IELTS

Speaking Questions
Your HCPI IELTS Specialist

Page 1 of 35
SPEAKING SET 1

Part 1
● Are your friends mostly your age or different ages?
● Do you usually see your friends during the week or at weekends?
● The last time you saw your friends, what did you do together?
● In what ways are your friends important to you?

Part 2

Describe an interesting historic place.

You should say:
What it is
Where it is located
What you can see there now
and explain why this place is interesting.

Part 3
● How do people in your country feel about protecting historic
buildings?
● Do you think an area can benefit from having an interesting historic
place locally? In what way?
● What do you think will happen to historic places or buildings in the
future? Why?
● How were you taught history when you were at school?
● Are there other ways people can learn about history, apart from at
school? How?
● Do you think history will still be a school subject in the future? Why?

Page 2 of 35
SPEAKING SET 2

Part 1

● What kinds of food do you like to eat?

● What kind of new food would you like to try?
● Do you like cooking?
● What was the last meal you cooked?
● Do you prefer home-cooked food or food from restaurants?

Part 2

Describe an interest or hobby that you enjoy.

You should say:
How you became interested in it
How long you have been doing it
Why you enjoy it
and explain what benefits you get from this interest or hobby.

Part 3

● Do you think having a hobby is good for people’s social life? In what
way?
● Are there any negative effects of a person spending too much time on
their hobby? What are they?
● Why do you think people need to have an interest or hobby?
● In your country, how much time do people spend on work and how
much time on leisure? Is this a good balance, do you think?
● Would you say the amount of free time has changed much in the last
fifty years?
● Do you think people will have more or less free time in the future?
Why?

Page 3 of 35
SPEAKING SET 3

Part 1
● Do you have any hobbies or interests?
● How did you become interest in (whatever hobby/interest the
candidate mentions)?
● What is there to do in your free time in your hometown?
● How do you usually spend your holidays?
● Is there anywhere you would particularly like to visit? Why?

Part 2

Describe a river, lake or sea which you like.

You should say:
What the river, lake or sea is called
Where it is
What the land near it is like
and explain why you like this river, lake or sea.

Part 3
● What do people enjoy doing when they visit rivers, lakes or the sea?
Why do you think these activities are popular?
● What benefits do you think people get from the activities they enjoy in
the water?
● What are the different advantages of going to the sea or to a
swimming pool to enjoy yourself? What do you think the
disadvantages are?
● How does water transport, like boats and ships, compare with other
kinds? Are there any advantages/disadvantages of water transport?
● How important is it for a town or city to be located near a river or the
sea? Why?
● Have there been any changes in the number of jobs available in
fishing and water transport industries, do you think? Why do you think
this is?

Page 4 of 35
SPEAKING SET 4

Part 1
● What place do you most like to visit?
● How often do you visit this place?
● Why do you like it so much?
● Is it popular with many other people?
● Has it changed very much since you first went there?

Part 2

Describe a useful website you have visited.

You should say:
What the website was
How you found the address for this website
What the website contained
and explain why it was useful to you.

Part 3
● What effect has the internet had on the way people generally
communicate with each other?
● Why do you think the internet is being used more and more for
communication?
● How reliable do you think information from the internet is? Why? What
about the news on the internet?
● Why do you think some people use the internet for shopping? Why
doesn’t everyone use it in this way?
● What kinds of things are easy to buy and sell online? Can you give me
some examples?
● Do you think shopping on the internet will be more or less popular in
the future? Why?

Page 5 of 35
SPEAKING SET 5

Part 1
● Do you have a large family or small family?
● Can you tell me something about them?
● How much time do you manage to spend with members of your
family?
● What sorts of things do you like to do together?
● Did/Do you get on well with your family?

Part 2

Describe a teacher who has influenced you in your education.

You should say:
Where you met them
What subject they taught
What was special about them
and explain why this person influenced you so much.

Part 3
● How has education changed in your country in the last 10 years?
● What changes do you foresee in the next 50 years?
● How do the expectations of today’s school leavers compare with
those of the previous generation?
● What role do you think extracurricular activities play in education?
● What method of learning works best for you?
● How beneficial do you think it is to group students according to their
level of ability?

