IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 1
PART 1
Example questions
Do you have a group of close friends or one best friend?
What is it about your closest friends that you like? (Why do you enjoy their company?)
What sort of things do you do with your friends?
Are any of your childhood friends still close friends now?
Have you met anyone recently who you think will become a close friend?
PART 2
Example PART
Describe a personal possession that is important to you.
You should say:
what the possession is
when you bought, found or were given it
what you use it for and how offen you use it
and why it has special importance.
PART 3
Example questions
Do people have more material possessions nowadays than they did in the past?
Have material possessions become more important to people over time?
Have some people lost sight of what is really important in life?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 2
PART 1
Example questions
How important is it for you to keep up to date with the news?
What kind of news do you like to keep up to date with?
How do you prefer to get information?
From the newspapers or magazines, TV or from the internet?
Do you think everything you read about or hear about in the news is true?
Would you like to work as a news journalist? Why?/ Why not?
PART 2
Example PART
Describe a personal success you have had.
You should say:
what kind of personal success it was
when you achieved it
what you had to do in order to achieve it
and explain why it important to you.
PART 3
Example questions
Do you think that being successful is always a good thing? Why?Why not?
To what extent does a good education encourage people to be successful?
How far do you that older people view success differently from younger people?
Are children these days under too much pressure to succeed compared with children in the past?
Do you think that attitudes to success differ in different PARTs of the world?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 3
PART 1
Example questions
Do you get much free time?
Tell me about what you most enjoying doing in your free time?
Is it important for you to spend free time outdoor?
Are you enthusiastic about outdoor activities?
(If yes – Tell me about the activities you enjoy doing outside?
If no – what is it about outdoor activities you don’t like?)
PART 2
Example PART
Describe a special event that you attended recently.
You should say:
what the event was and where it took place
who else attended the event
what happened
and how you felt about your experience.
+ Follow-up questions (optional)
What are some important events that take place each year in your country?
Is there a local event that is important to your city, town or region?
PART 3
Example questions
Let’s talk some more about important events in people’s lives.
It is important for people to have events that they can look forward to?
Do you think people enjoy different kinds of events as they grow older?
What are the most important events in people’s lives? Why?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 4
PART 1
Example questions
Do you like to travel around or stay in one place when you’re on holiday?
Do you prefer to go on a long holiday or a short holiday? Why?
What do you think people can learn from travelling to different countries?
What do you think people find interesting about travelling around your country?
PART 2
Describe a long journey that you have made
Say when this was and where you went
How you travelled
What you did and saw on the journey
And say how you felt at the end of it
Follow-up examiner’s questions
Would you recommend this as a method of travelling? Why / Why not?
Do you think you will make that journey again in future? Why/ Why not?
PART 3
How has international travel changed recent years?
Is it better to have holidays in our home countries or to go abroad?
Do you think that tourism damages the environment?
Why do some people prefer to have holidays alone?
What skills and qualities wou`ld a good tour guide need?
PART 2
Talk about a time when you helped someone.
You should say:
who you helped
when you helped her/him
what kind of help you provided
and explain why it was memorable to you.
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 5
PART 1
Examiner’s questions
Tell me about your spare time interests. What are your hobbies?
What sports do you enjoy watching?
Do you watch sports on TV or in person? Why?
Do you do any sports as well? Which ones?
What leisure activities are popular in your country?
What kind of food is popular in your country?
Is there a special national dish? Can you describe it?
What is the climate like in your hometown?
What amenities does your hometown have for the public?
PART 2
PART card
Describe a long journey that you have made
Say when this was and where you went
How you travelled
What you did and saw on the journey
And say how you felt at the end of it
Follow-up examiner’s questions
Would you recommend this as a method of travelling? Why / Why not?
Do you think you will make that journey again in future? Why/ Why not?
PART 3
How has international travel changed over recent years?
Is it better to have holidays in our home countries or to go abroad?
Do you think that tourism damages the environment?
Why do some people prefer to have holidays alone?
What skills and qualities would a good tour guide need?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 6
PART 1
Examiner’s questions
What were your favorite subjects at school? Why?
Do you plan to study more in future? What/ Why?
How do you prepare for exams and IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST s?
What careers are popular in your home country? Why?
Do your friends work or study? What do they do?
How do you keep in touch with your friends and family?
Do you use the postal (mail) service much? What for?
What uses do you make of social media?
PART 2
PART card
Describe something you bought which you were not happy with
Say what you bought and from where
Why you were not happy with it
What you did about this
And say what happened as a result
Follow-up examiner’s questions
Would you buy from the same place or source again?
Have you bought similar products since then?
PART 3
How has the internet changed the way people shop?
Do you think that online will replace real stores completely?
How can people protect themselves then shopping online?
Do supermarkets have too much power these days?
What skills would a person need to run a very large, busy store?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 7
PART 1
Example
Your country
Which PART of your country do most people live in?
