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IELTS Speaking Topic: Speaking Practice Questions With Answers & Sample Tasks

Updated on 13 April, 2023

Mrinal Mandal

Mrinal Mandal

Study Abroad Expert

ielts speaking topics

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a widely accepted test to assess the English language skills of non-native English speakers. Individuals wishing to migrate, study, or work in foreign countries can take the test. It consists of four sections – Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. In each section, candidates are allotted a score between 0 to 9. The average of all the scores obtained in all the sections is taken. 
There are two types of IELTS examsIELTS Academic and General Training. Aspirants wishing to pursue their education abroad take the Academic test, whereas aspirants seeking job opportunities take the General Training test.

IELTS Speaking Section

The Speaking Section of IELTS lasts for 11 to 14 minutes, where the candidates participate in a face-to-face interview with a trained IELTS examiner. It follows the same format for both Academic and General Training tests. 

The examiner evaluates the candidate based on four assessment criteria

  • Fluency and Coherence: This refers to maintaining a constant level of continuity while speaking. This is achieved by linking the language and ideas to form a coherent and connected speech.
  • Lexical Resource: This refers to the range of vocabulary a candidate uses while answering questions. Using a wide range of vocabulary in your language can help the candidates get a good band score provided that they use uncommon words in the proper context. 
  • Grammatical Content and Accuracy: Candidates are evaluated on their ability to use a combination of grammatical structures in the sentences.
  • Pronunciation: Most candidates confuse pronunciation with the accent. However, they are not supposed to speak with any type of accent. Instead, their speech should be clear so that the examiner can easily understand every word they utter.

IELTS Speaking Section: Parts Wise

Part 1: IELTS speaking part 1 is a 4 to 5 minutes long face-to-face interaction that contains approximately 12 questions based on your introduction, your life, and your country. This section is easy as most of the questions are predictable.

IELTS Speaking Topics Part 1Common Topics

Part 1

Study

Work 

Hometown

Food 

Art 

Sports

Leisure time

Childhood

Hobbies

Family and Friends

Pets

Weather

Music

Newspapers

Dictionaries

Reading

Books


 

Part 2: The second part of the speaking test is called ‘the talk’ and it lasts for 3-4 minutes. A topic card is given to applicants, and they get one minute to prepare the topic and then start speaking. Applicants need to start preparing as soon as they get the topic. The topics can be anything of general interest or from academic modules. Some of the very common topics are given in the table below:

IELTS Speaking Section Part 2

Common Topics

Part 2

Photograph

Travel 

Internet 

A special gift that you have received 

Vacation

Your favorite shop

Your favorite place in your hometown 

Someone you admire or respect 

Exercise 

Language


 

Now that you know about the common topics of IELTS Speaking Part 1 and Part 2, let’s discuss the type of questions, you can get in each category. 

IELTS Speaking Questions With Answers

Part

Category

Questions

Answer format

Part 1

Work

What work do you do? 

What do you enjoy most about your work?

What are your main duties?

Where do you work?

Describe your designation,

Some aspects of your work that interest you the most 

Describe the roles you fulfill daily. 

Name the firm you work for

Study

Where are you studying?

How was your first day? 

What are you pursuing?

What is your favorite subject?

Name of your institution

Memories of your first day

The course you are currently pursuing.

The subject you like the most

Art

What kind of art appeals to you?

Do you think you are good at it?

From where did you learn it?

What is the most famous art in your country?

Describe the art that you find appealing. It can be anything such as painting, music, or literature.

Do you consider yourself good at that art?

Did someone teach you the skill, or did you know it yourself?

Describe the well-known art in your country.

Childhood

Did you enjoy going to school as a child?

What is your best childhood memory?

What did you enjoy doing as a child?

Did you have a lot of friends when you were a child?

Justify why/ why not, you enjoyed going to school as a child?

Talk about your best childhood memories.

The answer would include the things that made you happy as a child.

Talk about your childhood best friends.

Hometown

Where is your hometown? 

What is the oldest place in your hometown?

How often do you visit your hometown? 

What was it like growing up there?

