IELTS Speaking Test Part 1 Questions

Your Work or Your Studies

 Do you work or are you a student?

(a) Your Work

 What work do you do?

 Why did you choose to do that type of work (or, that job)?
 Was that an easy choice to make?
 Have you always wanted to do that type of work?
 Is that a very popular job in your country?
 Would you recommend that job to others?
 What do you do in that job?
 Do you like your job?
 Does your job keep you interested?
 Is your job very interesting?
 Do you like challenges at work?
 How would you handle a task that was very lengthy and time consuming?
 Do you think you are more efficient (or, productive) in the mornings or in the
afternoons? (Why?)
 Do you work better in the mornings in the afternoons? (Why?)
 Do you plan to continue doing that work? (or, that type of work / or, that job)
 Do you intend to change your job in the near future?
 Do you prefer to work in a quiet environment or in a place that has some noises
(or sounds)?
 What do you do if there's too much noise (when you are trying to work)?
 Did you like your first day at work?
 (Possibly the question above is this) What was your first day at work like?
 (Possibly the question above is this) How did you feel on your first day at work?
(b) Your Studies

Notes: For high school students or recent high school graduates who have not yet started
university, the word "school" or the words, "high school" or "secondary school" will be used
instead of "university". If you are no longer a student now and have not yet started to work, the
questions will be about the last time you were a student, either high school or university, and the
questions will be asked in the past tense. For high school students (or recent high school
graduates), the word "subjects" (plural) will be used. For university students, the word "subject"
will be used, which has basically the same meaning as the American, "major".

 What subject(s) are you studying?

 Why did you choose to study that subject? / Why did you choose to study those
subjects?
 Was that an easy choice to make?
 Have you always studied that subject?
 Have you always wanted to study that subject?
 Do you like your subject? (Why?/Why not?)
 Is it very interesting?
 Would you say you are good at that subject?
 What was/is your university like?
 What was/is your high school like?
 Why did you choose (to attend) that school/university?
 How long will you continue studying there?
 Will you (or, do you intend to) continue studying that subject?
 What was /is your favourite subject at high school?
 What was /is your most useful subject in high school?
 Will you (or, do you intend to) continue studying that subject?
 Was there/is there any high school subject that you didn't like?
 Do you prefer to study in the mornings or in the afternoons? (Why?)
 Do you study better in the mornings in the afternoons? (Why?)
 What are you going to (or, planning to) do in the future?
 What do you think you will do after you graduate?
 Do you prefer to study in a quiet environment or in a place that has some noises
(or sounds)?
 What do you do if there's too much noise (and you want to study)?
 Did you like your first day at university/high school?
 What was your first day at university/high school like?
 How did you feel on your first day at university (or high school)?
Where You Live

Note: The questions below are about the city or place that you are living in now,
regardless of whether it is your hometown or not.

 Where are you living at the moment? (= Where do you live?)

 Do you like living in _______ (your hometown, or where you are living now)?
 What are the good points and the bad points about living here/there?
 Is there anything you dislike about it?
 Can you suggest how it could be improved?
 Would you say it has good facilities?
 Is the public transport system in your hometown convenient to use?
 Would you say it's a good place for (families with) children to live?
 Do you have many neighbours?
 Do you know your neighbours very well?
 Would you like to change the place where you live?

Dictionaries

 Do you often use a dictionary? (If yes, how often and what for? If no, why not?
If not very often, say how often and why not very often.)
 Do you prefer to use an electronic dictionary or a dictionary made of paper?
 If someone gave you a dictionary as a gift, how would you feel?
 Do you think it would be interesting to write a dictionary?
 Do you think it would be interesting to be part of a team that is writing a
dictionary?
 What kind of person do you think writes a dictionary?
Rain

 Do you like rainy days? (Why?/Why not?)

 Do you like rain?
 Do you prefer rainy days or sunny days?
 Does it rain much in your hometown? (Include how often)
 In what season does it rain the most?
 How does rain affect (life in) your country?
 Would you prefer to have, more rain or less rain (in your hometown)?
 What do you usually do when it rains?
 What do you do when it starts to rain and you are outside?

