IELTS Speaking Frequently Asked

Questions

1-How many parts are there to the IELTS speaking test?

There are 3 parts. There is an interview, a talk and a discussion
with the examiner.
2-How long does the speaking test take?
It takes a total of 11 to 14 minutes. Part 1 is 4-5 mins, part 2 is
3-4 mins and part 3 is 4-5 mins.
3-Is the speaking test face to face with an examiner or by
computer?
Your speaking test will be face to face with an IELTS examiner.
There is no option to do your IELTS test by computer.
4-How will the speaking test be marked?
You will be marked on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and
pronunciation. Each one accounts for 25% of your marks.
 5-What kinds of topics will be asked in the speaking test?
There are many different topics for each part of the speaking
test.

What is IELTS speaking part 1?

A face to face interview with the examiner (4-5 minutes)
12 Questions based on 3 Topics
Questions about yourself, your life and your country
Below is a list of topics and questions that the examiner can ask you
in part 1 of the IELTS speaking test.
Speaking Part 1 Common Topics List
•Work
•Study
•Hometown
•Home
•Art
•Birthdays
•Childhood
•Clothes
•Computers
•Daily routine
•Dictionaries
•Evenings
•Family & Friends
•Flowers
•Food
•Going Out
•Happiness
•Hobbies
•Internet
•Leisure time
•Music
•Neighbours & Neighbourhood
 •Newspapers
•Pets
•Reading
•Shopping
•Sport
•TV
•Transport
•Weather

Main Topics for IELTS Speaking Part 1

These four topics are the most common in IELTS speaking part 1.
You should prepare ideas and practice answering these questions.
Work
What is your job?
Where do you work?
Why did you choose that job?
Is it a popular job in your country?
Do you like your job?
Do you get on well with your colleagues?
What was your first day like?
What responsibilities do you have at work?
If you had the chance, would you change your job?
Do you plan to continue with your job in the future?
 
Study
What do you study?
Where do you study that?
Why did you choose that subject?
Is it a popular subject in your country?
Do you like that subject?
Do you get on with your colleagues?
What was your first day like?
What are the main aspects of your subject?
If you had the chance, would you change subject?
Do you plan to get a job in the same field as your subject?
 
Hometown
Where is your hometown?
Do you like your hometown?
Do you often visit your hometown?
What is your hometown like?
What is the oldest place in your hometown?
What is there for a foreigner to do or see in your hometown?
How could your hometown be improved?
Has your hometown changed much since you were a child?
Is there good public transportation in your hometown?
Do you think your hometown is a good place to bring up children?
 
Home
Where is your home?
Do you live in a house or a flat?
Who do you live with?
Are there many rooms in your home?
What is your favourite room?
How are the walls decorated?
What would you change about your home?
Do you plan to live there in the future?
What facilities are there near your home?
What is your neighbourhood like?
Do most people live in houses in your country?
Common Questions in Speaking Part 1
Art
Are you good at art?
Did you learn art at school when you were a child?
What kind of art do you like?
Is art popular in your country?
Have you ever been to an art gallery?
Do you think children can benefit from going to art galleries?
 
Birthdays
Do you enjoy your birthdays?
Do you usually celebrate your birthday?
What did you do on your last birthday?
Can you remember a birthday you enjoyed as a child?
Do most people celebrate their birthdays with a party in your
country?
Which birthdays are considered important in your country?
 
Childhood
Did you enjoy your childhood?
What is your first memory of your childhood?
Did you have a lot of friends when you were a child?
What did you enjoy doing as a child?
Do you think it is better for children to grow up in the city or in the
countryside?
 
Clothes
Are clothes important to you?
What kind of clothes do you usually wear?
Do you ever wear the traditional clothes of your country?
Where do you usually buy your clothes?
Have you ever worn a uniform?
Do most people in your country follow fashion?
 
Computers
Do you often use a computer?
How do you usually get online?
Do you prefer desktops or laptops?
What do you use your computer for?
Do you think it is important to learn how to use a computer?
 
