1000 IELTS Speaking Questions (Updated 2024)

If you’re preparing for the IELTS Test, it’s important to know what IELTS Speaking questions might come up. In this article, we will provide an overview of the different parts of the Speaking test, as well as real questions from past exams.

Part 1: Introduction and Interview

The examiner will ask you questions about yourself and your life. These IELTS Speaking questions are usually easier to answer than the other two parts. The good news is all of the questions are about, and you are the world-leading expert on the topic of you.

Some examples of questions are:

-Can you tell me where you live?

-Do you work or study?

-What do you do in your free time?

To learn more about how to answer these types of questions, watch the following video:

Part 2: The ‘Long Turn’

The examiner will give you a topic card. You will have 1 minute to prepare your response. Then you will speak for 1-2 minutes on the topic. Don’t worry, the examiner will stop you when you reach 2 minutes.

The topics are random and cannot be predicted, but they are normally topics that anyone in the world can talk about.

Here are some examples of Part 2 IELTS Speaking questions that have been asked in previous years:

-Describe a time when you were really proud of yourself.

-Talk about a hobby that you enjoy.

-Tell me about a place that you have visited that you really liked.

To learn more about how to answer these types of questions, watch the following video:

Part 3: Discussion Questions

The examiner will ask you more detailed questions about the topic from Part 2. They may also ask you about other interrelated topics. They are normally on abstract IELTS Speaking questions, and resemble the kind of ‘academic’ questions you might get asked in IELTS Writing Task 2.

Here are some examples of questions that have been asked in previous years:

-What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking up a new hobby?

-Do you think people should return to their hometowns after finishing school or university?

-What are the benefits of living in a big city?

Below are some example questions from real tests.DO NOT prepare answers for these IELTS Speaking questions. The IELTS test is not a test of memorization. Use these IELTS Speaking questions to practice and familiarise yourself with the test.

Image: Beige-Playful-Illustration-Public-Speaking-Skill-Infographic-1-410x1024

Part 1 IELTS Speaking Questions

Accommodation

Let’s move on to talk about accommodation. Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in.
Do you live in a house or a flat?
Is it a big place?
Does the place you live in have many amenities?
What do you like about living there?
Is there anything you would like to change about the place you live in?
How long have you lived there?
Do you plan to live there for a long time?
Is there a garden in the place you live in?

Part 2 IELTS Speaking Questions

Advertisements

Describe an advertisement that persuaded you to buy a product. You should say:

What advertisement it was
Was it shown on TV, radio or newspaper
What was good about that advertisement

Explain why you think that advertisement made the product seem attractive.

A Challenging Thing You Did

Describe a challenging thing you have done. You should say:

when you did it
why you did it
how you handled this challenge

and explain why you thought it was challenging.

A Person You Know

Describe an old person that you know. You should say:

What your relationship is with this person
How often do you see them
What people think about this person

Explain why you like them.

Describe a child that you know and like a lot. You should say:

Who the child is
How do you know them
What do they enjoy doing

Explain why you like them a lot.

Describe someone who has had an important influence on your life. You should say:

Who the person is
How long you have known him/her
What qualities this person has

Explain why they have had such an influence on you.

Describe a person that you think is very interesting. You should say:

Who is this person
How you met them
What they like to talk about

Explain why this person is very interesting.

Describe a (very) intelligent person you know. You should say:

who is this person
when and where you (first) met them (him or her)
what this person does in life (e.g., work/ study)

and explain why you think this person is intelligent.

Describe your favourite teacher from school. You should say:

What school he/she taught at
What he/she looked like
What subject he/she taught you

Explain why you remember this teacher so well.

Describe your favourite childhood friend. You should say:

who he/she is
where you met each other
what you often did together

and explain what made you like him/her.

Describe a person you know who loves to grow plants (vegetables, fruits, flowers). Please tell me:

who is this person
what they grow
where they grow them

explain why they enjoy growing plants

Describe a present or gift you have given someone. You should say:

Who you gave it to
What kind of present it was
How it compared to other presents you have given

Explain why you decided to give this particular gift.

