You should practice as much as possible with different IELTS Speaking sample questions before you take your Speaking test.
When you practice IELTS Speaking sample questions for Part 1, make sure don’t overthink your answers. These questions are about you, and there are no wrong answers.
When you practice IELTS Speaking sample questions for Parts 2 and IELTS Speaking sample questions for Part 3, notice which topics you struggle with any work on improving your vocabulary.
Below you will find many IELTS Speaking sample questions to practice with, and I’ll also give you some advice about how to practice effectively.
IELTS Speaking Sample Questions – Part 1
What to expect in IELTS Speaking Part 1
The examiner will ask you questions about everyday, familiar topics. Expect questions about what you like and don’t like or what is popular in your country, what you do regularly and what you did when you were a child, and what you think will happen in the future.
You will be asked approximately 12 questions in Part 1 about three different topics. First, you will be asked to talk about either your job/studies or where you live. Then, you will also be asked about two additional topics.
It is impossible to predict the topics you will be asked about. Look around your room and out your window. If you can see it, you might be asked questions about it. Think about the activities you do regularly or once in a while. You could be asked to talk about anything people do regularly or on special occasions.
You cannot predict the topics, but you can be sure about one thing: the examiner will ask you questions about now, before now and after now. This means you have to practice using the right verb tenses. If it’s not clear when you are talking about, then your answer will be confusing, and this will lower your score.
Your answers should be approximately 2-3 sentences. Here is a Part 1 sample mock speaking test. You can watch how the student answers the Part 1 questions and listen to Chris’ feedback.
There are two different ways to practice Part 1 questions. You can practice by topic, and you can practice IELTS Speaking sample questions about now, IELTS Speaking sample questions about before now and IELTS Speaking sample questions about after now.
IELTS Sample Part 1 Speaking sample questions by topic
Being quiet
When is it important for people to be quiet?
Are children in your country quiet when they are in a restaurant?
Should everybody be quiet when they are using public transport?
Do you think your city will be quieter in the future?
Do you think people in your country are usually quiet in public?
When would you like other people to be quiet?
Can you fall asleep when your home is not quiet?
Perfume
Do you like wearing perfume?
Do you like to buy expensive perfume?
Have you ever received perfume as a gift?
Do men in your country wear perfume?
Do you think it is ok for children to wear perfume?
Do you like when other people wear very strong perfume?
Do you think perfume will be more expensive in the future?
Feeling angry
Did you become angry easily when you were a child?
What things made you angry when you were a child?
What do you do when you feel angry?
Is it easy for you to hide angry feelings?
What things make people in your country angry?
Is it ok to show angry feelings in your country?
Do you think you will feel angry less often when you are older?
Barbeques
Have you ever had a barbeque?
What kind of barbeque food do you like to eat?
Do you prefer to have a barbeque with your family or with your friends?
Where can you have a barbeque in your city?
Do you have a plan to have a barbeque in the future?
Why do you think people like eating outdoors?
Do you think barbeque food is healthy or unhealthy?
Snow
Does it snow in your country?
Did you play in the snow when you were a child?
What fun things can you do in the snow?
Can snow be dangerous?
Would you prefer to live in a snowy country or a hot country?
Do you remember the first time you saw snow?
Do you think there will be less snow in the future?
Words
What are your favourite English words?
Do you have a favourite work in your own language?
Do you ever forget words in your own language?
Did you learn how to spell words at school when you were a child?
Do you think learning how to spell words will be important in the future?
How can words hurt people?
How do you learn new words?
Shoes
Are nice shoes important to you?
Did you get new shoes every year when you were a child?
Where do you usually buy your shoes?
Do you think you will buy new shoes in the future?
How much money do you like to spend on shoes?
Did you have a favourite pair of shoes when you were a child?
Do people in your country wear shoes inside their home?
Mornings
What do you often do in the mornings?
How do you feel when you wake up early in the morning?
Do you do the same thing every morning?
Do you prefer to spend your mornings alone or with your family?
Do you ever work or study in the mornings?
What did you do in the morning when you were a child?
Do you think you will wake up later or earlier when you are older?
Zoos
Have you ever visited a zoo?
Is there a zoo in your city?
What kinds of animals can you see in zoos?
Why do you think children enjoy visiting zoos?
