No — a Bangladeshi or any regional accent is completely fine. You are marked on clarity and intelligibility, natural stress and intonation, not on sounding “native”.
IELTS Speaking
IELTS Speaking is an 11–14 minute face-to-face interview with a certified examiner (the same for Academic and General Training). It has three parts and is recorded.
The three parts
- Part 1 — Introduction & interview (4–5 min): familiar topics such as home, work, studies and hobbies.
- Part 2 — Long turn (cue card) (3–4 min): you get a topic card, 1 minute to prepare, then speak for 1–2 minutes.
- Part 3 — Discussion (4–5 min): abstract, deeper questions linked to the Part 2 topic.
The four marking criteria (each 25%)
| Criterion | What examiners reward |
|---|---|
| Fluency & Coherence | Speaking at length without long pauses, with logical linking. |
| Lexical Resource | A range of natural vocabulary, idioms and collocations used correctly. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | A mix of tenses and complex structures with few errors. |
| Pronunciation | Clear, intelligible speech with natural stress and intonation (accent is fine). |
Golden rules
- Never answer with just “yes” or “no” — always extend with a reason and example.
- Do not memorise scripted answers; examiners detect and penalise them.
- It is fine to pause briefly to think — use fillers like “That’s an interesting question…”.
- A regional accent does not lower your score, as long as you are clear.
Speaking part-by-part
IELTS Speaking Part 1
IELTS Speaking Part 1 — common questions with Band 8 sample answers and tips to extend your responses.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 (Cue Cards)
IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue cards — the long-turn format, a prep framework, and a Band 8 sample answer.
IELTS Speaking Part 3
IELTS Speaking Part 3 — abstract discussion, developing opinions, and Band 8 sample answers.
IELTS Speaking Sample Answers (Band 8+)
Band 8+ IELTS Speaking sample answers across all three parts, with notes on what makes them score.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Cards
IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue-card topics with Band 8 model answers and Part 3 follow-ups.
Politely ask the examiner to repeat or rephrase it in Part 1 and Part 3. This does not lose you marks; staying silent does.
Natural idioms help your Lexical Resource score, but avoid heavy slang. Use them only if you are sure they are correct and appropriate.
Practise Speaking with a mentor
Book a free mock Speaking interview on WhatsApp and get band feedback on fluency and pronunciation.