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How IELTS Speaking is Graded - A Complete Guide

Faisal Usman 5:32 PM
How IELTS speaking is graded? This is the question people are asking on IELTS Package. I have decided to answer this question in detail. This post is specifically written for those people who are looking to improve their IELTS speaking score. It is important that you must know all the facts that how examiner is going to give you score? In this post, you will be able to find the answers to most common questions that are spreading confusion. So what you are going to have in this post?

  • How IELTS Speaking Test is Marked?
  • The 4 Important Parameters in IELTS Speaking Grading
  • Misconceptions related to IELTS Speaking
  • Conclusion

What is IELTS Speaking Module?

All of you are aware that the IELTS both AT (Academic Training) and GT (General Training) modules are comprises of FOUR modules 1- Listening 2- Reading 3- Writing and 4- Speaking. IELTS Speaking is one of the modules in which the examiner is going to assess the speaking abilities of a candidate. This module is based on one to one meeting with the examiner, who manages the test and evaluates the candidate at the same time. 

How IELTS Speaking Test is Scored?

If you are giving IELTS then you are probably looking for ways to improve your English speaking skills. It is important that you must have complete knowledge regarding how the IELTS speaking score is calculated? Here In this section, I will elaborate in detail how you can achieve 7+ Bands in your IELTSspeaking task. Therefore, pay attention to the details and work accordingly and step by step. You must understand the environment in which the IELTS speaking test is conducted. You must also acknowledge the fact that you cannot master all the skills in one night. You have to be consistent and need the determination to get the required results.


Now coming to the question that how IELTS speaking score is evaluated? First of all, you must have complete knowledge about parameters that IELTS examiner is going to use to evaluate your communication skills. There are 4 parameters that IELTS examiner will use to analyze your overall speaking module. These parameters are well explained below:
  • Fluency
  • Lexical resources
  • Grammar Range & Accuracy
  • Pronunciation
How Ielts Speaking is marked


These are the 4 parameters on which IELTS speaking marking scheme is based. I am going to explain every single parameter in detail along with examples that will enable you to work accordingly to achieve maximum bands in this module.  Below is the picture that will enable you to understand completely about these four parameters. Not only this, but this detail pictorial image is elaborating the things that you must consider when you are appearing in the IELTS speaking module. Moreover, it will also tell you that how IELTS speaking is assessed and graded. Fluency / Coherence:  (25%) This refers to how good the candidate is at speaking. In short the examiner is going to check that how much fluent you are while speaking. Here are some of the important things that examiner is going to monitor within your speech.
  • Fluency
  • Speed of talking
  • Connection between ideas
  • Number of Pauses while speaking

Fluency / Coherence:  (25%)
This refers to how good the candidate is at speaking. In short, the examiner is going to check that how much fluent you are while speaking. Here are some of the important things that examiner is going to monitor within your speech.
·         Fluency
·         Speed of talking
·         Connection between ideas
·         Number of Pauses while speaking


 Lexical Resource: (25%) 

This refers to that how many words the candidate has in his/her pocket. In short, the IELTS speaking examiner comments will be based on your vocabulary. He is also going to check that how effectively you are using vocabulary in your speech. Here are some of the things that you must take care as the examiner is more interested to check the following things while you are speaking:

 Grammatical Range and Accuracy (25%): 

This refers to that how well the candidate uses the grammatical structure. In short, the examiner is going to analyze how well you use the tenses and associated verb forms in your speaking. The examiner is also going to check your whole communication on the set parameters of the English language. Here are the things that examiner is going to look while you are speaking.

