In 2026, students preparing for IELTS Speaking have three main options: general tutors from marketplaces such as Preply, automated AI grading apps, or certified human examiners through specialized platforms like Speaklay. General tutors are effective for casual conversation practice, and AI tools are useful for detecting basic grammar and vocabulary errors. However, neither option can accurately evaluate IELTS Pronunciation and Coherence using the official public band descriptors. Only certified human examiners trained in the official IELTS rubric can consistently assign reliable band scores across Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Understanding how the exam is mechanically graded is essential before choosing a mock test provider.
The IELTS Speaking test is not judged on whether you "sound natural.” It is graded using four strict criteria: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Each criterion contributes equally to the final band score.
Fluency and Coherence assesses logical development and linking. Lexical Resource measures range and precision of vocabulary. Grammatical Range and Accuracy evaluates sentence complexity and error control. Pronunciation includes stress, rhythm, connected speech, and intonation patterns.
The key word is consistency. A candidate must consistently demonstrate Band 7 or Band 8 features across all four categories. Casual feedback is not enough. Accurate grading requires rubric literacy.
| Evaluation Criteria | General Tutors | AI Apps | Speaklay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Understands Official Rubric | Often no formal examiner training | Programmed approximations | Certified rubric-based grading |
| Detects Unnatural Intonation | Subjective opinion | Limited speech pattern detection | Human detection of stress and rhythm errors |
| Provides Specific Band Scores | General comments | Estimated algorithmic score | Criterion-by-criterion band breakdown |
| Simulates Real Exam Pressure | Conversation practice only | No real-time interaction | Timed, structured exam simulation |
Practicing with a random native speaker can feel productive, but it is risky for IELTS. Many tutors focus on sounding "natural” or being conversational. However, IELTS Band 7 and above requires complex grammatical structures, precise topic development, and controlled discourse markers. A tutor may praise your fluency while missing limited clause variety or repetitive vocabulary. Without rubric-based correction, candidates often plateau at Band 6 despite regular speaking practice.
AI applications excel at detecting surface-level grammar errors and counting vocabulary diversity. However, IELTS Pronunciation scoring includes connected speech, word stress, sentence stress, and intonation variation. These are acoustic and communicative features that algorithms still struggle to interpret consistently.
Furthermore, Coherence is not simply about transition words. It requires logical sequencing and idea expansion in real time. AI cannot fully evaluate whether your argument progresses naturally under spontaneous speaking conditions.
Certified examiners are trained to identify subtle distinctions between Band 6 and Band 7 performance. For example, the difference may lie in whether complex structures are used flexibly or mechanically. It may depend on whether intonation supports meaning or sounds flat.
Speaklay operates as a laboratory, not a factory. The mock test replicates time pressure, interruption patterns, and structured transitions between Parts 1, 2, and 3. Feedback is criterion-specific and aligned with official descriptors.
AI can estimate grammar and vocabulary patterns, but it cannot reliably assess pronunciation subtleties or coherence development according to official band descriptors.
Some may be helpful, but unless they are trained in official IELTS grading standards, their feedback may not reflect real exam scoring criteria.
Pronunciation includes stress timing, connected speech, and intonation shifts that require contextual human interpretation.
An accurate mock test replicates exam pressure and provides rubric-based band scoring across all four assessment criteria.
