IELTS Speaking Task 1
The IELTS speaking section is split into 3 sections. Here we take a look at the first section and go through some of the questions and topics that might come up.
IELTS Speaking Task 1
In IELTS Speaking part 1, first the examiner will introduce himself/herself and ask about your identity. He/she will then ask you general/ simple questions relating to your background, home, work, studies, family, interests, hobbies etc.
The first section will last around 4/5 minutes.
Friends
Do you have many friends? [Why/Why not?]
How often do you go out with friends? [Why/Why not?]
Tell me about your best friend at school.
How friendly are you with your neighbours? [Why/Why not?]
Which is more important to you, friends or family? [Why?]
Flowers
Do you have a favourite flower or plant? [Why/Why not?]
What kinds of flowers and plants grow near where you live? [Why/Why not?]
Is it important to you to have flowers and plants in your home? [Why/Why not?]
Have you ever bought flowers for someone else? [Why/Why not?]
Clothes
Where do you buy most of your clothes? [Why?]
How often do you buy new clothes for yourself? [Why?]
How do you decide which clothes to buy? [Why?]
Have the kinds of clothes you like changed in recent years? [Why?/Why not?]
Seasons
Is summer your favourite time of year? [Why/Why not?]
What do you do in summer when the weather’s very hot? [Why?]
Do you go on holiday every summer? [Why/Why not?]
Did you enjoy the summer holidays when you were at school? [Why/Why not?]
Musical Instruments
Which instrument do you like listening to the most? [Why?]
Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument? [Which one?]
Do you think children should learn to play a musical instrument at school? [Why/Why not?]
How easy would it be to learn to play an instrument without a teacher? [Why?]
Games
What games are popular in your country? [Why?]
Do you play any games? [Why/Why not?]
How do people learn to play games in your country?
Do you think it’s important for people to play games? [Why/Why not?]
Gifts
When do people give gifts or presents in your country?
Do you ever take a gift when you visit someone in their home? [Why/Why not?]
When did you last receive a gift? [What was it?]
Do you enjoy looking for gifts for people? [Why/Why not?]
Hometown
What kind of place is it?
What’s the most interesting part of your town/village?
What kind of jobs do the people in your town/village do?
Would you say it’s a good place to live? (Why?)
Hobbies
What do you do in your free time?[Why?]
Do you enjoy reading?[What do you like?]
Do you read or write stories or poems?
What hobbies are popular in your country?
Do you like computer games?[why/why not]
Study
What do/did you study?
Why do/did you want to study that?
What subject do you enjoy studying most?
Do you prefer to study alone or with other people?
What was your worst subject at school?
Work
What do you do?
What is the most important part of your job?
Do you work with other people or alone?
What do you like about your job?
What do you not like about your job?
Technology
How often do you use a computer?
What do you use computers for?
Do you use a mobile phone a lot?
Is it OK for children to have mobile phones?
Do you like modern technology?
Sports
How often do you play sports or do exercise?
What sports are popular in your country?
Did you play sports at school?
Do you prefer playing sports or watching them?
How often do you watch sports?
Childhood
Tell me about your school when you were a child.
What was your favourite subject?
Who was your favourite teacher?
Were you a good student?
Where did you live as a child?
Shopping/Fashion
Do you enjoy shopping?
How often do you go shopping?
Do you like going to shopping centres?
What do you think about online shopping?
Do you enjoy shopping at traditional markets?
Routine
What do you normally do in the morning?
Do you prefer the morning or the evening?
What is your breakfast routine?
Is exercise part of your daily routine?
Is your routine similar every day?
Music
What’s your favourite type of music?
Do you enjoy listening to music?
Where do you normally listen to music?
Entertainment
How often do you watch television?
Do you normally watch television alone or with other people?
What television programmes do you like?
Do you prefer watching television series or films?
What types of films do you like watching?
Home Decoration
What kind of decoration do you prefer?
How is your home decorated?
What is your favorite color when decorating your home?
What colour would you never use in your home?
What colour would you choose to paint the walls of your room?
Country
Tell me about your country.
Where is your country located?
Which part of your country do most people live in?
What are the main industries in your country?
What are some of the good things about living in your country?
Museums
Do you think museums are important?
Are there many museums in your hometown?
Do you like to visit museums?
How often do you go to museums?
When was the last time you visited a museum?
Furniture
Do you have many items of furniture at home? At work?
Do you have any wooden furniture?
What furniture do you own? Which items do you like?
What’s your favourite item of furniture?
Have you ever received furniture as a gift?
New Year
How do you celebrate New Year?
How do people in your country celebrate New Year? Do you have any ceremonies?
What do people do on New Year’s Day?
Why do people think New Year is a new beginning?
Have you ever celebrated NY that you still remember?
Accommodation
Let’s move on to talk about accommodation. Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in.
Do you live in a house or a flat?
Is it a big place?
Does the place you live in have many amenities?
Animals
Do you like animals?
What is your favourite animal?
What types of animals do you have in your country?
What types of animals are kept as pets in your country?
Do you think animals should be kept in zoos?
Birthdays
What did you usually do on your birthday when you were a child?
How do you normally celebrate your birthday now?
Is your birthday now still as important to you as when you were a child?
Do you think it’s important to give someone a card when it’s their birthday?
Public Transport
What kinds of public transport do you have in your country?
What kinds of public transport do most people use?
What is your favourite type of public transport?
What do you do when you are travelling on public transport?
How could public transport in your country be improved?
Internet
How important is the Internet to you?
Do you use the Internet more for work or in your free time?
What are your favourite websites?
Do you think you use the Internet too much?
How will the Internet develop in the future?
Mobile Phones
Do you have a mobile phone?
At what age did you first get a mobile?
What do you most use it for?
Is it a nuisance if people use mobiles in public places such as trains and buses?
Dreams
Do you dream much at night?
Do you often remember your dreams?
Do you think we can learn anything from dreams?
Do people in your country talk about their dreams?
Do you think that dreams can come true?
Celebrity
Who is your favourite celebrity?
Do you like any foreign celebrities?
Would you want to be a celebrity in the future?
Do you think we should protect famous people’s privacy?
How do celebrities influence their fans in your country?
Weather
How is the weather today?
What’s your favourite kind of weather?
Is there any type of weather you really don’t like?
What is the climate like in your country?
Does the weather affect people’s lives in your country?
Travel
Where was the last place you visited on holiday?
Would you like to go back there again?
What kind of tourist destinations do you usually prefer?
Has a foreign visitor ever stayed at your home?
What’s the best way to save money while travelling?