Describe a present or gift someone gave you that you really liked. You should say:

What kind of present it was
Who gave it to you
Why you were given it

Explain why you liked it.

Describe a person who taught you something important. You should say:

who this person was
what they taught you
how they taught it to you

and explain why you think what they taught is important.

Animal

Describe an interesting animal you have seen. You should say:

What animal it was
When and Where you saw it
And explain how you feel about this animal

and explain why you think this animal is interesting.

Art

Talk about a painting you would like to have in your home. You should say:

what is it
how you know about it
how much it would cost you

and explain why you want to have it in your home.

A Time When Someone Apologised To You

Describe a time when someone apologised to you. You should say:

when this happened
what you were doing
who apologised to you

and explain why they apologised to you.

Books

Talk about a book you are reading now or have read recently. You should say:

How and why you got it
How long it took you to read it, or how long you have been reading it
What kind of book it is

And say if you would like to read something else similar or not, and why

Talk about a book you have never read but would like to read. You should mention:

How well-known it is
Why you would like to read it
Why you have never read it before

And say how you think it will compare to other books you have read

Talk about a book or novel you recently read. Please tell me:

Who wrote this
What it is about
Explain if you enjoyed reading it

And why do you think you will read the book again or not?

Buildings

Describe a building that you particularly like. You should say:

Where the building is
What it looks like
What you can do there

Explain why you like this building.

Business

Describe a small business you want to start. You should say:

what business it would be

when you want to start it
why you have not started it yet

and explain why you want to start this business.

Describe a successful small business that you know about. You should say:

what business/company it is
what this business does
how you know about this business

and explain why you think this business/company is successful.

Change

Describe a positive change in your life. You should say:

what the change was about
when it happened
describe details of the change that happened

and describe how it affected you later in life.

Clothes

Describe your favourite piece of clothing. You should say:

Where you got it
Do you often wear it
When you wear it

And explain why it is your favourite piece of clothing.

Describe a uniform you have worn (such as a school or company uniform). You should say:

what it looked like
when and where you needed to wear this uniform
who paid for this uniform

and explain how you felt about that uniform.

City

Describe your favourite city or a city you have visited that you like very much. You should say:

What is its name and where it is
when you visited it.
why you liked it

And the major attractions in this city are

Company

Describe an organisation or a company that you know. Please say

How big is it?
Do you find this company to be successful? Why?
What can you say about the working environment there?

And if you would like to work there.

Daily Routine

Describe your favourite part of the day. You should say:

What time of day this is
What you like to do at this time
Who you are usually with

Explain why this is your favourite part of the day.

Decision

Describe an important decision you have made. You should say:

what the decision was
why you made that choice
who helped you make the choice

and explain why the decision was so important.

Electronic Devices

Describe a useful electronic device you would like to own. You should say:

what it is

how it would help your life
if it would be expensive to buy

and explain why you would like it.

Describe a piece of electronic equipment that you have. You should say:

what it is
what you used it for
how long you have used it

and describe why it is important to you

Describe a piece of electronic equipment that you find useful. You should say:

what it is
how you learned to use it
how long you have had it

and explain why you find this piece of electronic equipment useful.

Entertainment

Describe a comedian that you think is very funny. You should say:

Who the comedian is
Where they usually perform
Who likes to see the comedian

Explain why you think this comedian is very funny.

Describe a TV show that you enjoy. You should say:

What type of show it is
How often it is on
How popular it is with other people in your country

Explain why you like it.

Describe a performance you enjoyed watching. You should say:

what the performance was
when and where you watched the performance
who was performing (or who performed)

and explain why you enjoyed the performance.

Environment

Describe an environmental problem or event. You should say:

What it is
Where is it happening
What problems it causes

And what do you think will happen in the future regarding this event.

Exercise

Describe a type of exercise that you like to do. You should say:

What the exercise is
When you do it
Where you do it

Explain why you like this particular exercise.

Exciting Experience

Describe an exciting experience you’ve had. You should say:

when it was
where you were
what it was

And explain what made this experience especially exciting.

