IELTS Speaking Topics for Part 1

You will usually be asked questions on three different topics - the first will be either on your home or your job/your studies. Below are examples of the kind of questions you may be asked.  Practise them with a friend or record yourself.

Have a look at Likes and Dislikes and Better Words for good and bad before you do this.

Home

  1. Do you live in a house or a flat?
  2. What do you like about your house/flat?
  3. How long have you lived there?
  4. Do you plan to move in the future?

Job

  1. What do you do?
  2. What do you like about your job?
  3. Why did you choose this job?
  4. What training did you receive for this job?

Study

  1. What do you study?
  2. Why did you choose this subject?
  3. Where do you study?
  4. What do you like about studying? 

Family

  1. How big is your family?
  2. How much time do you spend together?
  3. What kinds of things do you do together?
  4. What jobs do they have?

Future Plans

  1. Why are you taking the IELTS exam?
  2. Where do you plan to go?
  3. Do you plan to return to your own country later?
  4. What job do you plan to do in the future?

Holidays

  1. Where did you last go on holiday?
  2. What kinds of holiday do you like?
  3. Is there anything you don't like about going on holiday?
  4. Where do you plan to go next?

 Sports

  1. Do you play any sports?
  2. Do you like watching sport?
  3. Which sports are you good at?
  4. Which sport would you like to learn?

Hobbies

  1. What hobbies do you have?
  2. What equipment do you need?
  3. How much time do you spend on them?
  4. Which new hobby would you like to learn? 

Films

  1. Do you like watching films? Why/why not?
  2. Do you prefer to go to the cinema or rent a DVD?
  3. What kind of films do you like?
  4. What was the last film you saw?

Pets

  1. Do you own a pet? Why/why not?
  2. Which pets do you ike?
  3. Is it important to have a pet?
  4. Did you have a pet when you were a child?

School

  1. What was/is your school like?
  2. What was/is your best subject?
  3. What did/do you like about your school?
  4. Who was/is your favourite teacher?

Neighbourhood 

  1. What is your neighbourhood like?
  2. What are the facilities like?
  3. What do you like about it?
  4. Do you have any plans to move? 

Journey to work/study

  1. How do you get to work?
  2. Why do you choose that transport?
  3. How long does it usually take you?
  4. Is there anything you don't like about it?

Friends

  1. Do you spend a lot of time with your friends?
  2. What do you do together?
  3. What do you look for in a friend?
  4. Are friends important to you? 

Weather

  1. What is the weather like in your town?
  2. Which season do you prefer? Why?
  3. Do you like hot weather? Why/why not?
  4. What's your favourite kind of weather?

Eating 

  1. What is your favourite food?
  2. Do you like eating in restaurants?
  3. How often do you eat in a restaurant?
  4. Do you try to eat healthily?