SPEAKING TEST

Some Facts About IELTS Speaking

The IELTS Speaking Test is conducted in 3 parts.

Part 1 is a basic introduction and simple interview that lasts for 4-5 minutes.
Part 2 is about speaking on a given topic for 2 minutes continually.
Part 3 is a 2-way discussion between you and the examiner for approximately 4-5 minutes.

Part 1

The examiner will introduce him/herself and ask you for your information. Then the examiner
will ask questions based on simple topics such as your family, occupation, hobbies, etc.
It is best to give a full answer – but NOT too long.

Part 2

You will have to speak for 1 to 2 minutes on a topic printed on a card.

You will have ONE minute to prepare what you are going to say and then you will be asked to
start. During this one-minute preparation you will be allowed to make notes to help you.
If you speak for LESS than 1 minute it shows you are NOT PREPARED and you WILL LOSE
MARKS.
The examiner may ask one or two follow-up questions to end this part of the test.

Part 3

The examiner will introduce part 3 and ask you a number of questions based on issues
related to the part 2 questions.
Here you are advised to speak and answer the questions in MORE IN DETAIL.
Try to use a wide vocabulary and linking words to join ideas.

Extra Notes to Mention:

You will be assessed on your overall fluency, vocabulary and the range of grammatical
structures you use.

Pronunciation is VERY important and will also count towards your final score.
You will spend approximately 14 minutes only in the speaking test.

1
 POINTS TO REMEMBER

• In all parts of the speaking test concentrate on your speaking.

• Keep relaxed.
• Pay attention to your grammar and intonation.
• Speak clearly.
• Your examiner may be from England, India, Nepal, Pakistan or ANYWHERE!

Part 1

• The examiner will only need brief answers.

• Try not to be TOO SHORT with your answers, but do not give more information that he
has requested.

Part 2

• You have 1 minute to prepare. Use this time to think about what you want to say.
• Make simple notes: Just one or two words that you can use as prompts if you become
stuck on what to say next.
• In the Part 2 test the examiner will not speak – you will have to speak alone for up to 2
minutes.
• The examiner may prompt you to continue speaking if you finish speaking too early.
• In the Part 2 test the examiner will stop you from speaking after 2 minutes. This does
not mean you have done something wrong – but you should try to answer all the
questions required during that time.
• Time planning is good!

Part 3

• This part of the test is your chance to demonstrate your ability in English.
• Try to answer the questions fully.
• Use a good range of vocabulary.
• The use of body language will help a lot.
• The Part 3 test will be recorded onto tape and you will be marked accordingly at a later
time – NOT during the test – so speak clearly and stick to the topic.

2
 SPEAKING SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Sample 1
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
Do you like to visit museums?
Do you go out with your friends?
When does it usually happen?
How often do you go out?
Do you like watching movies?
What kind of movies do you like the most?
How often do you go to the cinema?
Do you think children nowadays watch different movies compared to the past?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Describe a handcraft that you made at school.

You should say:

what it was
why you liked it
if you were good at it

and explain how you felt about making it yourself.

Part 3
Discussion

What hand-made items do people give as gifts to each other?

Are there advantages to giving a hand-made gift?
Do many people give handmade gifts nowadays? Why?
What are the advantages or disadvantages of handmade items?
How can handicrafts uplift the economy of a certain place or a country?
Is there any precise type of handmade crafts that you are fond of? Why/Why not?

3
 Sample 2
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
What subject are you studying?
Why did you choose this subject?
Is it a popular subject among students?
What colour do you like the most? Why?
Is there any specific colour you dislike? Why?
How much does the colour matter to you while buying things?
Have you ever had discussions about colours? With whom?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about an important thing that you had forgotten about until recently.

You should say:

what it is
why you forgot about it
what your reaction was when you remembered

and explain why it was important.

Part 3
Discussion

Do you think most people forget things? Why?

Do you think it is possible to hire a person to remember the things you need?
How often do you forget things?
Does technology play a role in making people forget things?
What should be done to remember things better?

