IELTS book · October 2026

IELTS Speaking Band Decoder book

What examiners listen for at Bands 5 to 8, with marked answer transcripts, and a story bank that covers this season’s Part 2 cue cards without memorised scripts. Speaking Band Decoder is a 57-page IELTS book from BandLadder's own study library, written and checked by our team rather than collected from other sites.
  • 57 pages
  • Free to read online
  • PDF with any plan
  • Updated 30 September 2026

Original BandLadder material

What's inside

It has 8 chapters, from “How Speaking is marked” to “Practise on BandLadder”, all listed below. Chapter notes include “Our learners’ weakest criterion”, “Answer, extend, stop” and “One minute to plan, two to talk”.

Reading it online is free: create a free BandLadder account and the whole book opens in our study reader, on the web and in the app. Downloading the PDF to keep needs a plan; the free reader has every page.

The cover

Preview

BandLadderIELTS

Speaking Band Decoder

What examiners listen for at Bands 5 to 8, with marked answer transcripts, and a story bank that covers this season’s Part 2 cue cards without memorised scripts.

October 202657 pages

The whole book reads free online

All 57 pages open in the BandLadder study reader with a free account, on the web and in the app. The PDF to keep comes with any plan.

8 chapters

Contents

  1. 1How Speaking is markedFour criteria, equal weight
  2. 2Grammar range firstOur learners’ weakest criterion
  3. 3Part 1: short answers, fully formedAnswer, extend, stop
  4. 4Part 2: the long turnOne minute to plan, two to talk
  5. 5Part 3: speculate, compare, justifyFrom your story to the wider world
  6. 6The Season Story BankEight stories, eighty-five cards
  7. 7Pronunciation and fluencyChunk it, stress it, pause with purpose
  8. 8Practise on BandLadderSpeak, get feedback, fix one thing

Read the full Speaking Band Decoder free

Create a free account and it opens in the study reader, with the rest of the BandLadder library. Download the PDF with any plan.

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Free practice

Practise it

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Questions

FAQ

Is the Speaking Band Decoder book free?+

Yes, to read online. Create a free BandLadder account and the full book opens in the study reader. No card details are needed.

Can I download the Speaking Band Decoder PDF?+

The PDF download comes with any BandLadder plan. Free accounts read the book online in the study reader, on the web and in the app.

Who wrote this book?+

The BandLadder team wrote and checked it. It is original BandLadder material, not copied from books or other websites, and its exam facts are checked against the official IELTS and PTE pages.

Is it for IELTS Academic or General Training?+

Both versions of the test: it covers what they share and says where they differ.

IELTS is a registered trademark of the University of Cambridge, the British Council and IDP Education Australia. PTE is a trademark of Pearson. BandLadder is not affiliated with either.

© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy

Read the full Speaking Band Decoder free: create a free account