Page 6 of 35
Speaking Set 6

Part 1
● Tell me about the most important festival in your country.
● What special food and activities are connected with this festival?
● What do you most enjoy about it?
● Do you think festivals are important for a country?

Part 2

Describe a film or a TV programme which has made a strong impression on you.

You should say:
What kind of film or TV programme is was
When you saw the film or TV programme
What the film or TV programme was about
and explain why this film or TV programme made such an impression on you.

Part 3
● Do you think the cinema has increased or decreased in popularity in
recent years?
● In your opinion, will this trend continue into the future?
● What are the advantages and disadvantages of making films of real-
life events?
● How important do you think it is for a film-maker to remain true to the
original story?
● Should films and television be censored or should we be free to
choose what we see?
● How do you think censorship laws will change in the next 20 years?

Page 7 of 35
SPEAKING SET 7

Part 1
● What would you suggest a visitor should see and do in your country?
● Are there any traditional arts or music you would recommend?
● Tell me about the kind of foreign visitors or tourists who go to your
country.
● In what ways has tourism changed your country?

Part 2

Describe a memorable event in your life.

You should say:
When the event took place
Where the event took place
What happened exactly
And explain why this event was memorable for you.

Part 3
● How important are ceremonies in our lives?
● Do you see the role of private and public ceremonies changing in the
future?
● Have attitudes to marriage changed in recent years?
● In what ways do men and women feel differently about marriage, in
your opinion?
● What sort of national events make headlines in your country?
● Do the media in your country pay more attention to global or national
events?

Page 8 of 35
SPEAKING SET 8

Part 1
● What would you like to change in your daily routine?
● Are all your days the same?
● Tell me about your typical weekday and your typical weekend.
● What is the balance of work/study and free time in your normal day?

Part 2

Describe something you own which is very important to you.

You should say:
Where you got it from
How long you have had it
What you use it for
And explain why it is so important to you.

Part 3
● What kinds of possessions show status in your country?
● Do you think it was different for your grandparents?
● Modern society is often called “materialistic.” Why do you think this is?
● Do you think consumerism is positive or a negative development?
● What is the role of advertising?
● How do you think the Internet will affect buying patterns in the future?

Page 9 of 35
SPEAKING SET 9

Part 1
● Which part of your country are you from?
● Can you describe your hometown for me?
● Who do you live with?
● Do you spend much time with your family?
● What do you like to do on the weekend?
● Why are you studying English?
● How long have you been studying English?

Part 2

Describe a famous person that has/had great influence on the people of your
country.
You should say:
Who that person was
What the person did
How you feel about that person
… and consider whether or not that person will continue to be an influence in the
future.

Part 3
● Famous people often become role models for teenagers. How
significant is this?
● Do actors and models get too much attention in the media?
● Should people lose the right to privacy just because they are famous?
● If you could meet anyone famous (dead or alive) who would it be and
why?
● In your opinion, do certain personality types handle fame or attention
better than others?
● Do you feel that there should be restrictions placed on actors
according to their age or sex?

Page 10 of 35
Speaking Set 10

Part 1
● Which part of your country are you from?
● Can you describe your hometown for me?
● Do you work or are you a student?
● What do you like to do in your spare time?
● Why are you studying English?
● How long have you been studying English?

Part 2

Describe the main forms of transport in your hometown.

You should say:
What the different forms of transport are
How often you use them
Which types of transport are most popular
.. and consider whether or not the transportation systems are satisfactory.

Part 3
● What is the traffic like in your hometown?
● What are the benefits of traveling by public transport?
● In your opinion, in what ways can governments encourage people to
use public transport?
● Having too many cars on our roads causes air pollution. What are
some of the other causes of pollution?
● How are environmentally-friendly practices encouraged in your
country?
● Science can be used to develop environmentally-friendly alternatives.
In what ways can this be done?

Page 11 of 35
SPEAKING SET 11

Part 1
● Who do you live with?
● Can you describe your room to me?
● What do you do to relax in the evenings?
● Do you like playing sports?
● Do you enjoy studying English?
● Can you remember you first English lesson?
● What do you plan to do after this speaking test?

Part 2

Describe a memorable sporting event that you participated in or watched.

You should say:
What the event was
Why the event is memorable
How you felt at the event
… and describe whether or not winning or losing is a significant memory.