4
 Sample 3
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
What subject are you studying?
Which part of your country do you live in?
Have you visited any other parts of your country?
What kind of discussions is usually taking place between people in your country? Why?
How do you usually spend your day?
Do you have time to visit your family?
Do you see changes in people’s mindset today compared to the past?
What kind of changes?
Why do you think these changes are happening?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Describe a situation when weather effected your day plan.

You should say:

what you intended to do
how it affected you
how you spent your time

and explain how you felt about it.

Part 3
Discussion

How many seasons are there in your country?

What are they?
Describe the weather during these seasons.
What kind of weather is preferred by people in your country?
How does the weather affect people in your country?
What kind of activities do people do in different seasons?

5
 Sample 4
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
Where did you grow up?
Is the place where you grew up good for living?
What do you think about your hometown’s future?
Do you think handwriting is important? Why?
What is the main difference between handwriting and writing on a computer?
Do you prefer to write by hand or type on a computer? Why?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about a person that you spend a lot of time with.

You should say:

who he/she is
what your relationship is with him/her
what kind of activities you do together

and explain why you enjoy spending time with him/her.

Part 3
Discussion

Do you like swimming?

What kind of swimming is available in your country?
Do you prefer to swim in a sea or a swimming pool?
Let’s talk about children.
What are parents’ responsibilities for their children?
Who should take care of them?
What are children’s responsibilities for parents when they reach old.

6
 Sample 5
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Where are you from?
Can I see your ID?
In what town or village were you born?
Do you like reading?
How often do you read?
Do you like taking pictures?
Do you have a good family picture?
Do you take pictures of yourself and why?
Do you know any celebrities?
Which celebrity do you know the most about?
Are there are any celebrities you would like to meet?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Tell me about a movie you watched either at home or in a cinema.

You should say:

what the movie was
what it was about
if you enjoyed it

and explain why you remember this movie.

Part 3
Discussion

What part do movies play in our life?

Should so much money be put in producing good movies?
What do you think is more important, the screenplay or the actors?
What kind of movies do you are good for children?
Why the parents should have control over the movies those are played at a home?
What sorts of movies do you prefer to watch? Why?
Talk about the film industry of your country.
What kind of movies are produced or watched by majority of the people living in your country?

7
 Sample 6
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
Tell me about your hometown.
Is it a big city or a small town?
Would you like to live in the countryside?
Do you like swimming?
Do you prefer to swim in the pool or the ocean?
How important is it to learn swimming in your country?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Describe a long car journey that you remember well.

You should say:

when it was
where you went
who you went there with

and explain why you remember this journey so well.

Part 3
Discussion

Why do you still remember that trip?

How did you feel after finishing it?
What do you think about the car industry now?
What do you think about new technology development in the car industry?
Are there environmental issues related to car industry in the world?
How can these issues be resolved?

8
 Sample 7
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
Describe your job, please.
What are the disadvantages of using computers?
What do you like about your job? Why?
Would you like to continue doing your job in the future?
Do you aspire to learn something different in the future?
Why do you want to do it?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about a piece of clothing that you received as a gift recently. Please say

You should say:

what and when it was
whom you received it from
why it was important to you

and explain how you felt about it.

Part 3
Discussion

Do you think the Internet influences the fashion industry today? Why?
Who must wear trendy clothes, youth or older people? Why?
What are the benefits of fashion industry to a country?
Why do people wear different styles of clothing?
Why do some companies have uniform for their employees?
Who do you think purchases designer clothes usually?
Does it depend on the age of people? Why?

9
 Sample 8
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
What subject are you studying?
Do you live in a house or an apartment?
What is good or bad about your house?
Which room is your favorite? Why?
Do you want to change something in your house?
Why do you want to do it?
Do you like riding a bicycle?
Do you have a bicycle?
How often do you ride it?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Describe a book that you have recently read.

You should say:

what book it is
what it is about
how long it took you to read it

and explain how you felt about it.

Part 3
Discussion

Would you recommend this book to others?