Daily Routine
When do you usually get up in the morning?
Do you usually have the same routine every day?
What is your daily routine?
Do you ever change your routine?
Is your routine the same today as it was when you were a child?
Do you think it is important to have a daily routine?
 
Dictionaries
Do you often use a dictionary?
What do you use dictionaries for?
What kinds of dictionaries do you think are most useful?
Do you think dictionaries are useful for learning a language?
What kind of information can you find in a dictionary?

Evenings
What do you often do in the evenings?
Do you do the same thing every evening?
Do you prefer to spend your evenings with family or friends?
Do you ever work or study in the evenings?
What is a popular activity for young people in your country in the
evenings?
Do you do the same thing in the evenings as you did when you
were a child?
 
Family & Friends
Do you spend much time with your family?
Who are you closest to in your family?
Do you prefer spending time with your family or friends?
Who is your best friend?
Are you still friends with people from your childhood?
Is family important in your country?
 
Flowers
Do you like flowers?
What’s your favourite flower?
When was the last time you gave someone flowers?
Do any flowers have a special meaning in your country?
Why do you think women like flowers more than men?
 
Food
What’s your favourite food?
Have you always liked the same food?
Is there any food you dislike?
What is a common meal in your country?
Do you have a healthy diet?
What do you think of fast food?
 
Going Out
Do you often go out in the evenings?
What do you like to do when you go out?
Do you prefer going out on your own or with friends?
How often do you go out in a week?
Where do most young people like to go out in your country?
 
Happiness
Are you a happy person?
What usually makes you happy?
Does the weather ever affect how you feel?
What makes you feel unhappy?
Do you think people in your country are generally happy people?
 
Hobbies
Do you have a hobby?
What equipment do you need for it?
Do you think hobbies should be shared with other people?
Did you have a hobby as a child?
What hobbies are popular in your country?
Why do you think people have hobbies?
 
Internet
How often do you go online?
What do you use the internet for?
How do you get online?
Do you have your own computer?
What’s your favourite website?
Do you think children should be allowed unsupervised access to
the internet?
 
Leisure Time
What is your favourite leisure activity?
What did you enjoy doing in your free time as a child?
Do you prefer to spend your free time with other people or alone?
What is a common leisure activity in your country?
Do most people in your country get two days off a week?
Do you think leisure time is important?
 
Music
Do you like music?
What’s your favourite type of music?
Can you sing?
Did you learn music at school?
If you could learn a musical instrument, what would it be?
Do you think music is important?
 
Neighbours & Neighbourhood
Do you like your neighbours?
Are neighbours usually close to each other in your country?
What is your neighbourhood like?
Do you think your neighbourhood is a good place for children?
How could your neighbourhood be improved?
Do you think it is important to have a good relationship with your
neighbours?
 
Newspapers
How do you usually get your news?
Do you often read the newspapers?
What kind of news do you usually follow?
How do most people get the news in your country?
Do you think international news is important?
 
Pets
Do you have a pet?
Do you like animals?
What’s your favourite animal?
What is a popular pet to have in your country?
Did you have a pet as a child?
Why do people have pets?
 
Reading
Do you often read?
What is your favourite kind of book to read?
Do you often read newspapers?
Do you have any e-books?
What books did you read as a child?
Do you think it is important to encourage children to read?
 
Shopping
Do you like shopping?
What’s your favourite shop?
Do you prefer shopping alone or with others?
What kinds of shops are there where you live?
Have you ever bought anything online?
Do you think men and women have different opinions about
shopping?
 
Sport
Do you like sport?
What’s your favourite sport?
Do you often watch sport on TV?
Did you play sport as a child?
What is the most popular sport in your country?
How do most people in your country keep fit?
 
TV
Do you often watch TV?
What sorts of things do you watch on TV?
What is your favourite TV program?
Do you ever watch foreign programs or films?
What did you watch on TV when you were a child?
Do you think children should watch TV?
 
Transport
How did you get here today?
What is your favourite mode of transport?
Do you ever use public transport?
Do you like the transport system in your country?
What is the difference between taking a bus and taking a train?
 
