Ielts speaking questions

● In your country, how much time do people spend on work and how much time on leisure?. ● Would you say the amount of free time has changed much in the last fifty years?. ● Do you think

SPEAKING SET 1  

Part 1 

● Are your friends mostly your age or different ages?

● Do you usually see your friends during the week or at weekends?

● The last time you saw your friends, what did you do together?

● In what ways are your friends important to you?

Describe an interesting historic place. 

You should say: 

What it is 

Where it is located 

What you can see there now 

and explain why this place is interesting. 

● How were you taught history when you were at school?

● Are there other ways people can learn about history, apart from at school? How?

● Do you think history will still be a school subject in the future? Why?  

● What kinds of food do you like to eat?

● What kind of new food would you like to try?

● Do you like cooking?

● What was the last meal you cooked?

● Do you prefer home-cooked food or food from restaurants?

Part 2 

Describe an interest or hobby that you enjoy. 

You should say: 

How you became interested in it 

How long you have been doing it 

Why you enjoy it  

and explain what benefits you get from this interest or hobby. 

● Why do you think people need to have an interest or hobby?

● In your country, how much time do people spend on work and how much time on leisure? Is this a good balance, do you think?

● Would you say the amount of free time has changed much in the last fifty years?

● Do you think people will have more or less free time in the future? Why?

Part 1 

● Do you have any hobbies or interests? 

● How did you become interest in (whatever hobby/interest the 

candidate mentions)?

● What is there to do in your free time in your hometown?

● How do you usually spend your holidays?

● Is there anywhere you would particularly like to visit? Why?

Part 2 

Describe a river, lake or sea which you like. 

You should say: 

What the river, lake or sea is called 

Where it is 

What the land near it is like  

and explain why you like this river, lake or sea. 

● What are the different advantages of going to the sea or to a 

swimming pool to enjoy yourself? What do you think the 

● What place do you most like to visit?

● How often do you visit this place?

● Why do you like it so much?

● Is it popular with many other people?

● Has it changed very much since you first went there? 

Describe a useful website you have visited. 

You should say: 

What the website was 

How you found the address for this website 

What the website contained  

and explain why it was useful to you. 

Part 3 

● What effect has the internet had on the way people generally 

communicate with each other?

● Why do you think the internet is being used more and more for 

● Do you have a large family or small family?

● Can you tell me something about them?

● How much time do you manage to spend with members of your 

family?

● What sorts of things do you like to do together?

● Did/Do you get on well with your family?

Part 2 

Describe a teacher who has influenced you in your education. 

You should say: 

Where you met them 

What subject they taught 

What was special about them  

and explain why this person influenced you so much. 

Part 3 

● How has education changed in your country in the last 10 years?

● What changes do you foresee in the next 50 years?

● How do the expectations of today’s school leavers compare with those of the previous generation?

● What role do you think extracurricular activities play in education?

● What method of learning works best for you?

● How beneficial do you think it is to group students according to their level of ability?

Part 1 

● Tell me about the most important festival in your country

● What special food and activities are connected with this festival?

● What do you most enjoy about it?

● Do you think festivals are important for a country?

What kind of film or TV programme is was 

When you saw the film or TV programme 

What the film or TV programme was about  

and explain why this film or TV programme made such an impression on you. 

● In your opinion, will this trend continue into the future?

● What are the advantages and disadvantages of making films of 

real-life events?

● How important do you think it is for a film-maker to remain true to the original story?

● Should films and television be censored or should we be free to 

choose what we see?

● How do you think censorship laws will change in the next 20 years?  

Part 1 

● What would you suggest a visitor should see and do in your country?

● Are there any traditional arts or music you would recommend?

● Tell me about the kind of foreign visitors or tourists who go to your country

● In what ways has tourism changed your country?

Describe a memorable event in your life. 

You should say: 

When the event took place 

Where the event took place 

What happened exactly 

And explain why this event was memorable for you. 

Part 3 

● How important are ceremonies in our lives?

● Do you see the role of private and public ceremonies changing in the future?

● Have attitudes to marriage changed in recent years?

● In what ways do men and women feel differently about marriage, in your opinion?