Tell me about the main industry there.
How easy is it to travel around your country?
Has your country changed much since you were a child?
PART 2
Describe a well-known person you like or admire
You should say:
who this person is
what this person has done why this person is well known
And explain why you admire this person.
PART 3
Discussion topic:
Famous people in your country
Example questions:
What kinds of people become famous people these days?
How do you think people will become famous in the future?
Being in the public eye
Example questions:
What are the good things about being famous? Are there any disadvantages?
How does the media in your country treat famous people?
Why do you think ordinary people are interested in the lives of famous people?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 8
PART 1
First I’d like to ask you about your hometown.
What kind of place is your hometown?
Tell me about the most interesting place in your hometown.
What changes would you like to make to you hometown?
Now let’s move on to talk about animals
What kinds of animals are popular pets in your country? Why?
How are animals in your country used for work?
Are there any animals in your country that have special significance?
Let’s talk about travel.
How easy is it to travel in your country?
What form of transport is the most popular? Why?
Are there any PARTs of your country that are difficult to travel to? Why / why not?
PART 2
PART 3
First, lets consider global environmental problems.
Tell me about some of the environmental problems that are affecting countries these days?
Do you think that governments around the world are doing enough to tackle the problems?
Why do some people not consider environmental problems to be serious?
Now we’ll look at environmental problems and disasters caused by humans.
What do you consider to be the world’s worst environment disasters caused by humans.
Why do you think environmental disasters caused by humans happen?
Do you think there will be more environmental disasters caused by humans in the future?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 9
PART 1
How often do you go to PARTies?
Do you enjoy attending PARTies?
What do people usually do at PARTies?
Are PARTies expensive to hold?
PART 2
Describe a recent event that made you happy.
You should say:
when and where it was
who was involved
what happened
and explain why it made you happy.
PART 3
What types of PARTy do people have?
why are PARTies important?
Why do 1you think some people like PARTies but others dislike them?
Do you think PARTies will become more popular in the future?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 10
PART 1
Let’s talk about friendship.
Who is your best friend?
Why do you call this person your best friend?
What makes this friend closer than your other friends?
Do you think it’s better to have a large group of friends or a few close friends?
What do you and your friends like to do?
Have you remained friends with people from your childhood? Why or Why not.
How do people choose their friends?
PART 2
Describe a relative who you are like
You should say:
Who the relative is and how close you are to them
What makes you and your relative alike.
Why do you think you and your relative have these shared qualities?
PART 3
Do you enjoy spending time with relatives? Why or why not?
Which of your relative do you spend the most time with?
Who do you spend the least amount of time with?
When do you and your extended family gather?
What types of traditions do you and your relative have?
Do you think family members are more important than friends?
who is not related but is considered PART of your family anyway?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 11
PART 1
Let’s talk about work.
Do you have a job? Do you like it? Why and Why not?
Why did you choose this job?
What kind of education of training did you need to get this job?
If you don’t have a job, what kind of job would you like to have?
How can you prepare yourself to get this kind of job?
How do people choose jobs?
PART 2
Describe a holiday that you have celebrated recently.
You should say:
what the purpose of the holiday is
who you celebrated with
why this holiday is important to you
and describe some activities that you did as PART of the celebration.
PART 3
What are some important holidays in your country?
Why do people celebrate holidays?
Do you think holiday celebrations have changed over the years? Why or Why not?
Do you think the importance of holiday celebrations has changed over the year? Why or Why not?
How will holidays be different in the future?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 12
PART 1
Let’s talk about food.
What kind of food do you enjoy eating?
What are some kinds of food you never eat? Why?
Do you generally prefer to eat at home or a restaurant? Why?
What are some reasons that people eat at restaurants?
Describe a popular food in your country. Why do people like this food?
PART 2
Describe teacher from your past that you remember.
You should say:
what class the teacher taught you and how old you were
what the teacher’s special qualities and characteristics were
why you remember this teacher
PART 3
What kind of person makes a good teacher?
Why do people choose to become teachers?
Do you think education will change in the future? How?
How does technology affect education?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 13
PART 1
Let’s talk about housing
Where do you live now?
Who do you live with?
What kind of place do you live in (a house or an aPARTment)?
Do you think it’s better to live in a house or an aPARTment? Why?
Describe your neighborhood
Do you like it? Why and Why not?
How do people choose their place to live?
PART 2
Describe a gift you have received that was important to you.
You should say:
who give it to you and for what occasion
what it looks like and how you use it
why it is important to you
PART 3
Do you enjoy giving and receiving gifts? Why or Why not?
Who usually gives you gifts?
Who do you give gifts to?
In your country whe n do people usually give gifts?
What kinds of gifts do they give?
Do you think gift-giving customs are different now than were in the past? How?
Do you think they will change in the future? How?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 14
PART 1
Example
Jewellery
Do people in your country ever wear jewellery, such as rings or necklaces?
