Hi, I’m Matthew Clarke, and in my 20 years as an IELTS Speaking examiner, I’ve seen many students focus only on practice questions — without understanding how they’re being marked.
Knowing the IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors is one of the smartest ways to raise your score, because these are the exact guidelines examiners use to evaluate every candidate.
In this lesson, I’ll explain what each of the four scoring criteria means, how to reach Band 7 and beyond, and what examiners actually listen for during your test.
You can also review the official band descriptors yourself on the British Council website.
According to IELTS.org, your Speaking test is marked using four equal criteria, each worth 25% of your total score:
Criterion | What It Measures | Example Skill |
Fluency & Coherence | How smoothly and logically you speak | Linking ideas naturally and avoiding long pauses |
Lexical Resource | Your range and accuracy of vocabulary | Using topic-specific words correctly |
Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Variety and correctness of grammar | Using complex and accurate sentence structures |
Pronunciation | How clear and easy to understand your speech is | Stress, rhythm, and intonation control |
Each of these areas contributes equally to your final band score — meaning you can’t rely on just one strong skill to make up for weaknesses in others.
This is all about flow and logical connection.
You need to show you can speak continuously, connect ideas with linking words, and keep the listener engaged.
Band | Description |
6 | Can talk at length but may pause or repeat. Uses simple connectors like and, but, because. |
7 | Speaks fluently with only occasional hesitation. Uses a variety of linking phrases. |
8–9 | Effortless flow, natural rhythm, and clear organisation of ideas. |
You can find useful practice materials for fluency on the IDP IELTS Speaking page, which includes example performances and transcripts.
This refers to your vocabulary range and how well you use words naturally and accurately.
Examiners look for paraphrasing, topic-specific words, and appropriate collocations.
Band | Description |
6 | Uses enough vocabulary to discuss familiar topics but repeats words. |
7 | Uses less common words and paraphrases effectively. |
8–9 | Uses a wide range naturally and precisely; occasional idiomatic language. |
Avoid overusing complex vocabulary. It’s better to sound natural and correct than to use advanced words in the wrong way.
Grammar is not just about avoiding mistakes — it’s about using a variety of structures confidently.
The IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors define high-level candidates as those who can shift easily between tenses and combine ideas using complex forms.
Band | Description |
6 | Uses simple and some complex structures, but with frequent errors. |
7 | Uses a mix of structures with good control and only occasional mistakes. |
8–9 | Wide range of grammar with natural accuracy and flexibility. |
You can listen to examples of strong grammar control in official examiner videos on the British Council’s IELTS Speaking samples.
This criterion measures clarity, rhythm, and expression — not your accent.
As the IELTS.org test format confirms, accent does not affect your score as long as the listener can understand you easily.
Band | Description |
6 | Speech is generally clear, though some mispronunciations occur. |
7 | Pronunciation is clear and natural; uses stress and intonation effectively. |
8–9 | Very clear speech with flexible, expressive intonation and near-native rhythm. |
If you’re unsure about your pronunciation, shadow model answers from IDP IELTS sample videos and compare your rhythm and stress patterns.
During your test, the examiner gives a score from 0 to 9 in each criterion.
Afterwards, these four scores are averaged to produce your overall Speaking band.
For example:
Criterion | Score |
Fluency & Coherence | 7 |
Lexical Resource | 7 |
Grammatical Range & Accuracy | 6 |
Pronunciation | 7 |
Overall Speaking Band | 6.5 |
All examiners worldwide use the same global marking standards, so whether you take your test in London or Dhaka, your performance is judged by identical rules.
Examiner: Do you think speaking English is important for your career?
Candidate: Absolutely. In my opinion, English has become essential for most jobs today. It allows people from different backgrounds to collaborate easily, and it also opens up more international opportunities. Personally, it’s helped me attend training sessions and conferences abroad.
This response shows strong fluency, appropriate vocabulary, and accurate grammar, with clear pronunciation — all of which match Band 7–8 criteria.
Reflect after each speaking session:
1️⃣ What are the four IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors?
Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, and Pronunciation.
2️⃣ How are IELTS Speaking bands calculated?
Each criterion is scored 0–9, then averaged for your final Speaking band.
3️⃣ Do all examiners use the same criteria?
Yes — all certified examiners follow identical global descriptors from Cambridge, British Council, and IDP IELTS.
4️⃣ Is pronunciation more important than grammar?
No. Each area contributes 25% of your total mark.
5️⃣ Can my overall Speaking score end in .5?
Yes. If your average is between two bands, it’s rounded to the nearest half band (e.g., 6.75 → 7.0).
Understanding the Speaking Band Descriptors helps you focus your practice where it truly counts.
Aim for balance across all four criteria — fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation — and you’ll see real progress toward your target band.
Next, move on to Overcoming Nervousness to learn how to manage anxiety and perform confidently in front of the examiner.
Or revisit the IELTS Speaking Overview for a full look at test structure and scoring.
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