Target band
Target band refers to the specific IELTS Speaking score a candidate aims to achieve, such as Band 6, 7, or 8, based on their goals.
Glossary
Mock speaking test
A mock speaking test is a practice version of the IELTS Speaking exam, simulating real test conditions to help candidates prepare effectively.
Personalization
Personalization in IELTS Speaking means giving answers that reflect your own experiences, opinions, or feelings, making your responses unique and authentic.
Model answer
A model answer is a sample response to an IELTS Speaking question that demonstrates effective language use, structure, and fluency.
Off-topic response
An off-topic response in IELTS Speaking is when a candidate answers a question with information unrelated to the topic or prompt given by the examiner.
Memorized Answer
A memorized answer is a response that a candidate has learned by heart before the IELTS Speaking test, rather than speaking naturally.
Extended answer
An extended answer in IELTS Speaking is a response that goes beyond a simple sentence, providing detailed information and supporting ideas to fully address a question.
Coherence
Coherence in IELTS Speaking means your ideas are logically organized and connected, making your answers easy to follow and understand.
Speaking rate
Speaking rate is the speed at which a candidate speaks during the IELTS Speaking test, measured by how quickly or slowly words are spoken.
Hesitation
Hesitation in IELTS Speaking refers to noticeable pauses or delays while speaking, often caused by searching for words or ideas, which can affect fluency.
Fillers
Fillers are words or sounds like 'um', 'uh', or 'you know' used in speech to give the speaker time to think. They can affect fluency in IELTS Speaking.
Self-correction
Self-correction in IELTS Speaking is when a candidate notices a language mistake and corrects it during their response, showing language awareness.
Less common vocabulary
Less common vocabulary refers to words and phrases that are not used in everyday conversation but are appropriate and precise for specific topics in IELTS Speaking.
Topic vocabulary
Topic vocabulary refers to words and phrases that are directly related to a specific subject or theme commonly discussed in the IELTS Speaking test.
Complex sentences
Complex sentences join an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses, showing relationships between ideas and adding detail.
Signposting
Signposting refers to using words or phrases to guide the listener through your answers, making your speech clearer and more organized during the IELTS Speaking test.
Hedging language
Hedging language uses words or phrases to soften statements, showing uncertainty or politeness, which can improve IELTS Speaking scores for accuracy.
Chunking
Chunking is the practice of grouping words or phrases together when speaking, making speech clearer and more natural for listeners.
Intonation
Intonation refers to the rise and fall of the voice when speaking. It helps convey meaning, emotion, and attitude in spoken English, which is important for IELTS Speaking.
Sentence Stress
Sentence stress is the emphasis placed on certain words within a sentence to convey meaning, highlight information, or show emotion in spoken English.
Word stress
Word stress means emphasizing one syllable in a word more than others. Correct word stress helps listeners understand spoken English clearly.
Connected speech
Connected speech refers to the way spoken English sounds change when words are linked together naturally in conversation, affecting pronunciation and fluency.
Linking words
Linking words are words or phrases used to connect ideas and sentences smoothly, helping speech sound organized and easy to follow in IELTS Speaking.
Rounding-off question
A rounding-off question is the final question in the IELTS Speaking test, used by the examiner to smoothly end the interview and allow the candidate to summarize their views.
Preparation time (Part 2)
Preparation time in IELTS Speaking Part 2 is the one minute given to candidates to plan their response before speaking on a given topic.
Follow-up questions
Follow-up questions in IELTS Speaking are additional questions the examiner asks to explore your answers in more detail or clarify your ideas.
Long turn
A long turn in IELTS Speaking is when a candidate speaks alone for 1-2 minutes in Part 2, developing a response to a given topic card without interruption.
Overall band score
The overall band score is the final result a candidate receives on the IELTS Speaking test, ranging from Band 0 to Band 9.
Half-band score
A half-band score is a score on the IELTS Speaking test that ends in .5, such as 6.5 or 7.5, reflecting performance between two whole bands.
Idiomatic language
Idiomatic language refers to expressions or phrases whose meanings are not obvious from the individual words, such as idioms or colloquialisms.
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing means expressing the same idea in different words. In IELTS Speaking, it shows your ability to use varied language and vocabulary.
Discourse Markers
Discourse markers are words or phrases like 'well', 'actually', or 'on the other hand' that help organize and connect ideas in spoken English.
Collocation
A collocation is a natural combination of words that frequently occur together in English, helping speech sound more fluent and accurate.
IELTS Speaking test format
The IELTS Speaking test format is the structured way the speaking section is organized, including its three parts and the types of tasks candidates complete.
Part 3 (Discussion)
Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking test is a discussion section where candidates answer abstract questions related to the Part 2 topic, showing analytical skills.
Part 2 (Long turn)
Part 2 (Long turn) is a section of the IELTS Speaking test where the candidate speaks alone for 1–2 minutes on a given topic after one minute of preparation.
Part 1 (Interview)
Part 1 (Interview) is the first section of the IELTS Speaking test, where the examiner asks general questions about the candidate’s life, habits, and interests.
Cue card
A cue card is a small card given to candidates in IELTS Speaking Part 2, containing a topic and prompts to guide a 1–2 minute talk.
Pronunciation
Pronunciation in IELTS Speaking refers to how clearly and accurately a candidate produces English sounds, words, and sentences.
Grammatical range and accuracy
Grammatical range and accuracy refers to how well a candidate uses a variety of sentence structures and correct grammar in IELTS Speaking.
Lexical resource
Lexical resource refers to the range and accuracy of vocabulary a candidate uses in the IELTS Speaking test, including how well words are chosen and used.
Fluency and coherence
Fluency and coherence are key criteria in IELTS Speaking, assessing how smoothly and logically a candidate communicates ideas in spoken English.
Band descriptors
Band descriptors are official criteria used by IELTS examiners to assess and score a candidate’s speaking performance across four key areas.
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