Select the best IELTS Speaking Part 1 answer samples

Part 1 of the IELTS speaking test is the easiest part to score, so don't forget to update the sample answers for IELTS Speaking Part 1 the best to get full marks in this part!

The characteristic of the IELTS Speaking Part 1 test is that it will ask questions directly related to the candidate. Accordingly, the sample structure of the Speaking Part 1 answer meets the criteria consisting of two parts:

• Part 1: Answer directly to the question - Answer directly to the question Common topics in IELTS

In this part, you should not beat around the bush but answer directly to what the questioner is concerned about. For example, if the examiner asks “Would you say your hometown is a good place to live? Why?”. Your answer should focus on why your hometown is a good place to live. For example, peaceful atmosphere, cool climate, kind people,...

• Part 2: Expand your answer - Explain further for the answer

Show that the speaker is ready to give an answer of any length: If the examiner asks “What sort of accommodation would you most like to live in?” You need to answer your choice and explain the points you like about that place.

Show your vocabulary and grammar: Instead of using simple words like good/beautiful in your IELTS Speaking Part 1 answers, you can impress with words like excellent, convincing, valuable/gorgeous, attractive, stunning,... Additionally, don't forget structures like neither…nor, either…or, both…and, not only…but also, relative clauses, conditional sentences, comparative sentences,... to show the examiner that you have a grammar level that meets the scoring criteria.

You can develop ideas according to the 5W2H formula: To avoid rambling, you can apply the 5W2H formula to shape your speech.

• What? Describe the purpose, issue/situation you are talking about

• Why? Explain the cause of the issue/situation or your motivation

• When? When the issue/situation occurs

• Who? Who the issue/situation relates to, who it affects positively/negatively

• Where? Where the issue/situation occurs

• How? How the issue/situation unfolds

• How often? Provide information about the frequency of the issue/situation

You should answer directly and provide explanations for your answers when taking the IELTS Speaking test

See more: [SUMMARY] Common questions in the IELTS Speaking test that you should know

Each type of question will have its own way of answering, you should learn sample sentences to respond well to the variety of questions.

2.1. Type of question “Types of”

Example: What types of public transport are popular in your country? (What types of public transport are popular in your country?)

The way to do IELTS Speaking Part 1 for the “Types of” question type is that you can use the direct answer and listing method. For example, the above question will be answered as follows:

In my country, there are buses, water buses, taxis, high-speed trains, and technology motorbike taxis.

The Type of question should be answered by listing and explaining why

2.2. Type of question “Liking/ Disliking”

Example: Do you like dog? (Do you like dogs?)/ Do you like living there? (Do you like living here?)

You should start your answer by saying yes or no:

• Do you like… > Yes/No: Do you like playing football? Yes, I do

• What do you like to do… > I do: What do you like to do in your free time? I like reading books

Then, use IELTS Speaking Part 1 sample answers to elaborate: I like this job/action because.. (the benefits that the action brings)

• I’m really keen on + activity/hobby: I’m really keen on doing morning exercise to improve my health.

• I'm a big fan of + activity/hobby: I'm a big fan of Leonardo Dicaprio because of his role in Titanic.

• I'm quite into + activity/hobby: I’m not quite into the book because it’s so boring.

Affirm whether you like or dislike and why?

>>>See more: IELTS IDP test schedule

2.3. Type of question “Is something popular”

Example: Would you recommend your current job to other people? (Would you recommend your current job to others?).

Answer: Direct answer + What? How? Why?

• Neutral answer: I think it depends on which group of people you’re talking about.

• Explanation about each group of people: As for group 1 + A gains popularity because… / However when we consider + group 2 + B is a much more common choice since…

Give neutral answers to the question Is something popular

2.4. How to do Speaking Part 1 for the “How often” question type

“How often” is a quite familiar question type in English communication, used to ask about the frequency of someone doing something. Below are IELTS Speaking Part 1 sample answers for this question type.

Example: How often do you play football? (Do you often play football?).

→ Affirm with a Yes/No answer and give the frequency you perform that action

Use adverbs of frequency like always, usually, sometimes… :

• Be+ Adv + Adj / Adv + Verb: How often do you go to the beach with your friends? Yes, I sometimes go to the beach to relax with some of my friends.

Use idioms to indicate frequency

• Once in a blue moon: Rarely ~ hardly ever

• From time to time: Occasionally, from time to time.

• Every once in a while: Occasionally, sometimes.