● What sort of national events make headlines in your country?

● Do the media in your country pay more attention to global or national events?

Part 1 

● What would you like to change in your daily routine?

● Are all your days the same?

● Tell me about your typical weekday and your typical weekend

● What is the balance of work/study and free time in your normal day?  

Part 2 

Describe something you own which is very important to you. 

You should say: 

Where you got it from 

How long you have had it 

What you use it for 

And explain why it is so important to you. 

● What kinds of possessions show status in your country?

● Do you think it was different for your grandparents?

● Modern society is often called “materialistic.” Why do you think this is?

● Do you think consumerism is positive or a negative development?

● What is the role of advertising?

● How do you think the Internet will affect buying patterns in the future?  

Part 1 

● Which part of your country are you from?

● Can you describe your hometown for me?

● Who do you live with?

● Do you spend much time with your family?

● What do you like to do on the weekend?

● Why are you studying English?

● How long have you been studying English?

You should say: 

Who that person was 

What the person did 

How you feel about that person 

… and consider whether or not that person will continue to be an influence in the  future. 

● Do actors and models get too much attention in the media?

● Should people lose the right to privacy just because they are famous?

● If you could meet anyone famous (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

● In your opinion, do certain personality types handle fame or attention better than others?

● Do you feel that there should be restrictions placed on actors 

according to their age or sex?

Part 1 

● Which part of your country are you from?

● Can you describe your hometown for me?

● Do you work or are you a student?

● What do you like to do in your spare time?

● Why are you studying English?

● How long have you been studying English?

Describe the main forms of transport in your hometown. 

You should say: 

What the different forms of transport are 

How often you use them 

Which types of transport are most popular 

and consider whether or not the transportation systems are satisfactory. 

Part 3 

● What is the traffic like in your hometown?

● What are the benefits of traveling by public transport?

● In your opinion, in what ways can governments encourage people to use public transport?

● Having too many cars on our roads causes air pollution What are some of the other causes of pollution?

● How are environmentally-friendly practices encouraged in your 

country?

● Science can be used to develop environmentally-friendly alternatives. 

In what ways can this be done?

Part 1 

● Who do you live with?

● Can you describe your room to me?

● What do you do to relax in the evenings?

● Do you like playing sports?

● Do you enjoy studying English?

● Can you remember you first English lesson?

● What do you plan to do after this speaking test?

Describe a memorable sporting event that you participated in or watched. 

You should say: 

What the event was 

Why the event is memorable 

How you felt at the event 

… and describe whether or not winning or losing is a significant memory. 

● The idea of sportsmanship has changed over the years Should 

professional sports players act in a particular way?

● A significant amount of money and time is spent on testing for the use 

of drugs in sport How important is this?

● Large companies now sponsor major sporting events and teams Can this sponsorship lead to problems?

● What do you think the future of international sports will be?

Part 1 

● What do you like about living in your country?

● Can you tell me about your last vacation?

● Who you like traveling with?

● Where would like to travel to in the future?

● What sort of music do you like? 

● Is music important to you?

● Do you like the same kind of music as your family?

Describe an advertisement that you have seen recently. 

You should say: 

What the advertisement was about 

Where you saw or heard the advertisement 

How effective the advertisement was 

… and explain how you felt about the advertisement. 

Part 3 

● Is there too much advertising?

● Do you agree that advertisement for smoking and drinking alcohol should be banned?

● Certain products can only be advertised in restricted time-slots on television Is this sort of restriction necessary?

● What role does advertising play in your society?

● How has advertising contributed to globalization?

● How might advertising change in the future?

Part 1 

● How long have you been studying?

● What subjects have you found the most difficult to study?

● What do you enjoy/dislike about studying?

● Have you gained/Do you hope to gain any qualifications?

● Do you hope to do any further studies in the future?

Describe your journey to school or work. 

You should say: 

What forms of transport are involved 

The importance of time 

Whether it is enjoyable or not 

…and explain how you would make your journey more pleasant if you could. 

● How have methods of transport been improved?

● Are there any problems that have been created by new transport systems?

● Do you think these problems can be solved?

