Are you planning to do IELTS in the near future?
If you are, then the tips below will help you get a high score in the IELTS speaking test.
These typical questions and sample answers give you a good idea of the types of questions (even if not the same topic) the IELTS examiner may ask you on test day.
What are the most frequent IELTS speaking topics?
The most common IELTS speaking topics are related to daily life and routine activities.
For example, the IELTS examiner may ask you to:
- describe your daily routine
- talk about your work or studies
- discuss your hometown or neighborhood
- describe a typical day in your life
In addition, other common topics the IELTS examiner may ask you about include:
- family and friends
- hobbies and interests
- travel experiences
- future plans
Other IELTS speaking topics that appear in the test include:
- events / experiences
- people
- activities
- places
- food
- things
- leisure / free time
While there is no definitive list of speaking topics for the IELTS exam, these are some of the most common IELTS speaking topics and some model answers.
IELTS Speaking Part 1
Do you Study or work?
I work; I’m a graphic designer and web developer.
Have you ever worked late at night?
Yes, quite often. It usually happens when I need to finish an urgent project for a client. Sometimes things get backed up and I need to stay late at the office, or work at home to get it finished. I don’t mind really because I love my work – and I can take time off at other times to compensate for it.
How does working at night differ from working during the day?
Well, the first thing is it’s a lot quieter at the office when nobody else is there - so it can actually be quite a good thing because I get a lot more done in less time, because there are no distractions. I also get a greater sense of urgency when it’s getting late – which motivates me to focus more and get things finished.
Do you wear a watch?
No, I haven’t worn one for years; I just use my phone if I need to know the time.
Did your parents allow you to wear a watch when you were a child?
Yes, I used to have one of those sports watches with a lot of functions on it. It was black and I used to wear it all the time. But then it got damaged and I never bothered to replace it.
Why do you think some people buy expensive watches?
There are a lot of possible reasons, it depends on the individual. But many older people still see a watch as jewelry, rather than just something functional that tells the time, so they like to have a nice watch.
I suppose some people think of a watch like a car – it says something about you as a person, you know, if you have the money to spend on an expensive watch it’s a kind of statement to the world about yourself, just like the clothes you wear and the car you drive, where you live and so on.
Others might like to wear an expensive watch just because they like the brand, just like shoes, a hat, or purse or something like that.
Some people have a few watches which they wear to match the clothes they wear, or they have a sports or casual watch and then another which is more formal or elegant for different occasions.
So an expensive watch can be a bit of fashion statement, or simply a way of showing that you earn a good salary, a way to boast if you like, or maybe you just appreciate really nice things, which are usually quite expensive.
Do you think the watch you wear says something about your personality?
I think if you want it to, it can, but not always. There are some really rich and famous people who don’t wear a watch or just wear a regular watch, and there are other people who wear any old watch whether it seems to suit their personality or not.
Do you like swimming? Why? Why not?
Personally, yes, I love to go swimming, it’s great exercise and I always feel good after it. I used to go swimming a lot more frequently when I was younger, especially in the summer.
What are the benefits of learning to swim?
Well, there are a few; first it’s a lot fun, especially if you go with your friends, and then there’s the fact that it could save your life one day if you know how to swim, or you could even save someone else’s life if they are in trouble. Then, as I said before, it’s one of the best forms of exercise so it’s a really healthy activity.
Do you think children could develop swimming into a career option?
It depends on whether they’re good enough or not. I mean, there are only a few people in the whole world who are champion swimmers, just like in any sport, so the likelihood of a child or young person being able to earn their living just from swimming is quite low unless they are one of the best in the world.
And even then, it could be a very short career because most world class swimmers, such as those that compete at the Olympics, for example, are in their late teens or early twenties, as they get older they don’t compete at international level but usually end up coaching youngsters. So it’s maybe not the best career option unless swimming is truly your passion in life and you’re extremely good at it.
IELTS Speaking Part 2
Describe a beach where people go and spend their time.You should say:
- where it is
- what’s special about it
- what it’s like
IELTS Speaking Part 3
How could children be encouraged to learn how to swim?
There are a couple of ways I suppose; either parents could take the time to teach their children how to swim, or swimming classes could be provided as part of the school curriculum.
It’s important that children are encouraged to learn how to swim because it is an important skill, and it’s also a confidence booster, because many children who can’t swim are initially afraid of the water.
But once they learn to overcome their fear it teaches them that it’s possible to learn how to overcome other fears or how to do other new things they have never tried before.
It helps build their self-confidence, and apart from that it’s fun when they can go swimming with their friends.
Should children be taught how to swim by their parents or by an experienced instructor?