What kind of jewellery do you like? Why?
Have you ever bought or received jewellery as a present? Why or Why not?
What can jewellery tell us about the person who is wearing it?
PART 2
Describe an important national park or protected area in your country.
You should say:
where it is
how you know about it
what people can see and do there
and explain why this national park od protected area is important.
PART 3
Discussion topics:
Creating national parks
Example questions:
Why do governments create national parks or protected area in their countries?
What are the disadvantages of using large areas of the countryside to make a national park?
Are there any benefits for local people when a national park is created in their region?
How do you think national parks should be funded?
Internationally protected areas
Example questions:
What kinds of area do you think need international protection? How important is it to protect these areas?
How easy do you think it is to reach international agreements about protecting some areas?
Do you think there will be problems in implementing such agreements? Why?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 15
PART 1
Outdoor activities
What are your favorite outdoor activities? Why?
When was the last time you spent the day outdoors? What did you do?
Are there any things you don’t like about being outdoors? What are they?
Did you spend more time outdoors when you were a child than you do now? Why/ Why not?
PART 2
Describe a museum or an exhibition that you went to.
You should say:
What kind of museum or exhibition it was
When you when there
What you liked and disliked about it
And explain why you went to this museum/exhibition.
PART 3
Types of museum or exhibition
What different kinds of museum and exhibition are common in your country?
Do you think museums and exhibitions do enough to attract public interest? Why? What more could they do?
The purpose of museums
How important is it for children to visit museums?
What can they learn there?
Why do tourists like to visit museums? Is it important for a country to encourage this? Why?
Should museums focus on the past or should they show exhibitions on modern developments, such as space exploration or research findings?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 16
PART 1
Computers and Education
Did you use computers when you were at school?
How do you think students benefit from using computers?
What is the best age for the children to learn to use computers? Why?
Do you think computers will ever take the place of teachers? Why and Why not?
PART 2
Describe the best holiday/vacation you have ever had.
You should say:
When it was
What you did
Who you spent it with
And explain why it was your best holiday/vacation
PART 3
Vacation patterns
How much vacation time do people generally have in your country? How do they usually spend it?
Do people today have a same amount of vacation time as people did in the past? Why?
What kinds of vacation do you think people will expect to have in the future? Why?
How important are vacations in people’s lives today? Why?
Do you think workers have different attitudes towards vacations than employers have? In what way?
Some people think that all workers should have the same amount of vacation time nomatterwhat their jobs are. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 17
PART 1
Plans for the future
Why are you talking the IELTS IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST ?
Why did you choose this plan for your future?
How does your family feel about your plan? Why?
What problems do you think you may have in carrying out your plans?
PART 2
Describe a farm you know about.
You should say:
Where the farm is
What the arm produces
Who works on this farm
And explain how you know about it
PART 3
Working in farms
What are the benefits of working on farm, do you think?
Do you think a farmer’s work today is easier than it was for previous generations? Why / Why not?
Is being a farmer a good job in your country? Why/Why not?
Town and country
Why might some people prefer to live in towns rather than in the countryside? Which do people generally prefer in your country? Why?
In today’s world, what kind of issues are people in towns and those in the countryside likely to disagree on? Why?
Should people in the countryside have the same standard of public services as people in towns?
Why? How easy would that be to achieve?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 18
PART 1
Tell me about your family?
Where do they live?
What do you like doing when you are with your family?
Topic 1 Health and Exercise
What sorts of thing do you do to keep healthy?
What other sorts of things are popular in your country to keep healthy?
What sorts of exercise do you not like doing?
How can we get young people to do more exercise?
Topic 2 Music
What is favorite type of music and why?
Do you think that a country’s traditional music is important for its culture? Why?
Why do people’s tastes in music often change as they get older?
What are some of the different uses of music in your country?
PART 2
Describe your favorite film or television programme.
You should say:
When you watch it
Who is in it
What happens in it
And explain why you PARTicularly like it
PART 3
Topic 1 TV and Radio
Why do you think television has become so popular over the last 50 years?
Do you think that there is still a future for radio with television being so popular?
Which is better for presenting the news: television or radio? Why?
How can we stop young people today watching too much television?
Topic 2 Films and Cinema
Can you compare television and cinema as forms of entertainment?
Do people in your country prefer American films or films from their PART of the World?
How do you think World cinema will develop over the next 50 years?
Do you feel that “film stars” are overpaid for what they do?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 19
PART 1
Tell me about the PART of the country where you live.
What are the main ways of earning money in this area?
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of living in this area?
Topic 1 Studying English
Where have you studied English?
What do you find most difficult about studying English?
What’s the best way for you to study English:
How can speaking English well help you in your life?
Topic 2 Transport
What is the best way to get around the place where you live?
How would you improve transport in your town or area?
How does transport cause pollution?
Do people prefer using public or private transport in your country?
PART 2
Describe what you think would be the perfect holiday.
