Part 1: IELTS Speaking Questions and Topics
Hometown
I’d just like to ask you some questions about your hometown.
1. Where is your hometown?
2. What was it like growing up there?
3. Has it changed much since you were a child?
4. What do you like most about living there?
5. What kinds of things can visitors to your hometown go and see?
6. Do you think you will live there when you are older?
Home
I’d like to ask you some questions about your home.
1. Do you live in an apartment or a house?
2. Is it a large apartment/house?
3. Who do you live there with?
4. What is your favourite room in your apartment/house?
5. Is it a quiet or noisy place to live?
6. What can you see from the windows in your apartment/house?
7. If you could change anything about your apartment/house, what would you change?
Studies
I’d just like to ask you some questions about your studies.
1. What are you studying?
2. Why did you choose that particular course?
3. What is your favourite subject?
4. Are you friends with many other students on your course?
5. What job would you like when you have completed all your studies?
6. Will you have to do further studies in the future?
Work
I’d just like to ask you some questions about your work.
1. What work do you do?
2. What do you enjoy most about your work?
3. What are your main duties?
4. Is there any other work you would like to do in the future?
5. What do you normally do when you finish work everyday?
6. Will you have to do more training for your work in the future?
Free Time
I’d like to move on and ask you some questions about your free time
1. What type of activities do you like to do in your free time?
2. How long have you been interested in these activities?
3. Do you like to do theses activities alone or with other people? (Why)?
4. Do you think people have enough free time?
Family
I’d like to move on and ask you some questions about your family.
1. How many people are there in your family?
2. Do you all live in the same house?
3. What things do you like doing together?
4. Who is your favourite family member?
Timing
Let’s move on and talk about being on time for appointments.
1. Is being late acceptable in your culture?
2. Are you ever late for appointments?
3. What type of excuses do you think are alright for lateness?
4. How do you feel when someone is late for an appointment with you?
Neighbours
Let’s change the topic and talk about your neighbours
1. Do you know the people who live next door to you?
2. How often do you see each other?
3. What kind of relationship do you have?
4. How can neighbours be helpful?
5. What kind of problems can people have with their neighbours in a big city?
Food
Moving to a new topic, I’d like to discuss cooking and meals with you.
1. Do you enjoy cooking?
2. What type of things can you cook?
3. What kinds of food are popular in your country?
4. Is it an important part of your culture to have dinner parties?
5. Do you prefer to eat with other people or on your own?
Dreams
I’d now like to discuss your night time dreams with you.
1. Do you dream much at night?
2. Do you often remember your dreams?
3. Do you think we can learn anything from dreams?
4. Do people in your country talk about their dreams?
5. Do you think that dreams can come true?
Magazines and Newspapers
Okay, let’s move to a different topic and discuss magazines and newspapers.
1. Which do you prefer reading, newspapers or magazines?
2. What type of stories do you like to read about?
3. Do you think reading a magazine or a newspaper can help you learn a language?
4. Why do you think some people prefer magazines to newspapers?
Humour
Let’s change the topic and talk about comedy and humour.
1. What type of programmes do you find funny on TV?
2. Which types of programmes are most popular in your country?
3. What kind of things make you laugh?
4. Do you like to make people laugh?
5. Do you think it is important to have a sense of humour? (Why)?
Museums
Let’s move on and talk about museums.
1. Are museums popular in your country?
2. Did you visit museums when you were a child?
3. Do you like to visit museums nowadays?
4. Do you think you should pay to visit museums?
Mobile Phones
Now lets talk about mobile phones.
1. Do you have a mobile phone?
2. At what age did you first get a mobile?
3. What do you most use it for?
4. Is it a nuisance if people use mobiles in public places such as trains and buses?
Television
We'll now talk about television.
1. How many hours a day do you spend watching television?
2. What type of television programs do you like to watch?
3. Do you think children in your country watch too much television?
4. Do you think television is useful for education in schools?
The Sea
Now we'll talk about the sea.
1. Do you like to go on holiday by the sea?
2. Are there many hotels by the sea in your country?
3. What kind of activities can people do by the sea?
4. How long do people normal visit the sea for when they go on holiday?
Flowers
Now we'll talk about flowers.
1. How you ever given anybody flowers?
2. Is it popular to give flowers to people in your country?
3. On what special occasions do people give flowers in your country?
4. What kinds of flowers would you like to receive as a present?
The Weather
Now we'll move on to talk about the weather.
1. What kind of weather do you like the most?
2. Does the weather affect the way that you feel?
3. Do people like the weather in your country?
4. Do the kinds of outside activities people do in your country change when the weather
changes?
Public Transport
Now we'll move on to talk about public transport
1. What kinds of public transport do they have in your country?
2. What kinds of public transport do most people use?
3. What is your favourite type of public transport?
4. What do you do when you are travelling on public transport?
5. How could public transport in your country be improved?
Sport
Now we'll move on to talk about sport.
