IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics (January – April 2018) & Sample Answers

@mockTashkent

House/Accommodation

Do you live in a house or an apartment?
I live in a terraced house that has a living room, a kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a lovely back garden. It’s not really a spacious house, but it’s just right for me and my family.
Do you usually spend time with your family?
We often spend quality time together on eating well-prepared meals by my mother, talking with each other while enjoying our favorite delicious foods. It’s a precious time when we can momentarily get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
4.What do your family usually do together?
My family often gathers around the table enjoying a cozy meal together, communicating and sometimes busting into laughter because of my father’s humorous stories. We’re also particularly into family game nights, when we huddle together to play cards or other family favorites.
5.Do you like it?
Does your family like it?
How would you change your apartment or house?
How long have you lived there?
Do you live with your family?
Do you want to live by yourself in the future?
Do you enjoy living with your family?
Is the transport around your home convenient?

Transportation

What’s the most popular means of transportation in your hometown?
The most common vehicle in my hometown is the motorbike. As I’ve read in a current newspaper, most adults have their own motorbikes. Moreover, I can easily catch sight of motorbikes whenever I go outside.
2.Do you usually commute by public transport?
I take buses to go to school at least twice a day as I haven’t got my own vehicle yet. I also usually use buses to visit my relatives or friends’ homes.
Is it easy to catch a bus in your country?
Yes, it’s easy as pie. Today, there are more and more bus lines so i dont have to wait for a long time to get on bus.
Can you compare the advantages of planes and trains?
Obviously, airplanes and trains have their own particular benefits for passengers. Regarding planes, they have been the fastest means of passenger transport invented so far. They enable people to travel all around the world in the shortest possible time. The biggest advantage of trains is their impressive safety record. Accidents are rare, and so people can feel relaxed and just sit back and admire the views from their comfortable seats.
Is driving to work popular in your country?
Yes. I’m pretty sure that private cars and motorbikes are the two most popular vehicles in my country. Therefore, it is obvious that there are a large number of people who tend to drive to work.
Do you think people will drive more in the future?
Yes, I think so. There will be more drivers on the roads in the future due to the convenience of motoring and the affordable prices of cars.
Would you ride bikes to work in the future?
Yes. As I’m a young person, I like to do energetic activities to help me keep fit, so I will give priority to a job that is within cycling distance of my home.
Do you think what will become the most popular means of transportation in your country?
Personally, I think the prevalence of motorbikes will continue to dominate due to their advantages, namely they are great for getting around quickly, they are easy to park and economical to run.
Do you prefer public transportation or private transportation?
Although owning a private vehicle has various advantages, I prefer using public transportation in order to economize as well as to help protect the environment.

Other questions:

How did you get here today?

How do you usually go to school or work?

Which transportation do you usually use?

Newspapers and magazines

Do you often read newspapers?
Yes, I read the newspaper everyday to keep up to date with the latest news and see what the hottest topic of the day is. I’ve been in the habit of doing this for a long time.
Do you prefer to read local news or international news?
Well, I suppose that I prefer/have an inclination towards international news, especially news about relationships among countries around the world. This is probably because I really care about diplomatic issues and want to keep track of what’s happening outside my country.
Which is more popular where you live, newspapers or magazines?
Well, I think that people read newspapers more often than magazines, normally because newspapers provide information that is relatively easy to understand for almost everyone. On the other hand, magazines contain longer articles and specifically focus on a particular topic which may be quite difficult or unfamiliar to some readers.
Do many people today read newspapers?
I guess… yes, maybe. Because every morning when I go to my office, I can see many people reading the daily newspapers at pavement cafés. However, I think nowadays people are tending to gradually change their habits and accessing the latest news online.
In the future, do you think more people than today will read magazines, or fewer people?
I’m not really sure about this, but I suppose that there will be fewer people reading magazines in the future. It’s probably because nowadays there are various sources of information, so people can search if they want to find knowledge of any field, especially on the Internet… it’s easier and cheaper. Maybe in the future perhaps specialists will be the only ones who read the magazines which relate to their own particular fields.
Do you think newspapers will be very important to you in the future?
Well, honestly, I haven’t ever thought about that before, but I love my routine of reading newspapers while drinking coffee every morning, it’s completely relaxing. So I’ll try to keep reading newspapers as a regular habit as long as possible.

Do you prefer getting news online or from the newspaper?
How often do you talk about news with your friends?

