IELTS Speaking: What Examiners Listen For (Your Accent Is Not One of Them)
The IELTS Speaking test is an 11 to 14 minute conversation with an examiner. You are scored on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. A Nigerian accent is not a problem; being hard to follow is. Most lost marks come from short answers, rushing and memorised speeches.
The first question almost every candidate asks me about Speaking is whether they need to "change their accent". You do not. I have seen candidates with a strong Nigerian accent score 8, and candidates with an American twang they picked up from films score 6. What the examiner is listening for is something else entirely.
In this guide
How the Speaking test works
Speaking is a face to face conversation with a certified examiner, lasting 11 to 14 minutes, in three parts. It is recorded, and it is the same whether you take the rest of IELTS on computer or on paper.
| Part | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Questions about familiar topics: home, work, studies, interests | 4 to 5 minutes |
| 2 | You get a task card, one minute to prepare, then speak for up to two minutes | 3 to 4 minutes |
| 3 | A wider discussion linked to the Part 2 topic | 4 to 5 minutes |
What examiners score
Four things count equally:
- Fluency and Coherence: can you keep talking without long pauses, and do your ideas connect?
- Lexical Resource: do you have the words to talk about the topic, and use them correctly?
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of simple and complex sentences, with few errors.
- Pronunciation: how easy you are to understand, including stress, rhythm and intonation.
The accent question
IELTS does not reward one accent over another. A Nigerian accent, a British one and an Indian one can all score Band 9. Pronunciation is about how clearly you are understood: whether words are stressed correctly, whether you link sounds naturally, and whether you vary your tone. Trying to put on a foreign accent usually makes speech less clear and lowers the score.
Speed is a bigger problem than accent for many Nigerian candidates. When nervous, people speak faster, swallow word endings and become harder to follow. Slowing down slightly is often the quickest pronunciation gain.
Part by part
Part 1. Answer, then add a reason or an example. "Yes, I work in Ikeja" is too short; "Yes, I work in Ikeja, in a bank, and I have been there about three years. The traffic is the hardest part" shows fluency and range.
Part 2. Use the full minute to note three or four points, then keep going until the examiner stops you. Running out of things to say after 40 seconds is the most common problem; add a story, a feeling, or what you would do differently.
Part 3. The questions are more abstract. Give an opinion, explain why, and compare. "In Nigeria... whereas in many other countries..." is a natural way to show range.
Habits that cost marks
- Memorised answers. Examiners recognise rehearsed speeches and will move you on with a different question.
- One line answers in Part 1, which give the examiner nothing to score.
- Filler words like "you know" and "like" in every sentence. Short pauses to think are fine.
- Pidgin or local slang. Natural at home, but it is not credited in the test.
- Asking to repeat everything. Once is fine. If you do not understand a word, ask what it means.
How to practise
Record yourself answering Part 2 cue cards three times a week, then listen back for speed, pauses and repeated words. Practise with a partner who will interrupt you with follow up questions, the way an examiner does. In our classes, candidates get instant Speaking scoring and sessions with their tutor; see our IELTS classes.
Practise Speaking with a tutor
Prepare with Mafit and get Speaking practice with instant scoring and a one on one tutor. Free with IELTS registration, ₦279,000 with code MAFIT.
Common questions
Does a Nigerian accent affect my IELTS Speaking score?
No. IELTS does not mark accents down. Pronunciation is scored on how easy you are to understand, so speaking clearly and at a steady pace matters far more than accent.
How long is the IELTS Speaking test?
11 to 14 minutes, in three parts.
Is the IELTS Speaking test done on a computer?
No. It is a conversation with a certified examiner, usually face to face and sometimes by secure video call.
How long should I speak in Part 2?
Up to two minutes. Use your minute of preparation to note three or four points, and keep talking until the examiner stops you.
Can I ask the examiner to repeat a question?
Yes. You can ask the examiner to repeat a question in Parts 1 and 2, and to explain a question in Part 3.