Part 2에서는 과제 카드를 받고 1분 준비 후 최대 2분간 말합니다. 짧은 키워드 메모, 간단한 4단계 이야기 구성, 자연스럽게 말을 늘리는 방법으로 끝까지 유창하게 말할 수 있습니다.
In Part 2 you get a task card, one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to speak. Short keyword notes, a simple four-part story and natural extension techniques help you keep talking fluently until the examiner stops you.
The IELTS Speaking test is a face-to-face conversation with an examiner that lasts 11 to 14 minutes. In Part 2, you receive a task card with a topic and some prompts. You have one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes. The examiner may ask one or two short questions afterwards.
Many candidates find Part 2 the most stressful part because they worry about running out of things to say. With the right method, it becomes the part where you can show your fluency best.
How Speaking is marked
Your whole Speaking test is assessed on four criteria:
- Fluency and Coherence — speaking at length without long pauses, with ideas in a logical order.
- Lexical Resource — using a range of vocabulary, including less common words and phrases.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy — a mix of simple and complex sentences.
- Pronunciation — being easy to understand, with natural stress and intonation.
Part 2 is your best chance to show Fluency and Coherence because you speak without interruption.
Using the one minute well
Do not try to write full sentences. Write keywords only, in a simple plan:
- Set the scene — who, where, when.
- What happened — two or three key events or details.
- A detail or example — something specific: a smell, a colour, a conversation.
- Why it matters — your feelings, or why you remember it.
Example card: "Describe a place you visited that you would like to return to."
Notes: *Hobart — 2023 — winter — Salamanca market — mountain, snow — quiet, friendly — want to go back for hiking.*
These eight words are enough to guide two minutes of speech.
Extending your answer naturally
When you feel you are running out of ideas, use these techniques:
- Add a reason: "...mainly because..."
- Give an example: "For instance, one morning we..."
- Compare: "Compared with Sydney, it felt much more relaxed."
- Describe feelings: "What surprised me most was..."
- Talk about the future: "Next time, I'd like to..."
These moves also show grammar range — reasons, comparisons and future forms — without sounding rehearsed.
Fluency is more than speed
Speaking very fast does not raise your score. What matters is speaking continuously, with natural pauses between ideas rather than in the middle of phrases. If you need a moment to think, use natural fillers sparingly: "Let me think...", "What I mean is...". Avoid long silences and avoid repeating "um" constantly.
If you make a small mistake, keep going. Stopping to correct every error interrupts your fluency more than the error itself.
Vocabulary: precise rather than rare
Examiners notice when vocabulary is used naturally and accurately. "The market was absolutely packed" or "the view was breathtaking" sound more natural than forcing in a rare word you are not sure about. Learning common Australian expressions in the Australian English dictionary can also help you understand everyday English, though you should use slang only when it fits naturally.
Should I memorise answers?
No. Examiners are trained to recognise memorised speech, and the topics are too varied for prepared answers to fit well. Instead, prepare flexible stories: one about a place, one about a person, one about an event, one about an object. A good story about a trip can be adapted to "a place you visited", "a time you were happy" or "something you learned".
Practice routine
- Set a timer: 1 minute to prepare, 2 minutes to speak.
- Record yourself on your phone and listen back.
- Check: Did you speak until the end? Did you include a specific detail? Did you explain why?
- Repeat the same card the next day and try to improve one thing.
Practise next
- Strengthen everyday vocabulary with the Australian English dictionary.
- Read the guide to IELTS Reading skills.
- See official Speaking information on the IELTS website.
이 가이드는 AUSLEX가 쓴 일반 학습 조언이며 시험 주관 기관과 무관합니다. 시험 형식, 응시료, 요구 점수는 바뀔 수 있으니 접수·지원 전에 반드시 공식 사이트를 확인하세요.