IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions

In this post you will find practice questions for IELTS Speaking Part 1.

They've been organised By Topic and By Question Type.

If you practice them by topic, this will give you a representative idea of how to answer the questions on exam day.

When practising them by topic, take note of which topics you have good range of vocabulary for and are easy to talk about, and which topics are more difficult, then go and learn more vocabulary related to these challenging topics.

If you practice them by question type, this will help you become comfortable with specific skills and grammar structures such as talking about personal preference, routines, or life experience.

Again, if you struggle to answer a certain type of question, focus on improving this until you can answer them comfortably, fluently and spontaenously with a good range of grammar and vocabulary.

By Topic

Work or study:

1. What do you do for work or study?

2. How long have you been working/studying in this field?

3. What do you like about your work/study?

4. Is there anything you don't like about your work/study?

5. What do you think is the most important quality for someone in your field?

Hometown:

1. What do you like most about your hometown?

2. What is the climate like in your hometown?

3. Do you think you will stay in your hometown in the future?

4. Do you think your hometown is a good place to raise a family?

5. How do you think your hometown could be improved?

Where you live:

1. Can you tell me about where you live?

2. What do you like most about the place you live?

3. What kind of facilities or amenities are available in your area?

4. Have you noticed any changes in your area over the years?

5. What kind of transportation options are available in your area?

Animals:

1. Do you like animals?

2. What's your favourite animal and why?

3. Do you have any pets?

4. Are there any dangerous animals in your country?

5. Do you ever watch TV programs or online videos about animals?

Art:

1. Do you like art?

2. What is your favourite type of art?

3. How often do you go to art galleries?

4. What is the most interesting piece of art you have ever seen?

5. Is art a good way to express yourself?

Birthdays:

1. Do you celebrate your birthday?

2. What kind of gifts do you like to receive for your birthday?

3. What do you think is the best way to celebrate a birthday?

4. How has the way you celebrate your birthday changed as you have gotten older?

5. What is a typical birthday celebration like in your culture?

Books:

1. Do you like to read books?

2. What's your favourite book and why?

3. What's your favourite type of literature?

4. Have you ever attended a book club?

5. Do you think reading books is important for personal growth?

Education:

1. What kind of education have you received?

2. How often do you study these days?

3. Is it better to study alone or as part of a group?

4. What was your favourite subject at school?

5. What is the hardest thing about studying English?

Emotions:

1. What things make you feel happy?

2. Do you think it's important to control your emotions?

3. How often do you get angry?

4. Does the weather ever affect how you feel?

5. Have you ever cried while watching a movie or listening to a piece of music?

Family:

1. Can you tell me about your family?

2. Do you get along well with everyone in your family?

3. How important is family to you?

4. What do you like to do together with your family?

5. Do you have any close relatives living abroad?

Fashion:

1. How important is fashion to you?

2. Do you know anyone who is really interested in fashion?

3. What is your favourite item of clothing and why?

4. Do you think fashion is a good way to express yourself?

5. Are there any current fashions that you dislike?

Food:

1. What kind of food do you like to eat?

2. Have you tried any new foods recently?

3. Do you try to keep a healthy diet?

4. What's the most exotic food you have ever tried?

5. How often do you eat at restaurants?

Friends:

1. Who are your closest friends?

2. How did you meet your closest friends?

3. How often do you see your closest friends?

4. Do you prefer to spend time with small or large groups of friends?

5. Have you ever made a new friend while travelling?

Hobbies and Interests:

1. What hobbies or interests do you have?

2. How did you become interested in your favourite hobby?

3. How much time do you spend on your hobby each week?

4. Do you think your hobby has any impact on your daily life?

5. Do you prefer to spend your free time alone or with others?

Home:

1. Can you describe your home?

2. What's your favourite room in your home and why?

3. Do you like to decorate your home?

4. What kind of changes have you made to your home recently?

5. Is it important to have a comfortable home?

The Internet:

1. How often do you use the internet?

2. What do you use the internet for?

3. How has the internet changed the way you live your life?

4. How do you think the internet will change in the future?

5. Have you ever experienced any security issues while using the internet?

Learning Languages:

1. How many languages can you speak?

2. What do you like most about learning English?

3. Do you ever use English in your work or studies?

4. Did you enjoy learning languages at school?

5. Do you use any language learning applications or websites?

Movies:

1. How often do you watch movies?

2. Do you prefer to watch movies at home or in the cinema?

3. What's your favourite movie genre?

4. Do you have a favourite actor?

5. Do you think movies were better in the past or are they better now?

Music:

1. What kind of music do you like to listen to?

2. Who's your favourite musician or band?

3. Have you ever attended a live music performance?

4. Do you play any musical instruments?

5. Do you think music has the power to bring people together?

Nature:

1. What is your favourite outdoor activity?

2. Do you like to go hiking or camping?

3. Have you ever visited a national park or other protected natural area?

4. What is the most famous place of natural beauty in your country?

5. Does your local neighbourhood have many parks or green spaces?

The News:

1. How often do you read the news?

2. Do you prefer reading the news or watching the news?

3. Is it important for you to know what's happening in the news?

4. What is the news normally about in your country?

5. What might be bad about reading too much news?

Shopping:

1. How often do you go shopping for fun?

2. Where is the best place to go shopping in your hometown?

3. What things do you not enjoy shopping for?

4. Do you ever buy clothes online?

5. Are you planning to buy anything in the near future?

Social Media:

1. Which social media websites do you use?

2. How much time do you spend on social media sites?

3. What kind of information about yourself have you put on social media?

4. Is there anything you don’t like about social media?

5. In the future do you think you will use social media more or less?

Sports:

1. Do you like to play or watch sports?

2. What's your favourite sport to play or watch?

3. What's your favourite sports team?

4. Have you ever participated in any sports events or competitions?

5. How important do you think it is to stay physically active?

Technology:

1. What's your favourite piece of technology and why?

2. Where is the best place to buy new technological devices?

3. Do you think technology makes life easier or more complicated?

4. What do you think is the most important technological advancement in recent years?

5. How do you think technology will change in the future?

Transportation:

1. How do you usually travel?

2. Do you prefer to drive or walk/bike?

3. How often do you take public transport?

4. What's the best mode of transportation you've ever used?

5. Have you ever experienced a transportation-related problem while travelling?

Travel:

1. Have you travelled anywhere recently?

2. Where would you like to travel to in the future?

3. What kind of places do you prefer to visit on holiday, cities or countryside?

4. What's the most interesting place you have ever been to?

5. How has travelling impacted your life?

Walking:

1. How often do you walk?

2. Do you ever go on long walks to relax?

3. Do you walk more now or did you walk more in the past?

4. Are there any nice places to go walking in your city?

5. Do you think walking is the best way to keep fit?

Weather:

1. What's the weather like where you live?

2. Do you like the weather where you live?

3. What's your favorite type of weather?

4. What's the best weather for outdoor activities?

5. How does the weather affect your daily life?

By Question Type

Where you live / are from:

1. Can you tell me about where you live?

2. Can you describe your home?

3. What's the weather like where you live?

4. What is a typical birthday celebration like in your culture?

5. Are there any dangerous animals in your country?

6. What kind of transportation options are available in your area?

7. Have you noticed any changes in your area over the years?

8. What kind of facilities or amenities are available in your area?

9. What is the news normally about in your country?

10. What is the most famous place of natural beauty in your country?

11. Does your local neighbourhood have many parks or green spaces?

Routines and Frequency:

1. How often do you walk?

2. Do you ever go on long walks to relax?

3. How do you usually travel?

4. How often do you take public transport?

5. How much time do you spend on social media sites?

6. How often do you go shopping for fun?

7. Do you ever buy clothes online?

8. How often do you read the news?

9. How often do you watch movies?

10. Do you ever use English in your work or studies?

11. How often do you use the internet?

12. Do you ever watch TV programs or online videos about animals?

13. How often do you go to art galleries?

14. What do you think is the best way to celebrate a birthday?

15. Have you ever attended a book club?

16. How often do you study these days?

17. How often do you get angry?

18. How often do you eat at restaurants?

19. How often do you see your closest friends?

20. How much time do you spend on your hobby each week?

Personal Preference:

1. What's your favourite type of weather?

2. Do you like the weather where you live?

3. What kind of places do you prefer to visit on holiday, cities or countryside?

4. Do you prefer to drive or walk/bike?

5. What's your favorite piece of technology and why?

6. Do you like to play or watch sports?

7. What's your favorite sport to play or watch?

8. What's your favorite sports team?

9. Is there anything you don’t like about social media?

10. What things do you not enjoy shopping for?

11. Do you prefer reading the news or watching the news?

12. What is your favorite outdoor activity?

13. Do you like to go hiking or camping?

14. What kind of music do you like to listen to?

15. Who's your favorite musician or band?

16. Do you prefer to watch movies at home or in the cinema?

17. What's your favorite movie genre?

18. Do you have a favourite actor?

19. What do you like most about learning English?

20. What's your favourite room in your home and why?

21. Do you like to decorate your home?

22. What do you like about your work/study?

23. Is there anything you don't like about your work/study?

24. What do you like most about your hometown?

25. What do you like most about the place you live?

26. Do you like animals?

27. What's your favourite animal and why?

28. Do you like art?

29. What is your favourite type of art?

30. What kind of gifts do you like to receive for your birthday?

31. Do you like to read books?

32. What's your favourite book and why?

33. What's your favourite type of literature?

34. What was your favourite subject at school?

35. What things make you feel happy?

36. What do you like to do together with your family?

37. What is your favourite item of clothing and why?

38. Are there any current fashions that you dislike?

39. What kind of food do you like to eat?

40. Do you prefer to spend time with small or large groups of friends?

41. Do you prefer to spend your free time alone or with others?

General Opinions:

1. What's the best weather for outdoor activities?

2. How does the weather affect your daily life?

3. Are there any nice places to go walking in your city?

4. Do you think walking is the best way to keep fit?

5. Where is the best place to buy new technological devices?

6. Do you think technology makes life easier or more complicated?

7. What do you think is the most important technological advancement in recent years?

8. How important do you think it is to stay physically active?

9. Where is the best place to go shopping in your hometown?

10. Is it important for you to know what's happening in the news?

11. What might be bad about reading too much news?

12. Do you think music has the power to bring people together?

13. Is it important to have a comfortable home?

14. Do you think your hometown is a good place to raise a family?

15. How do you think your hometown could be improved?

16. Is art a good way to express yourself?

17. Is it better to study alone or as part of a group?

18. Do you think it's important to control your emotions?

19. What is the hardest thing about studying English?

20. How important is family to you?

21. How important is fashion to you?

22. Do you think fashion is a good way to express yourself?

23. Do you think your hobby has any impact on your daily life?

Life Experience:

1. Have you travelled anywhere recently?

2. How has travelling impacted your life?

3. What's the most interesting place you have ever been to?

4. What's the best mode of transportation you've ever used?

5. Have you ever experienced a transportation-related problem while travelling?

6. Have you ever participated in any sports events or competitions?

7. Have you ever visited a national park or other protected natural area?

8. Have you ever attended a live music performance?

9. How has the internet changed the way you live your life?

10. Have you ever experienced any security issues while using the internet?

11. What do you think is the most important quality for someone in your field?

12. What is the most interesting piece of art you have ever seen?

13. How has the way you celebrate your birthday changed as you have gotten older?

14. Do you think reading books is important for personal growth?

15. What kind of education have you received?

16. Have you ever cried while watching a movie or listening to a piece of music?

17. What's the most exotic food you have ever tried?

18. Have you ever made a new friend while travelling?

Your Life and Lifestyle:

1. Which social media websites do you use?

2. What kind of information about yourself have you put on social media?

3. Do you play any musical instruments?

4. How many languages can you speak?

5. Do you use any language learning applications or websites?

6. What do you use the internet for?

7. What do you do for work or study?

8. How long have you been working/studying in this field?

9. Do you have any pets?

10. Do you celebrate your birthday?

11. Does the weather ever affect how you feel?

12. Can you tell me about your family?

13. Do you get along well with everyone in your family?

14. Do you have any close relatives living abroad?

15. Do you know anyone who is really interested in fashion?

16. Do you try to keep a healthy diet?

17. Who are your closest friends?

18. What hobbies or interests do you have?

The Past:

1. Do you walk more now or did you walk more in the past?

2. Do you think movies were better in the past or are they better now?

3. Did you enjoy learning languages at school?

4. What kind of changes have you made to your home recently?

5. Have you tried any new foods recently?

6. How did you meet your closest friends?

7. How did you become interested in your favourite hobby?

The Future:

1. Where would you like to travel to in the future?

2. How do you think technology will change in the future?

3. In the future do you think you will use social media more or less?

4. Are you planning to buy anything in the near future?

5. How do you think the internet will change in the future?

6. Do you think you will stay in your hometown in the future?