Why do you think people read books, especially novels?
Is reading a book different from watching a movie based on it? Why?
Why do you think many books are made into movies?
Is there a difference between reading a printed book and its electronic version?

10
 Sample 9
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
What subject are you studying?
Why do you think people choose such a subject in your country?
Do you like reading books?
What type of books do you read?
Are you reading a book presently?
Would you like to write a book in the future?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about an instance when you spoke with someone in a foreign language for the first
time.

You should say:

when it was
with whom you spoke
what the language was

and explain how you felt about it.

Part 3
Discussion

How can learning a foreign language benefit us? Why?

At what age did you start to learn English? Why?
When is the best time to learn a foreign language?
What is the best way to learn a foreign language?
What sorts of non-native languages are spoken in your country?

11
 Sample 10
Part 1
Interview

What is your name?

Where do you come from?
What is your hometown?
Why do you like your hometown?
Do you like the house you live in? Why?
Which room in the house is your favorite? Why?
If you could change anything in your house, what would it be and why?
Do you plan to live there in the future?
What are the advantages of living in your own home?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about a time when you had to make a difficult choice.

You should say:

why it was difficult
what and whom it involved
what the outcome was of the choice you made

and if there were any consequences.

Part 3
Discussion

Looking back, would you have made the same choice now? Why?
Who do you think has a harder time making decisions, children or adults? Why?
Do you mostly have hard time making decisions of your own?
Give examples in the everyday life when people have to make hard choices.
Choosing between money and freedom, what do you think most people from your country would
choose? Why?
Do you prefer to go to a small shop rather than a big one? Why?
What is changing in your country?
Ten years from now, do you think people would have easier or harder decisions to make? Why?

12
 Sample 11
Part 1
Interview

What is your name?

Where are you from?
What do you do, work or study?
Do you live in a house or an apartment?
What type of accommodation would you like to live in? Why?
Do you like cakes?
Do you know how to make cakes?
Do you have many friends?
Where do you like to go with your friends?
What do you do there?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about a place where you usually go to relax.

You should say:

what place it is and where it is located
when you go there
what you do there

and explain why you like going there to relax.

Part 3
Discussion

Do you think relaxation is important?

How can people balance work with personal well being?
What can the government do to improve the lives of employees?
What can we do as a society to help employees?
What strategies can companies implement to reduce stress in employees?
Can relaxation have a positive effect on one’s performance at work?

13
 Sample 12
Part 1
Interview

What is your name?

Where are you from?
Do you live in a big city or a small town?
Do you live in a quiet or a busy area?
Do you think your area is a good place for young people?
Do you know your neighbours well?
How often do you see your neighbours?
Do you consider yourself a good neighbour? Why?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Describe an actor or actress you admire.

You should say:

who he/she is
what he/she looks like
what kind of movies he/she appears in
and explain why he/she is special for you.

Part 3
Discussion

How do movie stars influence society and culture?

What qualities do you think are important for an actor or actress to be successful?
Do you think celebrities have a responsibility to be role models? Why or why not?
How has the film industry changed over the years in your country?
In what ways do movies and television shows impact people’s behavior and attitudes?
Do you believe that celebrities should speak out on political and social issues? Why or why not?
What should the government do to improve the economy?

14
 Sample 13
Part 1
Interview

What is your name?

Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
What have you studied up to now?
What are you currently studying or working on?
Why did you choose this particular subject?
How are your current studies helpful for your future goals?
Do you think being creative is important? Why or why not?
Are you a creative person?
What makes you a creative person?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about a new food that you would like to try.

You should say:

what it is should be
how you got to know about it
where you can try this food

and explain why would you try it.

Part 3
Discussion

Why do countries import and export food items?

What are the advantages of importing food?
Are there disadvantages to importing food and what are they?
What factors influence the import and export of food items?
Nowadays, why do people seem to prefer packaged food over home cooked meals?
What are the implications of consuming packaged food on health and lifestyle?