Handwriting & keyboards

Do you usually handwrite?
Yes for sure. Since I need to improve my writing skill for this IELTS exam, I use my pen for essay a lot like 2 hours everyday. I also have to work with my assignments.
Where are keyboard usually used?
Normally, we can easily catch a sight of keyboard on laptops, phones and smart devices. It’s one of the most indispensable part of these things.
Is there any difference between mobile phone & computer keyboards?
In my opinion, they are similar to each other. The main function of keyboard is to allow the users to give commands to the computer in a simple way by pressing keys. The keys on a keyboard are typically labeled with their input function, ranging from letters of the alphabet to numbers and symbols.

Book

How often do you read?
As a student, I often spend 1 to 2 hours per day reading books. The ideal time and place for reading is in the afternoon at the library, where it is quiet so that I can concentrate on reading without any disturbance from outside.
Do you like reading books? Why?
Yes, I’m really into reading because I believe that reading can be both entertaining and educational. Reading broadens my knowledge by opening up the whole world to me. While I’m reading, I can be visiting another country or a different time period, or traveling through space. I can find out how people solve problems or think up new ideas.
Do you have many books at home?/ What kinds of books do you like to read?
Not so many. I own a collection of fantasy marketing books written by Philip Cotler. Besides academic books, I’m also keen on cook books and travel books. “Journey of MasterChef” is the favourite one on my shelf.
Do people in your country like to read?
In my opinion, most people like reading very much as we were told to do so since they were at school. Pupils are taught to love reading and how to keep their books clean, and this is also one way to evaluate the pupils’ behavior and attitude to their studies.
What kind of people like reading and what kind of people don’t like reading very much?
Well, I think people who are involved in outdoor activities generally do not like reading very much, and people who do research or work at schools or universities tend to like reading. However, this depends on other factors, so it’s hard to generalize.
Do children read books?
It’s kind of hard to say but young children that I know around me tend to read fairy tales to enhance their mental development, but maybe for others, they just want to watch TV and play toys.
What are the benefits of reading?
I believe if you want your children to be smart, they have to acquire a love for reading, which has numerous benefits. Reading opens the door to child’s early academic success and leads to higher grades in every subject. Besides, reading can help children improve linguistic/communicational skills in the form of a richer vocabulary, correct grammar. On top of that, books teach children about relationships, situations, personalities, and what is good and what is bad in the world he lives in.

Hometown

What’s (the name of) your hometown?
My hometown is ABC city where is located in the South of [your country]. It takes a 2 hour drive from here.
Is that a big city or a small place?
Well, my hometown is a medium city with roughly 15 wards. The booming population and economy have turned it into a promising site for many investors.
Please describe your hometown a little?
There are two words to describe my hometown, which are natural and dynamic. It has beautiful scenery of mountains and beaches. On the other side of the coin, its industry is growing fast; and a lot of industrial zones are being built there.
How long have you been living there?
I had spent a happy childhood in my hometown for 18 years until I left for study at university. It’s 5 years since the day I left, but the memory of my hometown is always in my mind.
What do you like (most) about your hometown?
I think it’s the peaceful and quiet, which give me peace of mind. The people live close together and always give anybody a hand when they need it.
Do you think you will continue living there for a long time?
I think I will definitely go back to my hometown, find a job and settle down there. I believe that my hometown will always be a safe, clean and livable place for everyone.
What do visitors like to go in your hometown?
I think most of them like to go to historical sites and the beautiful sunny beaches. Going there, they can learn more about our history and culture and have relaxing time.

Season

What’s the best season of the whole year?

What do people normally in that season?

What’s the weather usually like in your country (or, your hometown)?

How is the weather here different to the weather in your home country?

Would you say the weather in your hometown is suitable for working (or studying)?

Would you like to move to a place with different weather?

What sort of weather do you like the most?

What season (or weather) do you think is most suitable for work and/or study?

Has the weather in your country changed much in the past few years?

Do you prefer hot or cold weather?

Do you (usually) pay attention to the weather forecasts?

Wild Animal

What’s your favourite wild animal?

Do you like to see animals in the zoo?

Do you keep a pet?

Do you think it’s important to let kids know about animals?

Outdoor activities

Do you like outdoor activities?

How often do you do that?

What outdoor activities do you like to do?

Do people in your country prefer to spend time indoorsor outdoors?

Do you like to watch sports on TV?

What’s the most popular sport in your country?

What kinds of sports would you like to try in the future?

Have you ever tried any dangerous sports?

Children

Do you often come into contact with children? (Where? When?)

What do you do when you are with these children?

How often do you play with children?

What activities do children do when they get together?

