IELTS SPEAKING

INTRODUCTION TO PART ONE QUESTION TYPES

No. Question Types Formulas Model Questions Answers Language Use Practice Questions
● State which one you Q: Do you prefer to travel by bike or by “Prefer” ● Do you prefer
1 Do you prefer X to prefer. bus? I prefer cycling to taking the writing letters or
Y? ● Compare the two things bus. sending emails?
the question mentions. A: I prefer cycling to traveling by bus; I prefer reading newspapers ● Do you prefer
● Give reasons and Cycling is so much convenient than taking rather than watching TV. talking on the
examples to explain the bus if you’re not traveling too far. I prefer to eat rather than phone or chatting
why. Actually, it’s faster to go by bike because cook. online?
you don’t get stuck in traffic jams. Cycling “Comparatives” ● Do you prefer
is also better for my health than all other Watching TV is more take-home exams
means of transport, including buses. interesting than listening to or in-class exams?
the radio.

● Say what you do at the Q: Do you do the same things at the same “Adverbs of frequency: ● What do you do
2 What do you time the examiner asks time every day? Always, Often, Never, Rarely, on average day?
usually/normally you about. Hardly ever, Normally, etc.” ● What is your
do? ● Say how often you do A: During the week, I have a very regular She hardly ever exercises. normal daily
these things. schedule because of my job. I always wake I normally help my mum with routine?
up just after 7 in the morning, then I eat the cooking. ● What do you
my breakfast on the way to the bus usually do on
station. I get to work at 8 o’clock sharp, “The Present Simple and weekend?
and usually work until 5, sometimes I work Times of day”
overtime until 7 or 8 pm. After I get home,
I normally eat dinner with my wife and
after that either hang out with friends or
watch TV before going to bed at about 11
pm.

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 ● Identify a couple of Q: What do you like to do in your spare “Enjoy, Like” ● What do you like
3. What do you like to things you like doing. time? I enjoy studying English to do when you
do in you spare ● Describe why you like I like to relax. are on holiday?
time? them. A: Well, I have lots of hobbies I like to do “Be into. Be keen on” ● What do you like
in my free time. I’m very interested in I’m quite into playing guitar. to do when you
studying English and I’m also quite into are not working?
I’m really keen on reading
movies. Sometimes I combine these two books. ● What do you like
interests by watching British or American to do when you
films. What I particularly enjoy doing, finish your
though, is playing football. It’s so exciting. working day?

● Identify which aspects Q: What do you dislike about your job? “Be not keen on, Can’t stand ● What do you
4. What do you dislike of the topic you don’t on” dislike about
about X? like. A: I don’t particularly like my job. I’m not I’m not keen on sports. parties?
● Describe the degree of interested in the field I work in, and I I can’t stand on going to the ● What don’t you
dislike you have for don’t like my line manager or many of my supermarket. like about your
them. colleagues very much. They’re all so neighbors?
● Give examples why you boring. However, what I absolutely hate “Absolutely” ● What do dislike
don’t like them. about my job is the commute. It takes me I absolutely hate going to the about eating in
about 2 hours to get to work. I have to cinema. restaurants?
travel during the rush-hour on the subway
and public buses which are always
jam-packed with people. It’s terrible.

● Say how frequently you Q: How often do you socialize with “Adverbs of frequency: ● How often do you
5. How often do you do the activity the friends? Rarely, Frequently, read books?
do X? examiner asks you Occasionally, etc.” ● How often do
about. A: I used to go out to dinners with my visitors come to
● Explain why you do it friends all the time, but I’m in my last your house?
that frequently. year of university now and I’m really busy. ● How often do you
I don’t often have the chance to take a go out for dinners
break and spend time with my friends. with your friends?
Once in a blue moon I’ll have someone
over for coffee, or I’ll go to a friend’s

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 house and hang out. I hope I’ll have more
time to socialize after I graduate.

