230 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions

Contents

• About IELTS Speaking Part 1
• Common IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics
• 230 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions

About IELTS Speaking Part 1

Speaking Part 1 is the quick “warm-up” section of the speaking test. It takes about 4—5 minutes. It’s a short interview where the examiner will ask you about 12 easy, personal questions on 3 different familiar topics, such as hobbies, likes and dislikes, daily routine, so you can show you can communicate naturally.

The examiner will normally ask you 1—3 short direct questions per topic, then switch topic. They’re not grading your opinions; they’re grading how you speak:

• Fluency & coherence: can you answer smoothly, not just “yes/no”?
• Vocabulary: natural word choice, some variety
• Grammar: mostly accurate sentences, some variety
• Pronunciation: clear, easy to understand.

To answer well, aim for 2—4 sentences per question. Answer the question directly, then add one detail or example, or, if applicable, give a short reason or an extra comment. For example:

Q: Do you like cooking?

A: Yes, I do. I usually cook simple meals like pasta or soups on weekdays because it’s quick. At the weekend I sometimes try new recipes if I have time.

Try to avoid one-word answers (“Yes.” “No.”) or, on the opposite, very long stories — Part 1 should be short. Don’t memorise answers for the test — it can sound unnatural and lower your score. Don’t use too many fillers (“umm… like… you know…”). Don’t try to sound too advanced if you’re not confident with the grammar and vocabulary you’re using.

To prepare for this part, record yourself answering about 20 common questions from the list below. Practise giving short, natural extensions, such as one extra detail. Prepare life vocabulary (daily routines, hobbies, work/study, city descriptions). Use connectors: actually, to be honest, it depends, usually, lately.

Common IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics

Here is a list of topics and questions the examiner can ask you in Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test:

• home
• hometown
• work
• study
• hobbies
• family
• travel
• food
• music
• sports
• friends
• weather
• weekends
• technology
• shopping
• clothes
• daily routine
• reading
• art
• transport
• pets
• neighbourhood
• social media

There are more possible topics than the ones listed here, but they usually fall into the same broader categories. For instance, the examiner might ask only about going to the cinema rather than entertainment in general.

The most frequent topics focus on your personal life, with work and studies being especially common. It’s also typical to be asked about your home country in connection with different themes, which gives you a chance to compare it with English-speaking countries.

230 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions

Home

1. Do you live in a house or an apartment?
2. Who do you live with?
3. How long have you lived there?
4. What do you like most about your home?
5. Is there anything you would like to change about your home?
6. Which room do you spend the most time in, and why?
7. What is your home like (for example, size, style, or location)?
8. Do you prefer spending time at home or going out? Why?
9. Do you plan to live there for a long time? Why/why not?
10. What kind of home would you like to live in in the future?

Hometown

1. Where is your hometown?
2. What is your hometown like?
3. How long have you lived there?
4. What do you like most about your hometown?
5. Is there anything you don’t like about it?
6. What is your hometown famous for?
7. Has your hometown changed much in recent years?
8. What do people usually do for fun in your hometown?
9. Would you recommend your hometown to tourists? Why/why not?
10. Do you think you will live in your hometown in the future? Why/why not?

Work

1. Do you work or are you a student?
2. What kind of work do you do?
3. What do you enjoy most about your job?
4. What are the main responsibilities in your role?
5. What does a typical workday look like for you?
6. What skills do you think are most important for your job?
7. What do you find most challenging about your work?
8. How did you choose this type of job?
9. Would you like to do the same job in the future? Why/why not?
10. How is your job different from what you expected at the beginning?

Study

1. Do you study currently, or have you finished your studies?
2. What are you studying (or what did you study)?
3. Why did you choose that subject?
4. What do you like most about your course?
5. What is the most difficult part of your studies?
6. What does a typical study day look like for you?
7. Where do you usually study (at home, in a library, etc.)? Why?
8. Do you prefer studying alone or with other people? Why?
9. How do you usually prepare for exams or tests?
10. Do you think you will use what you’re studying in your future work? Why/why not?

Hobbies

1. What do you like to do in your free time?
2. Do you have any hobbies you do regularly?
3. How did you become interested in your hobby?
4. How much time do you spend on your hobbies each week?
5. Do you prefer hobbies you can do alone or with other people? Why?
6. Have your hobbies changed since you were a child?
7. Is there a hobby you’d like to start in the future? Why?
8. What hobbies are popular in your country?
9. Do you think hobbies are important? Why/why not?
10. Does your hobby help you relax or improve your skills? How?

