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These IELTS questions for speaking cover all three parts of the test, with sample answers that show how to develop a response. The Speaking test is an 11–14-minute, face-to-face interview with a certified IELTS examiner, and it’s the same for Academic and General Training.
The practice questions below are original, grouped by common topics. They aren’t leaked or predicted test questions, so use them to practise developing your own answers, not to memorise scripts.
The Speaking test is an 11–14-minute interview with an examiner, the same for Academic and General Training. Part 1 (4–5 minutes): short questions about your life. Part 2 (3–4 minutes): a cue card, one minute to prepare, up to two minutes alone. Part 3 (4–5 minutes): a broader discussion linked to your Part 2 topic.
The Structure of the IELTS Speaking Test
The Speaking test is a live interview with a certified examiner, in three parts, lasting 11–14 minutes. Academic and General Training candidates take the same Speaking test and are marked on the same criteria; the questions change from one test session to another.
Speaking can be on the same day as your other tests, or up to a week before or after them. If you didn’t hear or understand a question, politely ask the examiner to repeat it. In Part 1, the examiner can repeat a question but can’t explain it, so answer as best you can. See the IELTS guide for test takers.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview Questions
Part 1 starts with an introduction and an identity check, then moves to familiar topics. Answer each question, then add a reason or an example: two or three sentences usually sound natural. A one-word answer gives the examiner nothing to assess.
Part 1 Practice Questions
Work and studies
- Do you work or are you a student?
- What do you enjoy most about your work or studies?
- Would you like to change your job or field of study in the future?
- Do you think your studies will be useful for your future career?
Hometown and home
- Where are you from?
- What do you like most about your hometown?
- Has your hometown changed much in recent years?
- Do you live in a house or an apartment? Do you enjoy living there?
Hobbies and free time
- What do you like to do in your free time?
- Have your hobbies changed since you were younger?
- Do you think it’s important to have hobbies? Why?
- Do you prefer spending your free time alone or with others?
Technology and social media
- How often do you use social media?
- Do you think social media has more advantages or disadvantages?
- What’s your favourite app, and why?
- Do you think people spend too much time on their phones?
Food and health
- What’s your favourite food?
- Do you prefer home-cooked food or eating out?
- Do you think people in your country eat healthily?
- Have your eating habits changed in recent years?
Q: “What do you like to do in your free time?”
“I enjoy reading, mostly non-fiction books about history and psychology. I find it helps me relax after a long day at work, and I always come away having learned something. I also try to go for a walk in the evenings when I can, though honestly that depends on whether Karachi’s weather cooperates.”
The answer is direct, then adds a reason and a personal detail. Use true details of your own: it’s easier to speak fluently about something real.
Part 2: The Cue Card (Long Turn)
The examiner gives you a cue card with a topic and some prompts. You have one minute to prepare and you can make notes, then you speak for up to two minutes. The examiner will stop you when the time is up, so aim to keep talking until then.
Write a few keywords, not sentences: one or two for each prompt on the card, plus a specific example or story. Notes are there to remind you what to say next, not to read from.
Part 2 Practice Cue Cards
People
- Describe a person who has had a positive influence on your life.
- Describe a famous person you would like to meet.
- Describe someone who is good at their job.
- Describe a person who helped you when you were in difficulty.
Places
- Describe a place you have visited that you found interesting.
- Describe a place in your city that you like to go to.
- Describe a place you would like to visit in the future.
- Describe a historical place you have been to.
Objects and experiences
- Describe a gift you have received that was meaningful to you.
- Describe something that helps you concentrate when working or studying.
- Describe a skill you have recently learned.
- Describe an achievement you are proud of.
Events and situations
- Describe a time when you had to make an important decision.
- Describe a time when you helped someone solve a problem.
- Describe a situation where you had to be patient.
- Describe a live event you have attended: sports, music or cultural.
Cue card: “Describe a person who has had a positive influence on your life.”
“The person I’d like to talk about is my maths teacher at secondary school, who taught me in Grades 9 and 10 in Multan.”
“Before his class, I honestly hated maths. I used to memorise formulas the night before a test and forget them a week later. What made him different was that he never just gave us the answer. Whenever someone asked a question, he’d turn it back to the class and say, ‘Good question. How could we find out?’ At first this was frustrating, but slowly I started to enjoy working things out for myself.”