Family

Talk about the last time your whole family got together. You should mention:

Where you met
What you did together
How long have you spent together

And say if you would like to do the same thing again soon or not, and why

Describe a family member that you get on well with. You should mention:

What their personality is like
What things they like doing
If they have any strong dislikes

And say why you think you have a good relationship

Describe one of your relatives. You should say:

What that person looks like
What that person’s character is like
What they are doing at the moment

And say which other relative of yours they are most similar to

Describe a family member you spend a lot of time with. You should say:

who is this person
what you usually do together
what kind of person he/she is

and explain why you spend the most time with him/her.

Food

Describe a famous food from your hometown or country. You should say:

What it looks like
What it tastes like
When and how it is usually eaten

And say why you think it is famous

Describe a meal that you had that you remember well. You should say:

Where the meal was
Why you had the meal
Who you went with

Explain why you remember this particular occasion.

Describe a meal that you ate out. You should say:

Where you went
What you ate
Who you went with

Explain why you remember this meal.

Friends

Describe a friend who has played an important part in your life. You should say:

How you met this person
How long you have known him or her
The kind of things you do or have done together

And explain why this person has been important in your life

Describe a friend you had in primary school. You should say:

What that person was like
How long you were friends for
What things you did together

And say whether you are still in contact with that person or not, and why

Furniture

Describe a piece of furniture that you own. You should say:

what it is
where you bought it
how you use it

and explain why you like it.

Garden

Describe a garden or park you enjoyed visiting. You should say:

where it was
what it looked like
what you did (or were doing) there

and explain why you liked it.

Gifts

Describe a present that you gave someone. You should say:

Who you gave it to
Why you decided to give them a present
Why you chose that present

And say how that present compares to other presents you have given that person or other people.

Health

Describe your (or your friend’s) experience with an illness or injury. You should say:

What it was
When it happened
How you (or your friend) handled it

and say how you feel about it now.

Describe something healthy you enjoy doing. You should say:

What you do
Where you do it
Who do you do it with

and explain why you think doing this is healthy.

Describe an article you read in a magazine or on the Internet that could help people improve their health. You should say:

when you read it
where you read it
what it was about

and explain why (you think) it could improve people’s health.

Help

Describe a time when you helped someone. You should say:

When you helped
How you helped
How you felt after helping

And if you will help them in the future.

History

Describe a historical place that you have visited. You should say:

what kind of place it is
where it is located
what is the historical significance of the place is

and describe your experience of the place.

Hobbies

Talk about a leisure activity you did when you were a child. You should say:

How you first became interested in it
How long you did it, or have been doing it for
Why you enjoyed doing it

And say if you have become more or less interested in that hobby since you were a child, and why.

Holiday

Talk about an activity you like doing when you are on holiday. You should say:

Where do you usually do it
Who do you do it with
Why do you enjoy it

And say whether you also enjoyed doing that when you were a child or not, and why

Talk about somewhere you went on holiday. You should say:

How you got there
What activities you did there
Who you went with

And say if you would recommend that holiday to a friend or not, and why

Talk about your dream holiday. You should say:

Where you would like to go
What kind of accommodations you would like
What activities you would like to do

And say if you ever think you will go on a holiday like that or not, and why

Talk about your plans for your next long vacation. You should say:

Where do you want to go
Who do you want to go there with
What do you want to do when you get there

And say how likely you are to do what you have planned and why.

Home

Describe a house or apartment you would like to live in. You should say:

where it is / Where it would be
what you would (like to) do there
who you would (like to) live therewith

and explain why you would like to live in this place.

Hometown

Describe an important building in your hometown or city. You should say:

where it is
what it looks like
what it is used for

and explain why you think it is important.

Describe a change that could improve your local area. You should say:

what the change would be
how this change could be made
what problems are causing the need for this change

and explain how this change would improve your local area.

Influence

Describe someone who has had an important influence in your life. You should say:

Who the person is
How long you have known him or her
What qualities this person has

and explain why this person has had such an influence on you.

Internet

Describe a website that you often use. You should say:

what type of website it is
how you found out about it
what it allows you to do, and why you find it useful.