Would you like to visit a zoo in the future?
Would you enjoy working in a zoo?
Do you think zoos will be more or less popular in the future?
Laughing
When was the last time you laughed?
Do you like to make other people laugh?
What kind of things make you laugh?
What kinds of TV programmes made you laugh when you were a child?
Do you think it is important for people to laugh regularly?
Do you think children laugh more than adults?
Do adults and children laugh at the same things?
Buses
How often do you take the bus?
When was the first time you went somewhere by bus?
Do children in your country go to school by bus?
Are busses expensive in your country?
Do you think more people will use buses in the future?
Have you ever travelled a long distance on a bus?
Why do some people not like travelling by bus?
Rain
How often does it rain in your country?
Do you walk outside when it is raining?
Do you wear any special clothes when it is raining?
How do rainy days make you feel?
Do you check the weather forecast every day?
What activities do you enjoy doing in the rain?
Did you play outside in the rain when you were a child?
Clothes
When was the last time you wore special clothes?
Did you have any clothes that were special to you when you were a child?
Do you like to spend a lot of money on buying clothes?
When is the next time you will buy new clothes?
Do you wear the same clothes on weekdays and weekends?
Do you think women care more about clothes than men?
Do you think you will be interested in clothes and fashion when you are older?
Maps
Do you use a map when you visit a new city?
Do you prefer using paper maps or electronic maps?
Have you ever used a map to find your way in the countryside?
Did you learn how to use a map at school when you were a child?
Do you think children in the future should learn how to use paper maps?
Have you ever asked anyone for directions?
When was the last time you used a map?
Stars
How often do you look at stars?
Do you like looking at stars?
Can you see stars at night from your home?
Is there a good place to see stars in your country?
What is the night sky like where you live?
Did you learn about stars at school when you were a child?
What is the night sky like where you live?
Would you like to learn more about stars in the future?
Numbers
Do you have a favourite number?
Are there any special or lucky numbers in your country?
Are you good at memorising numbers?
Would you like to do a job that deals with numbers?
What numbers do you look at every day?
What are some important numbers in your life?
Did you learn about the history of numbers at school when you were a child?
Concentrating
When is concentrating hard for you?
What helps you concentrate more?
When do you need to concentrate most?
Do you think people can concentrate on two things at the same time?
Is it easier for children or adults to concentrate?
Do you think it’s becoming more difficult for people to concentrate for long periods of time?
Does technology make it easier or harder to concentrate?
History
Do you enjoy learning about history?
Did you learn about the history of other countries when you were a child?
When was the last time you read a book about history?
Do people in your country enjoy watching films about historical events?
Do you have a favourite film or movie about history?
Do you think it’s important for people to memorise the dates of important events in the past?
Do you think history will be a popular subject at university in your country in the future?
Buildings
What types of buildings are there where you live?
Do you like to visit very old buildings?
Have you ever visited a famous building or structure?
Are there many high buildings in your hometown?
Do you prefer old or new buildings?
Do you think we should protect old buildings?
Would you like to work in a building with very big windows?
IELTS Sample Part 1 Speaking sample questions about now:
Does it snow in your country?
How do you learn new words?
Are nice shoes important to you?
What do you often do in the mornings?
Do you do the same thing every morning?
What kind of things make you laugh?
How often do you take the bus?
Why do some people not like travelling by bus?
How often does it rain in your country?
Do you check the weather forecast every day?
Do you wear the same clothes on weekdays and weekends?
Do you prefer using paper maps or electronic maps?
How often do you look at stars?
Can you see stars at night from your home?
What kind of barbeque food do you like to eat?
What do you do when you feel angry?
Is it ok to show angry feelings in your country?
When do you wear perfume?
When is it important for people to be quiet?
Do you think people in your country are usually quiet in public?
IELTS Sample Part 1 Speaking sample questions about before now:
One of the most common mistakes students make in IELTS Speaking Part 1 is using the wrong verb tenses when talking about the past. Can you talk about the past without making verb tense mistakes?
Did you play in the snow when you were a child?
Do you remember the first time you saw snow?
Did you learn how to spell words at school when you were a child?
Did you get new shoes every year when you were a child?
Did you have a favourite pair of shoes when you were a child?
