IELTS Speaking Part 1: IELTS Speaking Part 1 is one of the three sections in the Speaking test. The test includes a face-to-face interview with the examiner. It lasts around 4–5 minutes, depending on the type of topic and interaction between the test-taker and examiner. Some common topics in the IELTS Speaking Part 1 test are your home, work, hobbies, and everyday routines. Here, we have provided some effective strategies on how to prepare for the IELTS Speaking Part 1 effectively, with real sample questions along with a standard answering structure to get a high IELTS band score.
Free IELTS Speaking Practice Tests, Download
IELTS Speaking Part 1
The IELTS Speaking Part 1 includes generally 12 to 13 questions from 3 topic areas. The level of difficulty of the exam is generally easy, as it includes a regular conversation between the examiner and the candidate based on their own experiences and opinions. The overall assessment is done based on four main skills: fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
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IELTS Speaking Part 1 Overview
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Feature
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Details
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Purpose
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To evaluate your ability to speak fluently about familiar topics
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Duration
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4 to 5 minutes
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Number of Questions
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12 to 13 questions from 3 topic areas
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Topic Type
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Personal, everyday topics like home, study, hobbies, and habits
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Difficulty Level
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Basic, as questions are about your own experiences and opinions
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Assessment Focus
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Fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
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Types of Questions in IELTS Speaking Part 1
There are mainly four types of questions asked in the IELTS Speaking Part 1 test. These are as follows:
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Yes/No Questions
Example: "Do you like watching movies?"
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Preference Questions
Example: "Do you prefer coffee or tea?"
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Frequency or Habit Questions
Example: "How often do you exercise?"
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Descriptive Questions
Example: "Can you describe your hometown?"
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Past Experience Questions
Example: "Did you enjoy school as a child?"
IELTS Speaking Cue Card Topics With Topics And Tips
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Answer Structure
To give strong and complete answers, you can follow a simple four-step structure. This helps make your responses more detailed and natural:
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IELTS Speaking Part 1 Answer Structure
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Step
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Description
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Example
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1. Direct Answer
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Begin by clearly answering the question
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Yes, I do.
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2. Brief Reason
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Add a reason to support your answer
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I find reading relaxing and educational.
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3. Personal Example
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Share a specific example from your life
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For example, I recently finished a novel about ancient history.
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4. Optional Elaboration
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You can expand slightly but avoid going off-topic
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It really changed how I view historical fiction.
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Also Read:
Commonly Asked IELTS Speaking Topics Part 1
In the table below, we have included 15 common IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics along with sample questions for each topic.
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IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics
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Topic
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Sample Questions
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Hometown
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Where are you from?
Do you like your hometown?
What’s it known for?
Is it a good place for children?
What do you dislike about it?
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Work
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What is your job?
Why did you choose this job?
Do you enjoy it?
Is it a common job in your country?
What do you find challenging?
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Study
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What do you study?
Why did you choose this subject?
What’s your favorite subject?
Are your studies difficult?
What do you plan to do after graduation?
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Hobbies
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What do you like to do in your free time?
Do you have any hobbies?
How did you get into your hobby?
How often do you do it?
Do your friends share your hobby?
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Music
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Do you like music?
What kind of music do you enjoy?
Do you listen to music while working?
Who is your favorite singer?
Have your music tastes changed?
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Reading
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Do you like reading?
What kind of books do you read?
Do you prefer e-books or printed books?
Do you read daily?
Who is your favorite author?
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Food
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What is your favorite food?
Can you cook?
What food is common in your country?
Do you prefer home-cooked meals or restaurants?
Have your food habits changed?
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Weather
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What’s the weather like in your country?
What’s your favorite season?
Do you like rainy days?
How do you usually spend a cold day?
How does the weather affect your mood?
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Travel
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Do you like traveling?
Have you ever traveled abroad?
What was your last trip?
Do you prefer mountains or beaches?
Do you like traveling alone or with others?
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Family
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How many people are there in your family?
Are you close to your family?
Who do you spend the most time with?
Do you have siblings?
What do you usually do together?
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Technology
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What technology do you use every day?
Do you prefer laptops or phones?
How do you feel about social media?
Are you tech-savvy?
Has technology changed your daily life?
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Sports
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Do you like sports?
What sport do you play?
Do you watch sports on TV?
Were you active in sports as a child?
What is the most popular sport in your country?
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Movies
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Do you like watching movies?
What’s your favorite movie genre?
Do you prefer watching at home or in a cinema?
How often do you watch movies?
Who is your favorite actor?
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Shopping
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Do you enjoy shopping?
Do you shop online?
What do you usually buy?
Do you prefer shopping alone or with someone?
What was the last thing you bought?
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Morning Routine
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What do you do after waking up?
Do you like mornings?
Do you eat breakfast?
What time do you usually wake up?
Do you have a fixed routine?
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IELTS Speaking Part 1 Tips
Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking can significantly improve your overall score. Therefore, adopting some effective strategies is very important. Use these tips to improve your performance:
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Speak clearly and at a natural pace
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Avoid long pauses and fillers (like "uh", "um")
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Use simple vocabulary correctly
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Expand your answers with examples
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Practice answering questions aloud daily
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Listen to native speakers to improve intonation
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Don’t memorize answers – be genuine
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Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question
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Stay calm and treat it like a conversation
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Keep your answers relevant and to the point
Guidance to PW IELTS Prep
The IELTS Online Courses is a great initiative taken by Physics Wallah to help IELTS aspirants better prepare for the exam. Follow our below pages to learn more about the IELTS exam.
