Former IELTS Speaking ExaminerMeet Your Lead Evaluator
Daniel James
Founder and Lead Speaking Consultant · Former IELTS Speaking Examiner
- Former IELTS Speaking Examiner, 2017 to 2024
- 15+ years of university English teaching
- MA English Studies, CELTA, FHEA
- Human evaluations personally reviewed by Daniel
Daniel James examined IELTS Speaking from 2017 to 2024 and has taught university English for 15+ years. Every human evaluation is personally reviewed by Daniel, using the same band descriptors and assessment criteria he applied as an examiner.
Evaluation Methodology
Daniel scores each of the four IELTS speaking criteria separately, Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation, then derives the overall band from those four. That gives more realistic scoring insight and more detailed speaking feedback than AI evaluation alone.
Credentials
Qualifications & Expertise
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Sustained commitment to excellence in university-level teaching and learning.
Former IELTS Speaking Examiner, 2017 to 2024
Real assessment experience and insider understanding of the IELTS speaking criteria.
MA English Studies · CELTA
Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults · University of Wales.
Published IELTS & ESL Author
9 books published on Amazon, designed for IELTS candidates and English for Academic Purposes learners.
IELTS Examiner Certificate
Click to view certificate (test centre details redacted)
Evaluation Services
Choose Your Evaluation Method
AI Evaluation
£9.99
per testInstant AI-estimated band score from criterion-aligned analysis. Per-criteria breakdown included.
Unlock AI EvaluationHuman Band Score
£19.99
per testDaniel James, a former IELTS Speaking Examiner, listens to your whole test and gives you an accurate band.
Choose Human Band ScoreBand Score + Feedback
£29.99
per testEverything in Human Band Score plus a written examiner report showing what held your band back and how to reach the next one.
Choose Band Score + FeedbackLive 1-to-1 Mock Test with Daniel
£49.99
per session45 minutes live on Zoom with Daniel James: a full IELTS Speaking test run exactly like exam day, then your band and feedback on the spot.
Book Your Live Mock Test1 Full AI Assessment
£9.99
per testOne full IELTS Speaking test (all 3 parts, 11 to 14 minutes) with an instant AI band estimate.
Buy and Start3 Assessments
£24.99
per testThree full IELTS Speaking tests (all 3 parts, 11 to 14 minutes each), each with an instant AI band estimate.
Buy and Start5 Assessments
£34.99
per testFive full IELTS Speaking tests (all 3 parts, 11 to 14 minutes each), each with an instant AI band estimate.
Buy and StartSuccess Stories
IELTS Preparation Success Stories
“Daniel's IELTS prep course was structured into four stages: lecture, essay, group discussion, and one-on-one personalised interviews, which developed every skill the exam demands. His tailored approach contributed to my achieving an overall IELTS score of 7.0, and most students met their English requirements within three to six months. I graduated from a UK university with first honours, and later earned a master's from KAIST with a GPA of 95.1/100 and the Excellent Thesis of the Year award.”
M.E. SuMok Jeong
Academic Director, Korean Association for Future Studies
“Daniel's guidance enabled me to pass the IELTS on my initial attempt. His classes went beyond technical IELTS preparation, woven through with cultural context, academic discussion, and genuine preparation for UK university life. The practice I gained through class presentations on specialised topics prepared me directly for university-level seminars. I am now employed at Jaguar Land Rover, and I attribute my ability to communicate effectively with UK colleagues in large part to the training and confidence I built with Daniel.”
Dongkyu Lee
Creative Interior Designer, Jaguar Land Rover UK
“When I failed my IELTS and was moved to a class for students who had also failed, Daniel didn't let us see it as a crushing setback. He kept our classroom uplifting, ensuring we never saw ourselves as people who had failed, but as leaders with untapped potential who were simply pausing to regain strength. That shift in perspective changed everything. I am now working in London.”
Jeongmin (Jerry) Moon
Accounting & General Affairs Assistant, LS Cable & System UK Ltd, London
“Our lessons were unlike anything I expected. We read books together, I wrote short essays each time, and then we discussed ideas at a level that felt more like a conversation between friends than a teacher and student. I remember our discussion of Animal Farm, the topic of Daniel's own master's thesis, and the broader conversations about life, ambition, and what it means to start over in a new country. I even published my own book on how to study English as a result of his encouragement.”
Minhyuk (Mike) Jung
Manager, Marketing Department, Hyundai Marine and Fire Insurance