PrepHome › IELTS Preparation › Speaking Part 1 questions
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions with Sample Answers
IELTS Speaking Part 1 lasts 4–5 minutes. The examiner checks your identity, then asks simple questions about you and two or three everyday topics, such as your work or studies, your home or your free time. A good answer is two or three sentences: answer the question, give a reason, and add a detail or example.
PrepEve coaches IELTS live online. Trainers find where you lose marks and fix it with you.
- Length
- 4–5 minutes
- Questions
- About you, then 2–3 familiar topics
- Answer length
- 2–3 sentences, about 15–20 seconds
- Marked on
- Fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation
- Versions
- Same for Academic and General Training
How IELTS Speaking Part 1 works
The Speaking test has three parts and lasts 11–14 minutes. Part 1 is the warm-up. The examiner introduces themselves, checks your identity, and then asks short questions about you and two or three familiar topics. Often the first questions are about your work or studies, or where you live.
The examiner follows a script and keeps time. If they stop you in the middle of an answer to move on, that is normal. It is not a sign that you answered badly.
How to answer: answer, reason, detail
Aim for two or three sentences. Answer the question directly, give a reason, then add a detail or an example from your own life.
| Answer | Why |
|---|---|
| "Yes, I like it." | Too short. It gives the examiner almost nothing to assess. |
| "Yes, mostly at weekends. During the week I don't have time, but on Sundays I like trying a new recipe, usually something simple like paneer bhurji." | Good. A direct answer, a reason and a personal detail. |
| A full minute about your family, your kitchen and every dish you know. | Too long. Part 1 rewards natural, relaxed answers, not speeches. |
IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions and sample answers
Practise these out loud and record yourself. The sample answers show the length and style to aim for. Don't memorise them: IELTS examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a memorised answer rarely fits the exact question you are asked.
Work or studies
- Do you work or are you a student?
- What do you like most about your job?
- Why did you choose that subject?
- Would you like to change your job in the future?
Sample answer: Do you work or are you a student?
I work. I'm an accountant at a textile company in Ludhiana, so most of my day goes on GST filings and checking invoices. It's detailed work, but I like that every month has a clear finish line.
Sample answer: What do you like most about your job?
Probably the people. My team is small, so we help each other out, especially at the end of the quarter when the workload doubles. That makes the stressful weeks feel a lot shorter.
Hometown
- Where is your hometown?
- What do you like about it?
- Has it changed much since you were a child?
- Is it a good place for young people?
Sample answer: What do you like about your hometown?
Mainly the food. Amritsar has amazing street food, and you can get a proper meal for very little money. Whenever I travel, the first thing I miss is a kulcha from the shop near my house.
Sample answer: Has it changed much since you were a child?
Yes, a lot. When I was a kid, the area around our house was mostly fields. Now there's a highway and two malls. It's more convenient, though I do miss how quiet it used to be.
Home
- Do you live in a house or an apartment?
- Which room do you like most?
- What would you change about your home?
- Do you plan to live there for a long time?
Sample answer: Which room do you like most?
My balcony, if that counts as a room. It faces east, so it gets lovely sunlight in the morning, and that's where I have my tea and plan my day. It's the only quiet corner in a house with five people.
Daily routine
- What is your daily routine like?
- Do you prefer mornings or evenings?
- Has your routine changed in recent years?
- What is the busiest part of your day?
Sample answer: Do you prefer mornings or evenings?
Mornings, definitely. My head is clearest before nine, so that's when I do anything that needs focus, like studying for this test. By the evening I'm usually too tired for anything except a short walk.
Food and cooking
- What is your favourite food?
- Do you like cooking?
- Do you prefer eating at home or eating out?
- Has your diet changed since you were a child?
Sample answer: Do you like cooking?
I'm learning to. I moved into a shared flat last year, so I had to pick up the basics, like dal, rice and a couple of sabzis. I wouldn't call myself a good cook yet, but at least nobody has complained.
Sample answer: Do you prefer eating at home or eating out?
At home, most of the time. It's healthier and much cheaper. But once a month or so, my friends and I try a new restaurant, mostly for the company rather than the food.
Weather and seasons
- What's the weather like where you live?
- Which season do you like most?
- Does the weather affect your mood?
- Do you check the weather forecast?
Sample answer: Which season do you like most?
Winter, because summers in Delhi are brutal. In December and January the air is cool and you can actually enjoy being outside. The only downside is the fog, which makes early morning travel slow.
Mobile phones
- How often do you use your phone?
- What do you use it for most?
- Could you live without your phone for a day?
- Did you have a phone when you were a child?
Sample answer: Could you live without your phone for a day?