You should say:
Where it would be
What activities you would do
How long it would last
And explain why this holiday would be perfect to you.
PART 3
Topic 1 Tourism
What are some of the best places in your country for a tourist to visit?
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages that tourism brings to an area?
Could you compare the tourism industry today with that of 50 years ago?
What factors do you think could limit the expansion of tourism in the future?
Topic 2 Holidays
Why do you think people need holidays?
How much holiday a year do you think a person needs?
How have people’s expectations about holidays changed over the last 50 years?
How do you think holidays will change in the next 50 years?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 20
PART 1
Libraries
Do you ever go to the libraries? Why/ Why not?
Do you think libraries should be free of that people should have to pay to use them?
How can we get more people to use libraries?
Do you think government money for libraries could be spent on better things?
Team sports
Do you play or watch a team sport? Why/ Why not?
Why do you think people like playing or watching team sports?
What are some of the disadvantages of playing or watching team sports?
How can we encourage young people to play more sport?
PART 2
Describe a place that you like
You should say:
Where this place is
When you first went there
What you do or did there
And explain why this place is so special for you.
PART 3
Places of Interest
What kinds of places in your country are threatened by building of other types of progress?
Do you think it is important to preserve historical areas in countries? Why?
How can government protect place of interest?
What sort of places will be of interest to people in the future?
The Environment
What kinds of pollution problems does your country face?
How can ordinary people help fight pollution?
Do you think that there should be stricter punishments for people and companies that pollute the environment?
What sort of pollution problems do you think the world will face in the fiture?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 21
PART 1
Describe the house or flat/aPARTment in which you live at the moment
Do you think it is better to live in a house or a flat/aPARTment?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a garden?
Topic 1 Parks
Do you visit parks? Why/Why not?
Do you think parks are important for cities? Why/Why not?
Do you think that parks should be free of that people should pay to use them?
What are some of the disadvantages of parks in a town or city?
Topic 2 Free Time
Do you have much free time in your life? Why/Why not?
What do you like doing in your free time?
What free time activities do you PARTicularly dislike?
How much free time do you think a person should have every day?
PART 2
Topic 1 Family and Friends
Do you prefer spending time with your family or with your friends? Why?
Can you compare the activities that you do with your friends and your family?
Do you think it is important for your family and friends to like each other?
Can you compare the relationships that you have with friends and the ones you have with family?
Topic 2 Living with Friends
Do you live alone, with friends or with family? Why?
What are some of the advantages of living with friends?
What are some of disadvantages of living with friends?
What are some of things that can break a friendship?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 22
PART 1
Tell me about the job or studies that you are doing.
Why did you choose this field?
Do you think you will ever change this job or study? Why/Why not?
Topic 1 Schooldays
What was your favorite subject at school? Why?
How did your school teach sports?
How would you improve the school that you went to?
Topic 2 Rivers
Describe a river in your country.
What kinds of things are rivers used for in your country?
Are there any pollution problems with rivers in your country? What?
What kind of problems do people face if they live near a big river?
PART 2
Describe your favourite restaurant
You should say:
Where the restaurant is and how you found it
What type of food it services
How often you go there
And explain exactly why you like this restaurant so much.
PART 3
Topic 1 Fast Food
Is fast food popular in your country? Why?
Why has fast food become so popular over the last 30 years?
Could you compare fast food with traditional meals?
How can we stop young people eating so much fast food?
Could you compare methods of food production today with that of 50 years ago?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 23
PART 1
Let’s talk about sports.
What kind of sports do you enjoy playing?
What are some sports you have never played? Why?
Do you prefer team sports or individual sports? Why?
Why do you think people play sports?
What is the most popular sport in your country? Why do people like this sport?
PART 2
Describe a role model you have had in your life.
You should say:
Who the person is.
His or her relation to you.
What impact this person has had on your life.
What makes them a role model.
PART 3
What attributes should a good role model have?
Why are role models important?
Have you been a role model to anyone?
What responsibilities does a role model have?
Can having role models be a bad thing? Why?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 24
PART 1
Cold Weather
Have you ever been in very cold weather? When?
How often is the weather cold where you come from?
Are some PARTs of your country colder than others? Why?
Would you prefer to live in a hot place or a cold place? Why?
PART 2
Describe a competition that you took PART in.
You should say:
What kind of competition it was and how you found out about it
What you had to do
What the prizes were
And explain why you choose to take PART in this competition.
PART 3
Competitions in school
Why do you think some school teachers use competitions as class activities?
Do you think it is a good thing to give prizes to children who do well at school? Why?
Would you say that schools for young children have become more or less competitive since you were that age? Why?
Sporting Competitions
What are the advantages and disadvantages of intensive training young people for sports?
Do you think that it is possible to become too competitive in sport? In what way?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 25
PART 1
Travelling to work or college
How do you usually travel to work or college? Why?
Have you always traveled to work/college in the same way? Why/Why not?
