Speaking is the shortest section and the one that causes the most nerves. Remember what it actually is: a test of language, not of knowledge. The examiner is not grading whether your ideas are correct — only how you express them.
What it is: Short questions about home, work, study, weather, food.
Tactic: Do not answer in one word, but do not give a speech either. Two or three sentences is right: the answer plus a reason or an example. «Yes, I do. Actually, I cook almost every evening because...»
What it is: A topic card with three or four bullet points. After one minute of preparation you speak for 1-2 minutes.
Tactic: In that minute write key words, not sentences — two or three words per bullet. Keep talking until you are stopped: being cut off by the examiner is a good sign, stopping early yourself is not.
What it is: After the talk the examiner asks one or two short questions.
Tactic: Answer briefly but in full sentences — this is still being marked.
What it is: The wider, social side of the same topic: causes, consequences, the future.
Tactic: This part needs argument: claim → reason → example → the other side. «It depends» and «on the one hand... on the other hand» belong here.
What it is: Not a question type, but one of the four criteria.
Tactic: You are not asked to lose your accent — you are asked to be clear. Work on intonation and stress: flat, monotone delivery lowers the band.
The examiner controls the clock in Speaking. The one minute that belongs to you is the Part 2 preparation. Here is how to spend it.
Read the card and pick one specific incident rather than a general topic. Specific is easier to talk about.
Two or three key words per bullet. Do not write sentences — read-aloud answers are audible immediately and cost you Fluency.
Give the last bullet («explain why...») its own thought: it takes the most time and is the one most people never reach.
Follow the bullets in order. If time is left, expand the final point with an example.
Each level has its own barrier — going from 5.5 to 6.5 and going from 6.5 to 7.5 are two completely different pieces of work.
Make answers longer and pauses shorter. Record yourself for ten minutes a day and listen back — that is how you find your repeating errors.
Prepare for Part 3: argue, concede the other side, give examples. Plus use idiomatic language naturally rather than decoratively.
Precision and intonation. At this level the difference is how deeply you develop an answer and how natural your stress sounds — shadowing native speakers is the most effective drill.
The Speaking question bank covers all three parts. AI grading and pronunciation analysis are coming soon.