 Pronunciation (25%): 

This refers to how well you pronounce the words and uses them in language. The examiner is going to check your communications skills and the way you speak certain words. It is hard for non-native speakers to correctly speak the words. For instance, different people have a different accent and they pronounce the words differently. The evaluation criterion is based on factors such as how much strain cause on a listener when you speak. How well is your accent – although accent itself is not a big thing to worry about? The examiner is going to analyze the following things while you are speaking:
how ielts speaking is graded


Summarizing How IELTS Speaking Test is Graded:

The above information regarding 4 important parameters is providing details that how IELTS speaking is judged. These parameters are analyzed by the examiner to give you appropriate bands for your speaking task. If you pay attention to the above-mentioned parameters then you will be able to understand how IELTS speaking band iscalculated.  If you see the above parameters you will notice that I have assigned 25% to every single module. In short 25*4 = 100%; therefore, if you are good in all aspects then eventually you will be rewarded with Band 9 for your speaking task. However, you have to work very hard to reach this level. Always remember that nothing is impossible. All you need is to put your efforts in the right direction. 
Note: There are some misconceptions regarding the IELTS speaking module. To have a precise picture that how IELTS speaking test is scored? You must have complete information. You must also keep in mind that IELTS speaking examiner comments are solely based on the above-mentioned parameters. If you are weak in any of these said parameters you still can get good score band. This is the reason that I gave 25% to every single module. For instance, if you are fluent, using good vocabulary and grammar, but weak in pronunciation then you still can get a good band. However, the important thing is that with little effort you can achieve something big. 

Breaking the IELTS Speaking Module in Bands:

As we know that the IELTS speaking module for GT (General Training) and AT (Academic Training) is divided into 3 sections. The overall length of this test is normally 11- 13 minutes in which you have to show your talent. In speaking test the total band score of 9 is divided into three sections and you are awarded band accordingly. For each section the total band is 3. Therefore, we can say that 3*3 = 9 Bands.


However, the marking criterion for all of these 3 sections is based on the parameters that are mentioned above. These 3 sections of IELTS speaking tests will be analyzed in light of above-mentioned parameters which are 1- Fluency 2- Lexical Resource 3- Grammatical Range & Accuracy and 4- Pronunciation.
Also Check: IELTS Speaking Module Detailed Structuring

IELTS Speaking Parameters Marking Criteria:

As described earlier that the IELTS speaking module consists of THREE sections and the total 9 Band are divided equally. Therefore, each section carries 3 Band. However, the marking criterion is entirely based on the 4 parameters mentioned above. You must remember that each of these parameters count equally. Most of the times people tend to give more attention to one or two of these parameters while preparing for their IELTS speaking module. You must remember that this approach is absolutely wrong as all 4 parameters are equally important. It is important to comprehend that you get a score out of 9 for each of the parameter, they are added together and then that score is divided by 4 or you can say the average is taken to get the final score.

For Example: A candidate appeared in IELTS speaking module and answered all the questions, but forgot about coherence. He showed good command on English and presented his ideas and views with good grammar and vocabulary, but sadly that is not sufficient. Therefore, the examiner gave him score like this.   


The examiner gave him 6 Band out of 9 Band, because he wasn’t able to connect ideas naturally and his pronunciation while speaking was not meeting the English level criteria. Even though, his grammar and vocabulary was superb, but he scored less bands. Therefore, it is extremely important that you must pay attention to the 4 parameters while you are speaking. If you are looking to have more information regarding how these parameters are analyzed for Band 1 – 9 then you can check the speaking descriptors as published by IELTS. If you want to score high band in your IELTS speaking task then you need to spend some time studying the band scores for each criteria.

What Are the Differences Between IELTS Speaking Band Scores?

In the previous section, I have provided the 4 Parameters that shed light on how IELTS speaking is marked. The criteria are the same for General Training (GT) and Academic Training (AT). Now in this section, I am going to present some videos of candidates having different Band Scores, which will help you to understand that why some candidates obtain less score compared to others. Not only this, but I will try to provide reasons that why the selected candidate got low scores. Therefore, if you are keen to obtain IELTSSpeaking Score 7 or above then you need to pay attention to this section.

 IELTS Speaking Band 3.5 – IELTS Speaking Test Sample – Part 3 (Harry)
Here is why this performance was given a Band 3.5:

  • The candidate is unable to keep going without noticeable pauses as he searches for language.
  • His communication style is very slow with frequent repetition and self-correction.
  • You can see that there is some breakdowns incoherence.
  • The candidate is able to link ideas, but he is using simple connecting words (so; because).
  • The candidates’ grammar control is very weak. Even though, he is able to form some simple sentences accurately.
  • The candidate used a very limited range of pronunciation features. If you see his body movements you can easily see that he is nervous and hesitant which impacted his ability to communicate effectively.
  • In the context of pronunciation, he isn’t much able to control of factors such as stressing words and intonation.
  • If you listen properly his communication you will be able to understand that he isn’t even able to pronounce simple words like “Becau(se); Balan(ce); li(ke); Heal(th). 