What do you like about travelling to work/college this way?
What changes would improve the way you travel to work/college? Why?
PART 2
Describe a piece of electronic equipment that you find useful
You should say:
What is it
How you learned to use it
How long you have had it
And explain why you find this piece of electronic equipment useful.
PART 3
Technology and Housework
What kinds of machine are used for housework in modern homes in your country?
How have these machines benefited people? Are there any negative effects of using them?
Do you think all new homes will be equipped with household machines in the future/ why?
Technology in the workplace
What kinds of equipment do most workers need to use in offices?
Do you think developments in technology have brought more stress to people nowadays?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 26
PART 1
Colour
What is your favorite colour? Why?
Do you like the same colours now as you did when you were younger? Why/Why not?
What can we learn about a person from the colours they like?
Do any colours have a special meaning in your culture?
PART 2
Describe a song or a piece of music you like.
You should say:
What the song or music is
What kind of song or music it is
Where you first heard it
And explain why you like it.
PART 3
Muscle and young people
What kinds of music are popular with young people in your culture?
What do you think influences a young person’s taste in music?
How has technology affected the kinds of music popular with young people?
Music and society
Tell me about any traditional music in your country?
How important is it for a culture to have musical traditions?
Why do you think countries have national anthems or songs?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 27
PART 1
Entertainment
Do you prefer relaxing at home or going out in the evening? Why?
When you go out for an evening, what do you like to do?
How popular is this with other people in your country?
Is there any kind of entertainment you do not like? Why/Why not?
PART 2
Describe one of your friends.
You should say:
how you meet
how long you have known each other
how you spend time together
and explain why you like this person.
PART 3
Qualities of friends
What do you think are the most important qualities for friends to have?
Which are more important to people, their family or their friends? Why?
What do you think can cause friendships to break up?
What other types of relationship, apart from friends or family, are important in people’s lives today?
Have relationships with neighbours changed in recent years? How?
How important do you think it is for a person to spend some time alone?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 28
PART 1
Music
What types of music do you like to listen to? Why?
At what times of day do you like to listen to music? Why?
Did you learn to play a musical instrument when you were a child?Why /Why not?
Do you think all children should learn to play a musical instrument? Why /Why not?
PART 2
Describe a shop near where you live that you sometimes use
You should say:
what sorts of product or service it sells
what the shop looks like
where it is located
and explain why you use this shop.
PART 3
What types of local business are there in your neighbourhood? Are there any restaurants, shops or dentists for example?
Do you think local businesses are important for a neighbourhood? In what way?
How do large shopping malls affect small local businesses?
Why do some people want to start their own business?
Are there any disadvantages to running a business? Which is the most serious?
What are the most important qualities that a good business person needs? Why is that?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 29
PART 1
Weekends
How do you usually spend your weekends? Why?
Which is your favorite PART of the weekend? Why?
Do you think your weekends are long enough? Why/Why not?
How important do you think it is to have free time at the weekends? Why?
PART 2
Describe someone you know who does something well
You should say:
who this person is
how you know this person
what they do well
and explain why you think this person is so good at doing this.
PART 3
Skills and abilities
What skills and abilities do people most want to have today? Why?
Which skills should children learn at school?
Are there any skills which they should learn at home? What are they?
Which skills do you think will be important in the future? Why?
Salaries for skilled people
Which kinds of jobs have the highest salaries in your country? Why is this?
Are there any other jobs that you think should have high salaries? Why do you think that?
Some people say it would be better for society if everyone got the same salary. What do you think about that? Why?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 30
PART 1
School
Did you do to secondary/high school near to where you live? Why/Why not?
What did you like about your secondary/high school? why?
Tell me about anything you did’t like at your school.
How do you think your school could be improved? Why/Why not?
PART 2
Describe something you don’t have now but would really like to own in the future
You should say:
what this thing is
how long you have wanted to own it
where you first saw it
and explain why you would like to own it.
PART 3
Owning things
What types of things do young people in your country most want to own today?
Why is this?
Why do some people feel they need to own things?
Do you think that owning lots of things makes people happy? Why?
Salaries for skilled people
Do you think television and films can make people want to get new possessions?
Are there any benefits to society when people want to get new possessions?
Do you think people will consider that having lots of possessions is a sign of success in the future? Why?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 31
PART 1
Travel
Do you enjoy travelling? Why/Why not?
Have you done much travelling? Why/Why not?
Do you think it’s better to travel alone or with other people? Why?
Where would you like to travel to in the future? Why?
PART 2
Describe a child that you know
You should say:
who this child is and how often you see him or her
how old this child is
what he or she is like
and explain what you feel about this child.
PART 3
Relationships between parents and children
How much time do children spend with their parents in your country? Do you think that is enough?
How important do you think spending time together is for the relationships between parents and children? Why?
Have relationships between parents and children changed in recent years? Why do you think that is?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 32
PART 1
Your family
Would you describe your family as large or small?