Family

1. Do you have a big family?
2. Who do you live with?
3. How often do you see your family?
4. What do you usually do with your family?
5. Are you close to your family?
6. Which family member do you spend the most time with?
7. What do you like doing with your family on weekends?
8. Do you prefer spending time with your family or with friends?
9. Did you spend a lot of time with your family when you were a child?
10. Is family important to you? Why?

Travel

1. Do you like travelling? Why/why not?
2. How often do you travel?
3. What kind of places do you like to visit?
4. Do you prefer travelling alone or with other people? Why?
5. What’s the best trip you’ve ever been on?
6. Where did you go on your most recent trip?
7. Do you usually plan your trips in detail or travel spontaneously?
8. What do you usually do when you arrive in a new place?
9. Is there a place you would like to visit in the future? Why?
10. Do you prefer travelling in your own country or abroad? Why?

Food

1. What kind of food do you like most?
2. Do you prefer eating at home or eating out? Why?
3. What do you usually eat for breakfast?
4. Is there any food you don’t like? Why?
5. Do you like trying new foods?
6. How often do you cook?
7. What’s a popular dish in your country?
8. Do you think your diet is healthy? Why/why not?
9. Have your eating habits changed in recent years?
10. Do you prefer sweet food or savoury food? Why?

Music

1. Do you like listening to music? Why/why not?
2. What kind of music do you enjoy most?
3. When do you usually listen to music?
4. Do you prefer listening to music alone or with other people? Why?
5. How has your taste in music changed over time?
6. Do you like going to live concerts or music events? Why/why not?
7. What kind of music is popular in your country?
8. Do you play any musical instruments? If not, would you like to learn one?
9. How important is music in your daily life?
10. Do you think music can affect people’s mood? How?

Sports

1. Do you like sports? Why/why not?
2. What sports do you enjoy watching?
3. Do you prefer watching sports or playing sports? Why?
4. How often do you exercise or play sports?
5. Did you play any sports when you were a child?
6. What sports are popular in your country?
7. Is there a sport you would like to try in the future? Why?
8. Do you usually exercise alone or with other people? Why?
9. What are the benefits of playing sports, in your opinion?
10. Do you think schools should encourage students to do more sports? Why/why not?

Friends

1. Do you have a lot of friends, or just a few close ones?
2. Who do you usually spend time with—friends or family? Why?
3. How do you usually meet new friends?
4. What do you and your friends usually do together?
5. How important are friends to you? Why?
6. Do you prefer having friends who are similar to you or different from you? Why?
7. How often do you keep in touch with your friends?
8. What qualities do you value most in a friend?
9. Have your friendships changed as you’ve gotten older? How?
10. Is it easy or difficult to make friends where you live? Why?

Weather

1. What kind of weather do you like most? Why?
2. What’s the weather like where you live most of the year?
3. Does the weather affect your mood? How?
4. What do you usually do when the weather is very hot?
5. What do you usually do when it rains a lot?
6. Do you prefer hot weather or cold weather? Why?
7. Is the weather in your country changing in recent years?
8. What’s your favourite season? Why?
9. Do you check the weather forecast often? Why/why not?
10. What kind of weather is best for travelling, in your opinion?

Weekends

1. Do you like weekends? Why/why not?
2. What do you usually do at the weekend?
3. How is your weekend different from your weekdays?
4. Do you prefer spending weekends at home or going out? Why?
5. Do you usually spend weekends with your family or friends?
6. What did you do last weekend?
7. Do you have any plans for next weekend?
8. Do you think weekends are long enough? Why/why not?
9. What’s your ideal weekend like?
10. Did you do anything special at weekends when you were a child?

Technology

1. How often do you use technology in your daily life?
2. What kind of technology do you use most often?
3. What device do you use the most—your phone or your computer? Why?
4. How has technology changed the way you work or study?
5. Is there any piece of technology you couldn’t live without? Why?
6. Do you like trying new gadgets or apps? Why/why not?
7. What was your life like before you had a smartphone (or before the internet)?
8. Do you think technology makes life easier or more stressful? Why?
9. Do you prefer communicating by text/messages or by phone calls? Why?
10. What technology do you think will become more common in the future?