● What about the cost of traveling, do you think it is too high?

● What about your ideal journey, how and where would you like to travel?

Part 1 

● Is English important in your chosen career?

● What do you hope to do in the future?

● Have you given up anything you used to do in your free time? If so, what?

● Which other hobbies or sports would you like to try?

● Do you share similar interests with your friends?

Describe the job or career you have, or hope to have. 

You should say: 

What the job is 

What it involves 

Why you chose it 

… and explain why it is rewarding. 

● How could the problems of overworking be avoided?

● At what age do you think people should retire from work?

● Do you think this should be the same for all jobs?

● How has technology changed the way that people work?

● What further changes in the way people work do you think we will see 

Part 1 

● Is your family large or small?

● What do the other members of the family do?

● When was the last time all your family were together? What did you do?

● What do you do as a family for special occasions like wedding or feasts?

● Is there a member of your family you are especially close to? Why?  

Part 2 

Describe a trip or a holiday you have recently taken. 

You should say: 

Where you went and why 

Who you went with 

What you did 

What made this trip memorable to you 

● Do you think travel broadens the mind?

● Describe how the tourism industry has developed in your area

● Describe what things you are offer tourists

● Evaluate what type of tourists tourism brings to your area

● How has tourism changed your area compared with how it used to be?

● Evaluate how tourism is good for the economy of a country

● Speculate on what other benefits tourism might bring to a country

● Evaluate how the growth of tourism has affected the countryside and wildlife in your country

Part 1 

● How did you travel here?

● How long did the journey take?

● How was your journey today different from the way you travel to 

school/work?

● What is the longest, most interesting journey you’ve made?

● Is there anywhere you would like to travel to? Why?

The most simple and the most up-to-date technology 

The changes in technology you have seen 

The most useful pieces of technology 

…and the technology that you like best and why. 

Part 3 

● Describe the earliest computer you remember using

● How have computers changed since then

● Do you think computers will ever replace teachers?

● Describe how computers and technology have changed our lives

● Compare the abilities of computers and humans

● Evaluate the changes computers have made to our lives

● Tell me which household appliance you couldn’t live without

● How is life better today than 50 years ago?

● Will environmental pollution still exist in the future?

Part 1 

● What journeys do you make everyday?

● What do you do during journeys?

● Do you sometimes have problems with transport?

● What is your favorite form of transport?

Part 2 

Describe a conversation you had which was important to you. 

You should say: 

When the conversation took place 

Who you have the conversation with 

What the conversation was about 

And explain why the conversation was important to you. 

Part 1 

● Where do you come from?

● Where do you live now?

● Could you tell me something about your family?

● What are your qualifications?

● Are there any other qualifications you would like to gain?

● How do you typically spend the weekend?

Describe a celebration you remember. 

You should say: 

● what event was being celebrated

● the form the celebration took

● where the celebration took place

● who was there

● why it was enjoyable

and explain why it is memorable for you. 

Part 3 

● What events in a person’s life are most celebrated in your country?

● What about the significance of gifts, are there particular presents that are given on particular occasions?

● Celebrations such as weddings are often times when families gather together, what effect does this have on family relationships?

● How is the way we celebrate events such as birthdays and religious days changing?

● Do you think such changes are a good or a bad thing?

● Which celebrations do you think will change the most in the next few years? How do you think they will change and why?

Part 1 

● Where are you living at the moment?

● What would you suggest a visitor to your home town should see or do?

● What kind of things do you do in your free time?

● How long have you been doing them?

● What is it about them that you enjoy particularly?

Describe a traditional meal in your country. 

You should say: 

● what the meal is

● how it is prepared

● when it is usually eaten

● what, if any, is the significance or importance of the meal

and explain whether you enjoy the traditional food or your country. 

Part 3 

● What foods do you consider are good for you? Why?

● What kind of things do people eat that are bad for them?

● Why do you think people eat such things, if they are not good for them?

● How do you think people’s eating habits have changed over the years?

● How could the eating habits of children be improved?

● Why do you think people are concerned about chemicals and other additives in their food?

● If you could, how would you change your own eating habits?