IELTS Speaking Part 1

On this page, you will find some common IELTS speaking topics and sample answers.

Remember that these are personal questions and you should therefore give personal answers. You should not memorise answers and if the examiner thinks that you have done this, you will lose lots of marks.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 1- Work

• Do you work or study?

I graduated a few years ago and I’m now in full-time employment.

• What is your job?

I’m currently an English teacher and IELTS trainer for students in Kadi city in Mehsana district of Gujarat.

• Why did you choose that job?

I was previously a medical representative in Chennai and found it to be really stressful and never had any free time, so after quitting that job I thought teaching might be the complete opposite of being a medical rep, and I really enjoy this job.

• Are there lots of English teachers in your city?

Oh yes! There is a such a big demand for English as a second language here and it’s also quite a cheap place to live compared to many other big cities in Gujarat, India.

• Do you enjoy your job?

Most of the time. It’s very rewarding to be able to help people every day and the students here are very hardworking and fun to teach, but you sometimes have lessons that do go so well and the money could always be better.

• Do you get on well with your co-workers?

Yes, fine. I don’t really see work as part of my social life, so I don’t socialise with them, so I suppose I could be more friendly, but it’s just my nature to be a bit colder with colleagues. I think it’s more professional to be that way.

• What was your first day at work like?

Well, my first day as a teacher was in a school at Ahmedabad city of Gujarat state. There were lots of teachers starting at the same time as me, around 9 I think, so we all had a big induction day. The more senior teachers ran workshops with us to familarise us with the different systems they had and then we went for a team dinner in the evening.

• What were the responsibilities did you have at previous work?

All of the teachers main responsibility is to plan good lessons and then teach them to the best of our ability. On top of that we have several admin tasks to carry out like mark homework, fill out attendance sheets and write reports.

• Would you like to change your job in the future?

Yes, as I said before, I like working by myself, so I would like to be my own boss. I’m currently developing my own website, so if it’s successful I will leave teaching and work on it full time. This will also give me more time to work on other projects.

• What is your typical day like at work?

I normally have 2 or 3 classes in the morning and 4 or 5 classes in the evening. I start the day by giving classes for IELTS students and ends the morning section with Spoken English batches. Normally I give lectures to school students in the evening as private tuitions and give practice for IELTS students late evenings.

• What would you change about your job?

As with most English teachers, we have to teach what is on the curriculum and this can mean that you are teaching some things that are quite boring or not very useful for your students, so I would like to have more freedom to teach outside the syllabus.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 2- Study

• Do you work or study?

I’m currently a student at BestMinds English Academy.

• What do you study?

I study English, Science, Mathematics and Social Science because it’s very interesting to be with BestMinds to gain extra knowledge, discipline and life skills.

• Is English very important today?

Yes, it is very important today, because what I believe is that if we cannot speak up in English, we cannot rise up.

• Do you enjoy studying it?

It’s such a huge subject that there will always be parts you like and parts you don’t like, just like grammar and different types of writing skills. I find it interesting since it is the base of any languages.

 

• Do you get along with your classmates?

Yes, they are all really great. Most people like to socialise together in the evenings and this makes us a very tight group. If you know someone socially, it is much easier to work together in class.

• If you could change to another subject, what would it be?

I planned to study medicine, but then when I went on work experience I fainted at the first sight of blood, so definitely not that. I really like philosophy, psychology and literature I read books related to them all the time, so I suppose it would have to be Modern Literature.

• Do you plan to use the subject you are studying in the future?

Yes, I’ve already started to apply for jobs as an English teacher and trainer. We normally have to secure a job a year before we graduate and then work very hard to get a high overall mark. After that, I will probably do a Masters in English to become a specialist in one particular area.

• What would like to study in the future?

As I said before, my favourite type of job is teaching, so I would like to do a masters in English in any International Universities. So it’s really exciting and something I would like to become an expert in.

• Why did you choose your university?

Mostly because it is close to my hometown and most of my friends were going there. I kind of regret it now. It’s a great university, but because it’s so close to home it doesn’t give you much of a chance to experience new things and meet new people. If I were to choose again, I’d study abroad.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 3- Hometown

• Where is your hometown?

My hometown is on the South India, in Palakkad district almost 3 hours away from the world famous tourist attraction in South Asia called Ooty.

• What do you like about it?

It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty and for me, one of the most beautiful places on earth. It has everything; fantastic beaches, rolling mountains, dense forests and picturesque countryside.

• What do you not like about it?

It can be a little bit boring because it’s really tiny. There are only a few small shops and a couple of pubs and that’s it! In the summer, it’s OK because you can enjoy the outdoors but it would be nice to have a few more indoor facilities for the rainy season.

• How often do you visit your hometown?

Not as much as I should. I only get to visit about once a year now to see my family because I’m really busy with work and it’s quite far away, but I hope to visit more in the future.

• What’s the oldest part of your hometown?

Well, there is nothing special as oldest part, but Palakkad district is very famous for 4 dams and I am proud to say that my district is known as the rice bowl of Kerala.

• Do many people visit your town?

