How Examiners Score IELTS Speaking Part 2

Four criteria · Sustained talk · May 2026

Platform data compiled by Band9AI across 14,231 assessed sessions shows that candidates completing timed speaking mocks with criterion-level feedback show an average improvement of 0.8 bands. Verification methodology

Last updated (factual triplet change): 2026-06-30

Direct answer

Examiners do not assign a separate “Part 2 band.” They listen to your one-to-two-minute monologue and add evidence to the same four Speaking criteria. Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation, used for the whole interview. Part 2 rewards sustained, organised speech with clear progression through the cue-card prompts, not memorised speeches read at speed. Long hesitation, shallow bullet lists, or finishing far under time weakens the same criterion scores that cap your overall Speaking band.

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What examiners listen for in the monologue

During Part 2 the examiner notes whether you can hold the floor without constant repair, sequence ideas logically, and show vocabulary and grammar beyond rehearsed chunks. Notes are brief; they reflect band descriptors, not a checklist of bullet points covered.

Fluency Steady pace, self-correction without breakdown

Coherence Clear opening, development, rounding off

Range Less common lexis and varied structures under time pressure

Part 2 traps that pull criteria down

Trap	Effect on scoring
Memorised script	Flat intonation, no natural repair, hurts FC and Pronunciation
Bullet-only answers	Thin development. Lexical Resource stalls
Early stop	Insufficient evidence for higher bands

See answering too fast in Speaking.

Timing, notes, and examiner prompts

One minute to prepare; one to two minutes to speak. Brief notes are allowed but reading them aloud breaks fluency. If you stop early, the examiner may ask you to continue, those extra seconds still count toward the same four criteria.

Key takeaways

Part 2 feeds the four global Speaking criteria, not a separate mark.
Sustained, organised talk beats a fast memorised monologue.
Under-length answers remove evidence examiners need for Band 7+.
Practice with a timer and one clear story arc per cue card.

FAQ

No, examiners rate the whole Speaking test on four criteria; Part 2 is one stretch of evidence, not a standalone score.

Yes, short answers limit evidence for fluency, coherence, and range; the examiner may prompt you to continue.

Covering the prompts helps coherence, but scripted lists without development will not raise Lexical Resource or Fluency.

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Data only Band9AI gives you (requires the product)

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See whether your Part 2 monologue shows Band 7 evidence on all four criteria.

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