IELTS Speaking
IELTS Speaking Part 1
Part 1 lasts four to five minutes. The examiner asks about familiar topics: your work or studies, your home, and two or three everyday subjects such as music, weekends or the internet.
Answer directly, then add a reason or an example: two or three sentences is about right. Don't give one-word answers, and don't make a speech either.
Part 1 questions by topic
The first topic is always about you: your work or studies, your home or your hometown. Then come two familiar topics like these. Practise answering each question aloud in two or three sentences.
Work or studies
- Do you work or are you a student?
- Why did you choose that job or subject?
- What do you enjoy most about it?
- Would you like to change anything about it in the future?
Your home
- Do you live in a house or a flat?
- Which room do you spend the most time in?
- What would you like to change about your home?
- Do you think you will live there for a long time?
Your hometown
- Where did you grow up?
- What do you like most about that place?
- Has it changed much since you were a child?
- Would you recommend it to visitors?
Weekends
- How do you usually spend your weekends?
- Do you prefer busy or relaxing weekends?
- Did you spend weekends differently when you were a child?
- What did you do last weekend?
Phones and apps
- How often do you use your phone?
- Which app do you use the most?
- Have you ever tried to spend a day without your phone?
- Do you think people spend too much time on their phones?
Food and cooking
- Do you enjoy cooking?
- What did you eat for breakfast today?
- Do you prefer eating at home or eating out?
- Is there a dish you would like to learn to make?
Music
- What kind of music do you like?
- When do you usually listen to music?
- Did you learn a musical instrument at school?
- Has your taste in music changed over the years?
Reading
- Do you read much in your free time?
- Do you prefer paper books or reading on a screen?
- What did you like reading as a child?
- Is there a book you would like to read again?
Sport and exercise
- Do you do any sport or exercise?
- Which sports are popular where you live?
- Did you enjoy sport at school?
- Would you like to try a new sport?
Weather
- What's the weather like where you live?
- Which season do you like best?
- Does the weather change your mood?
- Do you check the weather forecast every day?
Shopping
- Do you enjoy shopping?
- Do you prefer shopping online or in shops?
- What was the last thing you bought?
- Are there any shops you go to often?
Friends
- How often do you see your friends?
- What do you usually do together?
- Do you have a friend you have known since childhood?
- Is it easy to make new friends as an adult?
Transport
- How do you usually travel around your town?
- How long does it take you to get to work or college?
- Do you prefer public transport or travelling by car?
- Would you like to cycle more?
Films and TV
- Do you watch many films?
- Do you prefer watching at home or at the cinema?
- What kind of programmes do you watch?
- Is there a film you have watched more than once?
Mornings
- Are you a morning person?
- What do you usually do first in the morning?
- Has your morning routine changed recently?
- Do you prefer to get up early at weekends too?
Photographs
- Do you like taking photos?
- What do you usually take photos of?
- Do you keep printed photos at home?
- Do you like being in photos yourself?
Plants and gardens
- Do you have any plants at home?
- Did you grow anything when you were a child?
- Are there many parks or gardens near you?
- Would you like to have a garden?
Birthdays
- How do you usually celebrate your birthday?
- Do you remember a birthday from your childhood?
- Do you prefer giving or receiving presents?
- Are birthdays more important for children or adults?
Learning languages
- How long have you been learning English?
- What do you find hardest about it?
- Would you like to learn another language?
- How do you practise outside class?
The internet
- What do you mainly use the internet for?
- How many hours a day are you online?
- Do you remember the first time you used the internet?
- Could you live without the internet for a week?
Walking
- Do you walk much in a typical day?
- Where do you like to go for a walk?
- Did you walk to school as a child?
- Do you prefer walking alone or with others?
How to answer
Answer Directly First
- For a yes/no question, give your yes or no answer first.
- For a question starting with what, where, when or who, state the answer straight away.
- Avoid a long introduction before answering the question.
- After your direct answer, add a little information if needed.
Example: Examiner: “Do you enjoy listening to music?”. Yes, I do. I listen to music most evenings.
Add A Clear Reason
- After a short answer, add one reason that explains why you feel or choose that way.
- Use a simple link such as "because" to connect your answer to its reason.
- Make the reason specific to the question; unrelated details do not support your answer.
- Keep the reason brief and clear. One good reason is enough.
Example: Part 1: Do you enjoy cooking?. Yes, I do, because preparing a meal helps me relax after work.
Support With One Example
- Give one clear example after your main point to make it more specific.
- Use a short link such as “For example,” or “For instance,” before the example.
- Choose an example that directly shows what you mean, not a different topic.
- Keep the example brief; one relevant detail is enough.
Example: Speaking question: What do you like about your neighbourhood?. I like that it has quiet places to relax. For example, I often read on a bench in the small park near my flat.
Talk About Work Or Study
- Name your job or subject first so the listener knows what you do.
- State its main activity with a simple verb, such as helping, designing or studying.
- Add one typical task as a clear example of that activity.
- Use a short link such as “For example” to introduce the task.
Example: Examiner: Do you work or study?. I study biology at college. My main focus is learning how living things work. For example, a typical task is writing short reports after practical lessons.
Describe Daily Routines
- Use a time phrase to show when an action happens, such as “before work” or “at seven”.
- Use the present simple for routine actions: “I make tea”, not “I making tea”.
- Answer the question directly, then add one or two actions from the routine.
- Keep the time phrase close to the action it describes.
Example: Examiner: What do you do in the morning?. At around seven, I get up and make tea. Before I leave home, I pack my bag.
Practise
Short items from the ielts.coach lessons. Answer them, then check to see why each answer is right.
1The examiner asks, “Do you like public transport?” Which answer begins directly?
2The examiner asks, “Where do you usually have lunch?” Which answer is direct?
3The examiner asks, "Do you prefer studying alone or with other people?" Which answer gives a clear reason?
4In the answer "I enjoy my job because I meet different people each day", which phrase gives the reason?
5Which sentence gives a specific example to support “I enjoy using public libraries”?
6“I prefer travelling by train. For example, I take the train to work each morning.” What does the second sentence do?
7Which answer pairs a subject’s main activity with a typical task?
8The examiner asks, “What do you do in your job?” Which answer gives a main activity and a typical task?
Test hacks
Answer, then add a reason or example
In Part 1, give a direct answer and then one reason or example. Two or three sentences is ideal.
Why it works: One-word answers give the examiner nothing to assess; long speeches aren't needed in Part 1.
Buy thinking time naturally
Use phrases like "That's an interesting question" or "Let me think about that for a second" instead of silence or "umm".
Why it works: Natural fillers keep your fluency up while you plan.
Use the prep minute for keywords
In Part 2 you get one minute and paper to make notes. Write one or two keywords per bullet, not full sentences.
Why it works: Keywords keep you on track for the full two minutes without reading aloud.
Practise with feedback on every answer
ielts.coach builds daily lessons and practice around your interests and level, marks Writing and Speaking like an examiner in seconds, and plans your weeks to test day.