IELTS Speaking Part 1: Overview, Topics, Questions & Answers

In the IELTS Speaking part 1, the test will begin with a face-to-face conversation with the examiner introducing themself and then asking about the candidate's identity. They will then ask you questions about your job, studies, family, and hometown, where the examinee has to speak for 4-5 minutes. You will have to speak continuously and give answers to these questions sincerely.

In this article, we will discuss how to practice for IELTS speaking part 1, tips to prepare, and some common topics, questions, and answers.

10 Most Common IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics and Questions

Below are some of the most commonly asked IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics and Questions.

Topics	Questions
Weather	What is the weather usually like in your hometown? What’s your favourite weather?  Do you like the weather in your hometown?  Do you like wet weather?
Art	Do you like Art? Do you think art classes are necessary? Are you good at art? What kind of paintings do people like?
Family	Do you have sisters and brothers? (siblings) If so, how many? How often do you meet with your family? How do you spend time with your family? Do you want to live with your family in the future?
Advertisement	Are there plenty of advertisements in your country? Why do you think there are so many advertisements coming nowadays? What are the different places where we often see advertisements? How do you feel about advertisements?
Home	Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in How long have you lived there? What do you like about living there? What do you dislike about living there?
Hometown	What’s the name of your hometown and where is it? Is that a big city or a small place? Tell me about your hometown. How long have you been living there?
Music	Do you like listening to music? What kinds of music do you like to listen to? Do you play any kinds of musical instruments? Has the music that you listen to changed since you were young?
Sports	Do you like sport? Do you play any sports? Have you played Cricket for a long period of time? Do you watch sports on TV?
Gifts	Do you like giving or receiving gifts? What kind of gifts do you prefer? When do people give gifts or presents in your country? Do you ever take a gift when you visit someone in their home?
Famous Person	Who is your favourite celebrity in India? Do you like any Foreign people? Would you want to be famous in the future? Do you think we should respect famous people’s privacy?
Books	Do you like reading? Do you read e-books? What kind of books do you like to read? What was your favourite book as a child?
Animals	Do you like animals? What’s your favorite animal? Why? Are people in your country fond of animals?  What kinds of animals as pets do people have in your country?
Food	What is your favourite dish? Have you always had a preference for the same foods? Do you have any food preferences? Can you describe a typical meal in your country?
Concentration	Is it difficult for you to stay focused on something? When is it hard to concentrate? What may distract you when you are trying to stay focused? In what situations do you need to concentrate?
Handwriting	How frequently do you write by hand? Do you prefer handwriting or typing on a computer? What are the advantages of handwriting? Do you think having good handwriting is necessary?
Friends	Do you have a lot of close friends? (or) Tell me about your friends. (or) Do you have many friends? Do you think friendship is important? Which do you prefer: to spend time with a friend or spend time alone? (or) How often do you go out with your friends? What kind of individuals do you like as friends?
Reading	Do you like reading? Do you read electronic book? What kind of books do you like to read? What was your favorite book as a child?
Dream Job	What was your dream job when you were at a young age? Have you ever changed your mind about your dream job? What are your plans to do in the future? What kinds of jobs are highly popular in India?
Shopping	Would you say that you enjoy going shopping? Do you compare prices when you shop? Is it difficult for you to make a choice when you shop? Do you enjoy shopping?
Hobbies	Do you practice any hobbies? Is it necessary to have a hobby? Is it bad to spend too much time on a hobby? What recreational activities do you intend to pursue in the future?

You can check out more IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics on the IELTS speaking topics page.

How to practise for IELTS Speaking Part 1?

When preparing for IELTS Speaking Part 1, you must remember these points.

1. Know the format of the IELTS speaking section

The IELTS Speaking Part 1 will follow a particular format which will be conducted as a face-to-face interview with a qualified IELTS examiner. It will start after the interviewer introduces themselves and checks your identity. He will ask basic questions like what you do or where you live. The test will be over within 5 minutes after asking you a set of questions on some random topic.

2. Be aware of all the marking criteria

The band score for the IELTS speaking test is determined by 4 marking criteria - Fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. You should read the IELTS speaking band descriptors for a detailed explanation. You will be scored in a range from band 0 to 9. Get the help of an IELTS trainer to evaluate you while preparing for the test so that you can understand your weaker areas and improve them. You can find the IELTS speaking vocabulary here to improve your speaking.