Train Travel

 Is train travel very common in your country?

 Do you often travel by train?
 Do you like traveling by train?
 What do you usually do when (you are) traveling by train?
 What do you think are the benefits of traveling by train?
 Do you ever meet interesting people while traveling by train?
 Is there a subway system in your city?
 Do you ever travel by subway?
 Have you ever traveled by subway?
Computers

 Do you like using computers?

 Do you use computers very often?
 How often do you use a computer?
 How often do you use a computer for work / study?
 What do you use a computer (or, computers) for?
 When did you first use (or, first start using / or start to learn how to use) a
computer?
 What are the benefits (for you) of using a computer?
 Do you think computers have helped improve our (or, people's) lives?
 Do you think the invention of computers has helped improve people's lives?
 Are there any drawbacks (disadvantages) from using a computer?
 Do you think computers are useful for the education of children?
 Do you think it's good for children to use computers?
 Do you think there should be restrictions on (or, controls on) the use of
computers by children?

Punctuality (Being on Time)

 Do you wear a watch?

 Do you think everyone should wear a watch?
 In your country is it important to be on time (= be punctual)? (e.g., for meetings,
work, classes)
 Do you like to be on time?
 Is being on time important to you?
 How do you feel when others are late?
 How do you think these people could improve and be on time more often?
Animals

 Do you like animals?

 Did you ever visit a zoo when you were a child?
 What's your favourite wild animal? (Why?)
 (Possibly) What was your favourite zoo animal (when you visited a zoo)?
 Do you think it's important for children to visit a zoo?
 Do a have a pet?
 Have you ever had a pet?
 Why do (you think) some people have a pet?

Music

 Do you like music?

 What's your favourite (type of) music?
 Would you like to try a different type of music? *
 Has your preference in music (ever) changed?
 Is there any music you dislike?
 Do you (or, can you) play any musical instruments?
 If you had the chance to learn a musical instrument, which instrument would
you (choose to) learn?

Television

 Do you like watching television?

 How much TV do you (usually) watch?
 What's your favourite TV program?
 What (types of) programs did you watch when you were a child?
 Do you still like to watch those programs?
 In your country, have people's TV-watching habits (or, attitudes towards TV)
changed much over the past few decades?
 What influence does TV have on children?
 Did you watch much TV when you were a child? (How much?)
 How much TV would you like your children to watch?
 Do you think children's television has changed (much) since you were a child?
Languages

 What languages do you speak?

 Which language do you use the most?
 How did you learn English? (Or, How do you study English?)
 Do you think that English is difficult to learn?
 How long have you been studying English?
 Do you think learning languages is important?
 Do you think there is any need for (some) people to learn another language?
 Is there any other language you would like to learn? (Why?)
 Is there any other language you want to learn? (Why?)

Clothes

 What clothes do you usually (like to) wear?

 Do you think you will change your preferences in clothes in the future?
 Do you spend a lot of money on clothes?
 Do/did you wear the same clothes at school and at home? (Past tense if you are no
longer at school)
 Are there any differences between the clothes you wear / wore at school and
those your wear / wore at home? (Past tense if you are no longer at school)
 Will you change your clothes when you go home today?
 Did you have any special clothes to wear (for occasions such as parties) when
you were a child?
 Did you like them?
 Do you think clothing today is very different to clothing in the past? (for
example, 10 years ago)
 Is the clothing that people wear in your country today very different to the
traditional clothing of your country? ("Traditional" refers to something that is
usually hundreds of years old.)
 Would you say people spend too much (money) on clothes nowadays?
Cooking

"Cooking" involves the use of heat. "Preparing a meal" might or might not involve using heat.

 Do you ever do any cooking? (If yes, say how often.)

 Do you like cooking? (Why?/Why not?)
 What cooking experience have you had?
 Who taught you to cook?
 When you were a child, did you ever help your parents to prepare a meal?
 Do you think children should help their parents prepare meals?
 Do you think children should learn to cook?

Shopping

 Do you like (going) shopping?