Weather
What’s the weather like today?
What’s your favourite weather?
Do you like the weather in your country?
Is the weather the same in all parts of your country?
Does the weather ever affect the way you feel?
Does the weather in your country ever affect transportation?
IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics &
Questions
A list of common topics and questions for IELTS speaking part 2.
Speaking part 2 is called:
“The Long Turn”
A face to face to talk to the examiner (3-4 minutes)
You will be given a topic card. You will have 1 minute to prepare
your talk and then you will need to give your talk to the examiner
for 1-2 minutes. Most topics are stories about yourself or something
that happened in your life.
Art
Describe a piece of art you like.
You should say:
•what the work of art is
•when you first saw it
•what you know about it
•and explain why you like it.
 
Book
Describe a book you have recently read.
You should say:
•what kind of book it is
•what it is about
•what sort of people would enjoy it
•and explain why you liked it.
 
Communication
Describe a piece of advice you recently received.
You should say:
•when this happened
•who gave you the advice
•what the advice was
•and explain how you felt about the advice.
 
Daily Routine
Describe a time of the day you like.
You should say:
•what time of day it is
•what you do at that time
•who you are usually with
•and explain why you like it.
Exercise
Describe an exercise you know.
You should say:
•what it is
•how it is done
•when you first tried it
•what kind of people it is suitable for
•and explain why you think it is a good exercise.
 
Family
Describe a member of the your family you get on well with.
You should say:
•who it is
•what relationship you have to that person
•what that person is like
•what you do together
•and explain why you get on so well.
 
Gift
Describe a gift you recently gave to someone.
You should say:
•who you gave it to
•what kind of person he/she is
•what the gift was
•what occasion the gift was for
•and explain why you chose that gift.
 
Hobby
Describe an interesting hobby.
You should say:
•what it is
•what kind of people do it
•how it is done
•and explain why you think it is interesting.
 
Internet
Describe a useful website.
You should say:
•what it is
•how often you visit it
•what kind of site it is
•what kind of information it offers
•and explain why you think it is useful.
 
Journey
Describe a journey that didn’t go as planned.
You should say:
•where you were going
•how you were travelling
•who you were with
•what went wrong
•and explain what you would do differently.
 
Kindness
Describe a person you know who is kind.
You should say:
•who it is
•how you know this person
•what sort of person he/she is
•and explain why you think they are kind.
 
Language
Describe a language you have learned.
You should say:
•what it is
•when you started learning
•how you learned it
•what was difficult about it
•and why you decided to learn that language.
 
Music
Describe an song you like.
You should say:
•what kind of song it is
•what the song is about
•when you first heard it
•and explain why you like it.
 
News
Describe some good news you recently received.
You should say:
•what the news was
•how you received the news
•who gave it to you
•and explain why this was good news.
 
Old people
Describe an old person you know.
You should say:
•who this person is
•how old he/she is
•what this person is like
•and explain why you like this person.
 
Photograph
Describe a photograph you like.
You should say:
•what can be seen in the photo
•when it was taken
•who took it
•and explain why you like it.
 
Respect
Describe someone you respect.
You should say:
•who the person is
•how you know about this person
•what this person does
•what this person is like
•and explain why you respect this person.
 
Sport
Describe a sports you would like to learn.
You should say:
•what it is
•what equipment is needed for it
•how you would learn it
•and explain why you would like to learn this sport.
 
Travel
Describe a place you have recently visited.
You should say:
•where you went
•who you went with
•how you got there
•and explain why you enjoyed it.
 
Unexpected
Describe an unexpected event.
You should say:
•what it was
•when it happened
•who was there
•why it was unexpected
•and explain why you enjoyed it.
 
Vocation
Describe a vocation you think is useful to society.
You should say:
•what it is
•what it involves
•what kind of people usually do this work
•and explain why you think it is useful to society.
 
Water
Describe a place near water.
You should say:
•where it is
•how you get there
•how often you do there
•what you can do there
•and explain why you like it.
 
Your Favourite Shop
Describe your favourite shop.
You should say:
•where it is
•how often you go there
•what it sells
•and explain why you think it is a good shop.
 