Part 3
● Governments allocate large amounts of money to sporting events
such as the Olympics. Do you agree with this spending?
● Can or should sport play a significant role in developing international
relations?
● The idea of sportsmanship has changed over the years. Should
professional sports players act in a particular way?
● A significant amount of money and time is spent on testing for the use
of drugs in sport. How important is this?
● Large companies now sponsor major sporting events and teams. Can
this sponsorship lead to problems?
● What do you think the future of international sports will be?

Page 12 of 35
SPEAKING SET 12

Part 1
● What do you like about living in your country?
● Can you tell me about your last vacation?
● Who you like traveling with?
● Where would like to travel to in the future?
● What sort of music do you like?
● Is music important to you?
● Do you like the same kind of music as your family?

Part 2

Describe an advertisement that you have seen recently.

You should say:
What the advertisement was about
Where you saw or heard the advertisement
How effective the advertisement was
… and explain how you felt about the advertisement.

Part 3
● Is there too much advertising?
● Do you agree that advertisement for smoking and drinking alcohol
should be banned?
● Certain products can only be advertised in restricted time-slots on
television. Is this sort of restriction necessary?
● What role does advertising play in your society?
● How has advertising contributed to globalization?
● How might advertising change in the future?

Page 13 of 35
SPEAKING SET 13

Part 1
● How long have you been studying?
● What subjects have you found the most difficult to study?
● What do you enjoy/dislike about studying?
● Have you gained/Do you hope to gain any qualifications?
● Do you hope to do any further studies in the future?

Part 2

Describe your journey to school or work.

You should say:
What forms of transport are involved
The importance of time
Whether it is enjoyable or not
…and explain how you would make your journey more pleasant if you could.

Part 3
● Do you think getting to work is easier or more difficult than in used to
be?
● How have methods of transport been improved?
● Are there any problems that have been created by new transport
systems?
● Do you think these problems can be solved?
● What about the cost of traveling, do you think it is too high?
● What about your ideal journey, how and where would you like to
travel?

Page 14 of 35
SPEAKING SET 14

Part 1
● Is English important in your chosen career?
● What do you hope to do in the future?
● Have you given up anything you used to do in your free time? If so,
what?
● Which other hobbies or sports would you like to try?
● Do you share similar interests with your friends?

Part 2

Describe the job or career you have, or hope to have.

You should say:
What the job is
What it involves
Why you chose it
… and explain why it is rewarding.

Part 3
● What do most people consider as important when deciding on a job
or career?
● In modern life a lot of people work too hard. What are the effects of
this?
● How could the problems of overworking be avoided?
● At what age do you think people should retire from work?
● Do you think this should be the same for all jobs?
● How has technology changed the way that people work?
● What further changes in the way people work do you think we will see
in the future?

Page 15 of 35
Speaking 15

Part 1
● Is your family large or small?
● What do the other members of the family do?
● When was the last time all your family were together? What did you
do?
● What do you do as a family for special occasions like wedding or
feasts?
● Is there a member of your family you are especially close to? Why?

Part 2

Describe a trip or a holiday you have recently taken.

You should say:
Where you went and why
Who you went with
What you did
What made this trip memorable to you

Part 3

● Do you think travel broadens the mind?

● Describe how the tourism industry has developed in your area.
● Describe what things you are offer tourists.
● Evaluate what type of tourists tourism brings to your area.
● How has tourism changed your area compared with how it used to
be?
● Evaluate how tourism is good for the economy of a country.
● Speculate on what other benefits tourism might bring to a country.
● Evaluate how the growth of tourism has affected the countryside and
wildlife in your country.

Page 16 of 35
SPEAKING SET 16

Part 1
● How did you travel here?
● How long did the journey take?
● How was your journey today different from the way you travel to
school/work?
● What is the longest, most interesting journey you’ve made?
● Is there anywhere you would like to travel to? Why?

Part 2

Describe the different types of technology you use to help you learn English.
You should say:
The most simple and the most up-to-date technology
The changes in technology you have seen
The most useful pieces of technology
…and the technology that you like best and why.