15
 Sample 14
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
What do you do?
Where do you live now?
Did you study about the history of your hometown at school?
What is your hometown famous for?
Let’s talk about mirrors.
Do you usually use a mirror?
Have you ever bought a mirror?
Do you think a mirror can be used to decorate a house?
Do you prefer big or small mirrors?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about a time when you visited a new place.

You should say:

where it was
when it was
what you did there

and explain how you felt about being there.

Part 3
Discussion

What was your experience there like?

Would you recommend it to others?
Did you go there by yourself or with friends?
Would you like to go there again?
Do people in your country like holidays?
What are the benefits of traveling abroad?
How has globalization impacted the tourism industry?
How do cultural differences affect the travel experience for tourists?

16
 Sample 15
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
When did you start studying?
How is it helpful to you?
Do you watch sports?
Do you think people prefer to watch sports live or on TV?
Do you like mathematics? Why?
When did you start learning math?
Have you had a calculator when you were a child?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Describe a place where you go to read and write, that is not your home.

You should say:

What place it is
When you usually visit it
How much time you do spend there

and explain why you go there to read and write.

Part 3
Discussion

Do you think people like to read in public places or in libraries?

Where would you like to study, public places or libraries?
Will people that started studying as adults face more problems with learning compared to children?
Talk about the reading culture of your place.
What kinds of subjects are taught by the teachers at schools of your country?
What is your opinion on the best ways to study something?

17
 Sample 16
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
Do you like studying science subjects?
Do you like riding a bicycle?
Do people in your country prefer to ride a bicycle?
What is your favorite room at home?
Do you plan to make some changes there?
What changes would you make?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about a sport that you tried for the first time.

You should say:

what it is
when and where you tried it
who you played it with

and explain what you think about it now.

Part 3
Discussion

Was it hard to make this decision?

Do you usually ask for help before making a decision?
What kind of things should be considered while choosing between different alternatives?
Do you think important decisions must be taken by the family head or the members of the family
have to take by themselves?
How is taking suggestions before making any decisions helpful?
Who makes major decisions in your family?

18
 Sample 17
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
What do you like about your present home?
Which room do you like the most? Why?
Is gardening a popular activity in our country?
When do people prefer to do gardening?
What change would you like to make in your home? Why?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about a magazine that you like to read.

You should say:

what magazine it is
what articles you do read and when
how useful it is to you

and explain why you enjoy reading it.

Part 3
Discussion

Why did you remember this magazine?

Do you read other news?
How can reading newspapers or magazine can help us?
What kind of news or articles do you prefer to read? Why?
Are political news articles important to you or not? Why/Why not?
What are benefits of getting updated with the latest news of the events or incidents those are
happening all around the world?
What are other ways of getting news other than magazines at your place?

19
 Sample 18
Part 1
Interview

What is your name?

Are you currently studying or working?
Do you enjoy your workplace?
What do you like about it?
Have you considered pursuing your career abroad? Why or why not?
If you had the chance to change your working hours, how would you change them?
Can you describe your house?
What is your favourite room in your house, and why?
Is there anything you would like to change in your house?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about a type of plant that is commonly grown in your area.

You should say:

what the plant is
why it is popular
what benefits there are in growing it

and explain why people in your area love this particular plant.

Part 3
Discussion

Is farming more or less popular nowadays compared to the past? Why do you think that is?
How were farmers regarded in the past in your community?
What are some of the advantages of farming?
What are some of the disadvantages of farming?
How has modern technology influenced farming in your area?
In what ways do you think farming practices will change in the future?

20
 Sample 19
Part 1
Interview

What is your full name?

Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
What do you do?
Do you enjoy your work?
Do you think you will continue the same career in a few years?
Let’s talk about history.
Do you go to museums?
Did you enjoy history lessons at school?
What was the last book you have read about history?
Do you like to take pictures?
Did you think about improving your photographer skills to take better pictures?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about an English lesson you remember well.

You should say:

when and where you had the lesson
what you learnt
who the teacher was

and explain why you still remember the lesson.

Part 3
Discussion

What are the advantages of learning a foreign language?