Is it difficult to raise children?

Volunteer work

Have you taken any volunteer works?

Why did you do the volunteer works?

Do you know any volunteers?

How do you define volunteer work?

Dictionary

Do you use dictionary?

How often do you use dictionary?

Do you prefer paper or electronic dictionary? What are the differences?

Do you think the dictionary is useful?

Will you like it if someone give you a dictionary as a gift?

Ideal job

What kinds of job did you want to do in your childhood?

What’s your ideal job now?

Sleep

How much sleep do you think people need to stay healthy?

Do old people sleep more or less than young people?

Have you done anything to improve your sleep quality?

How long do you sleep every day?

Leisure time

What’s your favorite way to relax?

Do the old like to do the same activities ?

Do you have enough time to relax ?

Do you think it’s important to have leisure time?

Apps

What apps do you often use?

Do you want to develop an app yourself?

Do you often use apps on mobile phones?

Do you want to make your own app?

What kinds of apps do you expect in the future?

Name

What’s your full name?

How should I call you?

What does your name mean?

Who gave you the name?

Why did they give you this name?

Is it a common name in your country?

Work /Job

Do you work or are you a student?

What work do you do?

What specific things do you do on your job?

Why did you choose that job?

What do you like most about your job?

Would you recommend that job to others?

What did you do on the first day of your job?

Do you think this job has a bright future?

What are the most interesting and the difficult part of your job?

Study

What’s your major?

Do you like it?

How do you like your courses?

(if you do not have a major yet) Which major do you want to choose in college? Why?

Will you change it if you have the chance ?

Which major will you change it to?

Is it different from what you had in mind?

Why did you choose that major?

Advertisements

Do you like watching advertisements?

Will you buy something because of the advertisement?

How do you feel when you see pop-up advertisement on the internet?

Do you like funny or serious advertisements?

What makes a good advertisement?

Rain

Does it always rain in your city?

In which season does it rain the most often?

What do you usually do on rainy days?

Have you ever forgotten to take the umbrella on a rainy day?

Computer

Do people often use computers these days?

Will people continue to use computers in the future?

Do you use computer?

What do you use it for?

Did you use computer when you were little?

Boat

Have you ever taken a ride on a boat?

Do you like traveling by boat?

What are the advantages of travelling by boat?

Do people in your country like to travel by boat?

Will it get more popular in the future?

Teenagers

Do you spend a lot of time with teenagers?

What do teenagers like to do in your country?

Do boy teenagers and girl teenagers like different things?

Do they like to stay with people of their own age?

What’s the best part of being a teenager?

Staying at home

Do you spend more time at home or outside?

How long do you usually stay at home?

Do you like staying at home?

What do you usually do when you stay at home?

Did you always stay at home when you were little?

Meal

When do you usually eat meal?

Do you prefer eating at home or outside?

Do you like ordering food delivery?

Who do you eat it with?

Do you eat meals differently now compared with when you were little?

Friend

Do you still remember your friends from primary school?

Who’s your best friend at that time?

What did you always do together?

Did you always study together with your best friend at that time?

Do you still keep in touch with those friends now?

Training

Is it important to have trainings during work?

What kind of training have you had during your work?

Have you had any training that makes you familiar with the company?

What have you learnt from those trainings?

How do you use what you have learnt in your work?

On time

How to you check the time?

Is it important to be on time?

What do you do when you arrive early?

Has people’s the sense of time gotten weaker now?

Is it less or more important to be on time today than in the past?

High school

Who’s your favorite teacher in high school?

What’s your favorite subject in high school?

Do you still remember what happened on your first day of high school?

Do you still keep in touch with your friends from high school?

Do you miss your life in high school?

Family activity

Do you like spending time with your family?

Do you prefer spending time with your family indoors or outdoors?

What different things do you do with your family when you are indoors and outdoors?

Do you spend your vacation with your family?

Do you do different activities with your family on vacations compared with when you are not on vacations?

Sports/Physical exercise

Do you often exercise?

How do you exercise?

Will you do exercise in the future?

Do you know anyone who exercises?

Do people around you like to exercise?

Writing / handwriting

Do you like writing

Did you like writing when you were little?

Do you prefer writing by hand or typing?

What kind of things do you need to write by hand?

Will people still write by hand in the future?

Gift

When do you send gifts?

When was the last time you received a gift?

Have you received a gift you didn’t like?

How do you feel when you receive a gift?

Do people in your country send gifts to show their generosity?

Travel

Do you like travelling?