 Do you spend much (money) when you go shopping?
 What do you usually buy when you go shopping? *
 Where do you go shopping?
 Do you like buying things online?
 Would you say the things you buy (or, can buy) on the internet are good
quality?
 How can someone judge the quality of goods for sale on the internet?
 Would you like to work in a shop?

Weather and Climate

 What's the weather (or climate) like in your hometown?

 Would you say the weather in your hometown is generally good, or bad
weather?
 Would you say there have been any changes in the weather (in your hometown)
in the recent past?
 Does the weather have much impact on your life?
 Does the weather have much impact on (daily) life in your country?
 Do you often talk about the weather with your friends?
 Do you like to talk about the weather? (Why?/Why not?)
 What sort of climate do you prefer?
 Do you like extreme climate? (Why?/Why not?)
Concentration

 Do you prefer to study/work in a quiet environment or in a place that has some

noises (or sounds)?
 What do you do if there's too much noise (and you want to work /study)?
 When (or, at what times) do you find it easiest to concentrate? (Why?)

Cars

 Do you like traveling by car?

 When was the last time you traveled by car?
 When was the last time you traveled by taxi?
 Do you prefer to travel by car or to use public transport?
 Do you think it would be good if everyone had their own car?
 Do you think it's important to have a driver's license?

Museums and Art Galleries

 Do you like visiting museums and art galleries?

 What did you learn from visiting these places?
 What have you learned from visiting these places?
 Which did you (or do you) prefer to visit, museums or art galleries?
 Do you think schools should take their students to visit museums and art
galleries?
Street Markets

 Do you like visiting street markets?

 Are street markets very common in your country (or, where you live)?
 What is usually sold in these street markets?
 Do people in your country prefer to shop at a street market, or in normal shops
and shopping malls?
 What do you think are the differences between a street market and a
supermarket?
 Would you visit a street market in a foreign country (if you were visiting that
country)?
 Would you like to visit a street market in a foreign country?
 In what ways do you think street markets in other countries are different to
street markets in your country?
 In what ways do you think street markets in other countries would be different
to street markets in your country?

Maps

 Do you (ever) use a map?

 When do you use a map?
 How often do you use a map?
 Who taught you how to use a map?
 How did you learn to use (or read) a map?
 Do you prefer to use electronic maps or those made of paper?
 (In your city) have you ever asked others for directions?
 Would you ever ask people for directions in your city?
 Do you prefer to use a map or ask people for directions?

Gifts

 Do you like to receive gifts? (Why?/ Why not?)

 What kind of gifts do you like to receive? (Why?)
 What gifts did you receive in your childhood?
 What sorts of gifts did you like to receive when you were a child?
 Do you like giving gifts to people? (Why?/ Why not?)
 What gifts did you give to others in your childhood?
Days of the Week

 Do you do the same things every day of the week?

 Is there anything you would like to change about your weekly routine?
 How many days off do you have every week?
 Do you usually have days off together or are they separated (by
work/attendance at class)?
 What do you usually do on weekends?
 Which day would you say is your busiest day of the week?
 Which is your favourite day of the week?
 What would cause you to change your favourite day of the week?

Parks

 Do you like going to parks and/or public gardens? (Why?/ Why not?)
 Who do you usually go there with?
 When was the last time you went to a park?
 Do you think the parks and gardens where you live could be improved in any
ways?
 Would you like to see (or, have) more parks and gardens in your hometown (or
where you are living)?
 Do you prefer to relax with your friends in a park or an indoor place?
 Would you prefer to entertain guests (or visitors) in a park or an indoor place?

Food

 What kind(s) of food do you like to eat?

 What kind(s) of food do you usually eat?
 Did you also like to eat that when you were a child?
 What food did you (like to) eat when you were a child?
 Would you give that food to your children if they asked for it?
 Do you prefer to eat at home or to eat out? *
 Do you know how to cook?
 When do you usually eat?
Photography

 Do you like to take photographs? (Why?)