What kind of qualities should a good teacher have?
Do you think that speaking alone is enough to learn a language? - Are reading and other skills
necessary to learn a language?
Is learning grammar important?
Can teaching a foreign language be enjoyable?

21
 Sample 20
Part 1
Interview

What is your name?

Tell me about the area where you live.
Do you like waking up early in the morning?
What kind of morning routine do you have?
Has your morning routine changed compared to when you were a child?
Do you like pens?
Did you use a pen or a pencil to write when you were a child?
How would you feel if someone gave you a pen as a gift?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Describe a time when you wore your favourite outfit.

You should say:

what it looked like
when you wore it
why you chose that outfit

and explain how it made you feel.

Part 3
Discussion

Do you believe that spending a lot of money on fashion is justified? Why or why not?
How does the fashion industry contribute to the economy of your country?
What impact do luxury brands have on consumer spending habits?
How can consumers make more environmentally friendly choices when it comes to fashion?
Do you think fashion should be sustainable? Why or why not?
How do you think fashion brands can reduce their environmental footprint?

22
 Sample 21
Part 1
Interview

What is your name?

Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
Would you like to change anything at your workplace?
Do you like art?
Are there any art galleries in your city?
Do you sometimes visit art galleries?
Has the style of art changed over the past few years?
Have you ever created a piece of art?
Were you into drawing when you were a child?
Do you visit libraries?
Do you prefer e libraries or physical ones?
Do people in your country visit libraries?
Will people stop going to the libraries in the future?

Part 2
Cue Card

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about
what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Talk about an advertisement you saw recently that you didn’t like.

You should say:

when and where it was
what the advertisement was about
why you didn’t like it
and explain what can be done to stop such advertisements in the future.

Part 3
Discussion

How do people in your country typically receive advertisements?

What types of advertisements do people in your country like the most?
What do you think about advertisements targeting children?
What kinds of advertisements are designed to attract children?
What considerations should apply to advertisements shown to children?
What are the differences between advertisements targeted at women and men?
What should be done to control advertisements?

23
 SPEAKING BAND DESCRIPTORS
BAND
SCORE
Fluency and coherence Lexical resource Grammatical range and accuracy Pronunciation

• Fluent with only very occasional repetition or self-correction. • Uses a full range of phonological features to convey precise
• Any hesitation that occurs is used only to prepare the content of and/or subtle meaning.
the next utterance and not to find words or grammar. • Total flexibility and precise use in all contexts. • Structures are precise and accurate at all times, apart from • Flexible use of features of connected speech is sustained
9 • Speech is situationally appropriate and cohesive features are • Sustained use of accurate and idiomatic language. ‘mistakes’ characteristic of native speaker speech throughout.
fully acceptable. • Can be effortlessly understood throughout.
• Topic development is fully coherent and appropriately extended. • Accent has no effect on intelligibility.

• Uses a wide range of phonological features to convey precise

• Wide resource, readily and flexibly used to discuss all topics and • Wide range of structures, flexibly used.
• Fluent with only very occasional repetition or self-correction. and/or subtle meaning.
convey precise meaning. • The majority of sentences are error free.
• Hesitation may occasionally be used to find words or grammar, • Can sustain appropriate rhythm. Flexible use of stress and
• Skillful use of less common and idiomatic items despite • Occasional inappropriacies and non-systematic errors occur. A
but most will be content related. intonation across long utterances, despite occasional lapses.
occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. few basic errors may persist
• Topic development is coherent, appropriate and relevant. • Can be easily understood throughout.
8 • Effective use of paraphrase as required.
• Accent has minimal effect on intelligibility

• Able to keep going and readily produce long turns without

noticeable effort. • Resource flexibly used to discuss a variety of topics.
• A range of structures flexibly used. Error-free sentences are
• Some hesitation, repetition and/or self-correction may occur, • Some ability to use less common and idiomatic items and
frequent. • Displays all the positive features of band 6, and some, but not
often mid-sentence and indicate problems with accessing an awareness of style and collocation is evident though
• Both simple and complex sentences are used effectively despite all, of the positive features of band 8
appropriate language. However, these will not affect coherence. inappropriacies occur.
some errors. A few basic errors persist.
7 • Flexible use of spoken discourse markers, connectives and • Effective use of paraphrase as required
cohesive features.