1. What is the most popular type of sport in your country?
2. Is there a lot of sport on television in your country?
3. What sports do children normally do at school?
4. Do you think people do enough sport these days?
Writing
Now we'll talk about writing
1. Do you enjoy writing?
2. What age do children normally learn to write in your country?
3. Did you used to write a lot when you were a child?
4. Do you ever write letters?
5. Do you prefer writing letters or sending emails?
Animals
Now we'll talk about animals.
1. What is your favourite animal?
2. What types of animals do you have in your country?
3. What types of animals are kept as pets in your country?
4. Do you think animals should be kept in zoos?
Dictionaries
Now let's move on to talk about dictionaries.
1. Do you ever use a dictionary?
2. Do you prefer paper or electronic dictionaries?
3. Are dictionaries used a lot in schools in your country?
4. Do you think dictionaries are useful for learning a language?
Fashion and clothing
Now let's move on to talk about fashion and clothing.
1. Were you interested in fashion when you were a child?
2. Is fashion important to you now?
3. What types of clothes are fashionable for young people in your country these days?
4. Does fashion change for people as they get older?
Birthdays
Now let's move on to talk about birthdays.
1. What did you usually do on your birthday when you were a child?
2. How do you normally celebrate your birthday now?
3. Is your birthday now still as important to you as when you were a child?
4. Do you think it's important to give someone a card when it's their birthday?
5. Do you think the price of a gifts/presents is important?
Books
Now let's move on to talk about books.
1. Do you like reading books?
2. What kinds of books do you like to read?
3. What is the best book you've ever read?
4. Is reading books a popular activity in your country?
5. Do you think that electronic books / eReaders are better than real books?
Exercise
We'll now talk about exercise.
1. Do you do much exercise?
2. Do you do more exercise now than when you were a child?
3. Do people in your country do a lot of exercise?
4. What do you think is the best exercise to keep fit?
5. Have the types of exercise people like to do changed since you were a child?
The internet
We'll now talk about The Internet.
1. Do you use The Internet?
2. Are children allowed to use The Internet at school in your country?
3. Do you think that The Internet is useful for study?
4. Have you ever used The Internet to buy something?
5. Are there any dangers of buying things online?
Daily Routine
We'll now talk about daily routines.
1. Tell me about your daily routine?
2. Has your daily routine changed since you were a child?
3. Is your daily routine different at the weekend to during the week?
4. What would you like to change about your daily routine?
5. Do you think it's important to have a daily routine?
Musical Instruments
We'll now talk about musical instruments.
1. Do you think it's important for children to learn to play a musical instrument?
2. Do children have to learn to play a musical instrument at school in your country?
3. Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?
4. What do you think is the best age to start to learn to play a musical instrument?
5. What do you think would be the most difficult musical instrument to learn to play?
Pets
We'll now talk about pets.
1. Do you have a pet?
2. What types of animals do you think make the best pets?
3. Why do people have pets?
4. Should dogs be left in the house alone while their owners are at work?
5. Is there any types of animals that you think should not be kept as a pet?
Seasons
We'll now talk about seasons.
1. What is your favourite season?
2. Tell me about the different seasons in your country.
3. How do the clothes people wear in your country change with the seasons?
4. Do any types of jobs people do in your country change with the seasons?
5. Is tourism popular in a particular season in your country?
Photographs
We'll now talk about photographs.
1. Do you enjoy taking photographs?
2. Do you prefer to take photos with a phone or with a camera?
3. Do you take many photographs when you travel?
4. Do you like looking at photographs of yourself?
5. Have you put any photographs you have taken on the walls in your house?
Trees
Now let's talk about trees.
1. Do you like trees?
2. Are there many trees in your hometown?
3. Do you think there are enough trees in most cities?
4. What are the benefits of planting more trees?
Email
Now let's talk about email.
1. Do you email people often?
2. Do you chat with friends or family more with email?
3. Do you think people prefer to receive an email or a letter?
4. Do you think it's easier to write an email or a letter?
5. Do you think email will eventually replace letter writing?
Part 2: IELTS Speaking Questions and Topics
A Person You Know
Describe an old person that you know.
You should say:
● What your relationship is to this person
● How often you see them
● What people think about this person
Explain why you like them.
Describe a child that you know and like a lot.
You should say:
● Who the child is
● How you know them
● What they enjoy doing
Explain why you like them a lot.
Describe someone who has had an important influence on your life.
You should say:
● Who the person is
● How long you have known him/her
● What qualities this person has
Explain why they have had such an influence on you.
Describe a person that you think is very interesting.
You should say:
● Who this person is
● How you met them
● What they like to talk about
Explain why this person is very interesting.
Describe your favourite teacher from school.
You should say:
● What school he/she taught at
● What he/she looked like
● What subject he/she taught you
Explain why you remember this teacher so well.
Presents or Gifts
Describe a present or gift you have given someone.
You should say:
● Who you gave it to
● What kind of present it was
● How it compared to other presents you have given
Explain why you decided to give this particular gift.
