Glossary of Terms – SPEAKING

The following glossary contains some key IELTS-related language and terms that may be useful for
you to understand the terminology used in the Speaking course.

assessment criteria: in the Writing and Speaking modules of the IELTS test, performance is assessed
by an examiner using criteria. You can download the public versions of these criteria from the IELTS
website www.ielts.org

auxiliary verb: a verb that is used in the forming of other tenses and voices. The primary auxiliary
verbs are be, have and do and the modal auxiliary verbs are can, could, may, might, shall, should,
will, and would

back-tracking: back-tracking occurs when the speaker repeats words or phrases that they have
already said

band descriptors: are used to assess the overall performance of the test taker. The assessment
criteria consist of four analytical scales – the key criteria – across 9 bands. Each of the 9 bands
includes a list of performance statements that are used to describe test taker performance. The
public band descriptors (assessment criteria) are available to the public

band score: the IELTS test awards band scores. They are reported as band scores on a scale from 1
(the lowest) to 9 (the highest). An overall band score is awarded in addition to a band score for each
of the four tests, Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Half band scores are also awarded if the
overall performance lies between two bands, e.g. 6.5

candidate/test taker: a person who takes an IELTS test is called a test taker. They can also be
referred to as ‘candidates’

coherence: refers to how ideas are connected and if the ideas are relevant to the spoken turn. It also
refers to the ability to logically sequence sentences and use markers to indicate stages in a
discussion, narrative or argument through the use of appropriate cohesive devices (connectors,
pronouns and conjunctions) within and between sentences

cohesive device: a cohesive device (linking word or connective) is a word or phrase used to connect
ideas (however, in addition, on the other hand, and, but)

collocation: a group of words that often go together where certain nouns routinely go with certain
verbs, adverbs or adjectives (fish and chips, light sleeper, environmental pollution, sudden fall)

complex sentence: a complex sentence consists of at least one independent clause and one
dependent clause. The use of subordination is tested in the Grammatical Range and Accuracy
criterion

compound sentence: a compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses which are
joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but, for, or, so, yet)

connected speech: the production of speech into meaningful word groups, using phrasing to add
meaning to what is said [I work in Brisbane – the capital of Queensland]

consonant sound: there are 44 sounds of spoken English; 20 vowel sounds and 24 consonant
sounds. There are five vowels in the English alphabet (A, E, I, O, U) and 21 consonants
consonant cluster: a word that contains two or more consonants placed together (drink, prince,
twelfths)

discourse marker: a word or phrase used to organise your speech into meaningful language. They
are used to connect, organise and manage what we say to aid meaning

elision: elision occurs when sounds are omitted [fish ‘n chips]

examiner: in the IELTS test, an examiner assesses Writing and Speaking tests. In the Speaking test,
the examiner conducts the interview in a face-to-face setting

face-to-face testing: the IELTS Speaking test is conducted as a face-to-face interview, in a private
room with an examiner

fillers: fillers are generally meaningless words or phrases used to mask a pause or hesitation. The
most commonly used fillers are [um, er, ah, like, you know, okay, right]

FC: fluency and coherence is the first criterion in the Speaking band descriptors. Fluency is the ability
to maintain a flow of language without unnatural pauses, hesitation, or overly slow speech.
Coherence is the logical organisation, development and connection of your ideas

GRA: Grammatical Range and Accuracy is one of the four criteria listed in the public band descriptors
which is used for assessing Written and Spoken English

hesitation: speakers naturally hesitate when responding to questions. These hesitations can be
pauses used to search for basic language and vocabulary, or they could be content-related;
searching for ideas to extend the topic discussion

idiomatic language: refers to the ability of the speaker to use idioms, phrasal verbs and appropriate
collocation. For example, ‘My father gave up alcohol when he realised he was drinking himself into
an early grave’. Phrasal verb – gave up, idiom – drinking yourself into an early grave