Are there any members of your family you haven’t seen for a long time?
Who do you get on best with in your family?
Would you say your family is a typical in your country?
PART 2
Describe a piece of technology you wouldn’t like to live without
You should say:
what the technology is
how long you have been using it
what you use it for
and explain why you wouldn’t like to live without it.
PART 3
What technology has been introduced in your lifetime?
What technology can you see being introduced in the years to come?
Do you think we rely too much on modern technology?
How has the internet changed how people communicate?
Are there any drawbacks to being permanently online?
How do you think the internet is going to develop over the next twenty years?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 33
PART 1
Tell me about the accommodation you’re currently living in.
Do you have a favorite PART of the house?
Do you think you’ll stay where you’re living for a while?
Do you think hats are as popular as they used to be? When was the last time you were late?
How do you feel when other people are late?
Do you think people these days have enough time?
How do you think children perceive time?
PART 2
I’d like you to tell me about someone you think is attractive.
Who is this person?
Why is he or she attractive?
How does this person dress?
And, what do other people think about this person’s look?
PART 3
Do you think these days, there’s an over-emphasis on conforming to a norm, or on looking beautiful?
What are some of the dangers of this pressure to be attractive?
Do you think our idea of beauty has changed over time, or basically stayed the same?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 34
PART 1
Could you tell me what you’re doing at the moment: are you working or studying?
What do you find easy of difficult about your job/study?
Do you think you will stay in the same job for a long time?
Now, let’s talk about music. Have you ever played a musical instrument?
Do you think some people are naturally good at music?
How often do you have visitors to your home? What do you do?
How do you feel about staying the night at home of friends or relative?
How has visiting others changed in your country in the last 20 years?
PART 2
I’d like you to tell me about a game (not a sport) you used to play as a child
What was the game?
Who did you play it with?
What did you like about the game?
And, do you still play this kind of game now?
PART 3
Could you compare the kinds of games children in your country play outdoors, with those they play indoors?
What skills do children learn from playing games?
How does playing games develop a child’s imagination?
Now, let’s consider being competitive.
In what way are people competitive at work in your country?
Do you think it is possible these days not be competitive? Why?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 35
PART 1
Could you tell me about the area you’re living in now?
Would you say it was a good place to bring up children? Why/Why not?
Is there anything famous about your area?
Now, let’s talk about street markets. Do you ever shop at street markets?
What is the benefit of shopping at street markets?
Have you ever been to a night market? What was special about it?
Do you think there will be more street markets in your city in the future or fewer?
Let’s move on to talk about meeting people. How easy is it in your city to meet new people?
How do you feel about meeting people online?
Is it easier to meet new people as one gets older?
PART 2
I’d like you to tell me about a piece of equipment of yours that recently stopped working.
What was the equipment?
What happened to it?
What did you do with the equipment?
And, how do you feel about the experience now?
PART 3
What are some really useful pieces of equipment?
and what are some that are less useful?
Do you think modern equipment makes people lazy?
To what extent are human beings more inventive now than they were in the past?
How important are inventors to a country’s economy?
How can inventors be encouraged?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 36
PART 1
Could you tell me what you are doing at the moment: are you working or studying?
What do you do in your job?
Do you like your job?
What do you remember about your first day in this job?
Now, let’s talk about talking photos. Do you mainly take photos with your phone, or do you use a camera?
Is there anything in PARTicular you like to take photos of?
Typically, what do you do with your photos after you’re taken them?
Would you like to take classes in photography?
Let’s move on to talk about parks. Do you go to any parks near where you live?
Do you prefer a park with designated areas for leisure activities, or one that has mostly open space?
PART 2
I’d like you to tell me about an embarrassing experience you have had with food.
Where were you?
What happened?
How did you feel afterwards?
And, what did other people think about this event?
PART 3
Do people these days eat enough natural food?
To what extent are food producers responsible for the health of consumers?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 37
PART 1
Giving gifts
When do people give gifts or presents in your country?
Do you ever bring a gift when you visit someone in their home? Why/ Why not?
When did you last receive a gift? What was it?
Do you enjoy looking for gifts for people? Why/Why not?
PART 2
Describe something you did that was new or exciting.
You should say:
what you did
where and when you did this
who you shared the activity with and explain why this activity was new or exciting for you.
PART 3
Doing new things
Why do you think some people like doing new things?
What problems can people have when they try new activities for the first time?
Do you think it’s better to do new things on your own or with other people? Why?
Learning new things
What kinds of things do children learn to do when they are very young? How important are these things?
Do you think children and adults learn to do new things in the same way? How is their learning style different?
Some people say that it is more important to be able to learn new things now than it was …………………………………………………
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 38
PART 1
Games
What games are popular in your country? Why?
Do you play any games? Why/ Why not?
How do people learn to play games in your country?
Do you think it’s important for people to play games? Why/ Why not?