I could, but it would be uncomfortable. My bank, my calendar and all my work chats are on it, so a day without it would mean missing something important. On holiday, though, I'd happily switch it off.
Weekends and free time
- What do you usually do at weekends?
- Do you prefer spending free time alone or with others?
- Is there a hobby you would like to take up?
- Do you have more free time now than in the past?
Sample answer: What do you usually do at weekends?
Saturday mornings are for errands, like groceries and paying bills. I keep Sundays free. I usually meet two school friends for lunch, and in the evening I watch a film with my family. It's simple, but it helps me reset for the week.
Reading
- Do you like reading?
- What kind of books do you read?
- Do you prefer paper books or e-books?
- Did you read a lot as a child?
Sample answer: Do you prefer paper books or e-books?
Paper books for fiction, and e-books for everything else. There's something relaxing about turning real pages. But when I'm reading for work, I like being able to search and highlight on my phone.
Music
- What kind of music do you like?
- When do you usually listen to music?
- Can you play a musical instrument?
- Has your taste in music changed?
Sample answer: Has your taste in music changed?
Quite a lot. As a teenager I only listened to Punjabi pop, but over the last few years I've got into old Hindi film songs, mostly because my father plays them in the car. I suppose they grew on me.
Travel
- Do you like travelling?
- Where did you go on your last holiday?
- Do you prefer travelling alone or in a group?
- Where would you like to travel in the future?
Sample answer: Do you prefer travelling alone or in a group?
With a small group, maybe two or three people. Travelling alone can feel lonely in the evenings, but a big group takes forever to decide anything. Two or three friends is the right balance.
Friends
- Do you have many friends?
- How often do you meet your friends?
- Is it easy to make friends as an adult?
- What do you usually do together?
Sample answer: Is it easy to make friends as an adult?
Harder than at school, I'd say. At school you see the same people every day, but as an adult everyone is busy with work and family. Most of my newer friends are colleagues, because that's where I spend most of my time.
Less common Part 1 topics to practise
The examiner can ask about almost any everyday subject. Practise a few unusual ones so they don't throw you: handwriting, the sky and stars, colours, shoes, naps, birthdays, public transport, plants, sport, shopping, social media and noise.
What the examiner listens for
Your Speaking band comes from four criteria, each worth a quarter. They are assessed across all three parts.
| Criterion | What it means in Part 1 |
|---|---|
| Fluency and coherence | Speaking without long pauses, and linking ideas with words like because, but, so and actually. |
| Lexical resource (vocabulary) | Using everyday words accurately, including a few natural phrases about your own life. |
| Grammatical range and accuracy | Mixing simple and longer sentences, and using tenses correctly: "I've lived here for ten years", not "I am living here since ten years". |
| Pronunciation | Being easy to understand, with clear word stress and natural intonation. An Indian accent is fine; clarity is what counts. |
See the full IELTS band descriptors explained.
Common Part 1 habits, and what to say instead
| Less natural | More natural |
|---|---|
| "Myself Riya." | "My name is Riya." or "I'm Riya." |
| "I am having two brothers." | "I have two brothers." |
| "I am living here since 2015." | "I've lived here since 2015." |
| "I did my graduation in B.Com." | "I have a bachelor's degree in commerce." |
| "My native place is Jalandhar." | "I'm from Jalandhar." or "My hometown is Jalandhar." |
| "Do I like reading? Yes, I like reading." | "Yes, I do, mostly novels." Don't repeat the question back. |
How to practise Part 1
- Take one topic a day and answer every question out loud.
- Record yourself, then listen for long pauses, filler sounds and words you repeat.
- Time your answers. Most should take about 15 to 20 seconds.
- Get feedback from someone who knows the band descriptors. It is hard to hear your own grammar mistakes.
Next, practise Part 2 cue cards and read how to score 8 in IELTS Speaking.
Frequently asked questions
How long is IELTS Speaking Part 1?
4–5 minutes. The whole Speaking test takes 11–14 minutes.
How long should my Part 1 answers be?
Two or three sentences, roughly 15 to 20 seconds. Answer, give a reason, and add a detail.
Can I ask the examiner to repeat a question?
Yes. In Part 1 the examiner can repeat the question, but will not normally explain it.
Is Speaking Part 1 the same for Academic and General Training?
Yes. The Speaking test is the same for both.
Does Part 1 count towards my Speaking score?
Yes. The examiner rates your speaking across all three parts.
What if I don't know much about the topic?
Say so briefly, then talk about what you do know. For example: "I don't know much about gardening, to be honest, but my mother grows tomatoes on our roof."
What PrepEve students say on Google
4.7★ from 300+ Google reviews
Find out what is holding your Speaking band back
Book a free PrepEve assessment class. A trainer listens to you speak and tells you what to fix first. You keep the study plan.