Zoo
Describe a place with animals.
You should say:
•where it is
•how you heard of it
•what animals can be seen
•and explain why it might be an interesting place to visit.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics

Below is a list of common topics in IELTS speaking part 3. Speaking

part 3 is:
A discussion with the examiner (4-5 minutes)
In speaking part 3, the examiner will ask a broader range of
questions based on the topic that you had in speaking part 2. The
questions require you to expand your answers further with
explanation and examples. The examiner will strictly control the
time.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics &

Questions
Art
•What kind of art do you enjoy?
•What are the tradition art forms in your country?
•What makes a good painting?
•Do you think children should study art at school?
•How can children benefit from learning art?
•How has art changed in the last few decades in your country?
 
Clothes
•Can clothing tell you much about a person?
•Why do some companies ask their staff to wear uniforms?
•What are the advantages and disadvantages of having uniforms
at work?
•When do people wear traditional clothing in your country?
•How have clothes fashions change in your country over the last
few decades?
•What is the difference between clothes that young people and
old people like to wear?
 
Education
 •What makes a good student?
•What role should the teacher have in the classroom?
•Do you think computers will one day replace teachers in the
classroom?
•How has teaching changed in your country in the last few
decades?
•What is the difference between the way children learn and the
way adults learn?
•How can a teacher make lessons for children more interesting?
 
Family
•Is family important in your country?
•How has the size of the family changed in the last few decades in
your country?
•How do you think the family will change in the future?
•What role do grandparents play in the family in your country?
•Who do you think should be responsible for the care of the
elderly, the family or the government?
 
Food
•Do you think diet is important?
•What is a balanced diet?
•What is the typical diet of people in your country?
•Do many people eat in restaurants in your country?
•Why do some people enjoy eating out?
•What’s the difference between restaurant food and home cooked
food?
 
Health
•How can people improve their health?
•Do elderly people do much exercise in your country?
•Do you think all illness can be prevented?
•Do you think there will be less illness in the future?
•Do you think health care should be free?
•What makes a good doctor?
 
Internet
•Do most people have a computer at home in your country?
•Do you think all information on the internet is true?
•How can people find reliable information on the internet?
•How has the internet changed the way we live?
•How has the internet changed the way we work?
•Do you think the internet is safe for children to use
unsupervised?
 
Media & News
•Do you believe everything you read in the newspapers?
•How do most people get their news in your country?
•How do you think people will get their news in the future?
•How has TV changed our lives?
•Do you think TV influences the way we think?
•Should children be allowed to watch a lot of TV?
•Are all people on TV famous?
•Do you think famous people have a responsibility to act as role
models for the younger generation?
 
Nature
•What are the main environmental problems in your country?
•Why should people be concerned about the environment?
•How can people protect the environment?
•Do you think money should be spent on protecting animals?
•Do you think more should be done to protect natural beauty
spots in your country?
 
Society
•What social problems are there in your country?
•What can be done to alleviate poverty?
•Are there many charities in your country?
•What is the difference between major crime and minor crime?
•Do you think all criminals should go to prison?
•Why do so many people move to live in cities?
•What problems does over population cause?
 
Travel
•Why do some people prefer to travel abroad rather than in their
own country?
•Do you think traveling to another country can change the way
people think?
•Do you think it is good for children to experience life in a foreign
country?
•How have holidays changed over the past few decades?
•Do you think it is safer to travel now than in the past?
 
Work
•Do you think job satisfaction is more important than salary when
choosing a job?
•What skills do you think are needed to get a good job these
days?
•Do you think women should be able to do all the same jobs that
men do?
•How has technology changed the way we work?
•What is the difference between white collar and blue collar jobs?
•What jobs do you think are most valuable to society?
6-How many questions will I be asked?
You will be asked 12 questions in part 1 (these are based on 3
different topics) and in part 3, you will be asked 5 or more
questions – it depends on the length of your answers. Try to
aim for long, detailed answers in part 3.
7-Why do I need to expand my answers in my speaking test? To
get band score 6 and above for the criterion of fluency, you
must show the examiner that you are willing to speak at
length. This means you are happy to give longer answers.