IELTS Speaking Band 5.5 – IELTS Speaking Test Sample – Part 3 (Ali)

Here is why this performance was given a Band 5.5:  

  • The candidate is trying to speak at length, but unfortunately his communication style is not coherent.
  • The candidate has used variety of linking words like (it’s possible that; while’ especially) but maybe overused.
  • The Candidate has used a range of Vocabulary, which includes few less common words (a specific group; Internet website; easy come; easy go; local society).
  • His meaning is usually clear despite of some inappropriate vocabulary.
  • Grammar is the weakest parameter in his communication. If you listen to his communication you can clearly observe that his basic sentence structure is fairly controlled. He is also producing some complex structures, but he is repeatedly making errors in verb tenses, articles, pronouns etc.
  • He used a range of pronunciation features.
  • The candidate used pauses quite effectively to break up the flow of the speech into words and groups.
  • From his discussion we can easily see some good examples of the use of intonation and both emphatic and contrastive stress (the young ones; sports or movie stars; create or produce). However, some sounds are poorly formed.
  • Generally speaking he can be understood without much effort.

Final Judgment: The candidate is weak in Grammar, but good in pronunciation and making sentence structure. Therefore, his score is limited to Band 5.5.

IELTS Speaking Band 6.0 – IELTS Speaking Test Sample – Part 3 (Brian)

Here is why this performance was given a Band 6.0: 
  • The candidate is willing to give long and extended responses with occasional loss of coherence.
  • You can see his body language that sometimes he is nervous and doing repetition.
  • The candidate is overusing certain fillers (like; well; yeah; cos), although he is using a range of linking words (for example; as a result; actually).
  • The candidate also used grammatical constructions to introduce his ideas effectively.
  • The candidate has used range of vocabulary and is sufficient to discuss topics at length. He has also used less common items and collocation.
  • If you read the whole conversation you will be able to understand that sometimes he is making use of words, but still one can understand the meaning clearly. He is conveying his messages quite effectively.
  • He is also using informal words like “gonna”; “wanna”. Also, the candidate is mixing simple and complex grammatical sentence forms.
  • The pronunciation of the candidate is generally clear and he has also used some stress and intonation to convey meaning. However, the whole intonation is somewhat flat.
  • If you listen the whole video you will observe that certain words are sometimes mispronounces, which results in an occasional loss of clarity (wail for ‘while’; lerer for ‘leisure’; louts for ‘lots’).
Final Judgment: The candidate is willing to speak at lengths, but the problem is that he doesn’t display the performance features which are necessary to uplift his score above Band 6.

IELTS Speaking Band 7.0 – IELTS Speaking Test Sample – Part 3 (Mauricio)

Here is why this performance was given a Band 7.0: 
  • The candidate can easily speak at length without any effort. His speech is coherent and without any noticeable errors. However, he does demonstrate language related hesitation, self correction and repetition.
  • The candidate developed the topic accurately and appropriately. He also used a range of linking words and markers to give cohesion such as (in my opinion; lately; actually, maybe you know; if I’m not wrong).
  • The candidate depicted some good vocabulary and showed awareness of style and collocation. However, sometimes he make use of wrong words such as (if I do something very queer; to be in-between everyone).
  • The candidate is having a good grammar control and produced several error-free sentences.
  • The candidate also used simple and complex grammatical structures. However, there are some problems with tenses.
  • If you listen the video completely you will easily locate several examples of natural pronunciation that can be followed.
  • The candidate used intonation and stress for effective communication. However, there are few problems with the individual sounds, but overall, his accent is slight and has a little impact on intelligibility.
 Final Judgment: This speaking test is a clear example of a Band 7.