And how it compares to other similar websites.

Language

Talk about one method of learning a foreign language you have used. You should say:

What you did
How long have you used this method for
How it compares to other methods of learning a language

And say if you will use that same method in the future or not, and why

Talk about an English language book you have read or used. You should say:

Why you bought or used that book
What you learned from using it
If it was difficult or easy to use

And say if you would use a similar book again or not, and why

Talk about a language test you have taken. You should say:

Where you took the test
How long it took
What skills and language knowledge you were tested on

And say if you think the test was a good indicator of your language level or not, and why.

Lake/River

Describe an important lake/river in your country. Please tell me:

where it is located
how big/long it is
what it looks like

explain why it is important

Late

Describe a time you were late for something. You should say:

when it was
why you were late
how people reacted to you being late

and explain what happened because you were late.

Machine

Describe the most useful household appliance that you have. You should say:

What it is
How it works
How life would be without it

And explain why it is so important to you.

Memory

Describe an occasion when you forgot something important. You should say:

what you forgot
how important it was
Some possible reasons why you forgot it

And if you think this will happen again.

Memories

Describe a happy childhood event. You should say:

When it happened
Who was involved
How you felt at the time

Explain why you remember this particular occasion.

Mobile phone

Describe a time when you couldn’t use your mobile phone. You should say:

where it was
what you were doing at this time
when it was

and explain why you were not able to use your mobile phone.

Money

Describe what you would do if you received a very large amount of money. You should say:

who you would share it with
what you would buy
what else you would do

and explain how you would feel about getting so much money.

Describe a special day out that cost you little money/did not cost you much. You should say:

when the day was
where you went
how much you spend

and explain how you feel about the day.

Describe something (special) that you saved money to buy. You should say:

what it was
how long it took you to save enough money to buy it
why you wanted to buy this thing
how you got (or, earned) the money

and explain how you felt when (or, after) you bought it.

Music

Talk about a musical instrument you would like to be able to play but have never tried. You should say:

What the instrument looks like
What it sounds like
What kinds of people it is popular with

And say if you think you will ever try to play that instrument or not, and why

Describe your favourite song. You should say:

What is the name of the song
What the song is about
When you first heard the song

Explain why it is your favourite song.

News

Describe an interesting piece of news that you have recently read about or heard about. You should say:

what the story was
who was involved in the story
where you read or heard about this story

and explain why this news story was interesting to you.

Describe some good news that you recently received. You should say:

What the news was
How you got the news
Who else you told about it

Explain why this was good news.

Describe a person who is often in the news and who you would like to meet. You should say:

who is this person is
how do you know him/her
why he/she is often in the news

and explain why you would like to meet him/her.

Parenting

Describe people that you know and believe to be very good parents. You should say:

Who they are
How you met them
Why do you think they are good parents

And explain what it requires to be good parents.

Party

Describe the best party you have been to. You should say:

whose party it was
who was there
what happened at the party

and explain what made it so enjoyable.

Talk about a birthday party you can remember well. You should say:

How you celebrated
Who you were with
Why do you remember that day

And say how it was different from other birthdays you have had before or since

Describe a typical festival or celebration in your country. You should say:

When it usually happens
What it is celebrating
What people do

And say if that is your favourite celebration or not, and why

Describe your favourite festival or celebration. You should say:

What time of year it is
Why do you like it
What you usually do

And say how that festival or celebration compares to others in your country or abroad.

Describe a crowded place you’ve been to. You should say:

when you go there
where the place is (or was)
who you went therewith

and explain how you felt about the place.

Plans

Talk about one thing you are going to do next weekend. You should mention:

Where you are going to do it
Who you are going to do it with
Any equipment you need to do it

And say whether you are looking forward to it or not and why

Talk about one thing you are planning to do after you pass the IELTS test. You should say:

When you think you will do it
Why do you want to do it
How long you have had that plan

And say whether there are any other options for what you could do which might be just as good.

