What is the IELTS Speaking Band Scores? 4 scoring criteria in IELTS Speaking

Many people consider IELTS Speaking to be one of the most challenging skills for each candidate. However, if you practice diligently, nothing is impossible, right? To help candidates effectively prepare for the exam, PREP would like to provide you with an article about the scoring criteria in IELTS Speaking - the IELTS Speaking Band Scores, as well as some useful tips for candidates during the actual test. Please refer to the article and share it with your friends!

I. IELTS Speaking Band Scores

The IELTS Speaking test for each candidate will take place within a time frame of 11-14 minutes. Below are the 4 scoring criteria in IELTS Speaking that examiners will consider to assess and assign specific band scores for this skill: 

• Fluency and Coherence: Assessing the candidate's ability to speak fluently and coherently.
• Lexical Resource: Evaluating the candidate's vocabulary range and accuracy in word usage.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Assessing the candidate's ability to use a variety of grammatical structures accurately.
• Pronunciation: Evaluating the candidate's pronunciation skills.

1. Fluency & Coherence

The Fluency & Coherence criterion is the first criterion that candidates preparing for the IELTS Speaking test at home should focus on. This IELTS Speaking scoring criterion accounts for 25% and will be assessed based on several smaller criteria, specifically:

• Coherent speech content: What you present when asked by the examiner needs to be cohesive, connected, and logical. Coherence here refers to the information and structure of your speech. You should speak in a way that the examiner understands and answers the question accurately. Additionally, using appropriate linking words effectively will be highly evaluated in terms of form.
• Sufficient length of answers: When being asked by the examiner, candidates need to provide answers and the answers should be of a relatively appropriate length and relevant to each part of the test.

2. Pronunciation

One of the main scoring criteria in IELTS Speaking Band Scores is Pronunciation, which accounts for 25% of the total score. This criterion will be assessed by examiners based on:

• Clear and accurate pronunciation of vowels and consonants.
• Correct placement of stress when answering questions.
• Appropriate intonation and rhythm demonstrated by candidates. Note that you should not speak too slowly or too quickly, and you need to pause at the right places.

3. Lexical Resource

Lexical Resource, also known as vocabulary, is another scoring criterion in IELTS Speaking, accounting for 25% of the total IELTS Speaking score. To achieve a high score in this criterion, candidates need to focus on: 

• Accurate vocabulary: Candidates need to use vocabulary in the right context. If used incorrectly, the examiner may misunderstand the intended meaning. Additionally, using inaccurate vocabulary can negatively impact the Coherence criterion.
• Vocabulary related to the topic: When applying IELTS vocabulary relevantly and accurately to the topic, candidates will be highly evaluated by examiners. Furthermore, if you want to achieve a high score of 6.5 or above in IELTS Speaking, avoid using commonly used words such as "I like," "I don't like," "beautiful," "happy," etc.

4. Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The final criterion for IELTS Speaking Band Scores that examiners rely on to assess candidates' performance is Grammatical Range & Accuracy. This criterion focuses on: 

• How candidates combine simple and complex sentences.
• The use of different types of clauses and flexible complex structures.
• In addition, to achieve a high score in IELTS Speaking, candidates must avoid making mistakes in tenses and basic English grammar.

5. How the IELTS Speaking Total Score is Calculated

Each scoring criterion in IELTS Speaking receives a score ranging from 0 to 9. Then, your scores will be averaged to determine the total score of the IELTS Speaking test. For example, if your scores are:

• Fluency and Coherence - 7
• Pronunciation - 8
• Lexical Resource - 7
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy - 6

➡ Your total IELTS Speaking score will be (7 + 8 + 7 + 6) / 4 = 7

Moreover, this is how the IELTS Speaking Band Scores are rounded. If we consider the fractional part of this average IELTS Speaking score as n, then: 

• 0.0 ≤ n < 0.25: The IELTS Speaking score is rounded down to the nearest whole number.
• 0.25 ≤ n < 0.5: The IELTS Speaking score is rounded up to the nearest 0.5.
• 0.5 ≤ n < 0.75: The IELTS Speaking score is rounded down to the nearest 0.5.
• 0.75 ≤ n < 1.0: The IELTS Speaking score is rounded up to the next whole number.

Read more:

• IELTS scoring system and how to calculate the IELTS Band Scores

II. Tips to Achieve high IELTS Speaking Band Scores

1. Get enough sleep the night before the IELTS Speaking test

Before the IELTS Speaking test, make sure to go to bed early and avoid staying up late to study. Getting enough sleep will make your body feel more comfortable. When you wake up the next morning, your mind will be relaxed and less tense.

Also, eat a balanced and moderate diet during the test week to ensure that your body is in the best possible health. Keeping your body healthy is important to achieve high IELTS Speaking Band Scores.

2. Smile before entering the exam room

Every time you enter an important exam, it's natural to feel nervous or anxious. But for this test, if you want to achieve high IELTS Speaking Band Scores, have confidence in yourself. Even though you may feel worried and nervous, try to smile naturally before entering the exam room.

Always smile to show comfort and friendliness to the examiner. During the test, be confident in the knowledge you have prepared and conquer this challenge.

3. Don't worry if the examiner interrupts you

During the test, it's certain that the examiner will interrupt your response. For example, you may be smoothly answering a question, but the examiner interrupts and asks you a different question. Many test takers may feel flustered and forget what they were saying, which can result in a significant loss of points.

Therefore, PREP's advice is not to worry when this situation occurs. Stay calm and accept the question from the examiner, answer it confidently to impress the strict examiner. Your confidence is also an important factor that the examiner pays attention to when giving you a high score on the IELTS Speaking scale.

4. The more natural your answers, the better

Listen carefully to the questions posed by the examiner. Then try to answer naturally, without worrying too much about vocabulary or grammar mistakes. Remember that most questions in the test revolve around yourself and your life.

The most effective way is to be open when giving personal opinions. When you answer naturally and fluently, it will help increase your IELTS Speaking Band Scores, especially in the Fluency criterion. In that case, the examiner will certainly favor you.

III. Conclusion

In addition to understanding the useful tips during the test and the IELTS Speaking Band Scores, you should also enhance your knowledge to apply it perfectly in the test. Moreover, if any test takers lack confidence in self-studying for the IELTS test at home, please contact PREP immediately for the most detailed guidance!