IELTS Speaking Band 7.5 – IELTS Speaking Test Sample – Part 3 (Aashish)

Here is why this performance was given a Band 7.5:
  • The candidate speaks fluently in this IELTS speaking task as he is able to engage with the question quite effortlessly.
  • There is occasional hesitation and repetition, which is normally content related.
  • The candidates’ body is relaxed and his delivery of words is supported by his flexible use of markers such as (as well as; I am both; every now and then; that would be French).
  • The candidate is having a sufficient vocabulary and he can easily engage with variety of topics. He has also used idiom phrases and collocations with some sense of style and skill.
  • The negative side is that sometimes he used inappropriate vocabulary choices like (that’s not just cup of my tea; all over the place; someone to confront and talk to; I haven’t got a chance), which restrict his rating on this parameter.
  • The candidate displayed a wide range of grammatical structures and majority of his sentences are error-free.
  • His pronunciation is excellent with rare errors and his accent is not affecting his language abilities.
Final Judgment: The candidates’ vocabulary is not as strong comparing to other performance indicators and that is why his band score is restricted to Band 7.5

IELTS Speaking Band 8.0 – IELTS Speaking Test Sample – Part 3 (Kenn)

Here is why this performance was given a Band 8.0:
  • The candidate speaks very good and fluently most of the time and develops the topics appropriately and coherently. You can also observe slight content-related hesitation as he tries to engage with the topics.
  • The vocabulary used by the candidate is sophisticated and precise throughout this part of the test as he used words like (emulate; prominent businessmen; to promote charitable causes; a growing number of television celebrities, endorsing a cause, conscious of body image; negative repercussion; prevalent, susceptible to etc)
  • The candidate has used wide range of grammatical structures accurately and naturally, without any major error.
  • The candidate has also used a range of pronunciation features to convey subtle and precise meaning such as emphatic stress.
Final Judgment: The only issue is his occasional hesitations that prevent him reaching Band 9.

IELTS Speaking Band 9.0 – IELTS Speaking Test Sample – Part 3 (Anuradha)

Here is why this performance was given a Band 9.0:
  • The candidate speaks effortlessly and fluently, with slight repetition and self-correction.
  • Any hesitation that is visible during the conversation is not relating to language search, but is entirely content related.
  • Her speech is coherent, with appropriate cohesive features like (as you can see; I think it’s more; if you’re talking about; other than that).
  • The candidate used vocabulary with full precision and flexibility in all topics. She has also used a rage of idiom phrases like (be exposed to; have a tendency; the world is becoming globalized; strokes a chord; communication tool etc).
  • The grammatical structure of the candidate is accurate and precise at all times. She used a natural and full range of sentences and made no noticeable errors.
  • The pronunciation and rhythm of her language is sustained throughout.
  • The candidate also used intonation for effective communication.
Final Judgment: The candidate has used variety of phonological features. The rhythm of her language is sustained throughout and stress intonations are effective. She has a clear pronunciation for every single word. This IELTS Speaking test is a perfect example for Band 9.

Misconceptions Related to IELTS Speaking Module:


Here are several misconceptions related to IELTS Speaking module. A lot of people have different approaches to answer the question that how IELTS Speaking is graded? Here I will answer to most of the question that people ask and worry about.  I will answer all of these questions in Q&A format.

Do you think that the speaking test is the easiest part of the exam?


IELTS Speaking task look easy because the examiner is always friendly. In the other parts of IELTS exam you are the only one who is going to face the music. People think that this section is easy as they believe that you are accompanied by someone who will help you in this part. It is true that the examiner is always friendly, but he/she has to follow very strict rules to ensure that all candidates get the same treatment and fairness. They evaluate all the candidates based on all the same criteria and parameters. 

The Truth: All the four sub-tests of IELTS have same level of difficulty, but you may find some parts easier than others depending upon your language skills. In fact, for speaking test you have to put same level of effort as you put in other parts. Therefore, consider it as a challenge as your prime focus is to get high band.

Do you need to have a native-like accent to get a high score?


This is just a myth as your accent is not an evaluation criterion. The examiner will assess your pronunciation. You don’t need to have American or British accent to score good in IELTS speaking task. The IELTS speaking marking scheme is entirely based on the parameters that I have described earlier in this post. While evaluating pronunciation, examiner pays attention to the candidates’ pronunciation of individual word, sound stress and intonation. 