“One moment I still remember is when I failed a monthly test quite badly. Instead of scolding me, he asked me to stay after class and go through every mistake with him. It turned out that most of my errors came from rushing, not from not understanding. He told me, ‘You’re not bad at maths, you’re just impatient,’ and that one sentence changed how I saw myself.”
“The reason he had such a positive influence on me is that he taught me how to learn, not just what to learn. I still use his approach today: when I’m stuck on a problem, I slow down, break it into small steps and ask myself questions. I don’t think I’d be as confident as I am now without him.”
Notice the shape: who the person is, a specific story, and why it mattered. That shape works for almost any cue card. Replace the details with your own experience; don’t learn this answer by heart.
Part 3: Two-Way Discussion Questions
Part 3 discusses broader, more abstract ideas connected to your Part 2 topic. You may be asked to explain, compare or evaluate. There are no right or wrong opinions, but there’s a big difference between a developed answer and an undeveloped one.
Part 3 Practice Questions
Technology and society
- Do you think technology has made people more or less connected to each other?
- What are the dangers of people relying too heavily on technology?
- How has social media changed the way people communicate?
- Do you think automation will change the kinds of jobs people do in the future?
Education and learning
- What qualities make a good teacher?
- Do you think traditional classroom education will become less important in the future?
- Should universities focus more on practical skills or theoretical knowledge?
- How important is it for children to learn a second language?
Environment and global issues
- What can individuals do to help protect the environment?
- Do you think governments are doing enough to address climate change?
- How has urbanisation affected the natural environment in your country?
- Should wealthy nations do more to help developing countries?
Work and career
- What makes a job satisfying, beyond the salary?
- Do you think remote work will become the norm in most industries?
- How important is work-life balance, and do you think it’s achievable?
- What responsibilities do companies have towards their employees and communities?
Q: “Do you think technology has made people more or less connected to each other?”
“I’d say it’s made us more connected in some ways but less in others. On the one hand, it’s never been easier to stay in touch with people far away. My cousin moved to Canada a few years ago, and we still video-call every week, which simply wasn’t possible for my parents’ generation. On the other hand, I think it can weaken the connections closest to us. You often see families sitting at the same dinner table with everyone looking at their own phone. So overall, technology has widened our connections, but whether it deepens them depends on how we use it.”
The shape here is: a clear view, a reason, an example, the other side, and a short conclusion. Adapt it to each question rather than forcing it.
How the IELTS Speaking Test Is Scored
Speaking is marked on four equally weighted criteria. See the official Speaking assessment criteria.
7 Tips to Answer IELTS Questions for Speaking Better
If the examiner asks “Do you enjoy cooking?”, “Yes” isn’t an answer the examiner can assess. Say yes or no, then add why, or an example: “Yes, especially on weekends. I’ve been learning my mother’s recipes, and my biryani is finally getting there.”
Politely ask the examiner to repeat it: “Could you repeat that, please?” An answer to the wrong question doesn’t help you, and asking is completely normal.
Instead of going silent, use a natural phrase while you think: “That’s an interesting question…”, “Let me think about that for a moment…”, “I’ve never really thought about it that way, but I suppose…”. Use them to start an answer, not instead of one.
Part 2 catches out students who’ve never spoken for two minutes without a break. Practise with a timer: one minute to plan, two minutes to speak, and record yourself. Listen back for where you stopped or repeated yourself.
Say what you think, then explain why, with an example. A balanced answer is fine too, as long as it ends somewhere: “So overall, I think…”.
A memorised answer rarely fits the exact question, and it sounds rehearsed. Practise organising your ideas and using language flexibly instead, so you can answer whatever you’re asked.
Practising alone builds the habit of speaking, but it can’t copy the pressure of an unexpected question from another person. Find a practice partner, or work with a teacher who can ask you questions you haven’t prepared for. The test is interactive, so your practice should be too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prepare for IELTS Speaking with Weekly Mock Interviews
Elemental Academia’s live online IELTS course is one-to-one with founder Muhammad Humza Rehan: 8 weeks, 3 one-hour classes a week, and every week you get a full Speaking mock interview (Parts 1–3), plus 4 full mock tests, for PKR 10,000 a month. Start with a free 30-minute demo class.
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