Part 3
● Describe the earliest computer you remember using.
● How have computers changed since then
● Do you think computers will ever replace teachers?
● Describe how computers and technology have changed our lives.
● Compare the abilities of computers and humans.
● Evaluate the changes computers have made to our lives.
● Tell me which household appliance you couldn’t live without.
● How is life better today than 50 years ago?
● Will environmental pollution still exist in the future?

Page 17 of 35
Speaking Set 17

Part 1

● What journeys do you make everyday?

● What do you do during journeys?
● Do you sometimes have problems with transport?
● What is your favorite form of transport?

Part 2

Describe a conversation you had which was important to you.

You should say:
When the conversation took place
Who you have the conversation with
What the conversation was about
And explain why the conversation was important to you.

Part 3

● What differences are there when using channels of communication

(face-to-face, telephone, writing)?
● To what extent do you think films and TV influence how people
communicate with each other?
● Do you think that there are differences in the way men and women
communicate?
● Do you agree that education has a strong and positive effect on
people’s ability to communicate effectively?
● What impact do you think the growth of technology might have on
communication in the future?

Page 18 of 35
Speaking Set 18

Part 1
● Where do you come from?
● Where do you live now?
● Could you tell me something about your family?
● What are your qualifications?
● Are there any other qualifications you would like to gain?
● How do you typically spend the weekend?

Part 2

Describe a celebration you remember.

You should say:
● what event was being celebrated
● the form the celebration took
● where the celebration took place
● who was there
● why it was enjoyable
and explain why it is memorable for you.

Part 3
● What events in a person’s life are most celebrated in your country?
● What about the significance of gifts, are there particular presents that
are given on particular occasions?
● Celebrations such as weddings are often times when families gather
together, what effect does this have on family relationships?
● How is the way we celebrate events such as birthdays and religious
days changing?
● Do you think such changes are a good or a bad thing?
● Which celebrations do you think will change the most in the next few
years? How do you think they will change and why?

Page 19 of 35
Speaking Set 19

Part 1
● Where are you living at the moment?
● What would you suggest a visitor to your home town should see or do?
● What kind of things do you do in your free time?
● How long have you been doing them?
● What is it about them that you enjoy particularly?

Part 2

Describe a traditional meal in your country.

You should say:
● what the meal is
● how it is prepared
● when it is usually eaten
● what, if any, is the significance or importance of the meal
and explain whether you enjoy the traditional food or your country.

Part 3
● What foods do you consider are good for you? Why?
● What kind of things do people eat that are bad for them?
● Why do you think people eat such things, if they are not good for
them?
● How do you think people’s eating habits have changed over the
years?
● How could the eating habits of children be improved?
● Why do you think people are concerned about chemicals and other
additives in their food?
● If you could, how would you change your own eating habits?

Page 20 of 35
Speaking Set 20

Part 1
● What kind of place is your home town or village?
● What’s the most interesting part of your town/ village?
● What kind of jobs do the people in your town/village do?
● Would you say it is a good place to live? Why?

Part 2

Describe something you own which is very important to you.

You should say:
● where you got it from
● how long you have had it
● what you use it for
and explain why it is important to you.

Part 3
● Is it valuable in terms of money?
● Would it be easy to replace?
● What kind of things, give status to people in your country?
● Have things changed since your parents’ time?
● Do you think advertising influences what people buy?

Page 21 of 35
Speaking Set 21

Part 1

● Who is your best friend?

● Why do you call this person your best friend?
● What makes this friend closer than your other friends?
● Do you think it is better to have a large group of friends or a few close
friends?
● Describe what you and your friends like to do.
● Have you remained friends with people from your childhood? Why or
why not?
● How do people choose their friends?

Part 2

Describe a relative who you are like.

You should say:
● who the relative is and how close you are to them
● what makes you and your relative alike
● why you think you and your relative have these shared qualities

Part 3

● Do you enjoy spending time with relatives? Why or why not?

● Which of your relatives do you spend the most time with?
● Who do you spend the least amount of time with?
● When do you and your extended family gather?
● What types of traditions do you and your relatives have?
● Do you think family members are more important than friends?
● Is there anyone in your life who is not related but is considered part of
the family anyway?

Page 22 of 35
Speaking Set 22

Part 1

● Do you have a job? Do you like it? Why or why not?