Thousands of tourists visit every summer and through out the year. They come from the capital city mostly to get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the peace and quiet. There are more and more national and international tourists visiting because Ooty Botanical garden and Silent Valley National park are only just few hours distance from my home town.

• Is there any way your hometown could be made better?

As I said before, the best thing about the town is its rural beauty and you can’t really improve that. If I had to say something, it would be to improve the roads, they are in a terrible state and cause a few car accidents every year.

• How has your hometown changed over the years?

Since I was a child the town has almost doubled in size and population. It used to consist of just one main street, but now there are many new housing developments and apartments next to the water. With all these new people moving in, it has changed the character of the town a little bit, people are not as friendly as before.

• Are there good transportation links to your town?

The public transport system consists of just buses that pass through the town on an hourly basis. One bus goes north to the capital city which is really convenient if you need to do any shopping and the other bus goes south where you can switch buses and go across the border to the Republic of Ireland, so you could say we have international transport links which is not bad for a little town like ours.

• Would you recommend the town to people with children?

Yes and no. It is obviously a great place to bring up kids because there are so many things for them to do like swim in the sea, play in the forest and run on the beach. However, the good schools are pretty far away and I remember having to get up really early every morning to catch a bus to school that was 10 kilometers away.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 4- Your Home

• Where do you live?

Well, my home is near to Kerala Tamil Nadu border, in Palakkad district, Kerala. But, currently I live in Kadi in Gujarat state, very far away from my hometown.

• Do you live in a house or a flat?

Currently I live in a small house just ten minutes away from the city.

• Who do you live with?

I live there alone.

• What is your favourite room?

That would have to be my study room because it’s the only room that I can get peace and quiet in.

• How is your house decorated?

I don’t like lots of over the top decoration, so I guess you would describe it as minimalist. The walls are all white and the furniture is also either white or black. There are very few ornaments or pictures because again, I like to keep things quite minimal and I hate clutter.

• Do you have a garden?

That’s the best part of my home. It has a small garden with flowers and green areas throughout the year.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 5- Fashion

• Do you care about fashion?

I used to in my younger days, I remember always looking to see what my favourite heroes were wearing and then try to copy them, but now I don’t really care as long as I look smart.

• What kind of things do you normally wear?

It depends what I’m doing really. If I’m working I normally wear a dress shirt, kurta, t-shirt and trousers, but we don’t have to wear a tie. If I’m going out it will be more casual like a polo t-shirt and jeans and if I’m at home it will be really relaxed, just a t-shirt and shorts.

• Are there any traditional clothes in your country?

Yeah, it can be long sleeve shirt called Kurta and sarees. Each state in my country has beautiful and attractive traditional clothes. It is something that makes our country unique and different from all other countries.

• Where do you usually purchase your clothes?

I used to go to the trendy shops when I was a student, but now I’m not interested to visit trendy shops since I am busy with my work schedule. I just like to go to a big shopping centre or department store and buy everything there. It’s more convenient that way and it means I don’t have to run all over town just for a few clothes.

• Have you ever bought clothes online?

Yes, most of the times I buy clothes online as well as from proper shops too.

• Do people from your country think fashion is important?

More so these days. Our country wouldn’t be very high on the list of international fashion hot spots, but I notice people following certain trends more.

• What is your favourite item of clothing?

Probably my long sleeve t-shirt. It cost a fortune and it makes me feel really confident when I go out in it. I normally get a few compliments.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 6- The Internet 

• How important is the internet to you?

Extremely important. I depend on it for work, research, study, and entertainment, so without it I’d be completely lost.

• How often do you use the internet?

I use it constantly throughout the day, every day. I check my emails and texts when I get up in the morning, I use it for work all day and then I watch videos, read books or listen to music through it at night.

• Do you use it more for work or in your free time?

I’d say both really. About 50% of my job involves researching and writing on the internet so I would use it for about 4 hours a day. During free time I download a movie or stream some music and I normally do that until I fall asleep.

• What are your favourite websites?

For work, my two favourite sites are Weebly, WordPress and Google. I use Weebly and WordPress as blogging tools that allow me to publish blogs easily and maintain a professional looking website. Google, of course, allows me to find the information I need quickly and accurately. In my spare time, I, of course, use Facebook like everyone else in the world.

• Do you use apps?

I’m a bit of an app addict. My favourite app at the moment is one called ....................................................................................................

• Do you think you use the internet too much?

I think most people do these days. My problem is that there are so many sites and apps that you end up checking them way too often and this wastes lots of time. It can also be a bit anti-social if you are checking your phone all the time when you are with other people.

• How will the internet develop in the future?

I think it will be more on mobile phones than computers. Smartphones are becoming more powerful and more affordable all the time, so I think we will see a shift from people using the internet on desktop computers to mobiles and apps rather than traditional websites.

• Are there any negative things about the internet?

Being connected all of the time is not a good thing. Before you had to sit down at your computer and log on and that took time, so you didn’t do it so much. Now all people have to do is look at their phone and this is too much for me. I’ve been trying to leave my phone at home when I socialise with friends and family to stop myself from focusing too much on the phone rather than them.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 7- Weather 

• How is the weather today?