IELTS: International English Language Testing System, a globally-recognised test of English language
proficiency. There are two types of test, Academic and General Training

indicative band score: an indicative band score is awarded in the online practice test based on the
public band descriptors

intonation: the rise and fall in pitch when speaking to aid meaning to what is said

key criteria: in each of the 9 bands there is a list of performance statements. These describe test
taker performance for a set of key indicators linked to the key criterion. Each band has a set of key
criteria. For example, for Fluency and Coherence, the key indicators of performance are: speech
rate, the use of pauses and hesitations, the use of linking devices and discourse markers, and how
much topic development occurs

key features: a list of features that appear at each band for each criterion. Features can be positive
(speaks at length without noticeable effort) or negative (errors are frequent and may lead to
misunderstanding)

L1: the test taker’s native language – first language

LR: lexical resource refers to the range of words or vocabulary a person uses to communicate in
English
lexis: the words or vocabulary used by the test taker

long turn: test takers are asked to talk about a topic for two minutes in the Speaking test

mispronunciation: the incorrect pronunciation of a word

modality: the use of modal verbs to express certainty, probability and possibility. These modal verbs
include must, shall, will, should, would, can, could, may and might

module: the IELTS test is divided into four sections for Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing

nominalisation: where the writer changes the verb (actions and/or events) into a noun phrase
(concepts, things or people). For example, ‘Unemployment is increasing rapidly…’ – ‘The rapid
increase of unemployment…’

online practice test: an online practice test (IELTS Progress Check) developed by the IELTS partners,
where test takers can check their progress in preparation for the real IELTS test

overall band score: a score is given for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing and
Speaking. These individual scores are then averaged to produce an overall band score

part: in the IELTS Speaking test, there are three parts: Part 1 – the introduction, Part 2 – the Long
Turn, and Part 3 – the extension (discussion)

paraphrase: the use of different words and phrases to explain what you are trying to say

passive voice: is used when the subject of the sentence is acted on by the verb. It is formed by using
the verb be + the past participle

Active voice – The dog bit the man

phoneme sound: the English language contains 44 phonemes; 20 vowel sounds and 24 consonant
sounds. There are 12 single vowel sounds [ɜ: - her] and eight diphthongs (two vowel sounds
together) [əʊ - show]. The consonant sounds are voiced [ð - this] and unvoiced [ʧ - choose]

PRON: is the fourth Speaking criterion used to assess the test taker’s pronunciation

prosodic features: are features that go beyond single sounds. Successful communication requires
the correct use of stress, intonation and rhythm

referencing: referencing helps with cohesion and is used to avoid repetition by using pronouns in
place of nouns

reformulation: occurs when the speaker has difficulty in or is unable to make the correct language
choice. Reformulation (re-wording) is necessary to successfully communicate

rhythm: refers to the use of stressed and unstressed syllables when speaking. We usually stress
nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs more than pronouns, determiners, conjunctions and auxiliary
verbs

schwa: an unstressed vowel sound /ə/ ‘mother’ formed by dropping your mouth open

section: the IELTS Listening test has four sections and the IELTS Reading test has three sections

simple sentence: a simple sentence is a stand-alone sentence consisting of an independent clause

speech rate: the ability to produce continuous speech without stopping to think for language and
ideas. A rapid (too fast) or slow (too slow) speech rate can impact meaning and communication

stress: is used to convey meaning by highlighting key words and enhancing meaning [It’s my money,
not yours]

stress-timed: English is a stress-timed language (not syllable-timed). We produce sentences with

style: style refers to how formal or informal our language choices are. It depends on the audience
we are speaking to

subordination: a complex sentence consists of an independent and dependant clause. The

syntax: how words and phrases are arranged in a sentence following grammatical rules (for
example, subject + verb + object)

systematic error: occurs when a test taker repeatedly makes the same grammatical error. For
example, article errors, subject/verb agreement errors. If the errors are occasional and do not show
a pattern, then they are classified as non-systematic errors

tense: refers to which form of the verb is used to show when an action happened. Common verb
tenses include present, past, and continuous tenses

TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

word form error: occurs when a test taker chooses the right word but uses the wrong part of
speech. For example, ‘I am very happiness.’ – noun chosen instead of the adjective

Sources:

www.ielts.org

https://www.ieltsessentials.com/global/ieltshome

IELTS Scores Guide