Where have you travelled to before?

Do you like travelling by plane?

Do you want to travel to the space?

Music

Do you like listening to music?

What kind of music do you like to listen to?

Will you like different styles of music in the future?

Do you listen to music when you are studying?

Do you prefer CD or downloading music from the internet?

Going out / outdoor activities

Do you like going outside?

Have you attended any outdoor events?

Do you want to do any outdoor jobs?

Old topics

Mirror

Do you often look at yourself in the mirror?
Yes very often, at least three times a day. Every morning after finishing personal hygiene, I always look at the mirror to check my hair and clothes for the last time before I go out.
Do you often buy mirror?
Well I’m a boy so as you can guess I barely buy mirrors. However I can always go with my mom or sister to give them advices on choosing kinds of mirror.
Do you think mirrors are necessary ornaments?
Absolutely yes. Mirror is one of the most indispensable/important things in houses. Besides personal purpose, mirrors are also used for decorations. For example, in some architectural designs like churches, they use mirror to make church mysterious and ancient.
Do you often buy clothes without looking in mirror?
Never. I always go to fitting room to put the clothes on and check carefully if it fits me and looks good on me. I just wanna make sure I pay for the right things.

Musical instruments

Do you play any kind of instruments?
Unfortunately, I had not learned to play any type of musical instrument when I was a little boy. I remembered that in schools, teachers always told us to put all energy into studying and preparing exams. The music lessons, along with physical exercises and paintings, were not so important as the schools claimed to be. I really felt pity when I grew up.
What can children benefit by learning a musical instrument at school?
I think playing musical instrument would be beneficial for children’s mental health. Moreover, it could stimulate the capability of creativity and concentration. A research showed that children listened to music before the exam got higher scores than others.

Television

Did you often watch television when you were a child?
oh yes, I was really a couch potato when i was a little boy. On weekends, when my parents went out to do other things, I was left alone at home with TV all day long. So i was deeply obsessed with various TV programs. It’s still fresh in my mind that Tom and Jerry is my favourite cartoon which went along through my childhood.
Do you often watch TV recently?
Very often. I turn on the TV to watch Hollywood movies. I’m a big fan of Star Movies and HBO channels. So I check them like once few hours to catch the good films to watch. It’s awesome to see Hollywood stars with spectacular scenes.
What kind of TV programmes do you like most?
I really enjoy watching reality shows like The Voice or America’s Next Top Model. In those fierce competitions, I can see my idols who have acquired an established reputation as supermodels. Moreover, I can witness the maturity of each contestant through each episode.

Robots

Are you interested in robots? Why?
Yes, sure. I’m a big fan of Transformers. That movie is about robots from another planet. I like robots because personally, they represent the technological advancements.
Do you like robots to work at home?/ What kind of robots do you like to have?
Yes, why not. Robots would help the elderly and retired people with their daily life activities like cooking and cleaning. Moreover, robots could do normal jobs quickly unlike human beings with 24 hours a day.
Do you want to take a car which robot is the driver?
Well, it’s a bit scary but i would trust them completely. I think human would program them well and exactly with many tests before releasing them.
Will robots replace human being in the workplace completely?
I’m afraid that we will see the replacement of human teachers by artificial intelligence. However, there are some specific jobs that they can never replace human. For example, as a decision maker, we are capable to analyze the risks and predict the consequences while robots don’t have ability to do this.

Shoes

Do you like shoes?
Yes for sure. I’m owning a lot of pairs of sneakers. I’m a fan of Nike and Adidas because they are the most prestigious and top brands all over the world. So, I wear them everyday to anywhere.
Which do you prefer, comfortable ones or fashionable ones?
Well, it really depends on the situation. For going gym or doing exercise, i would like to wear comfortable pairs which can help me more flexible. But for going out or to special events like birthday and wedding parties, i would choose the fashionable ones which make me look cool and attractive. However, most of the times, i wear the comfortable ones.
Are people willing to buy expensive shoes?
Yes. I could afford it, i’d love to have one. Expensive shoes are definitely nice and durable. So i think i can wear them for a long time.

Bring things

What will you bring when you go out?
It is definitely my iPhone which is the inseparable thing whenever I go. Another the thing is my wallet. You know we can’t just go out without money and ID card.
Did you ever forget to bring things?
Well I’m a forgetful one. So, as you can guess, I did forget to bring my stuffs sometimes and I used to get some troubles with that. For example, one time when I went to supermarket and I realized that I forgot bringing my wallet. So, I couldn’t pay the bill and had to leave everything there.
Will you bring different things in the daytime or at night?
I’m a boy so I don’t really have much belongings to bring with. Whenever I go out, my mask and jacket are very important to me. No matter day or night time, mask protects my lungs the polluted air, and jacket keeps my arms away from the sunshine and makes me warm at night.