It’s really lovely today. There were a few showers this morning and it was a bit chilly, but it has brightened up this afternoon and I think it will stay that way for the rest of the day.

• What’s your favourite kind of weather?

It depends what I’m doing really. If I’m doing something outside, I like the weather to be sunny but not too hot because it gets a bit uncomfortable after a while. If I’m inside, I love listening to the rain beating against the window and the wind howling outside.

• What is the climate like in your country?

I’m from India, so the thing people always complain about is different climates. Most of the winters are extremely hot and it mostly rains in June and July months. I think temperate is the word to describe our climate- not too hot, not too cold.

• Does the weather affect people’s lives in your country?

Yes, very much so.

• Is there any type of weather you really don’t like?

I don’t mind when it’s raining or windy and I don’t mind when it’s cold, but when it’s cold, windy and raining all that the same time, well that’s horrible, especially if you have to work or do something outside. I remember when we were at school we would have to go outside in horrible weather to do P.E. and I detested every minute of it.

• Does bad weather ever affect transport in your country?

Yes, most probably bad weather conditions affect transportation.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 8- TV

• Do you like watching TV?

I don’t get time really to watch TV and I don’t like the fact that you have no choice about what to watch, so no I would say I don’t really like watching normal TV, I much prefer streaming something on my iPad and watching it when I like.

• How often do you watch TV?

I’d say maybe only a few times a month when there is a good cricket match on. I prefer watching cricket on TV with other people around because it’s a great atmosphere, but if it’s a normal TV show I will just watch it alone at home on my mobile phone.

• What kind of TV programmes do you like to watch?

I like dramas, documentaries, travelogues and thrillers. I don’t really like anything that is not set in the real world, so I’m not a big fan of sci-fi or fantasy.

• What are the most popular TV shows in your country?

The most popular TV shows in my country are everything reality shows, they are mostly dancing, singing and adventurous fun activity games.

• Do you like watching TV shows from other countries?

Yes, most of the programmes I watch are from the United States. Networks like HBO and Netflix have the biggest budgets and as a result, can make some really high-quality shows.

• Has the internet affected your viewing habits?

Absolutely, I watch most TV shows on the internet now, rather than a normal TV. There are so many streaming services like Netflix offering on-demand TV and it suits me to be able to watch what I want when I want.

• What is your favourite TV show?

...................................................................................

• What was your favourite show when you were a child?     ..............................................................

IELTS Speaking Topic # 9- Sport

• Do you play any sports?

Not as much as I should. I’m really busy with my job these days, so I don’t get the chance to do as many sports as I would like. I used to play basketball and volleyball when I was doing my studies and proud to say that I won to play volleyball in district and state levels.

• Have you played volleyball for long?

Since I was about 10 years old. I remember playing volleyball with our villagers every evening. From then on I played volleyball and even cricket too every day and when I went to university there also these games took priority, but I regret not maintaining it because it was something I loved doing.

• Do you watch sport on TV?

Football is my favourite sport to watch on TV. I’m terrible at football but I love watching it on TV, especially big games like the Champions League.

• What is the most popular sport in your country?

In my country, there are three dominant sports Cricket, Field Hockey and Kabaddi. Cricket is played between two teams made up of eleven players each. It is a team game of the hockey family. Each team plays with eleven players including the goalie. Kabaddi has become very famous game nowadays and reached popularity through Pro Kabaddi League.

• How do people in your country stay fit?

We are blessed with beautiful and peaceful calm atmosphere in the morning with temperate climate so most people either go running or walking. Lots of young people play field sports, but more and more people are joining gyms. Gyms have really taken off recently as people worry more and more about their appearance.

• Is it important for children to play sports?

Definitely. Sport not only keeps them healthy, but it also teaches them discipline and keeps them out of trouble. For instance, in my school, the kids who were dedicated to sport also achieved the highest grades in school and went on to good universities where they continued to work hard.

IELTS Speaking Topic # 10- Food

• What’s your favourite food?

I would have to say that it’s definitely South Indian item Tapioca. It’s quite healthy and rich with vitamins and spices, so it’s a real treat when I get the chance to have South Indian food and I love all the things that come with it like chillies, gravy and fish curry and many things.

• Have you always liked Tapioca and fish curry?

I always like it since it is my favourite dish, but unfortunately it is not available in the area where I am currently working.

• Are there any foods you dislike?

I like most foods, but if I had to pick some I don’t like, it would have to be vegetables, especially green ones like bitter gourd or cabbage. They either taste of nothing at all or really bitter. Although, I try to force them down when I have to because they are very healthy.

• What are some traditional foods in your country?

Indian cuisine consists of a wide variety of regional and traditional like some are Alu Gobi, Butter Chicken, Samosas, Masala Chai, Matar Paneer etc.,

• Do you have a healthy diet?

Yes, of course. When it comes to diet, I strictly maintain healthy food habits including fat free products, protein foods, whole grain foods, fresh fruits and dry fruits.