That’s a matter of personal choice; some parents like to teach their children such things, and sometimes it just happens, maybe while they are on vacation near the beach or someplace else where there is water.
As long as parents have an idea of how to teach their children how to swim, by building their confidence little by little until they can do it safely, it’s an ideal bonding activity for both parents and children.
On the other hand, if children want to learn to swim with their friends in a class at a swimming pool or at school, then there’s no reason why an instructor or swimming coach shouldn’t teach them. In this way they’re learning with their friends or children of a similar age and it’s almost like a social activity.
Both methods work and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Why do you think the government tends to focus on developing certain sports and not on others?
There are various possible reasons for this. For example, some governments make it a policy to improve participation in certain sports, and then undertake funding and promotion of local, regional and national initiatives to encourage young people to participate in that particular sport.
Such initiatives may be driven by a desire to perform better at international level sports events or because of a nation’s particular sporting heritage.
Also, it may be part of a bigger program to encourage young people to be more active physically, as many governments are currently concerned with levels of obesity among children, so promoting participation in certain sports has long-term benefits such as a healthier population in the future, and therefore less pressure on public health resources.
Is there any change in the way the government treats swimming now compared to in the past?
Personally, I don’t think so. Not at national government level anyway. I think the public’s perception of swimming has changed though. Rather than simply being seen as sport it’s now seen more as a way of keeping active, exercising, and even controlling weight loss.
It’s one of the most highly recommended physical activities for older people, especially, because it provides an excellent cardiovascular workout for the entire body and yet avoids any potential joint-damaging impact such as in running.
You can burn a lot of calories swimming for just 20-30 minutes so it’s ideal for people who want to lose weight or keep their muscles toned and fit.
Do you think certain age groups should be subsidized to encourage them to participate in sports like swimming?
In many countries this is already the case; children and retired people can use public sports facilities for free, and that includes public swimming pools.
For other sports, it might be an idea to subsidize the cost for people if the government wants to encourage more people to participate in certain sports. But then there’s the problem of which sports should be subsidized and which should not – or they might have to offer subsidies for all sports available at public sports facilities.
It starts getting complex then – a lot depends on why people need to be encouraged to participate more in sports. I suppose if the cost of subsidizing such participation provided long-term health benefits, as mentioned earlier, then the government might consider that subsidies are cheaper than the cost of dealing with many medical conditions related to being overweight or in poor physical condition as we get older.
If it works out cheaper, then it would make sense to pay people to do exercise or participate in sports.
FAQs
Is the speaking test the same for Academic and General IELTS?
Yes, the speaking test is the same for both. But the Writing and Reading tests are different.
How do I practice IELTS speaking?
The best way to do IELTS speaking practice will depend on you and your goals. But here are some tips:
- Find a native English speaker to talk to
- Practice with a friend or family member who is also taking the IELTS test
- Do mock interviews with an IELTS tutor or practice partner
- Get familiar with the IELTS speaking test format
- Listen to IELTS podcasts and watch IELTS YouTube videos
- Read aloud from an IELTS book or material
In the end, each IELTS test taker is unique and what works best for you to improve your IELTS speaking may be different from what other test takers need to focus on.
How important is grammatical range and accuracy in speaking?
You need to show a wide range of grammatical structures in your speaking test because it shows the examiner that you can communicate in English. A good range of grammar makes your spoken English sound more natural.
How long is the speaking test?
Part 1 = 4-5 minutes
Part 2 = 3-4 minutes
Part 3 = 4-5 minutes
What can I do to calm down on test day?
Here are a few things you can do:
- Get a good night’s sleep before the test so you’re well rested
- Eat a healthy breakfast on the day of the test so you have energy
- Get to the test centre early so you can relax and get settled in
What should I remember when speaking for IELTS?
There are four main criteria:
- Fluency and coherence
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy
- Pronunciation
To score high in each of these, you need to be able to speak fluently and coherently without too many pauses, use a range of vocabulary accurately and appropriately, use a range of grammatical structures accurately and speak with good pronunciation.
What are IELTS examiner speaking tips?
Here are a few things an IELTS examiner looks for when assessing IELTS speaking candidates. Here are some tips from an IELTS examiner to help you ace the IELTS speaking test:
- Be confident and speak clearly. This is probably the most important tip of all! The examiner wants to see that you can communicate in English so make sure your speech is clear and confident.
- Engage in conversation. A big part of the IELTS speaking test is to show you can have a conversation. So try to answer the examiner's questions maturally.
- Use a range of vocabulary and grammar. To get a high score in IELTS speaking you must show you have a good range of English vocabulary and grammar. So try to use different words and structures while answering common IELTS speaking questions.
- The examiner is not looking for perfection so don’t worry if you make a few mistakes. Just relax and be yourself!