The Truth: The truth is that your accent is not a marking criterion to get good score in IELTS Speaking module. You will be assessed completely the way you speak words and how well your pronounce them while speaking.

Do you think that using complex grammatical structures is a good idea if you are not sure they are correct?


A lot of people referred me that in their IELTS Coaching classes they were being told not to use the complex grammatical structure in their speaking task. I have a different opinion on this subject matter. If you take a look on the 4 Important Parameters for IELTS evaluation criteria, then you can easily see that Grammar is one of the key criteria to get high band score. Therefore, it is actually best to attempt complex grammatical structure with few or little mistakes, rather than to just use very simple sentences. For Example: A candidate who uses simple words and little sentences will get lower score comparing to the other candidate who is using un-common words and trying to use conditional clause, even he/she makes some mistakes. Of course, you must only use the complex grammatical structures that truly reflect what exactly you want to say. Here are some examples of complex grammatical structures: 

Conditional Clause: If I had the chance to study a new subject, it would probably be Geology. 
Time Clause: As soon as I take my IELTS exam, I’ll move to Australia. 
Reported Speech: My brother said he would help me study for this exam 
Model Verbs: He might have arrived now.      

The Truth: It is better to use the complex grammatical structure with a few or little mistakes than to only use short, simple sentences.  

If you don’t know the answer to a question, you cannot get a high score. It is true?


As I have mentioned previously your knowledge of certain topics is not going to be tested in IELTS Speaking module. In this task the examiner is more interested in How You Say Thing than What You Say. You must keep it in your mind that there is no right or wrong answer. For instance, the examiner asked you a question that “What kind of music people love most in your country?” and you don’t have any idea what to say on this topic, then you can explain that why you don’t know. You can say:
“I’m not sure I can answer the question accurately, as I’m not fond of music anymore, but I could tell you that what kind of music I used to listen when I was in my college. I expect things have changed a lot because…..”
This exhibits to the examiner that you can speak and develop your answers, even if you are out of your comfort zone.

The Truth: If you don’t have any clue how to answer a question, explain why you don’t know. Always remember the rule, there is no “right” or “wrong” answer in IELTS Speaking test.

Do you think that making notes is a good idea during IELTS speaking part 2?


In Part 2 of IELTS Speaking test the examiner is going to give you a topic. Most of the time the examiner would says like this:
“I am going to give you a topic on which you have to speak for 1 to 2 minutes. This is your pencil and paper to make your points. You have 1 minute to make your points and after that you should start speaking. Your voice will be recorded in the device”
You may want to take the notes, but sometimes it is always better to think about the topic. You always have one minute to prepare yourself. If you are going to spend your time in writing, your probably will waste valuable thinking time. Every topic in IELTS Speaking test has a few ideas that you can use, therefore, you need to organize your speech around the ideas. Once you have a brief answer in your head, you’ll be able to develop ideas around it while you are speaking. Most of the people have no issue to talk about themselves because it’s an area they know quite well. 

The Truth: You can make some notes, but since you only have 1 minute, it is always better just to think about the topic in part 2 and organize them in a sequence.

Do you think that being good with grammar will result in High Band Score?


This is again such a BIG misconception among candidates. As I have described earlier in detail that Grammar is just one of the four evaluation criteria for the speaking test. The other parameters are Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource (Vocabulary range) and Pronunciation. All of these factors are equally important. Therefore, if you are very good at grammar, one fourth of your final score will surely be high. However, if you want an overall high score, you have to prove to the examiner that you have high vocabulary range. If you can use complex words to correctly express what you want to say, you’ll surely get high band. You also need to score high in pronunciation. As described earlier, this refers to your ability to utter individual sounds correctly and to make use of intonation and word stress appropriately. You also need to be coherent and fluent, which means that you should speak without too much hesitation and must connect your ideas logically. Here are some connectors which I personally recommend to structure your speech and I can guarantee you that if you are going to use them you’ll definitely achieve the high scores.
  • Firstly, secondly, last but not least
  • Moreover, furthermore, in addition
  • Consequently, therefore, as a result
  • In order to, so as to, so that
The Truth: Grammar is not a single parameter, but there are four evaluation parameters on the speaking test: (1) grammatical range and accuracy, (2) fluency and coherence, (3) lexical resource and (4) pronunciation.

