Band Score
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
How IELTS Listening Band Scores Are Calculated
Your IELTS Listening band score is based on the number of correct answers out of 40 questions. There is no negative marking — incorrect answers simply receive zero marks. The raw score is then converted to a band score on the 1-9 scale.
Score Conversion Table
Correct Answers
Band Score
39-40
9.0
37-38
8.5
35-36
8.0
32-34
7.5
30-31
7.0
26-29
6.5
23-25
6.0
18-22
5.5
16-17
5.0
13-15
4.5
Note: These are approximate conversions. IELTS uses a variable conversion table that may differ slightly between test versions to account for difficulty.
Tips to Improve Your Listening Score
Read questions before each section plays: Use the preparation time to underline keywords and predict answer types.
Listen for paraphrases: The audio will rarely use the exact words from the question. Train yourself to recognise synonyms and restatements.
Watch for distractors: Speakers may mention an answer and then correct themselves. Listen for phrases like “actually,” “I mean,” or “no, wait.”
Practise with varied accents: IELTS Listening features British, Australian, North American, and other English accents.
Check spelling and grammar: Misspelled answers are marked incorrect. Pay attention to singular/plural forms.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Writing more words than the instruction allows (e.g., writing three words when “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS” is specified)
Missing the answer while writing a previous one — keep pace with the recording
Not transferring answers carefully to the answer sheet in the final 10 minutes
Leaving answers blank — always make a guess as there is no penalty for wrong answers
Originally published on IELTS Achieve. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
Proven strategies for this IELTS Listening question type. Includes prediction techniques and common traps to avoid.
Originally published July 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, we will take a look at how you can practice using your listening skills so that you can be super successful in the IELTS Listening test.
There are 5 main tips that you can follow to make sure that you are improving not only your listening skills but also your General English.
Take a look and try out the practice exercises!
1. Give It Your Full Attention
When you listen to something, a practice test, youtube videos, audiobooks or podcasts etc, try to be fully focused on what you are hearing. Don’t allow yourself to become distracted. If you have other things on your mind and you tend to zone in and out, try to sort out things you need to do before you start your listening practice and preparation.
When listening, pay your full attention to the words used and the tone of voice. This will help you to find out the information you need.
Listen to the TED Talk below and think about the following questions >>
What story does the speaker tell about his sister?
What is the reason he wakes up every morning?
How do people measure their happiness?
What examples does the speaker give to support his points?
Should we work harder in order to be happy?
2. Pick Up Key Points
Many people lose focus when someone has been talking for more than one minute. It is really easy for our attention to drift away and start thinking about other things, making us miss out on information the speaker has given.
Try to stay focussed and listen out for key points the speaker is giving to you. For example, if you are listening to a TED talk, think about the key points you have heard and make some notes.
Listen to the TED Talk below and think about the key points >>
3. Practice Active Listening
Focus completely on whatever you are listening to and what the person is saying. A good exercise to do for practice is to sit down with a friend and practice giving feedback on what they have been saying. You should focus on their words, grammar and how they give you their information. Doing this will make you think about the information they are giving you in much more depth, focus on the specifics.
Active listening will help you to think about understanding pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and structure.
Listen to the TED Talk below and think about the following >>
Pronunciation
Vocabulary
Grammar
Structure
4. Be Curious
Be a curious learner and listen to more than just the IELTS practice tests. Look for opportunities to practice your listening skills in other places, such as listening to podcasts, TED talks, the news, tv shows, documentaries or audiobooks. Always be on the lookout for interesting things you can listen to.
Take a look at the links below and listen to some great content:
When you listen to a TED talk or the news, for example, think about the views of the speaker, how do they feel about the issues? What are their thoughts on the subjects that are being discussed? Being able to recognise the attitude and opinion of the speaker are necessary to be successful in the IELTS Listening Test.
Look out for the language they use to convey their opinions to the audience and how you pick up on that, what type of vocabulary do they use? How do they tell the audience what they think?
Watch the video below from TED Talks, can you answer the following questions?
How does the speaker feel about the refugee crisis?
What language does the speaker use to convey his opinions to the audience?
