IE2 – IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE QUESTIONS

ANIMALS
Part 1

Let’s talk about favourite animals

• What’s your favourite animal? Why?

• Are there any types of animal that you dislike?

• Are people in your country fond of animals?

• What kinds of animals do people have as pets in your country?

Now let’s talk about childhood

• What type of animals are good pets for a child?

• Did you have any pets when you were a child?

• What do you think are benefits of a child having a pet?

• If you have children in the future, will you allow them to raise a pet?

Let’s talk about wildlife

• What’s your favourite wild animal?

• What are some famous wild animals in your country?

• Do you like to see animals in zoos?

• Should we teach our children to protect animals?

Now let’s move on to talk about farming

• What type of animals can you find on farms in your country?

• What farm animals do you have in your country?

• What type of work do farm animals in your country do?

• Do you think cities are suitable places for keeping a pet?

Part 2

Describe a wild animal or bird from your country. You should say:

• What the animal or bird is

• What it looks like

• Where it lives
And explain how people in your country (or you) feel about this animal.

Part 3

1. Do you think it's important for children to spend time in nature?

2. What do you think are the benefits of a child having a pet?
3. Do you think birds should be protected? Why?/Why not?
4. How has the use of animals changed over the years?
5. How are people’s views of pets different today than they were in the past?
6. Do you think robot pets are a good idea?
7. Why is it important to conserve the world’s animal and plant species?
8. Which species are endangered in your country? Why?
9. Do you think modern farming methods are cruel to animals?
10. Is it the responsibility of schools to teach children about protecting wildlife?

THE ENVIRONMENT
PART 1

Let’s start by talking about nature

• Do you like visiting natural places?

• What are some well-known natural attractions in your country?

• Have you ever gone camping?

• Do you like a natural environment?

We will now talk about pollution

• Does your country have a problem with pollution?

• Do you think it’s important to try to reduce pollution?

• What do you do to care for the planet?

• Do you think pollution is getting better or worse?

Let’s talk about weather

• Do you prefer a hot or a cold climate?

• Does weather affect your mood?

• Would you like a job where you work outside?

• What do you usually do when it rains?

Let’s move on to talk about where you live

• Do you like the neighbourhood you are living in?

• Is it a good place for young people?

 • What type of shops can you find where you live?

• Do you prefer to live in busy or quiet places?

PART 2

Describe an environmental problem where you live

• What the problem is

• What causes it

• Where it takes place

And explain what you think could be done to solve it

PART 3

1. What are the main dangers the world faces in terms of the environment?
2. Are governments around the world doing enough to tackle these issues?
3. Why do some people not consider environmental problems to be serious?
4. What do you consider to be the world’s worst environmental disasters?
5. Why do you think environmental disasters caused by humans happen?
6. Will there be more environmental disasters caused by humans in the future?
7. How can we educate children to look after the environment more?
8. What steps can be taken to encourage people to recycle more?
9. Do you think overpopulation is an important environmental issue?
10. What steps can improve air quality in large cities?

TRANSPORTATION
PART 1

Let’s begin by talking about transport

• Do you use public transport? Why/why not?

• Which type of public transport do you prefer? Why?

• How good is the public transport where you live?

• Do you think people should use public transport more?

Now let’s talk about travelling

• Do you like to travel?

• What places have you visited in your country?

• What place would you really like to visit? Why?

• How do you prefer to travel on long journeys?

Let’s talk about your travel habits

• What form of transport do you prefer to use? Why?

 • How much time do you spend travelling each day?

• What do you do while you are travelling?

• Do you ever have problems with transport?

Now let’s move on to talk about travelling by trains

• Do you often travel by train?

• Do you like traveling by train?

• What do you usually do when you are travelling by train?

• What do you think are the benefits of travelling by train?

PART 2

Describe a time you travelled by public transport. You can think about:

• What type of public transport you used

• Where you travelled from and to

• What you did during the journey

And explain how you felt about travelling in this way.

PART 3

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using public transport?

2. How has the transportation system in your country evolved over the years?
3. What are the most popular modes of transport in your country, and why?
4. In what ways can governments encourage the use of public transport?
5. What are the challenges of sustainable transportation in urban areas?
6. How has technology affected the way people travel today?
7. In what ways can sustainable transportation contribute to environmental protection?
8. How do you think people's preferences for travel destinations have changed in recent years?
9. What are the potential challenges of promoting cycling as a mode of transport in cities?
10. How can the tourism industry balance the economic benefits of tourism with the environmental
impact?
CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
PART 1

Let’s talk about festivals

• What is the most important festival in your country?

• How do people celebrate festivals in your country?

• What special food do people eat at festivals in Vietnam?

• Do you think festivals are important for the society?

Now let’s talk about your family

• How many people are there in your family?

• Do you all live in the same house? Why or why not?

• What things do you like doing together?

• What are the occasions on which your family often gathers together?

Let’s talk about meetings

• Do you enjoy meeting people from different cultures?

• What are some things you talk about?

• What should not talk about when you meet a new person?

• Do you like to make friends with new people? Why/Why not?

Now let’s move on to talk about customs

• What are your favourite customs?

• What customs do you think should be revised?

• Are there different customs for men and women?

• What customs are found in Vietnam about eating?

PART 2

What is your favourite traditional festival or celebration in your country. Think about:

• What is being celebrated

• What people do

• Is there any special food?

Explain why this one is your favourite over all others.