Describe the place where your

hometown is located.

Name the oldest place in your hometown. 

You can mention the last time you visited.

Talk about some of your best memories of your hometown

Part 2BookDescribe a book you have recently read.

You can say,

What type of book is it?

What is it about?

Who is the author?

What sort of people would enjoy it?

CommunicationDescribe some advice you gave to someone.

You can say 

Whom you gave it to?

What was the advice? 

What did the other person say after listening to that advice? 

Did that person listen to your advice?

Daily routineWhat is your favorite part of the day?

You can say

Which part of the day do you like the most? 

What do you do at that time? 

What are the aspects that make it your favorite part of the day?

ExerciseDescribe an exercise you know.

You can say

What is it? 

How is it performed? 

Where did you learn it from? 

What age group is it suitable for? 

Why do you think it is a good exercise?

FamilyDescribe a close family member.

You can say 

Who is it? 

What relationship do you have with the person? 

What are the qualities of that person? 

What do you do together?


 

The questions in IELTS Speaking Part 2 are written on a cue card. Besides the questions mentioned above, some popular category-wise cue card topics are 

Category

IELTS Cue Card topics

FamilyDescribe a family event you are looking forward to?
ObjectDescribe a photograph in your home
PlaceDescribe a place you have recently visited?
WorkDescribe your dream job?
AspirationsDescribe an ambition you wish to achieve

Important Resources to Read About IELTS:

IELTS Band Score ChartHow to get 8 band in IELTSTypes of IELTS Exam
Average IELTS ScoresIELTS Score for USAStudy in USA Without IELTS
Study in UK Without IELTSIELTS Reading Band ScoreIELTS Bar Graph
Writing Task 1 Line GraphCollocation for IELTSIELTS Reading Tips

 

Download IELTS Preparation Guide For Free

Get to know about the latest updates on the IELTS Exam, Eligibility, Preparation Tips, Test procedure,  Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Registration Process, Important Exam Dates, and much more!! This guide is a one-stop solution for every IELTS Aspirant who aims to crack the exam with an impressive band score.

IELTS Speaking Topics Part 3

In the third part of IELTS Speaking; the examiner asks cross-questions on the cue-card topic you spoke about in the second round. This is the last round of the speaking test that gives you a chance to build rapport with your examiner. It usually lasts for four to six minutes. Some of the general categories the examiner can ask questions are given below: 

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?
  • Why is the number of joint families decreasing in modern times?

Sports 

  • Why are some sports fans so passionate?
  • Is there any violence at sporting events in your country?
  • Should athletes be better role models?
  • What benefits do international sporting events bring?

Parenting 

  • What responsibilities do parents have towards their children?
  • What responsibilities do children have towards their parents?

Shopping

  • What can shops do to make shopping more pleasant for their customers?
  • Do you think that people will do most of their shopping using the Internet in the future? Why/why not?

How to Score Well on the IELTS Speaking Test 

  • Don’t memorize answers, especially in part 1. Memorized language doesn’t give the examiner an accurate idea of your English-language skills. The examiner will tell if you have memorized your answers, which may influence your final band score. 
  • Don’t use long and complicated words just to impress. Keep it short and simple. You could pronounce them wrong, which can lead to a low band.
  • Use a wide range of grammatical structures, with both complex and simple sentences while speaking. The sentences should be grammatically accurate.
  • Be fluent. Fluency is essential to get a good speaking band score. Do not hesitate or stammer while speaking. Be fluent and start speaking immediately after getting the questions. Be expressive, do not pause to think, and then answer. Practice well before the test to speak fluently. 
  • Speak confidently and avoid using filler words. Fillers are used when you don’t know what to say. You cannot use connectors and fillers to keep speaking. Whatever you speak should be relevant and must meet the purpose of the question. 
  • Expand your vocabulary to speak some good but less frequently used words. Check the pronunciation as it’s an important part of speaking. A good score will depend upon how well you pronounce your English words. 
  • Practice the common topics and questions of all three parts of IELTS speaking. It will help you speak confidently without any hesitation. 
  • Avoid repetition. Do not repeat words, sentences as well as ideas. The more unique you are with your ideas and words, the better band you will get. Try not to rush and quickly finish off with the test. 

