Update full set of IELTS Speaking part 1 questions

In the test section IELTS Speaking part 1, candidates will answer general questions about themselves and everyday topics such as family, work, hobbies…

For example:

• Are you a student or do you work?

• Are you interested in music?

• How often do you read books?

Typically, Part 1 lasts about 4 – 5 minutes, you should not give overly long answers. However, avoid giving answers that are too short, such as “Yes/ No” which are not acceptable in this test.

See more: Types of Questions for IELTS Speaking Test Preparation

2.1 Types of Questions

What types of shops can be found in your local area?

What kinds of restaurants are popular in your country?

What types of TV programmes are popular in your country?

For “types of” and “kinds of” questions like the ones above, candidates tend to list the types and types of things. This will make your answers quite boring and will not score high. Try to apply more special vocabulary and sentence structures.

Common answer: There are many types of public transport in my city, for example buses, taxis, motorcycles, trains, and ferries.

High-scoring answer: Obviously, it goes without saying that there’s a mixed variety of... But I guess the most commonly-used would probably be ....

2.2 Frequency questions - “Wh-/How”

When do you listen to music?

How often do you go to the movies?

What are some traditional foods in your country?

Above are sample questions with question words starting with “Wh-” or “How”. Some candidates often give answers such as “In the evenings before I sleep”, “Once/Twice/… a week”.

These are information questions, so there is nothing wrong with answering like this. However, when you are taking the IELTS Speaking Part 1 test, answers like this will be difficult to get a full score. Develop your answer into 2 or 3 related sentences. You can use the “it depends” structure to create a “situational contrast” in your answer.

Common answer: Three times a week

Answer that will help you score high: Well, actually I think I would have to say that it really depends. For instance, If I’m in a good mood, I would go for those cheerful and upbeat songs ‘cause they really help boost my mood even more and keep me productive all day. Whereas in contrast, if I’m feeling a little blue, I just want to listen to those songs which have soothing and soft melodies to make myself feel better.

2.3 “Yes/No” Question

Do you like vanilla ice cream?

Does that taste okay?

Have you ever seen a ghost?

Could you help me lift this?

Similar to the “Wh-/How” question type, many people also choose to answer this type of question by going straight to Yes or No, and then developing a few more ideas. The above answering method is not wrong, however, the rather simple sentence structure will make it difficult for you to score high. A small tip you can apply is to develop ideas for both Yes and No answers. This ambiguous answer will help you have more ideas to develop as well as present a rich vocabulary and complex sentence structure.

Common answer: Yes, I like Vanilla ice cream.

Answers to help you score high: In fact, people are getting busier than ever burning the midnight oil working extra hours, cramming for exams, so they have no choice but to go to buy some take-away at some fast food restaurant.. 2.4 “Would” questions Would you like to change your job?

What would you like to change in your country?

What would you like to change about your school?

For most “Would” questions, use Conditional Sentences Type II to answer.

If + past simple + would/could/might + infinitive verb Common answer: Well, to be quite honest with you, I don't think I've ever thought about that. But I guess, If I had a chance I would consider moving to another place someday.

Answers that will help you score high: “Actually, this isn’t something that I’ve ever considered, but in short I suppose I would possibly consider moving cities, especially I had the chance to move to a coastal city like Nha Trang or Vung Tau. If I lived in a seaside city I would be able to hang out on the beach every day and I would also have the opportunity to get into water sports like scuba-diving and possibly surfing.”

2.5 Basic Description Questions

Tell me about your hometown.

This is a very basic question that you will encounter a lot in IELTS Speaking Part 1 exams. However, remember that the examiner is not asking questions just to know about your hometown. What they want to know is how diverse your vocabulary is when revolving around this topic, and how you apply sentence structures.

Common answers: I come from Hanoi. I am native of this city. Hanoi is the capital of my country. In Hanoi there are many historical buildings and signature dishes.

The answer that will help you score high: I come from Hanoi. I am a native of this city. In comparison to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi continues to try and retain traditional Vietnamese culture in all the corners of the city and therefore all the travelers will get a more authentic feel while they're here.

2.6 Liking/ Disliking Question

Do you like animals?

This is a type of question that appears in almost all sections of the IELTS Speaking test. If you encounter a Liking/Disliking question, you should avoid simple words like enjoy, hate, love. Replace them with words from the table below:

The IELTS Speaking Part 1 is the introductory part where the examiner can learn more about you, as well as assess your pronunciation and reflexes when answering questions. The questions in IELTS Speaking Part 1 usually revolve around your hobbies, hometown, and work. Typically, the first part of the Speaking test will include 3 segments:

• Segment 1: Asking about your name, hometown, personal information..

• Segment 2: Questions about your family, studies, or current job

• Segment 3: Questions about your hobbies and personality

3.1 Questions surrounding self-introduction information

See more:Outline orientation and guidance for answering Speaking topic Hometown

3.1 Questions about hobbies and personality

See more:Master the Speaking test topic Hobbies with 3 tips

3.2 Questions about life topics

See more:10 tips for the IELTS Speaking test

The IELTS Speaking Part 1 test only lasts for 10 - 15 minutes. So how to handle the questions and topics most skillfully, refer to the tips below:

Ensure skillfulness and naturalness: Among the factors for scoring the IELTS Speaking Part 1, the examiner also scores your pronunciation and reaction to the question. You can add filler words like: actually, honestly, you know, I think so.

Extend thinking time when encountering difficult questions: When you encounter difficult questions and cannot think of an answer immediately, you can extend the time by using the following phrases:

• Oh, so you’re asking me about………..Okay, I have to say that…

• Well, that’s a really interesting question.

• Oh I’m not too sure about that… Let me think for a minute…Oh yes it is…

• With regards to your question, I guess I would have to say that…

Answer as honestly as possible: Many candidates always choose to answer questions with positive ideas or affirm that everything is always right. But real life is not like that. Similar to the IELTS test, always be honest by giving your own opinion, which can be right/wrong or yes/no. And don't forget to reinforce your choice with tight arguments and examples.

Show your own skills: When answering IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions, pay attention to showcasing your English skills (in terms of grammar and vocabulary).

Question: What colors do you like?

Bad response: I like green and blue.

• This response lacks advanced grammar or vocabulary and is too short

Better response: My favorite colors are light green and navy blue

• This response is more specific and includes some color-related vocabulary.

Even better response: Well, my favorite color is magenta, I guess that’s because I’m really into bright and bold colors. I also like turquoise, I find that really relaxing peaceful color that reminds me of the ocean.

• This response is very good because less familiar color words are used and the structure “be into” = passionate instead of just saying like, prefer or love.

See more:

• The best IELTS Speaking Part 1 sample answers

• Learn about the IELTS Speaking test scoring criteria

• The shortest IELTS Speaking study plan for all candidates

If you are preparing for the upcoming IELTS Speaking Part 1 test, refer to the tips and sample questions above for better preparation. If you are still struggling to understand the Speaking test structure and how to achieve a perfect score with the topic, don't forget you will always have support from IDP's IELTS experts.

When you choose to accompany IDP, you will have full access to the available IELTS resources to familiarize yourself with the test structure and achieve the score you desire. The provided materials include Masterclass webinars, preparation courses and test-taking tips from international IELTS experts!

And don't forget to register for the IELTS test at IDP!