PART 2
Describe an open-air or street market which you enjoyed visiting.
You should say:
where the market is
what the market sells
how big the market is and explain why you enjoyed visiting this market.
PART 3
Shopping at markets
Do people in your country enjoy going to open-air markets that sell things like food or clothes or old objects? Which type of market is more popular? Why?
Do you think markets are more suitable places for selling certain types of things? Which ones? Why do you think this is?
Do you think young people think feel the same about shopping at markets as older people? Why is that?
Shopping in general
What do you think are the advantages of buying things from shops rather than markets?
How does advertising influence what people choose to buy?
What are some recent changes in people’s shopping habits? Why is this?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 39
PART 1
Telephoning
How often do you make telephone calls? Why/Why not?
Who do you spend most time talking to on the telephone? Why?
When do you think you’ll next make a telephone call? Why?
Do you sometimes prefer to send a text message instead of telephoning? Why/Why not?
PART 2
Describe a journey that you remember well.
You should say:
where you went
how you travelled
why you went on the journey and explain why you remember this journey well.
PART 3
Reasons for daily travel
Why do people need to travel every day?
What problems can people have when they are on their daily journey, for example to work or school? Why is this?
Some people say that daily journeys like these will not be so common in the future. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Benefits of international travel
What do you think people can learn from travelling to other countries? Why?
Can travel make a positive difference to the members have experience of travelling to other countries? In what ways?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 40
PART 1
Bicycles
How popular are bicycles in your hometown? Why?
How often do you ride a bicycle? Why/Why not?
Do you think that bicycles are suitable for all ages? Why/Why not?
What are the advantages of bicycle compared to a car? Why?
PART 2
Describe a person who has done a lot of work to help people
You should say:
who this person is
where this person lives/lived
what he/she has done to help peopleand explain how you know about this person
PART 3
Helping other people in the community
What are some of the ways people can help others in the community?
Why do you think some people like to help other people?
Some people say that people help others in the community more now than they did in the past. Do you agree or disagree?
Community Services
What types of services, such as libraries or health centres, are available to the people who live in your area? Do you think there are enough of them?
Which groups of people generally need most support in a community? Why?
Who do you think should pay for the services that are available to the people in a community? Should it be the government or individual people?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 41
PART 1- INTRODUCTION AND INTERVIEW
Is English important in your chosen career?
What do you hope to do in the future?
Have you given up anything you used to do in your free time? If so, what?
Which new hobbies or sports would you like to try?
Do you share similar interests with your friends?
PART 2 – INDIVIDUAL LONG TURN
Describe the job or career you have, or hope to have.
You should say:
what the job is
what it involves
why you chose it and explain why it is rewarding.
PART 3 – TWO-WAY DISCUSSION
What do most people consider as important when deciding on a job or career?
In modern life a lot of people work too hard. What are the effects of this?
How could the problems of overworking be avoided?
At what age do you think people should retire from work?
How has technology changed the way that people work?
What furthers changes in the way people work do you think we will see in the future?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 42
PART 1 – INTRODUCTION AND INTERVIEW
Where do you come from?
Where do you live now?
Could you tell me something about your family?
What are your qualifications?
How do you typically spend the weekend?
PART 2 – INDIVIDUAL LONG TURN
Describe a celebration you remember
You should say:
What event was being celebrated
The form the celebration look
Where the celebration took place
Who was there
Why it was enjoyable and explain why it is memorable for you.
PART 3 TWO-WAY DISCUSSION
What events in a person’s life are most celebrated in your country?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 43
PART 1
Let’s talk about your free time.
Are you good at making decisions?
Do you think you usually make the right decisions?
Do you have a lot of free time?
What do you like to do when you are at home?
Do you spend more time with your family or with friends?
Where do you go when you do out?
Is there enough to do in your hometown?
Let’s talk about keeping fit.
Do you try to keep fit? How?
Do you think it’s important for young people to keep fit?
Is sport compulsory for schoolchildren in your country?
Do you do any sports? Which do you like best?
Have you ever watched a sporting event live?
PART 2
Describe an important decision you had to make.
You should say:
what you had to decide
what or who helped you decide
if you make the right decision and explain why the decision was important.
**
PART 3
Do you think it’s harder to make decisions nowadays because we have so many choices?
What are the disadvantages of asking for other people’s advice when making a decision?
Why do you think some people are better at making decisions than others?
Do you think children should be given the opportunity to make their own decisions?
Some people say we only learn by making mistakes. Do you agree?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 44
PART 1
Can you tell me about your hometown?
What kind of things do you do on a typical day?
What form of transport do you usually use?
What kind of things do you enjoy doing with your friends?
What did you do last weekend?
What are your plans for after this IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST ?
PART 2
Describe something you have bought recently
You should say:
what you bought
what is looks like
why you bought it
and say whether you are pleased with your purchase.
PART 3
If you could buy any new gadget you wanted, what would you choose and why?