Conclusion

Preparation is the key to success in IELTS. The IELTS examination is conducted to check the ability of non-native English speakers to integrate and communicate in an English-speaking country during their stay. Speaking is an important part of the migration process. Applicants must prepare well for the speaking test to get a good band. For more tips and tricks on the IELTS speaking topics, consult the experts at upGrad Abroad.

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How to score well in the IELTS speaking test? 

  • Don’t memorize answers, especially in part 1. Memorized language doesn’t give the examiner an accurate idea of your English-language skills. The examiner will tell if you have memorized your answers, which may influence your final band score. 
  • Don’t use long and complicated words just to impress. Keep it short and simple. You could pronounce them wrong and this can lead to a low band.
  • Use a wide range of grammatical structures, with both complex and simple sentences while speaking. The sentences should be grammatically accurate.
  • Be fluent. Fluency is important to get a good speaking band score. Do not hesitate or stammer while speaking. Be fluent and start speaking immediately after getting the questions. Be expressive, do not pause to think, and then answer. Practice well before the test to speak fluently. 
  • Speak confidently and avoid using filler words. Fillers are used when you don’t know what to say. You cannot use connectors and fillers to keep speaking. Whatever you speak should be relevant and must meet the purpose of the question. 
  • Expand your vocabulary so that you can speak some good but less frequently used words. Check the pronunciation as it’s an important part of speaking. A good score will depend upon how well you pronounce your English words. 
  • Practice the common topics and questions of all three parts of IELTS speaking. It will help you speak confidently without any hesitation. 
  • Avoid repetition. Do not repeat words, sentences as well as ideas. The more unique you are with your ideas and words, the better band you will get. Try not to rush and quickly finish off with the test. 

Conclusion

Preparation is the key to success in IELTS. The IELTS examination is conducted to check the ability of non-native English speakers to integrate and communicate in an English-speaking country during their stay. Speaking is an important part of the migration process. Applicants must prepare well for the speaking test to get a good band. For more tips and tricks on the IELTS speaking topics, consult the experts at upGrad Abroad.

Recommended Reads:

How to Prepare for IELTS at Home Without Coaching

Causes and Effects of Obesity IELTS Essay

Business and Money IELTS Essay

Advantages and Disadvantages of Tourism IELTS Essay

How to Write Conclusion in Writing Task 2

Art is Considered an Important Part of a Society IELTS Essay

Is Computer Based IELTS Easier

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How to Download IELTS Score Card

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the common speaking topics for IELTS?

Although the examiner can ask questions on any topic from the candidate. Common speaking topics are related to work, study, hometown, childhood, art, fashion, bicycle, birthdays, etc.

How many questions will be asked in IELTS Speaking Part 2?

In the second part of IELTS Speaking, the examiner assigns a cue card to the candidates containing a topic they have to speak about for two minutes. Once they are finished speaking, the examiner asks three to four follow-up questions.

Can I use a lot of phrases and idioms to boost my score?

Using words and idioms can be an effective tool to boost your IELTS score. However, candidates must ensure that they use them appropriately in the relevant context.

Is IELTS speaking marked immediately?

Yes, the examiners evaluate the candidates immediately while taking their speaking tests. However, the candidates are clueless about being assessed as they move forward with their speaking test. The result for each section is available in 5-7 days in case of online and in 14 days in case of offline tests.

Why is the IELTS speaking test recorded?

IELTS Speaking test is recorded for several reasons. The primary reason is to check whether the candidate has given the correct score to the candidate. The secondary reason is to keep a reference if a candidate applies for revaluation.

What are the common categories of questions in IELTS Speaking?

Some of the popular IELTS Speaking questions are; Art, Family, Hometown, Culture, Daily routine, Communication, etc.

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Mrinal Mandal

Study Abroad Expert

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Disclaimer

The above tips are the Author's experiences. upGrad does not guarantee scores or admissions.