IELTS Speaking questions: sample questions and topics for Parts 1, 2 and 3

Part 1: introduction and everyday topics

After checking your identity, the examiner asks about familiar topics such as home, work or study. Each answer should be 2–3 sentences: the answer, a short reason, an example.

• Do you live in a house or a flat? What do you like about it?
• Are you working or studying at the moment? Why did you choose that field?
• What do you usually do in the first hour after you wake up?
• Do you prefer hot or cold weather? Why?
• Is there a hobby you started recently? How did you get into it?
• How often do you use public transport in your city?
• Do you like cooking, or do you prefer eating out?
• What kind of music did you listen to as a teenager?

Part 2: sample cue cards

You take notes for one minute, then speak for 1–2 minutes. The card usually has three bullet points and an “explain” line; cover all of them in order and finish with a one-sentence summary.

• Describe a journey that did not go as planned. You should say: where you were going; what went wrong; how you dealt with it; and explain what you learned from the experience.
• Describe a small business in your area that you admire. You should say: what it sells or does; who runs it; why people go there; and explain why you admire it.
• Describe a piece of advice you received that turned out to be useful. You should say: who gave it; what the advice was; when you followed it; and explain why it was useful.
• Describe an app or website you use almost every day. You should say: what it is; how you use it; what you like and dislike about it; and explain how your life would change without it.

Part 3: discussion questions

The questions lift the Part 2 topic to the level of society. Generalise, consider both sides, end with an example; if you say “it depends”, say what it depends on.

• Why do some people enjoy travelling without a fixed plan?
• Do large chain stores make it harder for small businesses to survive? What could cities do about it?
• Are older people better at giving advice than younger people?
• How has the way people get news changed in the last twenty years?
• Should schools teach children how to manage their screen time?
• What kinds of jobs are most likely to be done by machines in the future?

Three patterns that extend an answer

• Reason + example: “…mainly because…, for instance last month…”
• Counter-view: “Some people would say…, but in my experience…”
• Past–present–future: “I used to…, these days…, and I’d like to…”

With Prepina

On Prepina you can answer these cue cards aloud and get AI feedback on the four criteria; the recordings are yours and are deleted whenever you choose.

Sources

Dates and rules can change. Check the organiser’s official page before you apply; that page is binding.

• IELTS: scoring in detail
• IELTS: sample test questions
• IELTS: preparation resources