Talk about a goal or ambition you have. You should say:

When and why you first discovered you had that goal or ambition
What you need to do to make it come true
What your next step needs to be

And say if you think you will achieve that goal or ambition or not, and why

Presents or Gifts

Describe a photograph that you like. You should say:

Who is in the photograph
When the photograph was taken
Where the photograph is

Explain why you like the photograph.

Products

Describe something which is produced in your country, such as food, a handicraft, or a car. You should say:

what it is
what it is used for
how it is made or produced

and explain why your country produces this thing.

Reading

Describe your favourite book. You should say:

When you read the book
What the book is about
Why did you read it

Explain why this book is your favourite.

Describe a website that you visit a lot. You should say:

What is the website about
How you found the website
Who else you told about the website

Explain why you visit the website a lot.

Restaurants

Describe a restaurant or a cafe you often go to. You should say:

Where it is

What it looks like
What kind of services are provided
What kind of food do you like there/ What kind of food is famous?

And say why you like it.

Rules

Describe a traffic rule or law you know about. You should say:

what it is
how you know about it
if you follow this rule or law

and explain why this rule is important.

Describe a rule you had to obey when you were in school. You should say:

what the rule was
if you agreed with the rule
why the rule existed

and what would happen if students broke the rule.

School

Describe a school that you are attending or attended in the past. You should say:

What it looks like from the outside
What it looks like inside
What facilities it has

And say if you think it is a good school building or not, and why

Talk about a subject you would like to study in the future. You should say:

Why do you want to study that subject
What things about that subject do you find particularly interesting
Where it is possible to study that subject

And say if you think you will start studying it soon or not, and why

Science

Describe an area of science that you are interested in. You should say

What it is
What you can learn from it
When you started becoming interested in it

And explain how this area of science helps you

Describe a scientific subject that you learned about in high school. You should say:

what subject it was
who taught you this subject
what you learned from it

and explain how this subject helped you in your life.

Shopping

Describe a shopping street in your hometown. You should say:

What things you can buy there
What are the most popular shops
Any changes there have been over the years

And say if you think shopping there will become more or less popular in the future, and why.

Describe a shop in your hometown or the place you are living now. You should say:

Where it is
What it sells
What are the advantages of shopping there are

And, if you think it will be popular or not in the future, and why

Social Problems

Describe a problem in your city. You should say:

what it is
how serious it is
what causes this problem

and say what can be done to solve or reduce the effects of this problem.

Something Difficult To Use

Describe something you bought that was difficult to use at first. You should say:

what it was
why you bought it
how you use it

and explain why it was difficult to use at first.

Sports

Talk about a sport you like doing or watching. You should say:

How you first became interested in it
Why you are interested in it
What equipment and skills are needed for it

And say if you think it is an easy sport to do or not, and why

Talk about a sport many people enjoy, but you have never tried. You should say:

What equipment is needed for it
What some of the rules are
What kinds of people this sport is popular with

And say if you think you will do this sport in the near future or not, and why

Talk about a sport that interests you, but you have never tried. You should say:

Where it is usually played
What kinds of people usually play it
Why it interests you

And say if you think you will ever do this sport or not, and why

Describe a sporting event you attended. You should say:

What kind of sport is was
How it compared to other events you’ve been to
How often it takes place

Explain why you consider this event to be of interest.

Describe a sport that you would like to try. You should say:

Which sport it is
Where you could do the sport
Who you could do it with

Explain why this sport would be good to try.

Teachers

Describe the best teacher you have had. You should say:

what subject the teacher taught
when you studied with him or her
what made that person a good teacher

and explain why you think this person was the best teacher you’ve had.

Text message

Describe an important text message you received. You should say:

who sent the message
what was in the message
why the person sent the message

and explain why the message was important to you.

Things

Describe something you own which is very important to you. You should say:

where you got it
how long you have had it
what you use it to do

And explain why it is important to you.

Traditional Product

Talk about a traditional product which is very popular in your country. You should say

What the product is
How it is made
Why it is popular

And if it is popular in other countries.

Transportation

Describe the transportation system in your hometown or the place you are living now. You should say:

What kind of transportation there is
Which kind of transportation do most people use
What are the good points and bad points of the transportation system are

And say if you think most people are happy with the transportation system or not, and why.

