A Critical Review of the Revised IELTS Speaking Test

Abstract

The International English Language Test System (IELTS) is currently one of the English tests of repute, which is employed to assess the language proficiency of candidates planning to study or work in contexts where English is employed as the language of communication. This study is a critical review of the Revised IELTS Speaking Test (RIST) in order to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the revised version. The findings indicate that the reduction from 5 phases to 3 phases in the structure, the introduction of an Interlocutor Frame (IF), the change of the rating system from holistic to analytic, and validity are the strong points of RIST.  The weaknesses in the RIST could be subjectivity of the test, deviation from IF, and potential cultural bias. The study provides some recommendations for improvement of the Revised IELTS Speaking Test.