Shopping

1. Do you like shopping? Why/why not?
2. How often do you go shopping?
3. What kinds of things do you usually buy when you shop?
4. Where do you usually shop—online or in stores? Why?
5. What’s your favourite shop or shopping area where you live?
6. Do you prefer shopping alone or with other people? Why?
7. Do you compare prices before you buy something? How?
8. Have your shopping habits changed in recent years? How?
9. What was the last thing you bought, and why did you buy it?
10. Do you think people spend too much money on shopping these days? Why/why not?

Clothes

1. Do you like buying new clothes? Why/why not?
2. What kind of clothes do you usually wear on weekdays?
3. What do you usually wear when you go out with friends?
4. Are there any colours you like to wear most? Why?
5. How important are clothes to you?
6. Do you prefer comfortable clothes or fashionable clothes? Why?
7. Where do you usually buy your clothes?
8. Do you like wearing the same style of clothes as your friends, or different styles? Why?
9. Have your clothing preferences changed over the years? How?
10. Do you think people dress differently now compared to the past? Why/why not?

Daily Routine

1. What is your typical daily routine like?
2. What time do you usually get up on weekdays?
3. Do you have a morning routine? What do you usually do?
4. What do you usually do in the evenings?
5. How often does your routine change?
6. Do you prefer having a fixed routine or a flexible one? Why?
7. What part of your day do you enjoy the most? Why?
8. Is there anything you would like to change about your daily routine?
9. How is your daily routine different on weekends?
10. Do you think it’s important to have a daily routine? Why/why not?

Reading

1. Do you enjoy reading? Why/why not?
2. What kind of books or texts do you like to read?
3. How often do you read?
4. Do you prefer reading in your own language or in English? Why?
5. Where do you usually read (at home, on public transport, etc.)?
6. Do you prefer paper books or e-books? Why?
7. What was the last thing you read?
8. Did you enjoy reading more when you were a child? Why/why not?
9. Do you think reading is important for learning a language? Why?
10. Is there a book you’d like to read in the future? Why?

Art

1. Do you like art? Why/why not?
2. What kind of art do you enjoy most (paintings, photography, street art, etc.)?
3. Did you study art at school? How was it?
4. Do you ever visit art galleries or museums? How often?
5. Is there any artist you really like? Why?
6. Do you prefer modern art or traditional art? Why?
7. Do you have any art in your home (pictures, posters, decorations)?
8. Have you ever tried creating art yourself? What did you do?
9. Do you think art is important in daily life? Why/why not?
10. What kind of art would you like to learn more about?

Transport

1. How do you usually travel around your city?
2. What kinds of transport are common where you live?
3. Do you prefer public transport or driving? Why?
4. How often do you use public transport?
5. What do you think about the public transport system in your area?
6. Is traffic a problem where you live? Why/why not?
7. What’s your favourite way to travel for long distances? Why?
8. Have your travel habits changed in recent years? How?
9. Do you think cycling is popular where you live? Why/why not?
10. What improvements would you like to see in transport in your city?

Pets

1. Do you have any pets?
2. Did you have any pets when you were a child?
3. What kind of pet would you like to have, if any?
4. What are the benefits of having a pet?
5. Do you think pets are easy or difficult to look after? Why?
6. Are pets common where you live? What kinds are popular?
7. Do you think children should have pets? Why/why not?
8. How do people usually take care of their pets in your country?
9. Do you prefer cats or dogs? Why?
10. Would you ever consider having an unusual pet (like a reptile or bird)? Why/why not?

Neighbourhood

1. Do you like the area where you live? Why/why not?
2. How long have you lived in your neighbourhood?
3. What is your neighbourhood like?
4. What are the main places or facilities near your home?
5. Is your neighbourhood quiet or noisy?
6. What do you like most about your neighbourhood?
7. Is there anything you don’t like about it?
8. Do you know your neighbours well?
9. Are there any shops or parks near your home?
10. Would you like to live in a different area in the future? Why?

Social Media

1. Do you use social media?
2. What social media apps do you use most?
3. How often do you use social media?
4. What do you usually do on social media?
5. Do you post photos or videos?
6. Do you prefer posting or just reading/watching?
7. Do you use social media to talk to friends or family?
8. What do you like about social media?
9. What don’t you like about social media?
10. Do you think you will use social media more or less in the future? Why?