What did you do in the morning when you were a child?
Have you ever visited a zoo?
When was the last time you laughed?
What kinds of TV programmes made you laugh when you were a child?
When was the first time you went somewhere by bus?
Have you ever travelled a long distance on a bus?
Did you play outside in the rain when you were a child?
When was the last time you wore special clothes?
Did you have any clothes that were special to you when you were a child?
Have you ever used a map to find your way in the countryside?
Have you ever asked anyone for directions?
When was the last time you used a map?
Did you learn about stars at school when you were a child?
Have you ever had a barbeque?
Did you become angry easily when you were a child?
What things made you angry when you were a child?
Have you ever received perfume as a gift?
Was it easy for you to be quiet when you were a child?
IELTS Sample Part 1 Speaking sample questions about after now:
Do you think there will be less snow in the future?
Do you think learning how to spell words will be important in the future?
Do you think you will buy new shoes in the future?
Do you think you will wake up later or earlier when you are older?
Do you think zoos will be more or less popular in the future?
Do you think more people will use buses in the future?
Do you think you will be interested in clothes and fashion when you are older?
Do you think people will still use paper maps in the future?
Would you like to learn more about stars in the future?
Do you have a plan to have a barbeque in the future?
Do you think you will feel angry less often when you are older?
Do you think perfume will be more expensive in the future?
Do you think your city will be quieter in the future?
IELTS Speaking Sample Questions – Part 2
What to expect in IELTS Speaking Part 2
The examiner will give you a cue card and ask you to describe something. The topic will be less familiar than the topics from Part 1, but you do not need to have any specialised knowledge about the topic. Think about what a child would know about the topic. You definitely know enough about any topic to give a good answer.
Click here to learn about Chris’ unique Part 2 strategy.
IELTS Speaking Sample Questions – Part 3
What to expect in IELTS Speaking Part 3
In Part 3, the examiner will ask you questions related to the topic of Part 2. The examiner wants to see if you have enough vocabulary to talk about unfamiliar topics and make your ideas clear. Expect the questions to be about abstract ideas and things not directly related to your everyday life.
Click here for Part 3 strategies and techniques.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 and Part 3 sample questions by topic
Part 2 sample question – AIR TRAVEL
| Describe a person you know who travels a lot by airplane. You should say: how you know this person where he/she travels by airplane so often why this person needs to travel by airplane and explain if this person likes or dislikes travelling by airplane. |
Part 3 sample questions
Was it very common for people in your country to travel by airplane in the past?
Are there more advantages or drawbacks of traveling by airplane?
Do you think cost or comfort is more important for airplane passengers?
Do you think people would still travel by airplane if the price of tickets were very expensive?
Do you think airplane pilots get paid too much or too little?
What impact does air travel have on the environment?
Can you think of any reasons why people might travel by airplane less often in the future?
Part 2 sample question – WATER
| Describe a water sport you would like to try. You should say: what the sport is where you would like to do it if it would be easy or difficult and explain why you would like to try this water sport. |
Part 3 sample questions
Why do you think people enjoy living near rivers, lakes or the sea?
Has water always been an important resource in your country?
Is water pollution a problem in your country?
Do you think water resources will become more important in the future?
What can the government do to protect water resources?
Why do you think some people take clean water for granted?
How would people in your country feel if water was very expensive?
Part 2 sample question – COMPETITION
| Describe a prize you would like to win. You should say: what the prize is how you know about it if it would be easy or difficult to win this prize and explain why you would like to win this prize. |
Part 3 sample questions
Do you think it is beneficial to give children prizes and awards in school?
Some people think it’s important to give an award to every child who participates in a competition. Do you agree?
Why do you think children are given more awards these days than in the past?
Would children still want to win competitions if no awards were given?
Do you think it’s important to learn how to be a good loser?
How do you think competition for good jobs will change in your country in the future?
Part 2 sample question – LAW
| Describe a law in your country. You should say: what the law is how this law is useful who benefits from this law and explain how you feel about this law. |
Part 3 sample questions
Are the laws in your country similar to the laws in other countries?
Are there any laws in your country that you think should be made stricter?
What would your country be like if there were no laws?
Do you think laws are applied evenly to everyone in your society?
Would there be any advantages of having international laws instead of national laws?