● Why did you choose this job?
● What kind of education or training did you need to get this job?
● If you don’t have a job, what kind of job would you like to have?
● Why would you like this kind of job?
● How can you prepare yourself to get this kind of job?
● How do people choose jobs?

Part 2

Describe a holiday that you have celebrated recently.

You should say:
● what the purpose of the holiday is
● who you celebrated with
● why this holiday is important to you
and describe some activities that you did as part of the celebration.

Part 3

● What are some important holidays in your country?

● Why do people celebrate holidays?
● Do you think holiday celebrations have changed over the years? Why
or why not?
● Do you think the importance of holiday celebrations has changed
over the years? Why or why not?
● How will holidays be different in the future?

Page 23 of 35
Speaking Set 23

Part 1

● What kind of food do you enjoy eating?

● What are some kinds of food you never eat? Why?
● Do you generally prefer to eat at home or at a restaurant? Why?
● What are some reasons that people eat at restaurants?
● Describe a popular food in your country. Why do people like this food?

Part 2

Describe a teacher from your past that you remember.

You should say:
● what class the teacher taught you and how old you were
● what the teacher’s special qualities and characteristics were
● why you remember this teacher

Part 3

● What kind of person makes a good teacher?

● Why do people choose to become teachers?
● Do you think education will change in the future? How?
● How does technology affect education?

Page 24 of 35
Speaking Set 24

Part 1

● Where do you live now?

● Who do you live with?
● What kind of place do you live in? (a house or a flat?)
● Do you think it’s better to live in a house or an apartment?
● Describe your neighborhood.
● Do you like it? Why or why not?
● How do people choose their place to live?

Part 2

Describe a gift you have received that was important to you.

You should say:
● who gave it to you and for what occasion
● what it looks like and how you use it
● why it is important to you

Part 3

● Do you enjoy giving and receiving gifts? Why or why not?

● Who usually gives you gifts?
● Who do you give gifts to?
● In your country when do people usually give gifts?
● What kinds of gifts do they give?
● Do you think gift-giving customs are different now than they were in
the past? How?
● Do you think they will change in the future? How?

Page 25 of 35
Speaking Set 25

Part 1
● What’s your name?
● Where do you live?
● What family members do you with?
● What are you studying?
● What you like about your studies?
● What do you like about learning English?
● How often do you use English?

Part 2

Describe a city you have visited which has impressed you.

You should say:
- where it is situated
- why you visited it
- what you liked about it

Do you like cities generally?

Would you like to live in the city you spoke about?

Part 3

● What are the advantages of living in a big city?

● What do you think are the negative aspects of crowded cities?
● Describe the architectural designs in your country.
● Describe the transport system in your country.

Page 26 of 35
Speaking Set 26

Part 1
● What’s your name?
● What nationality are you?
● What part of your country do you come from?
● Can you describe your home town/village?
● What do you like doing in your free time?
● Are there any new hobbies that you would like to take up? Why?

Part 2

Describe a competition (or contest) that you have entered.

You should say:
- when the competition took place
- what you had to do
- how well you did it
describe how you felt about the competition.

Do you enjoy entering competitions?

Have you entered any other competitions?

Part 3
● competition at a young age
● competition at school
● value of international competitions
● the psychology of competing
● competitive spirit

Page 27 of 35
Speaking Set 27

Part 1
● What country do you come from?
● Which other countries have you visited?
● Are there any countries you would like to visit? Why?
● What do you find difficult about traveling?
● What do you enjoy about traveling?
● What is your preferred method of travel?

Part 2

Describe a job that you have done.

You should say:
- how you got the job
- what the job involved
- how long the job lasted
describe how well you did the job.

Do you value the experience you had in this job

Would you consider doing the same type of job again?

Part 3
● What are the advantages of young people working?
● Describe the different types of part-time work available in your
country.
● How do people in your country choose a career?
● How do you motivate people to work?
● Which do you prefer, job security or having more than one career?

Page 28 of 35
Speaking Set 28

Part 1
● What town or city do you come from?
● Can you describe your family home?
● What does your family usually do at the weekend?
● Do you like going out with your family? Why?
● Where would you like to take a holiday? Why?
● Who would you most like to go on holiday with?
● What was the best holiday you’ve ever had?