Do you think people today spend too much money buying new things? Why?
Do you always want to buy the laIELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST technology or are you happy with an older model? Why?
Why do you think older people struggle so much with new technology?
Are there any ways we could help them to adapt?
What changes in technology do you think we will see in the next 50 years?
Do you think we should always try to improve on exiting technology or are some things better as they are? Why?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 45
PART 1
Places in your hometown
Can you tell me your name?
Where do you come from?
Describe the place where you were born.
Tell me about the main types of building there.
How easy is it to get to?
How have the buildings in your hometown changed since you were a child?
PART 2
Describe your favorite possession.
You should say:
what this is
when you obtained it
what you like about itand explain why this item is important for you.
PART 3
The main products are made in your country
What kinds of products are manufactured in your home country?
How important are they for the local or national economy?
Is manufacturing more important in your country now than it was in the past? In what way?
Commercialism in your country
What are the advantages of manufacturing consumer goods in your own country?
Have we become too obsessed nowadays with owning the laIELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST products? Why/ Why not?
What do you think are the effects of commercialism on people?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 46
PART 1
Bicycle
What is your name?
Where do you come from?
Tell me about the use of bicycles in your country.
How popular are bicycles in your country?
Are they used more now than in the past? Why/Why not?
What do bicycles mean to you?
PART 2
Describe a well-known person from the world of sport (or films) that you would like to meet.
You should say:
who this person is
what this person has done
why this person is well-known and explain why you would like to meet this person.
PART 3
Role models in the sports world
Do sportsmen and women make good role models for young people? Why/Why not?
Are we too concerned with the sports stars rather than the sports themselves?
Why do you think sports stars are paid so much? Is this justified? Why/Why not?
Job changes
Do you think people are happy to stay in the same job for a long time these days?
What types of jobs are popular these days? Why?
Which jobs do you think will be popular in the future? Why?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 47
PART 1
TV
What is your name?
Where do you come from?
Tell me about TV in your country.
Do you watch a lot of TV?
What is your favorite programme?
Is television more important to you now than in the past?
PART 2
Describe a leisure activity you like doing.
You should say:
what the activity is.
When you started doing it
What you like about the activity and explain why this this activity is important for you.
PART 3
Purpose of skills in the modern world
What do you think are the most important skills for children to learn in the modern world? Why?
Which skills do you think children should learn at school and which at home? Why?
Do you think future generations will need to acquire new skills? What kind?
Skills and work
What role do you think skills play in the modern work place?
Do you think the skills that people need nowadays have changed compared to the past?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 48
PART 1
What you do
Are you a student?
What subject(s) do you study?
What do you like best about your course?
What do you hope to do in the future?
Films
What type of films do you like best? Why?
Who do you usually watch films with? Why?
Where do you prefer to watch films – at the cinema or at home? Why?
Shopping
How often do you go shopping?
Do you prefer to go shopping alone? Why/Why not?
What do you find annoying about shopping? Why?
PART 2
Describe how you like to communicate with your friends.
You should say:
how you prefer to communicate with your friends
how often you use this method of communication
what disadvantages there are to communicating in this way and explain why you prefer this method of communication.
PART 3
Changes in communication
Can you describe how people used to communicate fifty years ago?
What were/are the good points about writing and receiving letters?
How do you think methods of communication will change in the future?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 49
PART 1
What you do
Are you a student?
Where do you study?
What do you like most about your college? Why?
What subjects would you like to study in future? Why?
Clothes
How do you prefer to buy your clothes? Why?
How important is fashion to you? Why?
How much do you think we can judge people by the clothes they wear?
Hobbies
What hobbies do you do regularly?
What benefits can people get from their hobbies?
Which new hobby would you like to try? Why?
PART 2
Describe a country that you would like to go to.
You should say:
Where you would like to go
What you would like to do there
How long you would like to spend there and explain why you would PARTicularly like to go to this country.
PART 3
The effects of travel
Why do you think it is important for young people to travel?
How have people’s attitudes to travel changed in the past few decades?
How can increased tourism have a negative effect on the countries visited?
IELTS SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST 50
PART 1
Where you live
Do you live in a town or in the country?
It is a convenient place to live? Why/Why not?
What is interesting about the area where you live?
Where would you like to live in the future? Why?
Sports
Which is the most popular sport in your country? Why?
What are the advantages of doing sports regularly? Why?
Which new sport would you like to try? Why?
Spending time with friends
What do you PARTicularly enjoy doing with your friends?
Have the things that you do with your friends changed over the years? Why?
What makes a good friends? Why?
PART 2
Describe an academic success that you achieved
You should say:
what you did to achieve this success
how difficult it was to do it
how you feel when you were successful and explain how this success has helped you in your life.
. Rounding-off your family pleased with your success
PART 3
How important is it for people to have academic goals?
Does secondary school prepare students adequately for life?
How will technology change academic study in the future?