● Say which aspect of X Q: What is the best thing about your “Especially. Particularly” ● What do you like
6. What do you like you like the most. hometown? I especially like playing the most about
most about X? ● Explain why. piano. student life?
A: My hometown is Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa ● What do you like
Province. The best thing about my “Linking words” most about your
hometown is its location. It’s right on the Although the city has job?
coast, and from places in the city, there developed very fast, it’s still ● What is your
are beautiful views of the sea. Although not very expensive. favorite type of
we get the odd typhoon every year weather?
because we are by the seaside, we also
enjoy light sea breezes during the summer.
However, what I especially value about
Nha Trang’s location is the fresh seafood
we can eat all year round.

● Show you understand Q: Is music popular in Vietnam? “People of all ages” ● Are bikes popular
7. Is X popular in your the question which is A: I think it depends on what kind of music People of all ages like to ride in your country?
country? asking about people in you are talking about> most people in bikes. ● Is watching team
general and not about Vietnam listen to music every day. As a sports popular
you. rule, the younger generation usually “Quantity words: Most, The where you live?
● Talk about types of listens to pop, rock or hip-hop music, majority” ● Is playing sports
people in society like a whereas the older generation tends to The majority of Vietnamese popular in your
native. listen to older Vietnamese songs or folk people drink coffee every university?
● Talk about how many music. I think many wealthy people listen morning.
people like to do X. to classical music, sometimes going to live
concerts.

● Tell which time is best Q: What is the best time of day to study? “Superlatives” ● What time of year
8. What is the best for X. This is the best time to is best for
time (of year) to do ● Describe what the A: I think the best time of day to study is travel. outdoor activities
X? conditions at that time in the very early morning, just after dawn. where you live?
are. This is the quietest time of day, when “Colloquial expressions”
there is no one else around and
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 ● Explain what that is the everywhere is completely silent. This The sunny months are ideal ● What is the best
best time. means I’m able to really get into what I’m for traveling to the sea.. time of day for
studying and not be distracted by friends The summer is perfect for working?
or family. It’s definitely the most cycling in the mountains. ● What time of year
productive time of day for me. I just find is best for
it difficult to get up so early. traveling in your
country?

● Describe why some Q: Why do some people like cooking? “Personality adjectives: ● Why do people
9. Why do some people enjoy doing X A: I think people of all ages enjoy cooking, Creative, Energetic, some people like
people like X? ● Say which types of especially creative people. For those who Family-Oriented, Curious, chatting?
people or personalities love to create new things, cooking etc.” ● Why do some
enjoy it. provides a great way to express “Activity adjectives: people enjoy
● Explain why it’s good themselves as they can experiment with Relaxing, Informative, reading?
for them and why they different dishes and ingredients. Even Inspiring, Rewarding, etc.” ● Why do some
might like it. quite conservative people like cooking. As people like
everything needs to be created from gardening?
scratch, it can be very satisfying to
successfully cook a whole meal from start
to end.

● Say when you first/last Q: When was the last time you went on “Adverbs of time” ● When was the
10. When was the did it. holiday? “Prepositions: Around, In, first time you
first/last time you ● Say why you did it. A: The last time I went on holiday was During, On, About, etc.” used a computer?
did X? ● Describe what the about 3 years ago in July 2009. My family ● When was the
experience was like. and I went to Sa Pa for two weeks during “The simple past tense” last time you
the summer holiday. Sa Pa is an intriguing The first time I went went to the
place to visit because of the Dao minority swimming was a few hours cinema?
culture. My family and I drove out to the ago. ● When was the
mountains there and trekked in the last time visitors
Fansipan. I really can’t wait to go back came to your
there. house?

