Four equally weighted criteria
IELTS Speaking is scored on four bands (each 0–9), averaged for your final Speaking band:
- Fluency and Coherence
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- Pronunciation
Examiners do not score "ideas" separately — unclear or irrelevant content appears under fluency/coherence and lexical choices. Understanding descriptors helps you self-assess in Uni Cert v1 text-based drills and real practice recordings.
Fluency and Coherence
Fluency — ability to speak at length without undue hesitation or self-correction.
Coherence — logical sequencing, clear progression, appropriate use of discourse markers.
| Band hint | What it sounds like |
|---|---|
| 6 | Willing to speak at length; some repetition and hesitation |
| 7 | Speaks at length with few meaning-breaking pauses; clear topic development |
| 8 | Fluent with only occasional repetition; develops topics coherently |
Self-check: Record 2 minutes on any topic. Count long pauses (>3 seconds) and false starts. Mark every um — aim to reduce, not eliminate.
Lexical Resource
Examiners reward range, precision, and control of collocation, plus paraphrasing ability.
- Band 6: adequate vocabulary for familiar topics; some errors in word choice
- Band 7: flexible vocabulary; some less common items; awareness of style and collocation
- Band 8: wide resource; skilful use of idiomatic items with rare inaccuracy
Self-check: After recording, highlight repeated nouns (thing, stuff, good). Replace three with precise alternatives in a second take.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Both variety and error frequency matter. Frequent errors that impede understanding cap your score even if you attempt complex grammar.
- Band 6: mix of short and complex structures; errors in complex forms
- Band 7: frequent error-free sentences; range of complex structures
- Band 8: majority of sentences error-free; flexible grammar
Self-check: Transcribe 1 minute of your speech. Mark tense consistency, subject–verb agreement, article errors. Fix one pattern for one week of practice.
Pronunciation
Pronunciation includes individual sounds, word and sentence stress, ** rhythm**, and ** intelligibility**. Accent is fine if easily understood.
- Band 6: generally intelligible; mispronunciations sometimes reduce clarity
- Band 7: generally clear; effective stress and intonation
- Band 8: easy to understand throughout; sustained flexible control
Self-check: Read aloud a paragraph with marked stress. Compare to a model recording. Focus on one problem sound (th, final -ed, vowel length) per week.
How the four interact
Weak pronunciation can hide strong vocabulary. Strong fluency with basic grammar rarely exceeds Band 6 overall. Balance improvement — do not obsess over rare words while ignoring tense errors.
Uni Cert v1 text rubric workflow
- Complete a speaking prompt in writing or audio (as available).
- Rate yourself 1–9 on each criterion using descriptor language — be harsh.
- Write one strength and one priority per criterion.
- Redo the same prompt 48 hours later; compare scores.
Exam day reminders
- Ask for clarification once if needed — not a penalty.
- Correct yourself quickly if you make a clear mistake — shows control.
- Maintain eye contact and natural pace — monologue recitation lowers fluency impression.
Official reference
Speaking assessment criteria overview — IELTS Academic test format.