3. Spend time daily for IELTS Speaking preparation

You should be consistent in your preparation till the day of your test. Keep the marking criteria in mind and focus on improving your skills each day. You will develop the confidence to speak in the test as you practice some warm-up questions regularly.

4. Stop memorizing answers

Never go for the test with memorised answers. If you come across any topics that you find difficult to answer, spend more time practicing for those questions. Focus on the question and in providing answers directly to the questions.

5. Record, Listen and Improve

While practicing for the IELTS speaking part 1, try recording your answers. After you finish, listen to the recording and assess your answers according to the marking criteria. Note down the mistakes and improve on the areas in which you are weak.

The IELTS Speaking Part 1 will get over within 4-5 minutes. So you can quickly complete your preparation for the introduction part.

5 Tips to follow while attending IELTS Speaking part 1 questions

These are some tips you should follow when answering the IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions.

1. Have confidence when you speak

Even though confidence is not a marking criterion in IELTS speaking part 1, speaking confidently will help you to communicate effectively with the examiner. You have to calm down and talk to the examiner as in a normal conversation.

2. Be well prepared for IELTS speaking

By understanding the type of questions that will be asked in part 1 of IELTS speaking and knowing the common topics, you can prepare well for this section. The only way to get better in this section is to practice the answers by speaking.

3. Don't be nervous when you answer

It is common for you to feel nervous when you sit for a test especially when the examiner is in front of you. But understand that the examiner is present there only to ask you questions. If you are well prepared then you don't have to worry about anything. You have to just listen to the questions and give proper answers.

4. Don't give short answers

Use sentences to give answers instead of telling yes or no answers. Strictly avoid one-line answers and short answers. Deliver your answers clearly by using 2-3 sentences.

5. Never leave any questions without answering

The questions in the IELTS speaking part 1 will be mostly about your personal things or general topics which you can answer easily. They will check only how you speak and not how well you know about the topic. So try answering all the questions they ask.

Keeping these tips in mind while answering the IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions, will help you in delivering your answers in a better way. Also, check out IELTS speaking tips for overall guidance on the speaking section and to score band 9 in the test.

10 Frequently Asked IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions

Some of the IELTS Speaking Questions Part 1 that are commonly asked in the test are listed below.

1. Where are you from?
2. Where did you grow up?
3. What do you do?
4. What is your job?
5. Where did you study?
6. Where is your hometown?
7. What is your daily routine?
8. Do you work or study?
9. What's your favorite weather?
10. Do you spend much time with your family?

Also check out other IELTS Speaking Resources:

IELTS Speaking Part 1 PDF
IELTS speaking part 2
IELTS speaking part 3
IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Conclusion

This is an easy section to score band 9 on the speaking test. This article has wholly covered all that you need to ace the exams. Follow all the “IELTS Speaking Part 1” tips and practice the questions given while you do your preparation for the IELTS speaking section.

IELTS Speaking Part 1 FAQs

1. How can I introduce myself in IELTS Speaking Part 1?

You can speak when asked about yourself. The interviewer may ask you questions like ‘what is your name’ or ‘where are you from’. You might need to talk about your family, work, studies, or home.

2. How to greet the examiner before the IELTS speaking part 1?

You can give a nice smile and greet the examiner according to that time of that day. If you are attending the interview during the afternoon, you can tell ‘good afternoon’.

3. What types of questions are asked in the IELTS speaking part 1?

The questions asked in IELTS speaking part 1 are mainly from general topics related to yourself. The questions can be about your home, work, study, family etc.

4. What not to do when I Introduce myself In IELTS Speaking?

Do not fumble or hesitate while speaking. Restrain yourself from asking questions to the examiner unless you didn't understand what they asked you.

5. Can I choose the topics for the IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions?

You cannot choose the topics for the IELTS speaking part 1 and you cannot ask them to change the topic. You must answer whatever questions are asked of you.

6. How can I score well in the IELTS Speaking Part 1?

To score well in the IELTS Speaking Part 1, you should get to know the marking criteria first. Then you have to practice answering questions according to those criteria.