● Say if you learned to do Q: Did you learn to swim when you were in “Past tenses” ● Did you learn to
11. Did you ever learn X and when you learned school? “Relative clause” ride a bike when
to do X? to do it. A: I did not learn to swim at school “Passive voice” you were a child?
● Who taught you to do because my school didn’t have any ● Did you learn to
it. swimming classes, but I learned to swim play a musical
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 ● What their personality for a few months one summer when my instrument in
was like as a teacher. parents took me to classes at the local school?
swimming pool. I went every other day ● Did you learn a
with a small group of friends. We were foreign language
taught by a really friendly and positive when you were a
man who was a semi-professional child?
swimmer.

● Say whether X has Q: How have restaurants changed in your “Present perfect” ● How have shops
12. How has X changed? changed or not. country since you were born? Since I was young, my town changed in your
● Compare what X was A: That’s good question. Restaurants and has changed in a lot of ways. city in the last
like in the past and eateries have changed a great deal since I five years?
what X is like now. was young. When I was a kid, nearly all “Comparatives” ● How has your
restaurants in our city were cheap n\and The streets are wider and the hometown
quite simple. Now, however, a wide range traffic is heavier than before. changed in recent
of Vietnamese and many international years?
restaurants line every street. These are a ● How have
lot cleaner and more elegant than the people’s jobs
small eateries, but sadly are more changed in your
impersonal and much more expensive. hometown in the
past 10 years?

● Identify problems with Q: How would you improve your flat? “by +V-ing” ● How would you
13. How would you X. A: To start with, the place I’m living in I would improve my improve your
improve X? ● Talk about what you now is quite small and crowded. I have too apartment by buying new hometown?
would do to solve them. much stuff, and It makes it hard to keep furniture. ● How would you
● Say what the positive track if things and makes everything look improve your
results of these changes messy and cramped. There’s also little “would have something done” university?
would be. light in my flat. Therefore, firstly, I would I would have the walls ● How would you
make more space by getting rid of some of painted a new color. improve your
my things. Then, I would have the country’s traffic
windows made bigger and lighter curtains system?
made and fitted. Then, my flat would be
much cozier.

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 ● Say whether X is Q: How important is art in life? “”Degrees of importance: ● How important is
14. How important is X? important or not. Fairly important, To some music for people
● Say how important X is. A: I think art is exceedingly important in extent, Important to a point, in your country?
● Say why it is important life, especially to day. People spend most Considerably important, ● How important is
or unimportant. of their lives worrying about working, Particularly important, etc.” physical exercise?
studying or earning money, and it’s easy to Art is particularly important ● How important is
forget the value of art: paintings, in today’s society. money in your
sculptures and even contemporary life?
architecture. People need to see beauty in
their lives. Art is really fascinating and can
inspire us to think more deeply and reflect
on life.

● Say what your ambition Q: What do you want to do when you finish “Real condition in the ● Do you hope to
15. What do you for the future is. university? present.” do the same job
want/hope to do in ● Say why you want to If I work really hard and save in the future?
the future? achieve it. A: What I really hope to do is working for up enough money, I will go to ● What do you want
● Say how you hope to an NGO here in Ho Chi Minh City. I would Europe and get a master’s to do when you
achieve it. like to find a purpose in life. I don’t want degree. finish your IELTS
to just worry about success and making examination?
money like a lot of people nowadays. I “What I really hope to do ● What kind of job
think it would be so rewarding and is….” would you like to
challenging to work as a volunteer. If I What I really hope to do is to do when you
work really hard and save up enough travel around the world. finish your
money, then I will go to Europe and get a studies?
master’s degree.

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 ● Say whether you Q: Do students get enough holidays in your “Opinion phrases: I believe, ● Do people today
16. Do people do/get believe people get or country? In my opinion, etc.” have enough
enough X? do enough X. physical exercise?
● Say which types of A; I believe that they get too many “Quantity expressions: nearly ● Do children do
people get or do not holidays. Most students have a long all…., Most…, a minority, enough sports in
get enough X. summer vacation, a fairly long Tet holiday, etc.” school?
● Say why they should get national holidays and all sorts of other Nowadays nearly all students ● Do people in your
or do more X. days off throughout the year. Because of have access to at least one country do
this, a vast amount of students forget a lot computer. enough creative
of what they’ve learned during the longer activities in
holidays, and take a long time to get back school?
into the frame of mind to study well. It
would be good if the holidays were a bit
shorter.