• Uses a range of phonological features, but control is variable.

• Able to keep going and demonstrates a willingness to produce • Chunking is generally appropriate, but rhythm may be affected
long turns. • Produces a mix of short and complex sentence forms and a by a lack of stress-timing and/or a rapid speech rate.
• Resource sufficient to discuss topics at length.
• Coherence may be lost at times as a result of hesitation, variety of structures with limited flexibility. • Some effective use of intonation and stress, but this is not
• Vocabulary use may be inappropriate but meaning is clear.
repetition and/or self-correction. • Though errors frequently occur in complex structures, these sustained.
• Generally able to paraphrase successfully
• Uses a range of spoken discourse markers, connectives and rarely impede communication. • Individual words or phonemes may be mispronounced but this
6 cohesive features though not always appropriately. causes only occasional lack of clarity.
• Can generally be understood throughout without much effort.

• Usually able to keep going, but relies on repetition and self-

correction to do so and/or on slow speech.
• Hesitations are often associated with mid-sentence searches • Basic sentence forms are fairly well controlled for accuracy.
• Resource sufficient to discuss familiar and unfamiliar topics but
for fairly basic lexis and grammar. • Complex structures are attempted but these are limited in • Displays all the positive features of band 4, and some, but not
there is limited flexibility.
• Overuse of certain discourse markers, connectives and other range, nearly always contain errors and may lead to the need all, of the positive features of band 6
• Attempts paraphrase but not always with success
cohesive features. for reformulation.
5 • More complex speech usually causes disfluency but simpler
language may be produced fluently

• Uses some acceptable phonological features, but the range

is limited.
• Unable to keep going without noticeable pauses.
• Produces some acceptable chunking, but there are frequent
• Speech may be slow with frequent repetition. • Resource sufficient for familiar topics but only basic meaning can • Can produce basic sentence forms and some short utterances
lapses in overall rhythm. Attempts to use intonation and
• Often self-corrects. be conveyed on unfamiliar topics. are error-free.
stress, but control is limited.
• Can link simple sentences but often with repetitious use of • Frequent inappropriacies and errors in word choice. • Subordinate clauses are rare and, overall, turns are short,
• Individual words or phonemes are frequently mispronounced,
connectives. • Rarely attempts paraphrase. structures are repetitive and errors are frequent.
4 causing lack of clarity.
• Some breakdowns in coherence
• Understanding requires some effort and there may be patches
of speech that cannot be understood.

• Frequent, sometimes long, pauses occur while candidate

searches for words. • Resource limited to simple vocabulary used primarily to convey
• Basic sentence forms are attempted but grammatical errors are • Displays some features of band 2, and some, but not all, of
• Limited ability to link simple sentences and go beyond simple personal information
numerous except in apparently memorised utterances. the positive features of band 4.
3 responses to questions. • . Vocabulary inadequate for unfamiliar topics.
• Frequently unable to convey basic message.

• Uses few acceptable phonological features (possibly because

sample is insufficient).
• Very limited resource. Utterances consist of isolated words or
• Lengthy pauses before nearly every word. • Overall problems with delivery impair attempts at connected
memorised utterances.
• Isolated words may be recognisable but speech is of virtually no • No evidence of basic sentence forms. speech.
• Little communication possible without the support of mime or
2 communicative significance. • Individual words and phonemes are mainly mispronounced
gesture.
and little meaning is conveyed.
• Often unintelligible.

• Can produce occasional individual words and phonemes that

• Essentially none. • No resource bar a few isolated words.
• No rateable language unless memorised are recognisable, but no overall meaning is conveyed.
1 • Speech is totally incoherent. • No communication possible.
• Unintelligible.

0 • Does not attend