IELTS Basic Speaking Topics. A Comprehensive Guide with Free printable PDF and free Audio and Prompts
IELTS Basic Speaking Topics
IELTS Basic Speaking Topics
The IELTS Speaking Test is designed to assess your speaking abilities in English, focusing on your fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. The test is divided into three parts: Part 1 (Introduction and Interview), Part 2 (Individual Long Turn), and Part 3 (Two-Way Discussion). This guide provides detailed insights into each part, including sample questions and tips for preparation.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview on Familiar Topics (4-5 mins)
The examiner will start with a brief introduction and ask for your identification. They will then ask you some questions about yourself to get the conversation going.
Sample Introduction:
- Good morning/afternoon. My name is _____________. Can you tell me your full name, please?
- Thank you. Can I see your identification, please?
- Thank you, that’s fine. Now I’d like to ask you some questions about yourself.
Sample Topics and Questions:
Home Town:
- Let’s talk about your home town or village.
- What kind of place is it?
- What’s the most interesting part of your home area?
- Would you say it is a good place to live? Why?
Work:
- Let’s talk about what you do. Do you work or are you a student?
- What’s your job? Why did you choose that kind of work?
- How long have you been doing it?
- Are there things you don’t like about it? What are they?
Study:
- What subjects are you studying?
- Why did you choose those subjects?
- How long have you been studying them?
- Do you enjoy them? Why?
Family:
- Can we talk about your family?
- Do you have a small or large family?
- How much time do you spend with them?
- What things do you do together?
Language Learning:
- Let’s talk about learning English.
- How long have you been learning English?
- Where did you learn?
- What is easy/difficult?
- What opportunities do you have to speak?
- Is it important?
Accommodation:
- Let’s move on to talk about accommodation.
- Where do you live?
- How long have you lived there?
- What kind of accommodation would you like?
Leisure:
- Let’s move on to what you do in your spare time.
- Hobbies and interests?
- When/how did you become interested?
- How do you spend your holidays?
- Is there anyplace you would like to visit? Why?
Daily Routine:
- I’d like to talk about your daily routine.
- Are all your days the same?
- Typical day? Typical weekend?
- What would you like to change?
- What is the balance of work/study?
Festivals:
- Let’s talk a little about the festivals in your country.
- What are some festivals in UAE?
- Any special food or activities?
- What do you enjoy most?
- Are festivals important?
Food:
- Moving on to talk about food…
- What kind of food do you like?
- What are typical UAE foods?
- Is cooking a man’s or woman’s job?
- How do you like foreign food?
Visitors:
- Now I’d like to talk about visitors to your country.
- What should visitors to UAE see and do?
- What kind of tourists visit UAE?
- How has tourism changed the UAE?
Part 2: Individual Long Turn (3-4 mins)
The examiner will give you a topic and ask you to speak about it for one or two minutes. You will have one minute to prepare and make notes if you wish.
Sample Topics:
- Describe a teacher who has influenced you. Say where you met them, what subjects they taught, why they were special, and how they influenced you.
- Describe a family member who has influenced you. Say how long you have known them, why they were special, how they differ from the other family members, and how they influenced you.
- Describe a story, book, or movie that had a big impact on you. Describe what it was about, what effect it had, and why it was so powerful.
- Describe a place you visited that had a big impact on you. Say when you went and how long you stayed. Describe the impact the place had on you and why.
- Describe an event in your life that had a big impact on you. Say when it happened and what the circumstances were. Describe how it affected you and why.
- Describe a friend in your life that had a big impact on you. Say how long you have known him or her and how he or she affected you.
- Describe a person you would most like to meet. Describe this person and state why you would most like to meet him or her. What effect would the meeting have on you? What would you say?
- Describe a time in your life that was difficult. What was the problem? What were some of the things that helped you to overcome this problem? What did you learn from this experience, and what advice would you give others?
- Describe a time in your life when you helped someone else with a problem. What was the problem? How did you help the other person? What did you learn from this experience, and what advice would you give others? Would you help in the same way?
Part 3: Two-Way Discussion (4-5 mins)
In Part 3, the examiner will ask more abstract and analytical questions related to the topic in Part 2. This part allows for a deeper discussion on broader issues.
Sample Topics and Questions:
Development in Education:
- Describe developments in education in your country.
- Compare the experience of your parents with your own educational experience.
- What changes are coming?
National Education:
- What are your country’s aims for education?
- What is the importance of extra-curricular activities?
Styles of Teaching:
- Describe different styles of teaching.
- What is your preferred method of learning?
- Should learners be grouped by ability?
Other Examples:
| Part 2 Topic | Part 3 Discussion Questions |
|---|---|
| Describe a parent | What is the role of parents in today’s society? |
| Describe a friend | Is friendship the same in every country? |
| Describe a place | Should we spend money on national parks? |
| Describe a book | Are writers respected in your country? |
| Describe a movie | Is censorship of movies a good idea? |
| Describe a problem | Is modern life becoming easier or more complicated? |
| Describe a happy event | How can we increase the role of the family? |
These examples and practice questions provide a comprehensive framework to help you prepare for the IELTS Speaking Test. Practice these questions regularly, seek feedback, and focus on improving your fluency, coherence, vocabulary, and pronunciation to achieve your desired band score. Good luck with your preparation!
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IELTS Basic Speaking Topics
Speaking sample task – Part 1
Speaking sample task – Part 1
Speaking sample task – Part 2
Speaking sample task – Part 3
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