How the Speaking test works
The Speaking test is a face-to-face conversation with an examiner, lasting 11 to 14 minutes, and it is recorded. There are three parts:
- Part 1 (4 to 5 minutes). Questions about familiar topics: your studies, work, hometown, hobbies, food, weather.
- Part 2 (3 to 4 minutes). You get a cue card with a topic and some prompts, one minute to prepare with paper and pencil, and then speak for up to two minutes.
- Part 3 (4 to 5 minutes). A discussion of broader, more abstract questions linked to the Part 2 topic.
You are marked on four criteria: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation.
Fluency or accuracy?
Students often ask which matters more. The honest answer is both, but most candidates focus too much on accuracy and stop themselves mid-sentence to correct small errors. That breaks fluency and costs more than the error would.
- Keep going. If you make a small mistake, carry on. Correct yourself only if the meaning is unclear.
- Extend your answers. In Part 1, give an answer plus a reason or example. Two or three sentences is ideal.
- Use natural fillers sparingly. "That's an interesting question" once is fine; using it before every answer is not.
- In Part 3, speculate and compare. Phrases like "I suspect that" or "compared with my parents' generation" show range.
Pronunciation points for Hyderabad speakers
Hyderabad is multilingual. Many students grow up with Telugu, Urdu or Dakhini, and Hindi, alongside English. That gives you a clear, confident accent, and an Indian accent is absolutely fine in IELTS. Pronunciation is about being easy to understand, not sounding British or American.
Still, a few sounds and habits are worth practising, because they are common for speakers of these languages:
- V and W. Many speakers use one sound for both, so "west" and "vest" sound alike. Practise rounding your lips for "w" and touching your lower lip to your teeth for "v".
- Z and J. Some Telugu speakers say "jero" for "zero" or "joo" for "zoo". Practise a buzzing "z".
- Added final vowels. Because Telugu words usually end in a vowel, an extra sound can creep in: "and-u", "work-u". Record yourself and listen for it.
- "Th". Words like "three", "think" and "the" are often pronounced with a "t" or "d" sound. Place your tongue lightly between your teeth.
- Word stress. Stressing the wrong syllable, as in "DEvelopment" instead of "deVELopment", or "phoTOgraph" instead of "PHOtograph", often affects clarity more than individual sounds. Notice how the stress moves in "PHOtograph", "phoTOgraphy" and "photoGRAPHic".
- Intonation. A flat, fast delivery can sound rehearsed. Let your voice rise and fall, and pause at natural points.
Practising when you have no partner
If you share a flat in Gachibowli or live with family in the Old City, privacy can be the real problem. Early mornings, a quiet terrace or a parked car all work as a practice room for ten minutes.
Finding a speaking partner is not easy when classmates have different timetables and colleagues are busy. You can still practise properly alone:
- Answer prompts aloud and record yourself on your phone, then listen back for one point only, such as "th" or pauses.
- Talk through your day in English on the walk to the Metro station.
- Describe what you see from the window: a street in Mehdipatnam, the traffic on the flyover, the lake at Hussain Sagar. That is Part 2 practice in disguise.
- Rewrite your transcript afterwards and say it again with better vocabulary.
The cue-card timer
The hardest moment in the test is often the start of Part 2. On IELTS Learning, Part 2 prompts use a real one-minute preparation timer followed by a two-minute speaking timer, so you learn what two minutes feels like. Most students are surprised how long it is at first.
Use your minute well: jot four or five keywords, not sentences, and plan a simple order such as what, when, why and how you felt.
AI feedback and teacher sessions
There are 186 prompts across Parts 1, 2 and 3. After you answer, you get AI feedback on your transcript, which helps with vocabulary, grammar and how well you developed your answer.
For pronunciation and the feel of a real conversation, nothing replaces a person. You can book a 1-to-1 online session with an IELTS teacher (about 20 minutes, from ₹299) for a full practice interview and feedback, from home, without travelling across Hyderabad.
Register free and try a Speaking prompt today, or explore IELTS tips on the blog.