• Once or twice = A few times: A few times.

All the time: All the time.

Example: How often do you study at the library? Yes, I study at the library twice a week

→ Elaborate on the answer:

If you often perform the action, explain the benefits of the action. Example: I always drink hot water before having meals to boost my digestive system

If you don't do it often, give an excuse

• I up to my ears in… = I'm too busy to

• I'm short of money = I'm out of money so…

Use usually, always… to answer frequency questions

2.5. IELTS Speaking Part 1 sample answers for choice questions

Example: Do you prefer the sky in the morning or the sky at night (Do you prefer the sky during the day or at night?)

Choose 1 of the 2 phenomena - State which one you prefer

• I prefer Ving to Ving

• I prefer N to N

• Something is a better choice for me in comparison to something else

Example: I prefer listening to music to singing.

Make a comparison between the two objects above

• S + V + Short Adjective-er + than + O/ Clause/ N/ Pronoun/ S + V + more/less + Long Adjective + than + O/ Clause/ N/ Pronoun.

• X + be + not as/so + adj + as Y

Example: Math is not as difficult as physical.

Prefer or appropriate comparison structures to answer this question type

Below are some common and new topics in Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test and some corresponding questions. Understanding the topics will help you build more reasonable IELTS Speaking Part 1 answers.

3.1. Familiar topics:

Work or Study

• Do you work or study?

• Why did you choose that university?

• What are your favourite subjects at your college?

Sports

• What’s your favourite sport?

• How often do you play sports?

• Do you admire any athlete?

Home/Accommodation

• Can you describe the place where you live?

• How long have you lived there?

• What do you like about living there?

Hobby

• What sort of hobbies do you like?

• How long do you spend on your hobbies a day?

• Do you have any hobbies?

History

• What historical event or place do you find exciting?

• Do you think history is important for people?

• Do you like learning history at school?

Life, history are familiar IELTS Speaking topics

3.2. New topics:

Mobile app

• What kinds of mobile apps have you downloaded recently?

• What apps do you often use?

• Which do you prefer, a social media app or a language app?

Handwriting

• Which do you prefer, writing by hand or typing on the computer?

• Do you think computers might replace handwriting in the near future?

• What do you do to improve your handwriting?

Housework

• Who does housework in your family?

• Do you often do housework?

• When did you start to do housework?

Robot

• Are you curious about robots?

• Have you had any robots?

• Will robots replace humans entirely in household chores?

Tea or Coffee

• Do you like tea or coffee?

• Which one do you drink in the morning, tea or coffee?

• Are you dizzy after drinking coffee?

Haircut

• How often do you have a haircut?

• Do you usually change your hair colour?

• Have you ever cut your hair by yourself?

Recycle

• What do you think about recycling?

• What kind of things do you recycle?

• Why should we recycle as soon as possible?

Headphones

• Do you usually use headphones?

• Where will you use headphones?

• Is it harmful to use headphones for a long time?

See more: [UPDATED] Full set of 30+ NEWEST IELTS SPEAKING part 1, 2, 3 topics to help you score perfectly

Update new topics to prepare the best

Besides preparing sample answers for IELTS Speaking Part 1, keep the following in mind if you want to score high in the speaking test part 1.

• Speak logically, concisely, and diversely: a standard part 1 answer is 2-4 sentences long, including compound sentences with at least 3 ideas. Don't ramble but stay on point.

• Use English structures flexibly and enrich your vocabulary.

• Use conversational English: gotta, gonna, sorta, wanna, kinda, won’t, for sure, cool, legit,...

• Natural phrases: Well, I’d have to say that…, It’s tough to say, but I’d…, In my opinion,...

• Add adverbs to sentences: Absolutely, totally, completely, extremely, …

• Use more complex sentences - demonstrating grammatical diversity and complexity.

• Confidently express yourself, make eye contact with the examiner, and show more emotions.

• Avoid repeating vocabulary from the question: Choose synonyms of the words in the question to answer, don't repeat words.

Avoid word repetition when speaking to achieve the best results

See more:

Top 9 effective ways to practice IELTS Speaking to achieve high scores

How to score high in Speaking Part 2

Here is a summary of sample answers for IELTS Speaking Part 1 that are popular and you should refer to. Besides getting familiar with the questions and how to answer each type, you also need to improve your vocabulary and grammar to be able to use them for speaking reflexes as well as the vocabulary to speak.