8-Do I need to talk for 2 minutes in part 2?

In part 2, you must talk for between 1 and 2 minutes. I
recommended you aim for between 1.5 to 2 mins which will
show a good level of fluency and the ability to speak at length.
However, if you are not a confident speaker, don’t try to push
it too far and just aim for slightly over 1 minute.
9-What happens if I continue talking past 2 mins in speaking part
2?
The examiner will control the time very strictly in your test.
The examiner will stop you when you reach 2 minutes and
then he/she will move on to part 3.
10-Can I choose my topic to talk about in part 2?
No, the examiner will give you a topic card which contains a
list of prompts.
11-Can I ask the examiner to change the topic in part 2 if I can't
talk about it? No, you can’t change the topic. You must try to
talk on the topic you are given.
12-Do I need to follow the prompts on the cue card in speaking
part 2?

No, you don’t have to, it’s not compulsory. However, I

recommend that you do follow the prompts because they offer
a good structure for your talk. This is part of the criterion of
fluency.
13-What’s the difference between part 1 and part 3 in the IELTS
speaking test?Part 1 is like an interview. The examiner will ask
you short answer questions on common topics relating to your
life or your country. In part 3, it is more similar to a discussion.
The examiner will ask you about world issues or broader,
more complex questions. In part 3, your answers should be
longer and more detailed.
14-Should I give examples in my answers?Yes, it is very useful to
do that, particularly in part 3 when you need to give longer,
more detailed answers.
15-What can I do if I don't understand the question? In speaking
part 1, you can ask the examiner to repeat the question but the
examiner can’t explain it or help you. In part 2, the examiner
will give you a topic and you can’t change it. In part 3, you can
ask the examiner to explain the question, just say ” I’m sorry
could you explain that, please?
16-Will I get a lower score if I ask the examiner to repeat the
question?No, it will not affect your score. However, only do
this two or three times and no more.
17-What can I do if I don't have any ideas for the answer in part 3?
It sometimes happens that you are asked a question for which
you have no ideas. Here’s a typical example “How do you
think space exploration benefits mankind?” If you get a
question but you have no ideas for the answer, you can say
“To be honest, I’ve never really thought about it before. I guess
there are benefits to space exploration but I can’t say what they
are.” This answer is still good. You are still using a range of
good language.
18-Does it matter if I have an accent when I talk? No, as long as
the examiner can understand clearly. If your accent prevents
the examiner from understanding you, it will lower your score
drastically.
19-Why did the examiner interrupt my answer? It is possible for
the examiner to interrupt your answer and not let you finish.
There are three main reasons why this might happen. Firstly,
there is a time limit and the examiner must move on to the
 next question. Secondly, the examiner is satisfied with the
language in your answer and wants to move quickly to a new
question which tests another part of your English. Thirdly,
your answer has gone off topic and the examiner wants to start
a new question. So, if the examiner interrupts your answer,
don’t worry about it. Just focus on the next question and
answer confidently.
20-Can I ask the examiner for his or her opinion?No, this is a
language test, the examiner wants to hear your English and
your opinions.
21 -
22-Should I correct my mistakes when I'm speaking in the test? It
is ok to correct some mistakes but make sure it doesn’t affect
your fluency. Every time you stop speaking to correct a
mistake, it will affect your fluency score.
23-How should I greet the examiner? When you walk into the
speaking exam room, the examiner will greeting and do an ID
check.
24-What should I wear for my speaking test? You can wear
whatever you want. This is not a formal interview, it is only a
speaking test. Wear clothes that you are most comfortable in.
25-What happens if my answer includes the answer to the next
question on the examiner's list? The examiner has quite a long
list of possible questions and they choose which questions to
ask and which not to ask. So if you answer includes the
answer to the next question on the examiner’s list, he or she
will skip that question and move on to the question after that.
So never worry about adding extra information to your
answer – it won’t affect the next question.
26-Can I use body language in my speaking test? The examiner is
only interested in hearing your English language. It is your
choice if you want to use body language or not. Most people
find it natural to use body language while talking so feel free
to use it. It is important that you are relaxed and talk naturally
during your test.