● Say how people usually Q: How can you find out about national “Information expressions: To ● How can people
17. How can people obtain information. and international news where you come surf the internet, To browse find out about
find out about X? ● Explain what you do to from? through websites what’s going on in
stay up to date. /magazines/newspapers, To the world?
● Show how reliable these A: Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to stay watch the news reports, etc.” ● How do people
sources are. on top of current affairs. There are many I’ve seen a lot of old people obtain
different sources for news. There are in parks, browsing through information about
newsstands in every major city selling all newspapers on warm sunny local events in
kinds of magazines and newspapers, which mornings. your city?
often run interesting features on ● How do people
everything from fashion to international stay up to date
events. But, generally, I surf the Internet with events
to stay up to date with what’s going on in happening in your
the blogs. Though some bloggers aren’t hometown?
very objective, their opinions are
interesting to read, and usually offer a
different viewpoint to what I read in the
mass media.

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 ● Say whether you think X Q: Should people be given longer holidays? “Agreement phrases: ● Should people be
18. Should people be should or should not be Absolutely, Definitely, I paid more if they
given X? given to people. A: Yes, they certainly should. As I see it, couldn’t agree more, etc.” work overtime?
● Give reasons to support people often work very long hours but “Disagreement phrases: ● Should children
your opinions. don’t get a high salary or very many Absolutely not, Of course not, be required to
benefits in return. In fact, many workers I don’t think so, etc. wear a uniform to
frequently do unpaid overtime for their “Introducing opinion: I school?
companies. I strongly believe that workers think/believe/feel that…., ● Should students
deserve to be given longer paid holidays so The way I see.., I’m be given
that they can relax more. In my opinion, if convinced that…etc.” assignments to do
people are given more paid holidays, they Absolutely not. I strongly during their
are more loyal to their companies in the believe that students should summer holidays?
long term and probably work harder have the freedom to wear
because they are more contented with what they like in school.
their jobs.

● Say how difficult you Q: Is it difficult to learn another language? “Adverbs of degree: ● Is it difficult to
19. Is it difficult to do think it is to do X. Relatively/Comparatively, learn to play a
X? ● Talk a little about the A: I think that learning a language is Remarkably/ Incredibly, etc.” musical
learning process. extremely difficult: probably one of the I think it’s incredibly hard instrument?
hardest things someone can do. When you tolearn toplay the trumpet. ● Is it difficult to
first begin learning, it can be very “Learning things: To get used learn how to
confusing to remember lots of unfamiliar to, to get to grips with, To swim?
words and grammar. It often feels a l\bit pick up, To get a hang of, ● Is it hard to meet
award and you have to getused to making etc.” new people when
mistakes. However, after a while, While I lived in Spain, I you first go to
everything feels much more comfortable picked up a little Spanish. university?
and you can easily start getting to grips
with the new language.

● Say whether X is Q: Are outdoor sports suitable for people “Appropriateness: ● Is riding a bike
20. Is X suitable for suitable or not. of all ages? (Un)Suitable for, suitable for the
(types of people)? ● Give reasons and (In)Appropriate for, elderly people?
examples. A: I think that most outdoor sports are (In)Advisable for, etc.” ● Are all sports
suitable for everyone. Though people who It is suitable for young people suitable for
do adventurous sports like rock climbing or to marry before the age of people of all
white-water rafting should be careful 25. ages?

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 because these sports can be dangerous if ● Are computers
you don’t know what you are doing. In suitable for young
fact, now I think about it, for kids and children?
elderly people. I think these sports are
unsuitable. However, for fit and healthy
people, these sports can be exhilarating
and invigorating.

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