If you don’t hesitate when speaking, you’ll make a good impression. Is it true?


Fluency is important, but so is coherence (being logical, making sense). Trying to avoid hesitation is a good tip, but you also need to keep your answer logical and organized. If you keep talking and talking without making much sense, you are fluent, but you are not coherent. The overall impression will not be a good one. Remember, though, that some hesitations are normal. You are not supposed to speak without breathing or thinking. Try using some of these filler phrases to make your hesitations sound more natural:
  • To put it differently…
  • What do you call it…wait a second…I have it right there.
  • Well…
  • You see…
The Truth: Fluency (talking smoothly without hesitations) on its own will not make a good impression. You also need to speak coherently (logically, organized).

You should answer questions even if you don’t understand them.


If you don’t understand any question, it is okay to ask the examiner to repeat the question or to ask in a different way. I am presenting here some phrases that you can use if you don’t understand any question: I am not quite sure what you mean. Can you repeat the question, please? I don’t think what you mean. Do you mind repeating the question, please? It is always wise and recommended to clarify the question before answering it. You will never lose points if you do this a few times. However, if you will ask the examiner every single time to repeat the questions, they will get a perception that you have a problem with understanding spoken English, so you get a lower score. 

The Truth: If you don’t understand a question, you should ask for clarification.

Is it true that if your accent is superb you will get good IELTS Band in Speaking Module?


The simple answer to this question is NO. Having good accent is just one factor, but there are other parameters that count while determining your overall Band Score. The above mentioned parameters are important to consider if you are looking for 7+ Bands.

How much it is important to use vocabulary in IELTS Speaking task?


Yes it is important to use vocabulary in your speaking module while giving response to Examiner’s question. For Instance, the word “Beautiful” is a most common word, but if you use words like “Enchanting”, “Pretty” etc. instead of using word “Beautiful” over and over again then you will get good score. Similarly, if you are using word “Furthermore” again and again then it will gives a negative impression to the examiner that you have less words in your pocket. "You can use words like “Likewise”, “Moreover”, “In Addition to” etc to add value to your discussion. Therefore, it is important to have good vocabulary while giving your IELTS Speaking Test.

Is it OK to say Examiner to give you another topic, if you don’t have an idea about the given topic?


“No” it is not wise to say examiner to give you another topic, even though you have an option for this. However, if you ask to change the topic it will surely deduct your marks. You must remember that IELTS Speaking Module is just like a casual one to one interaction, and not a formal one. In this test you are assessed not for knowledge but how well you speak. It is not a platform to judge your knowledge, but the examiner is more interested to know that how effectively you connect ideas with good grammar and pronunciation. The topics given in IELTS speaking module are generic one. The IELTS examiner would like to have your opinion on certain things, but they are not going to give you any topic which links to any field of specialization. The most common topics are “Hobby”, “Movie”, “Visit to Museum”, “Special Friend”, “Cars”, “Actor and Actresses“, “Books”, “Hotel Visit” etc. Therefore, try to stick with the given topic and don’t ask to change the topic if you are looking for high band score.

Is it wise to prepare a generic topic for all the topics appear in the IELTS test?


The simple answer is a big NO. I have found people that say that you must prepare a generic topic and fit all vocabulary and idiom phrases to any topic that IELTS examiner gives to you. This is the biggest mistake. It is important that you must keep yourself away from such people who are focusing on this practice. Every topic requires different approach and different ideas and vocabulary. You can’t deal all topics by preparing a generic topic and using its sentence structure and vocabulary to cover all topics. Please refrain yourself from such practices.


Conclusion: 


I think I have now covered all the questions and details pertaining to the question that "How IELTS Speaking is Graded?" If you still think that I missed some points then you can use the below comment section to ask any question. I would love to answer your queries. Last but not least, IELTS Speaking task is not that difficult, all you need is little effort and you will be able to get high Band Score. For more information you can join my Facebook Page or you can Follow me on Twitter. 

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2 Comments

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  2. noorvis academy for foreign languageMay 30, 2019 at 12:13 AM

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