Are there any current laws you think your country should get rid of in the future?
Part 2 sample question – CREATIVITY
| Describe a creative person you admire. You should say: who the person is how you know this person why you think he/she is creative and explain why you admire this person. |
Part 3 sample questions
Are children in your country encouraged to develop their creativity at school?
Are people in your country generally rewarded for being creative at work?
Do you think self-confidence affects a person’s ability to be creative?
Do you think creativity can be taught, or are some people simply born with it?
What professions do you think will require people to be very creative in the future?
Do you think creativity will be considered a valuable skill in the future?
Part 2 sample question – ENCOURAGEMENT
| Describe a time when you encouraged someone to do something that he/she didn’t want to do. You should say: who the person was what you encouraged him/her to do how he/she reacted and explain why you encouraged him/her. |
Part 3 sample questions
Do you think most people need encouragement in order to learn something new?
Can too much encouragement be unhelpful?
Are self-help books a good way to motivate people?
Why are motivated people generally more successful than unmotivated people?
Some people use apps to motivate themselves. Do you think this is as effective as receiving motivation and encouragement from other people?
Is competition the best way to motivate people to do their best?
Part 2 sample question – FEAR
| Describe a time when you felt scared or afraid. You should say: why you felt scared or afraid who you were with how you reacted to feeling scared or afraid and explain how you feel about this situation now. |
Part 3 sample questions
Are there areas of your city that people are afraid to visit after dark?
How could people be made to feel safer in your city?
Are there any ways that fear can be useful?
Many people believe that stress and anxiety are the number one killers of people. Do you agree with this?
Were the reasons for feeling stress different 50 years ago?
What do you think will be the biggest cause of stress for people in the future?
Part 2 sample question – HONESTY
| Describe a time when you found it difficult to tell the truth. You should say: when it happened who you were with why it was difficult to tell the truth and explain how you felt about this situation. |
Part 3 sample questions
Do you think people find it easier to tell the truth to strangers than to friends and family?
Do you think it’s more important to be truthful or to protect people’s feelings?
Are there any jobs that sometimes require people to be dishonest?
Do you think traditional newspapers are more reliable than online news sources?
Should companies be legally required to always tell the truth in their advertisements?
Should social media platforms stop people from saying things that are not ture?
Part 2 sample question – CHANGE
| Describe a time when you changed your mind about something. You should say: when this happened what you changed your mind about why you changed your mind and explain how you felt about this situation. |
Part 3 sample questions
What are more advantages or disadvantages of changing jobs frequently?
Why do you think people didn’t change their jobs frequently in the past?
Do you think people will change their jobs even more frequently in the future?
How can people get better at dealing with change?
Do you think the world is changing faster than ever before?
What are the biggest changes you expect to see in your country in the future?
Part 2 sample question – MISTAKES
| Describe a time when someone apologised to you. You should say: who apologised to you why they apologised when this happened and explain how you felt after this person apologised. |
Part 3 sample questions
Should people always apologise after they do something wrong?
Why do some people hate to say sorry?
Are there any situations when it’s better not to apologise?
Are there some kinds of mistakes that are useful?
Is it possible to learn from other people’s mistakes?
Do you think it’s possible to live a life with no regrets?
Part 2 sample question – ART
| Describe a picture or photograph you have hanging up in your home. You should say: what it is where it is in your home how you got it and explain why you like this picture or photograph. |
Part 3 sample questions
Some people think that anyone with a camera or a smartphone can be a photographer. Do you agree?
Is taking a lot of photographs the best way to remember a special event?
Were photographs more valuable to people in the past?
Do you think that graffiti can be considered art?
Do you think the government should give money to support actors, painters and singers?
Do you think the world needs artists?
Part 2 sample question – PARKS
| Describe a park you enjoy visiting. You should say: where this part is how often you visit this park what you do at this park and explain why you enjoy visiting this part. |
Part 3 sample questions
Who uses parks the most in your country?
How important is it to have parks in urban areas?
Should parks be free of charge?
What rules should parks have so that everyone can enjoy them?
Have parks changed in your country since you were a child?
Do you think the government should invest in building more parks in the future?
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If you have any other questions about your IELTS preparation you can email us here:
chris@ieltsadvantage.com
