Quick answer
IELTS Speaking is scored on four criteria: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation — each worth 25%. The most common barrier to Band 7 is Fluency — specifically, giving short answers in Part 1 and pausing to find language rather than to organise ideas. Speaking is often the most improvable IELTS skill in a short time once the right habits are established. Importantly, accents are not penalised — pronunciation is assessed on intelligibility and natural stress patterns, not on sounding British or American.
Many IELTS test-takers treat Speaking as the section they can least prepare for — because it is the most spontaneous. This is a mistake. Speaking is often the most improvable IELTS section in a short period of time, because the patterns that hold scores down are consistent and addressable. This guide explains exactly what the IELTS Speaking examiner is looking for, what separates Band 6 from Band 7, and the specific habits that move scores upward.
How IELTS Speaking is scored — the four criteria
The IELTS Speaking examiner scores four criteria on a 0–9 scale. Each criterion is worth 25% of the Speaking score.
Fluency and Coherence
Can the student speak continuously without long pauses? Are ideas logically connected? This criterion distinguishes between pauses to think of ideas (acceptable) and pauses to find language (problematic). A Band 7 speaker can speak at length without language-related hesitation. Fillers like “um” and “uh” are natural and not penalised if they are brief — but frequent long pauses to find words or construct sentences are.
Lexical Resource
Does the student use a range of vocabulary? Can they paraphrase when they do not know a specific word? Do they avoid excessive repetition? The examiner rewards precise vocabulary choices, topic-specific language, and natural paraphrasing. Memorised phrases and overused collocations reduce this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Does the student use a variety of structures — both simple and complex — accurately? Band 7 allows for occasional errors as long as they do not cause misunderstanding. Band 9 requires error-free speech. Most students targeting Band 7 should focus more on range than on eliminating every error.
Pronunciation
Is the student easy to understand? Do they use natural stress and intonation? Pronunciation is assessed on intelligibility and naturalness — not on accent. Students with Indian, Arabic, Turkish, Ukrainian, or any other accent are not penalised for that accent. What is assessed is whether the accent impedes understanding, and whether stress and intonation patterns aid communication. Most students with strong English ability have no pronunciation issue that affects their score.
What each part requires — and the most common errors
Part 1 — Familiar topics (4–5 minutes)
The examiner asks questions about familiar topics: home, family, hobbies, work, local area, daily routines. These are not trick questions. The most common error is giving one-sentence answers. “Do you enjoy cooking?” → “Yes, I do.” scores at Band 5. “Do you enjoy cooking?” → “I do, actually. I only started cooking seriously a few years ago, but I found I really enjoyed the process of creating something from scratch. These days I mostly cook [country] food — it reminds me of home” scores at Band 7. The skill is extending responses naturally — answer, then reason, then detail or example.
Part 2 — Individual long turn (3–4 minutes including 1 minute preparation)
The examiner gives a cue card with a topic and three or four bullet points. The student has 1 minute to prepare and then speaks for 1–2 minutes. The most common errors are running out of things to say before 1 minute (insufficient content preparation) and ignoring the bullet points (reducing coherence). Use the preparation minute to note a brief structure: what, when, where, why/how — then speak through those points in order.
Part 3 — Discussion (4–5 minutes)
The examiner asks more abstract, opinion-based questions linked to the Part 2 topic. This is where Band 7+ answers are differentiated. Part 3 rewards developed, nuanced responses — discussing multiple perspectives, using conditionals and hypotheticals, and showing the ability to analyse rather than just describe. Short, factual answers to abstract questions are a consistent source of low scores in Part 3.
What holds most students below Band 7
Memorised answers. Examiners can identify rehearsed responses immediately. Memorised introductions, pre-prepared stories, and scripted opinions reduce the Fluency and Lexical Resource scores — because they sound unnatural and do not respond to the specific question asked. Prepare vocabulary and ideas for common topic areas, but always speak spontaneously.
One-sentence responses in Part 1. Short answers signal a low level of language ability to the examiner, regardless of whether the answer is correct. Every Part 1 answer should be at least three to four sentences — answer plus reason plus detail or example.
Not extending in Part 2. Running out of content before the 1-minute minimum suggests poor organisation rather than poor language. Using the preparation minute to plan a structure prevents this.
Formal language in Part 1 and 2. The Speaking test is a conversation, not an essay. Overly formal language (“In my opinion, the culinary arts represent a significant aspect of cultural heritage”) sounds unnatural. Natural, spoken English — including contractions, fillers, and informal vocabulary — is appropriate for Parts 1 and 2. Part 3 can be more analytical in register.
What actually improves Speaking scores
Speaking improvement requires speaking — not reading about speaking. The most effective practice is:
Daily speaking practice — on any topic, in English, for a minimum of 15–20 minutes. The goal is fluency through volume of speaking, not perfection through careful construction.
Recording yourself — to identify actual patterns in your speech that you cannot hear in real time: filler words, repetition, falling intonation that suggests uncertainty.
Practising Part 2 specifically — set a timer, take a cue card topic, use 1 minute to prepare, and speak for 2 full minutes. Do this daily in the weeks before the exam.
Getting feedback on Part 3 — this is where one-to-one tutoring is most valuable. A tutor can give immediate feedback on whether Part 3 responses are developed enough, whether vocabulary choices are precise, and whether the reasoning is coherent.
Nexus Academy offers IELTS Speaking practice as part of our structured programmes from £25 per hour. Book a free IELTS diagnostic →