Talk about one means of transportation that you often use. You should mention:

Where you usually go by that means of transportation
What the advantages of that method of travelling are
What the disadvantages are

And say if you think you will use that means of transport more or less often in the future, and why.

Describe a trip you took by public transport. You should say:

when it happened
what means of transport you took
what you did during the trip

and explain how you felt about the trip.

Travel

Describe a journey you have been on. You should say:

Where you went
What kind or kinds of transport you used
How long the journey took

And say whether you think it was easy to take this journey or not, and why.

Talk about something tourists like to do in your country. You should say:

How well-known the activity is
Why it is popular
What kinds of people like to do it

And say if you think it will become more popular or less popular in the future and why

Talk about a day trip you have been on. You should say:

Where you went
How you travelled
Why you chose to go to that place

And say whether you would like to go back to the same place again or not, and why.

Talk about a part of your country you have never been to but would like to visit. You should say:

Why you have never been there before
If or when you think you might go
Why you would like to go

And say how you first became interested in going to that place.

Talk about a foreign country you have never been to but would like to visit. You should say:

Why you have never been there before
If or when you think you might go
Why you would like to go

And say how you first became interested in going to that place.

Describe a country you would like to visit in the future that you haven’t been to yet. You should say:

Which country it is
Where it is located in the world
What you could see there

Explain why this country would be such a good place to visit.

Describe a lake, a river or a sea you have visited. You should say:

Where the lake is
How often you have visited it
What activities you do there

Explain why you like this particular place.

Describe a holiday that you recently went on that you enjoyed. You should say:

Where you went
Who you went with
What you did

Explain why this holiday was enjoyable.

Traditional Product

Describe a traditional product in your country. You should say:

what the product is
when you tried this product for the first time
what it is made of

and explain how you feel about it.

Describe a TV programme that you often watch. You should say:

What kind of programme it is
Why you watch it
When and why you first started watching it

And say if you think that programme is better than other TV programmes that are on at the same time or not, and why

Vegetables

Describe a plant, vegetable or crop that you are familiar with. You should say:

Where it grows
Why is it important
What you like or dislike about it

And explain why it is important for your country.

Weather

Describe a time when the weather prevented you from doing something. You should say:

what your plan was
what weather you were hoping for
what happened

and explain how you felt when you had to change your plans.

Work

Describe your dream job. You should say:

What kind of things you would do in that job
What the working conditions would be like
What kind of workplace you would work in

And say if you think you will be able to get a job like that or not, and why.

Describe your dream workplace. You should say:

What it would look like
What facilities it would have
Where it would be

And say if you think you will ever work in a place like that or not, and why.

Talk about a job you have done or know about. You should say:

What people do in that job
What kind of place they work in
What clothes and equipment they need

And say if you think it is a satisfying job to do or not, and why.

Talk about a job someone in your family does.You should say:

How long that person has been doing that job
What the good things about that job are
What the difficulties of doing that job are

And say if you think that person enjoys their job or not, and why.

Describe a workplace you have worked in or know about.You should say:

What the building looks like
What is inside the building
What things there are to do in the local area

And say if you think it is a good place to work or not, and why.

Describe a job you would like to do in the future.You should say:

How and when you first became interested in that job
What people in that job have to do every day
What qualifications and experience do you need in order to get that job

And say if you think you will be able to get that job or not, and why.

1000 IELTS Speaking Questions (Updated 2024)

Part 3 IELTS Speaking Questions

A Challenging Thing You Did

What challenges do young people face today?
How do (young people) handle difficult or challenging tasks?
Which do you think is better, to face these difficulties and challenges alone or to seek the help of others?
Do you think people need to be challenged?

A Member of A Team

In a team, is it more important to pursue individual development or to achieve team targets?
Do you think it’s important for children to join teams to learn to cooperate with others?
Do you think disagreements among team members have a great influence on teamwork?
Can you suggest how teamwork could be cultivated in classes at school?

Extra IELTS Speaking Questions

British Council Practice Questions

IELTS Speaking Resources