On test day the examiner will ask you questions on a range of IELTS Speaking topics.
You have a 1 in 2 chance of predicting at least one of the topics you will get.
Read on to find out more…
As you may have read on our IELTS Speaking home page, the IELTS Speaking test has 3 parts…
IELTS Speaking Topics in Part 1
Part 1 topics cover general questions about yourself and get more difficult as they go on.
The first set of questions establish your identity. Everyone must answer these questions, and they never change. At this stage, the examiner has not started to grade you.
After the examiner has confirmed your identity, the real test begins.
The examiner may ask about your home, your hometown, or your neighbourhood. Alternatively, they may ask you about your work or study.
You have a 50% chance of getting one of the question types above, so prepare for them. But don’t over-focus on these topics since this part of the test lasts a short time.
The examiner will have chosen two more topics at random from a more extensive selection before you even enter the room.
No two candidates will receive the same questions, and examiners will have different question booklets.
Nevertheless, the list below covers a range of topics that examiners have used. Linked topics will take you to sample questions…
Your Everyday routine
Money
Tees
Concentrating on studying
Museums and art galleries
Money
Street markets
Gifts/Presents
How you spend your week
Transport
Taking photos
The seasons and weather
Art; Language learning
Animals
Music
Food and cooking
Friends
Street markets
Television
You may get questions about a topic you have no experience of. Don’t worry if you find yourself in this situation, you can use a simple tactic to overcome this problem. Find out more in my video course.
IELTS Speaking Topics in Part 2
Otherwise known as ‘The Long Turn’, this part of the test lasts for 4-5 minutes.
The examiner gives you a booklet with a question. After preparing your answer for 1 minute, you must talk about for 1-2 minutes.
Take care not to turn the booklet question over as the examiner hands the question to you. If you do, you may answer the wrong question.
You can find out much more about The Long Turn on my IELTS Speaking Part 2 page.
This list covers some of the topics used in the past, and you might receive similar questions the day….
A Special Meal
A Famous Person From Your Country
Technology
Someone You Know Well
A Person You Like To Spend Time With
Books and Films
A Restaurant
A Useful Website
An Interesting Conversation
A Foreign Country You Would Like To Visit
An Advertisement
Something You Have Saved For
A Television Programme You Like
Something You Forgot
A Photograph
A Time You Forgot Something
Keep checking back – we will link some of the topics above to sample answers.
IELTS Speaking Topics in Part 3
Part 3 questions link to the same topic as Part 2 but in a more abstract way.
The questions no longer ask about yourself but cover society in general. For example, they might ask about the typical pastime for someone your age in your country.
As with the rest of the test, the questions in this section will become more difficult.
In this section, the examiner will challenge you about what you have said and can ask you his own questions.
Each question makes you use a certain kind of linguistic function. For example, the questions might ask you to compare, consider, speculate, recommend or evaluate.
Return to IELTS Speaking Home Page.