IELTS Speaking practice with an AI partner
The IELTS Speaking test is a live interview. An examiner asks, you answer out loud, and apart from one minute of notes in Part 2 there is no time to prepare. Reading model answers does not get you used to that. Answering out loud, often, does.
Airi is a voice AI partner who can play the examiner in any of the three parts: short personal questions in Part 1, a cue card for the Part 2 long turn, and the more abstract discussion in Part 3. She asks one question at a time, answers out loud, reacts to what you said and shows one small fix at a time. She does not score your answers or tell you a band.
A quick example with Airi
IELTS Speaking test format: three parts in 11 to 14 minutes
According to IELTS (ielts.org), the Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with an examiner. It is recorded, it lasts 11 to 14 minutes, and the three parts always come in the same order.
| Part | Length | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: introduction and interview | 4 to 5 minutes | The examiner checks your identity, then asks general questions on familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies or interests. |
| Part 2: long turn | 3 to 4 minutes, including the preparation | You get a task card and one minute to make notes with the pencil and paper provided. Then you talk for up to two minutes, and the examiner stops you when the time is up. One or two questions on the same topic may follow. |
| Part 3: discussion | 4 to 5 minutes | You and the examiner discuss issues related to the Part 2 topic in a more general and abstract way. |
What IELTS examiners score in the Speaking test
IELTS says the four criteria carry equal weighting, and their average gives your Speaking score. Vocabulary is a quarter of the picture, not all of it.
| Criterion | What it covers, according to IELTS | How it shows in your answers |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency and coherence | Speaking at a normal speed without too much hesitation, with ideas in a logical order and linked together | You keep going and link ideas with "because", "so" and "on the other hand". |
| Lexical resource | The range of your vocabulary, how accurately you use it, and finding another way to say it when you do not know a word | When a word is missing, you explain it another way and carry on. |
| Grammatical range and accuracy | The range of grammar you use and how accurately you use it | You mix short sentences with longer ones: "If I had more time, I would ..." |
| Pronunciation | Speaking in a way that can be understood without too much effort | Clear word stress and a steady pace, in your own accent. |
The public band descriptors on ielts.org are worth reading in full. At Band 7 they describe a speaker who is "able to keep going and readily produce long turns without noticeable effort" and who makes "effective use of paraphrase", yet they also say that "a few basic errors persist". They mention accent only for its effect on how easily you are understood.
A note on the same document says a candidate is rated on their average performance across all parts of the test. One weak answer is not the whole picture.
IELTS Speaking questions by part, and how a strong answer begins
These practice questions follow the style of each part. They are not taken from real tests. Finish each answer out loud.
| Part | Practice question | A strong answer begins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Do you prefer mornings or evenings? | Definitely evenings. I'm more awake after dinner, so that's when I ... |
| 2 | Describe a skill you learned outside school. You should say what it is, who taught you, how long it took to learn, and explain why it is useful. | I'd like to talk about learning to swim, which I didn't do until I was nineteen ... |
| 3 | Why do some adults find it hard to learn new skills? | I think it's mostly a question of time. Compared with children, adults ... |
| 3 | Will schools teach different skills in the future? | It's hard to say, but I'd guess they will focus more on ... |
In the one minute of Part 2 preparation, write keywords, not sentences:
- One word for each point on the card, in order.
- One real memory to tell as a short story: where, when, who.
- A spare idea in case you finish early: what happened next, or what you would change.
Phrases for specific moments in the IELTS Speaking test
| The moment | Say |
|---|---|
| You did not catch the question | Sorry, could you repeat the question, please? |
| You need time to think | I've never really thought about that, but I suppose ... |
| You cannot remember a word | I can't think of the exact word, but it's the thing you use to ... |
| You want to correct yourself | Sorry, what I meant to say was ... |
| You can see two sides | It depends. For some people ..., but for others ... |
| You run out of ideas in Part 2 | Another thing I remember is ... |
Mistakes that hold back IELTS Speaking answers
| Instead of | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| (Do you like music?) Yes, I like. | Yes, I do. I mostly listen to pop, especially when I'm driving. | "Like" needs an object ("I like it"), and the short answer is "Yes, I do." Then add a detail: a bare yes gives the examiner little to rate. |
| I am living here since five years. | I've lived here for five years. | Something that started in the past and is still true takes the present perfect. "For" goes with a length of time, "since" with a starting point ("since 2021"). |
| It was very, very nice and good. | It was peaceful, and honestly a bit of a relief. | Precise words show range. Repeating "nice" and "good" does not. |
| Nowadays, this is a highly controversial issue in modern society. | I think it depends on the person. For example, ... | A memorized opening sounds recited and does not answer the question. Part 3 is a discussion, so start with your own view. |
A rehearsal routine for IELTS Speaking with Airi
A full Speaking test runs 11 to 14 minutes and your free credits cover about eight minutes of speaking, so rehearse one part per session. Airi does not rate your answers or tell you a band. The routine is there to give you speaking time.
- Part 1: "Be an IELTS examiner. Ask me four Part 1 questions about my daily routine, one at a time." Answer each one right away, without planning the sentence first.
- Part 2: "Give me a Part 2 cue card, then wait while I make notes." Set your own timer for one minute of notes and two minutes of talking.
- Part 3: "Ask me three Part 3 questions on the same topic, and disagree with me so I have to defend my view."
- Each time a small fix appears, say the corrected sentence back before you answer the next question.
- Repeat the same cue card a day later. Airi remembers your last topic, so you can pick it up again and aim for fewer pauses.
How to get the most from it
Extend every Part 1 answer
Do not stop at one sentence. Give your answer, then a reason or a detail. Two or three sentences is plenty for Part 1.
Use the whole long turn
Ask Airi for a Part 2 cue card, make notes for one minute, then talk for the full two minutes. Being stopped mid-sentence is normal, so do not rush to finish.
Go general in Part 3
Part 3 questions are about people in general, not only about you. Give an opinion, a reason, and an example or a comparison.
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