Talk Warmup guide
How can I practise for the IELTS Speaking test for free?
Rehearse the real format with a timer. IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face interview of 11–14 minutes in three parts: questions about yourself, a two-minute talk after one minute of preparation, and a discussion. Use the free sample questions on ielts.org, record your answers, and listen back against the four criteria the examiner uses.
Last checked October 26, 2026 by Lyravant.
The format
From ielts.org, checked October 26, 2026. Check the official site before your test date.
| Part | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Introduction and interview | The examiner asks about familiar topics: home, work or studies, interests. | 4–5 minutes |
| Part 2: Long turn | You get a task card with a topic and points to cover, one minute to prepare (with paper and pencil), then speak for up to two minutes. The examiner may ask one or two questions after. | 3–4 minutes |
| Part 3: Discussion | More abstract questions linked to the Part 2 topic. | 4–5 minutes |
The whole test takes 11–14 minutes and is recorded. It's marked on four criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.
Free ways to rehearse each part
- Part 1. Make a list of common topics (hometown, work, food, weekends) and answer each in two or three sentences with a reason or an example. Avoid one-word answers; avoid memorised speeches too, because they sound memorised.
- Part 2. Use a timer: one minute to note keywords, then talk until two minutes are up. Record it. The skill is keeping going: if you finish early, add an example, a feeling, or what happened next.
- Part 3. Practise giving an opinion, a reason and an example, and comparing ("in the past… now…"). It's fine to take a second to think ("That's an interesting question…").
- Listen back with the four criteria in mind, one at a time: did you keep going (fluency), use a range of words (lexical resource), use a range of correct sentences (grammar), and were you easy to understand (pronunciation)?
- Use official material. ielts.org and the test centres publish sample questions and a description of the test; start there rather than with unofficial "predicted" questions.
What practice can and can't tell you
Only a real test gives you a band score. Practice apps, including ours, can help you get used to the format and the timing and point out mistakes, but none can promise or reliably predict a band.
Practising with Talk Warmup
Talk Warmup (coming soon for iPhone) includes IELTS Speaking practice for Parts 1–3 in Lyravant Plus: the official-format timers, mock tests, and feedback organised by the four criteria. It's practice only: it never gives a predicted score or band. Everyday conversation practice is free.
IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. TOEFL and TOEIC are trademarks of ETS. Duolingo English Test is a trademark of Duolingo. PTE is a trademark of Pearson. Talk Warmup and Lyravant are not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Questions
How long is the IELTS Speaking test?
11–14 minutes, in three parts: an interview of 4–5 minutes, a long turn of 3–4 minutes (one minute to prepare, up to two to speak), and a discussion of 4–5 minutes.
Is IELTS Speaking with a person or a computer?
IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face conversation with a certified examiner, and it's recorded. Check ielts.org for the current options where you'll take the test.
Can an app tell me my IELTS band?
No app can reliably predict a band; only the real test gives you one. Use practice to get used to the format, the timing and the four criteria.
Talk Warmup for iPhone
A short English conversation, every day.
Talk out loud with an AI partner in everyday scenarios, at your level, with a couple of checked corrections per turn explained in your language.
Coming soon to the App Store
Coming soon. No account. No ads. Needs iOS 26. Privacy policy