Describe a present or gift someone gave you that you really liked.
You should say:
● What kind of present it was
● Who gave it to you
● Why you were given it
Explain why you liked it.
Memories
Describe a happy childhood event.
You should say:
● When it happened
● Who was involved
● How you felt at the time
Explain why you remember this particular occasion.
Describe photograph that you like.
You should say:
● Who is in the photograph
● When the photograph was taken
● Where the photograph is
Explain why you like the photograph.
Food
Describe a meal that you had that you remember well.
You should say:
● Where the meal was
● Why you had the meal
● Who you went with
Explain why you remember this particular occasion.
Describe a meal that you ate out.
You should say:
● Where you went
● What you ate
● Who you went with
Explain why you remember this meal.
Music
Describe your favourite song.
You should say:
● What is the name of the song
● What the song is about
● When you first heard the song
Explain why it is your favourite song.
Sport and Exercise
Describe a sporting event you attended.
You should say:
● What kind of sport is was
● How it compared to other events you’ve been to
● How often it takes place
Explain why you consider this event to be of interest.
Describe a type of exercise that you like to do.
You should say:
● What the exercise is
● When you do it
● Where you do it
Explain why you like this particular exercise.
Describe a sport that you would like to try.
You should say:
● Which sport it is
● Where you could do the sport
● Who you could do it with
Explain why this sport would be good to try.
Entertainment
Describe a comedian that you think is very funny.
You should say:
● Who the comedian is
● Where they usually perform
● Who likes to see the comedian
Explain why you think this comedian is very funny.
Describe a TV show that you enjoy.
You should say:
● What type of show it is
● How often it is on
● How popular it is with other people in your country
Explain why you like it.
Travel
Describe a country you would like to visit in the future that you haven't been to yet.
You should say:
● Which country it is
● Where it is located in the world
● What you could see there
Explain why this country would be such a good place to visit.
Describe a lake, a river or a sea you have visited.
You should say:
● Where the lake is
● How often you have visited it
● What activities you do there
Explain why you like this particular place.
Describe a holiday that you recently went on that you enjoyed.
You should say:
● Where you went
● Who you went with
● What you did
Explain why this holiday was enjoyable.
Buildings
Describe a building that you particularly like.
You should say:
● Where the building is
● What it looks like
● What you can do there
Explain why you like this building.
Reading
Describe your favourite book.
You should say:
● When you read the book
● What the book is about
● Why you read it
Explain why this book is your favourite.
Describe a website that you visit a lot.
You should say:
● What the website it about
● How you found the website
● Who else you told about the website
Explain why you visit the website a lot.
News
Describe some good news that you recently received.
You should say:
● What the news was
● How you got the news
● Who else you told about it
Explain why this was good news.
Daily Routine
Describe your favourite part of the day.
You should say:
● What time of day this is
● What you like to do at this time
● Who you are usually with
Explain why this is your favourite part of the day.
Part 3: IELTS Speaking Questions and Topics
Eating habits
1. Tell me about the types of food that people eat in your country.
2. How are the eating habits now in your country different from eating habits in the
past?
3. How healthy is your country’s food?
4. Why do you think different cultures have different table manners?
5. How may eating habits change in coming decades?
Education
1. How are education priorities today different from those in the past?
2. What is your opinion on the way languages are taught in schools?
3. How can the type of school you go to affect career success?
4. What changes do you think will happen in the classroom in the near future?
Environment
1. Is water pollution a problem in your country?
2. What are some of the causes of water pollution?
3. What can individuals do to try and ensure water is kept clean?
4. Do you think problems with the cleanliness of water will improve in the future?
Influence of television
1. How popular is watching television in your country?
2. Tell me about the types of programme that are generally on television in your country.
3. Why do people like watching television?
4. Do you think state or private television is better?
5. What effects can watching television have on children?
Influences on the young
1. What type of people influence the young in your country?
2. Why it is important to have role models?
3. Do you think the education system in your country influences young people’s
behavior?
4. What type of person (parents, teachers, friends etc) are best to influence young
people’s behavior?
5. What do you think young people will be most influenced by it the future?
Leisure activities
1. What types of leisure activities are popular in your country?
2. Why it is important for people to have time for leisure activities?
3. Why are some activities more popular than others?
4. Are the types of leisure activities that are popular today the same as those that were
popular when your parents were young?
5. What types of leisure activities may become more popular in the future?
Shopping
1. Is shopping a popular activity in your country
2. How have shopping habits changed over recent years?
3. To what extent do you think advertising affects the way people shop?
4. Do you think shopping habits are likely to change in the future?
Sports
1. What types of sports are popular in your country?
2. What are the benefits of playing a sport?
3. Do you think the types of sport that are popular will change in the future?
4. how can sports bring people from different countries closer together?
Transport
1. How do most people travel long distances in your country?
2. Have the types of transport people use changed much over the last few decades?
3. What kinds of improvement have there been in transport in your country in recent
years?
4. Do you think transport is likely to continue to improve in the future?
