IELTS Speaking Timer
Part 2 of IELTS Speaking is the awkward one to practise alone: one minute to prepare from a cue card, then up to two minutes of talking without stopping. Holding a phone timer while you talk is clumsy. Here the timer's buttons are the test's parts: press part 2 prep and start; when the alarm plays, the timer moves to part 2 talk, so press start again and talk while the fox runs.
There is a button for Parts 1 and 3 too, so you can rehearse the whole 11 to 14 minute interview with a friend playing examiner.
The speaking test, part by part
| Part | Time |
|---|---|
| Part 1: interview | 5 min |
| Part 2: preparation | 1 min |
| Part 2: long turn | 2 min |
| Part 3: discussion | 5 min |
Timings follow the official structure published by IELTS, test format, checked in October 2026. Test makers change formats, so check the official page before test day.
Using the minute of preparation
You get a pencil and paper. Do not write sentences. Write five or six words down the side of the page, one for each point on the card plus one for a story or example, and number them. When the talk starts, those words are your route. A minute is enough for that and nothing more.
Plan to fill the whole two minutes. The examiner will stop you, so the risk is running dry at 1:20, not running over. A short personal story is the easiest way to add 30 natural seconds.
A 20 minute daily speaking drill
- Pick a cue card topic you have not seen.
- Run Part 2 alone: one minute prep, two minutes talking, recording yourself on your phone.
- Listen back once. Note one thing to fix: fillers, tense mistakes, running out of ideas.
- Run a new topic, fixing that one thing.
- Finish with five minutes of Part 3 style questions on the same topic: why, how, should.
The reading and writing papers have their own timers: the IELTS reading timer and the IELTS writing timer.
Frequently asked questions
How long is IELTS Speaking Part 2?
You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for up to 2 minutes. The examiner may ask one or two short follow-up questions.
Can I write notes in IELTS Speaking Part 2?
Yes. You are given paper and a pencil for the minute of preparation.
How long is the whole speaking test?
11 to 14 minutes: Part 1 takes 4 to 5, Part 2 takes 3 to 4 including preparation, and Part 3 takes 4 to 5.
Related
- exam timer every practice timer.
- IELTS reading timer three passages in 60 minutes.
- IELTS writing timer Task 1 and Task 2.
- 2 minute timer for the long turn on its own.