Housework

Do you do housework at home?
Yes but not really often. I sometimes help my mom and sister to clean the house before big holidays like Christmas and Lunar new year.
What kind of housework do you often do?
Normally, I give my mom a hand in washing dished, swiping the floor and taking out the trash. I find it easy as pie and doesn’t take much energy.
Did you do housework when you were a child?
Yes absolutely. I was a good kid. I used to help mom to put away the toys of my brother. He was so active and mischievous.
Do you think that children should do housework?
Yes definitely. I think they should have some responsibilities for housework. It also expresses that they are helpful and a good kid. Besides that, Housework can be lessons for them like how to organize things and what should be done. For example, they will know how clean the dishes should be washed and what to put on the cupboard first to save the room for the next ones.

Indoor activities

Do you like indoor activities?
Sure! I think indoor activities do wonders for our mental and physical health.
So I usually spend my leisure time playing sports or taking a walk around the stadium.
The activities in your home (most) want to do?
Well, I enjoy many activities such as bowling, playing cards and tennis but I’m particularly keen on swimming. It is relaxing and easy to do, you know. Moreover, swimming helps me to get energized and ward off feelings of stress.
What indoor sports do you like? (Why?)
I’m really into playing badminton. It’s quite popular in my country so I can play it with my friends, my family members or my next-door neighbor and strengthen the bond with them. Moreover, badminton develops my quick reflexes as well, so I do think it’s a fantastic sport.

Dream

What’s your dream?
Recently, I dreamt about something happened in the past. It was my last birthday and graduation ceremony. But the latest one is my dream job which is working in Apple Company as a marketing manager.
Why are dreams so important?
Scientists showed that dreams are taken shape from memories. So I think it’s the good way to remember things. Furthermore, some dreams let us see the future.
Do you remember you dream when get up?
Well, you know, actually I cant remember exactly what happened in my dreams although I try to think about it. However there are some which are still fresh in my mind. For example, last night I dreamt about a devil trying to catch me and tie me up. But I was waken up by the bark.
Do you like to hear other’s dreams?
Yes it’s fun to listen to those who just had a dream. I find it thrilling, scary and sometimes ridiculous because some of them are very weird.
Do you think dreams affect our lives?
Yes I believe so. Someone firmly believe in their dreams and think it is a prediction or a sign about their future. Then they could be nervous and worried about what would happen going forward/ in the future

Photography

Do you like photography?
Yes, I’m a big fan of photography. I often travel around to stunning natural scenery with my camera. I have been in the habit of doing this for 3 years.
Were you taken some photos when you were a child?
Well, my mom used to show me pics of me when i was a little kid. Although the quality of the pics are not good, I still see me with my family at many different places. They are good moments which I will never forget.
Do you like taking photos or videos?
I prefer to have a video. Because it allows us to add sounds and to have more time to act. For photos, we have one one second to capture the moment and we have to pose before taking photos.
Do you take photos when travelling?
Yes, sure. I always take lots of pics to save my moments everywhere I have been to. Additionally, I like to tell my friends about my trips by photos. It’s easy for them to imagine about what it’s like and what’s going on there.

Chocolate

Do you like sweets or chocolate?
Well, you know, I don’t really have a sweet tooth, so neither of them is really my cup of tea. But if I were to choose, I’d go with chocolate. I think candies are too sweet for my taste.
What’s your favorite flavor?
I don’t know a whole lot of flavors, but I prefer dark chocolate. The bitterness balances well against the sweetness, in my opinion. I think milk chocolate is too rich, but I know it is a favorite for many, especially young kids.
How often do you eat chocolate?
Not too often, as you can guess. It is sort of a treat on special occasions. For example, on Valentine’s Day, a box of truffles or toffees can make anyone’s day.
Is chocolate popular in your country?
Well, I would say that it is. Chocolate-flavored drinks are kind of the in-thing right now. Moreover, the number of chocolate consumers has risen dramatically, especially in young consumers.
Is chocolate good for our health?
It depends largely on the variety. Milk chocolate is definitely unhealthy, as it’s got a ton of fats and sugar . I would keep off that if I were on a diet. But dark chocolate is a different matter entirely. It is beneficial for the heart and blood pressure in small quantities.

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