 How often do you take a photo (or, take photos)?
 Do you think it is better to take photos using a camera or a mobile phone?
 Do you prefer to take photos using a camera or a mobile phone?
 What do you most like to take photos of?
 What do you do with your photos after you have taken them?
 Do you ever share your photos with other people on the internet?
 Would you like to attend a photography class?

Travel

This is about traveling as a tourist

 Do you like traveling?

 In which season do you prefer to travel?
 Would you say your country welcomes travelers (or, tourists)?
 Would you say your country is a good place for travelers (or, tourists) to visit?

Your Leisure Time

 What do you do to relax?

 Do you do any healthy activities to help you relax?
 Do you think sport (or, exercise) is a good way to relax?
 What did you do to relax when you were a child?
Birthdays

 How do people in your country celebrate birthdays?

 How did people celebrate birthdays when you were a child?
 How did you celebrate your birthdays when you were a child?
 Do you still feel that celebrating your birthday is important?
 Do you think that celebrating your birthday is important now?
 What do you do on your birthday now?
 How do people celebrate children's birthdays today?
 Do you think birthdays are more important for the young, or the elderly?
(possibly - children or adults)
 What's the most important birthday for people in your country?

Politeness

 Do you think you are a polite person?

 Who taught you to be polite?
 How did you learn to be polite?
 Do you think people should be polite? (Why?)
 How do people in your culture show (politeness or) good manners (towards
others)?
 Do you think people today are more polite than (people were) in the past?
 (In your country,) Have there been any changes in politeness in the past few
decades?
Parties

 Do you like parties?

 Do you like going to parties?
 Is there any kind of party that you would not like to go to?
 Who do you think likes parties more, young people or old people?
 Do you like (to go to/going to) parties? (Why?/Why not?)
 Do you often go to parties?
 How often do you go to parties?
 Do you usually have these parties at home or at school?
 Do most [people in your country] like parties? (Why?/Why not?)
 Is there anything you dislike about parties?
 Why do some people dislike parties?
 Do you prefer family parties or parties with friends?
 Do friends often come to your home for a gathering (a 'get together')?
 When you go to a party, what do you usually do?
 What do you do when you get together with your friends?
 When friends gather together (to celebrate something) do they do the same
things that family groups do?
 Who do you think enjoys parties more, old(er) people or young people?
 In [your country], do old(er) people and young people do the same sorts of
things when they get together on social occasions?
 What do you think are the benefits of parties?
Housework

Note: "Housework" and "homework" are two different things!

 Do you like to do housework? (Why?/Why not?)

 What housework do you least like doing? (Why?)
 Who usually does the housework in your home?
 When you were a child, did you ever do any housework?
 Do you think it's important for children to do some housework?

 Do you usually do any housework?

 Do you often do housework? (If yes, what? How often? If no, why not?)
 Do you feel it's important to help your parents with the housework?
 Do you do much (or, any) housework? (If yes, what? Why?/Why not?)
 Do you like doing housework?
 What housework do you like to do?
 What household chore do like the most? (Why?)
 Is there any housework you dislike doing?
 What's your least favourite household chore? (Why?)
 In your home, who does (most of) the housework?
 Do you like to do housework? (Why?/Why not?)
 What housework do you least like doing? (Why?)
 When you were a child, did you ever do any housework?
 What housework did you do when you were a child?
 Do you think children should (learn to) do housework? (Why?/Why not?)
 Do you think it's important for children to do some housework?
 Do you think children should lend a hand around the home? (Why?/Why not?)
 Do you think it's important for children to do housework?
 Do you think it's important for young people to help do the family housework?
 Do you think it's necessary (or, a good idea) for children to do some
housework? (Why?/Why not?)
 Do you think children should (be taught how to) help with the housework in the
family? (= "to help around the house")
 If a child helps do some of the family housework, how do you think this affects
the child's development?
 What benefits do you think children would gain from doing that?
 What do you do to help the family?
 Have there been any changes in the housework people do since the time when
your parents were your age?
 Do people in your country do much housework?
 Do you think people should be paid to do household chores?
 Do people in your country have much time to do housework?
 How much time do people in your country spend doing housework?
 Do you feel people in your country have enough time to do housework?
 Do you think people like doing their own housework?