Part 2

Describe a museum or art gallery that you have visited.

You should say:
- where it is
- why you went there
- what you particularly remember about the place

Do you like museum/art galleries?

Would you recommend this one to other people?

Part 3

● Discuss the need for museums and art galleries in your society.
● How do you make museums more interesting?
● Compare Museum art VS Popular Art
● Graffiti – art or vandalism?
● What do you think is the role of public artworks, e.g. statues and
buildings in the society?

Page 29 of 35
Speaking Set 29

Part 1
● What part of your country do you come from?
● How long how you lived there?
● How do you like to travel around?
● What types of restaurants are there in your city/town/village?
● Which is your favorite? Why?
● What sort of food do your parents like to eat?

Part 2

Describe an enjoyable event that you experienced when you were at school.
You should say:
- when it happened
- what was good about it
- why you particularly remember this event

Did you enjoy your time at school?

Would you recommend your school to others?

Part 3
● Single sex VS Co-educational schools
● School uniforms
● The teacher as authority or friend
● The role of the teacher in the language classroom
● Education VS Training

Page 30 of 35
Speaking Set 30

PART 1

● How much time do you spend with friends?

● What kinds of things do you like to do with your friends?
● What kinds of work or studies do your friends do?
● What does being a good friend mean to you?

PART 2

Describe a party you went to which you enjoyed.

You should say:
Where the party was
Why the party happened
Who was at the party
And explain why you enjoyed the party.

PART 3

● What kinds of social events are most popular in your country?

● Do you think it is a good idea for colleagues at work to spend time
socially together?
● What changes have there been recently in social life in your country?
● Would you agree that technology can have negative effects on the
way people spend their leisure time?

Page 31 of 35
Speaking Set 31

PART 1

● What subject did you find most interesting when you were at
school?
● Apart from classes, what else did you enjoy at school?
● Do you think that you will stay friends with people from your
school?
● What study or training would you like to do in the future?

PART 2

Describe a holiday you would like to go on.

You should say:
What place you would like to go to
How you would like to get there
What you would like to do while you were there
And explain why you would like to go on this holiday.

PART 3

● Which places in your country do you think visitors would enjoy

visiting most?
● What are the benefits of going away on holiday?
● What kinds of benefits might a significant increase in tourist
numbers bring to a location?
● What developments affecting international travel might there be
in the future?

Page 32 of 35
Speaking Set 32

PART 1

● What sorts of food do you enjoy eating most?

● Do you spend much time shopping for food?
● Which do you prefer, eating at home or eating in restaurants?
● Do you think people should be careful about what they eat?

PART 2

Describe a town you have enjoyed visiting.

You should say:
Why you went to the town
Why you saw there
What you did there
And explain why you enjoyed visiting the town.

PART 3

● What are the kinds of things people like to do when visiting towns
and cities?
● Why do many people prefer to live in cities rather than in the
countryside?
● Can you identify some of the main problems of living in large
cities?
● What measures could be taken to reduce problems of
congestion in cities?

Page 33 of 35
Speaking Set 33

PART 1

● When did you start to learn English?

● What do you enjoy about learning languages?
● Apart from classes, what are useful ways to practice a language
that you are learning?
● How do you plan to use your English in the future?

PART 2

Describe a film you found interesting.

You should say:
When you saw this film
Why you decided to se this film
What happened in the film
And explain why you found this film interesting.

PART 3

● Which do you think is more enjoyable, watching films in the

cinema or watching TV programmes?
● Do you think that cinema films should have an educational
value?
● Is it important for governments to support film-making in their
countries?
● In what ways do you think that entertainment media may
develop in the future?

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Speaking Set 34

PART 1

● What hobbies and interests are popular in your country?

● Which hobbies or interests do you enjoy?
● Which hobbies or interests did you have when you were a child?
● Do you think parents should encourage their children to have a
hobby or interest?

PART 2

Describe the job you most like to have.

You should say:
What this job would be
Where you would work
Which qualification you would need
And explain why you would like to have this job most.

PART 3

● Which jobs are most respected in your country?

● Do you think schools provide enough advice and support about
future careers?
● What changes have there been in recent years in employment
in your country?
● Do you agree that pay for a job should reflect the level of
contribution to community the job makes?

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