AI English tutor: speak English with AI, then see your scores

What an AI English tutor is (and what it isn’t)

An AI English tutor is software you talk to out loud: it listens, understands what you said, answers with a natural voice, and keeps the conversation going. Because it’s available at any hour and doesn’t get tired or impatient, you can speak far more than you could with a weekly lesson.

It isn’t a human teacher. It won’t notice that you look nervous, it can’t design a year-long course around your life, and its corrections are only as good as the rules it was given. A good AI tutor is a practice partner with a scoring system, not a replacement for every kind of teaching.

What a call with an AI tutor looks like

You pick a tutor, a situation and a call length, then talk. The tutor asks one question at a time, reacts to what you say and keeps its own answers short, so you do most of the speaking. This is an example of the start of a job interview call with Sophia, the professional tutor, written for this page:

Sophia

So, tell me a little about yourself.

You

I am working in a bank since three years. I am responsible of the customer accounts.

Sophia

Three years at a bank, that’s solid experience. What does a normal day look like for you?

You

Every morning I check the new requests, and after I call the customers who have problems.

Sophia

And why do you want to leave the bank now?

The tutor doesn’t stop the conversation to correct you, because that would stop you speaking. Instead, small chips under each of your lines show the suggested fix and how each word sounded, and the report after the call lists every correction with a reason:

What you’re scored on, and how

After every call you get an overall score out of 100 and an estimated CEFR level. The skills are measured in two different ways: what you sound like is measured from your voice, and what you said is reviewed from the words.

The full method, including how the scores map to CEFR levels and IELTS bands, is in how your English speaking score is calculated.

Four tutors, with an American or British accent

Each tutor has a different personality, and each one can speak with an American or a British English voice. Choose the accent you hear most, or the one you want to sound like.

16 situations you can practise

Practising the situation you’re actually going to face is faster than general conversation: you learn the exact phrases you’ll need. The tutor plays the other person.

• 💼Job interview
• ☕Small talk
• ✈️At the airport
• 🍽️At a restaurant
• 📈Ask for a raise
• 🎓IELTS speaking
• 🏨Hotel & travel
• 👥Team meeting
• 🛍️Shopping & returns
• 🩺At the doctor
• 🎤Present an idea
• 🏠Renting a home
• 🤝Networking event
• 🎧Customer service call
• 💬Free talk
• 📣Share your opinion

Interview coming up? Start with how to answer “Tell me about yourself”. Going out to eat? Prepare with our guide to ordering at a restaurant in English. Not sure what to talk about? Our English conversation topics list has 96 questions by level, and IELTS speaking topics covers the exam.

AI tutor app vs ChatGPT vs a human tutor

All three can help you speak better. They differ in cost, how much you can practise, and the feedback you get.

Want to try ChatGPT first? Our English speaking practice guide has the prompts that make it a better partner. For other apps, see the best English speaking apps, compared with prices.

Who an AI English tutor is (and isn’t) for

It works best if you:

• understand English but freeze or slow down when you have to speak;
• are preparing for something specific: an interview, a move abroad, IELTS speaking;
• feel shy speaking with people and want to practise without being judged;
• want to see your progress in numbers, not just feel it.

Choose something else if you:

• are a complete beginner (A0–A1): a structured course or a human teacher will build the basics faster;
• need a certificate or a personal exam strategy: a qualified teacher is worth the price;
• want to make friends who speak English: a language exchange app like HelloTalk or Tandem is free.

Not sure of your level? Take the free English level test first.