PART 3

1. What role do ceremonies play in the social life of people in your country?
2. What traditions were important for your grandparents?
 3. Which traditions are we likely to continue to celebrate in the future?
4. How would you describe young people's attitudes towards tradition?
5. Do you think customs and traditions are changing these days?
6. Do you think traditions and customs are affected by advertising?
7. Do some countries celebrate traditions more than others?
8. Are there any customs in your country visitors might find strange?
9. How do people greet each other in your country? Has it changed from the past?
10. If someone came to your country from overseas, what advice would you give?

HEALTH AND FITNESS

PART 1

Let’s talk about keeping fit

• In what ways do you try to stay healthy?

• Is it easy to keep fit where you live?

• What is more important, eating healthily or doing exercise?

• Have you ever had any habits which you consider to be unhealthy?

Now let’s move on to talk about swimming

• Is swimming a good way to stay healthy?

• Have you ever taken swimming lessons?

• Is it better to swim in a pool or in the sea?

• Is swimming a popular activity in your country?

Let’s talk about a time you were ill

• Do you remember a time when you were unwell?

• How long were you sick for?

• What did you do to get better?

• How long were you absent from school/work?

Now let’s talk about staying healthy

• In what ways do you try to stay healthy?

• Is it easy to keep fit where you live?

• What do you think is more important, eating healthily or doing exercise?

• What are the health benefits of playing a sport?

PART 2

What activity do you think is best to keep healthy? Can think about:

• What this activity is

• When you do it

• How often you do it

And explain why you think it’s a good way to look after your health.

PART 3

1. What are the most popular ways of keeping healthy in your country?
2. What costs are involved when you get ill in your country ?
3. Do you think people worry more about their health as they get older?
4. Why do some people continue bad habits when they know the danger
5. How can children be encouraged to adopt healthy eating habits?
6. Do you think people have become more health conscious in recent years?
7. Could governments do more to promote healthier lifestyle options?
8. How can people be encouraged to stay healthy?
9. Do women pay more attention to their health than men?
10. Does modern technology have a positive or a negative influence on people?

DISCOVERY AND INVENTION

PART 1

Let’s start by talking about television

• What’s your favorite TV program?

• How much time do you spend watching TV?

• Do you think TV has changed in the past few decades?

• Has television changed your life in any way?

We can now move on to talk about mobile phones

• When did you get your first mobile phone?

• How did you feel when you got your first mobile phone?

• Is your cell phone very important to you?

• Is there anything you dislike about using cell phones?

PART 2

Describe an invention that you believe has changed how people live.

You should say:

• what invention it is

• whether it is more important for older or younger people

• what benefits it has brought

and explain how it has changed people's lives.

PART 3

1. Are there any famous inventors from your country?

2. What are the advantages of smartphones these days?
3. How has technology made our lives easier?
4. What are some greatest inventions you know about?
5. How can children be taught to become innovative?
6. What role should the government play in encouraging innovation?
7. Most innovations have patents. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of
patents?
8. Do you think people rely too much on technology?
9. Do you think men and women view technological devices differently?
10. Why do you think people spend too much money buying the latest devices?

FASHION
Let’s talk about clothes

• What types of clothes do you like to wear?

• What kinds of clothes should people wear at work?

• Are there any traditional clothes in your country?

• Do you ever wear traditional clothes of your country?

Now let’s talk about design

• Do you like to wear designer clothes?

• Why do some people like to wear brands?

• What designers are famous in your country?

• Do you like to buy things that have a traditional or modern design?

Let’s talk about shopping

• Do you often buy clothes?

• Where do you usually buy your clothes?

 • Have you ever bought clothes online?

• Have you ever been on a shopping spree?

Now let’s move on to fashion

• Do people from your country think fashion is important?

• How important is fashion to you?

• What kinds of clothes do you dislike?

• Do people behave differently in different kinds of clothes?

PART 2

Describe someone you know who dresses well.

You should say:

• Who they are

• How you know them

• What kind of clothes they wear

And say why you like the way they dress.

PART 3
1. What factors do you think affect the clothes we choose to wear?
2. Is it possible to look good without spending lots of money on clothes?
3. What do you think the clothes we wear say about us?
4. Do fashion shows have impact on what we are wearing?
5. Do you think fashion changes constantly?
6. Does fashion in Vietnam change according to the region of the country?
7. Why do some people buy cheap clothes and expensive ones at the same time?
8. Do you think it is good for people to buy expensive clothes? Why?
9. How has fashion changed in your country over the past few decades?
10. What clothes do young people like to wear in your country?

ECONOMICS
PART 1

Let’s talk about weather

• What’s the weather like where you live?

• Does it rain a lot in your hometown?

• Does the weather ever affect what you do?

• What impact does weather have on the economy of your country?

Now let’s talk about money

• Is money important to you?

• What do you spend most of your money on?

• How do you save money?

• Do people get better at saving money as they get older?

Let’s talk now about food

• Which places in your country do visitors enjoy visiting most?

• Do you have the same taste in food as your parents?

• What was the last meal you cooked?

• Do our tastes in food change as we get older?

Now let’s move on to talk about employment

• What are the normal working hours in your country?

• Do you get holiday allowances?

• What kind of jobs command high salaries in your country?

• Do people in your country get a pay rise at the end of each year?

PART 2

Describe a time when you saved up some money to buy something special.

You should say:

• What you wanted to buy

• Why you wanted it

• How you saved your money

And explain how you felt when you finally bought the item

PART 3

1. How is the economy in your country?

2. What are the biggest economic problems in your country?
3. Do you think economics is a science?
4. What was the last thing you read or heard about economics?
5. What do you know about economic growth?
6. What do you understand by the term ‘environmental economics?
7. What is the effect of economics on society?
8. Do you think economic aid and economic sanctions work?
9. Which people in this world care most about economics?
10. What do you think ‘happiness economics’ is?