The part 1 of IELTS speaking test lasts 4-5 minutes. Its core is a simple interview for test taker's basic information, such as home, town, study, or hobby. Candidates usually talk personal information in a small talk style interview. The talk is controlled by examiner who actually has a script to follow.
The initial questions includes:
- Your full name
- Your identification
- Basic problems about yourself, e.g., your hometown, your family
- If you are working: what your job is, why you chose it, questions about co-worker
- If you are studying: what subjects, why you chose them, if you enjoy them and why
Usually, in part 1 you may be asked two or three other topics, for example, family, travel, food preferences, and national festivals.
Part 1 starts with your basic information, so it the easiest part in speaking test. It's critical important for candidates who are aiming to get mark 4-5. Meanwhile, high score hunters have to use it to impress examiners to challenge advanced questions in Part 3.
To familiarize with common topics is the best way to prepare IELTS speaking, because examiners use a script list to drive the test and the list is updated periodically, e.g., by 3 or 4 months. The recent topics have more chances to be repeated in near future.
We collect recent topics in "Topics and Questions" section of
IELTS Speaking Test. The latest Part 1 topic and its sample questions are presented at its "Hot Topics". We also maintain a list of
IELTS Speaking Questions to show new speaking test materials.
Below are 20 sample questions of part 1.
No: 1 2019-07-31: Part 1
Topic: RUBBISH,RECYCLING - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- What do people usually do with rubbish and recycling in your country?
- What do you feel when you saw some rubbish materials on the road?
- In your opinion, why do some people throw that rubbish on the road?
- Do you ever recycled paper and plastic?
Recent Tests:- 2019-07-02
- 2019-06-29
- 2019-06-20
- 2019-06-18
- 2019-06-12
No: 2 2019-07-29: Part 1
Topic: PUBLIC HOLIDAY - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you like the New Year celebration?
- Are there many public holidays in your country?
- Which is your favorite holiday? Why?
- What do you usually do during this holiday?
- What do people usually do on public holidays?
- Should there be more public holidays? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2019-07-14
- 2019-06-01
- 2019-05-31
- 2019-05-24
- 2019-04-25
No: 3 2019-07-20: Part 1
Topic: BORROW - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Have you borrowed something from your friends?
- Have you lent something to your friends?
- Would you let a stranger borrow your mobile phone? Why or why not?
- Do you think friends should borrow money from each other? Why or why not?
Recent Tests:- 2019-07-17
- 2019-06-19
- 2019-05-29
- 2019-05-06
No: 4 2019-07-19: Part 1
Topic: MUSIC - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you like music?
- Have you ever been to a live concert?
- What type of music do you like? Why?
- What are the kinds of music that you don’t like?
- Do music have connection with thoughts?
- Do you play musical instruments?
- Do you download music from website or buying a CD? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2019-06-03
- 2019-05-05
- 2019-04-17
- 2019-04-03
- 2019-03-02
No: 5 2019-07-18: Part 1
Topic: SOCIAL NETWORK - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you often use social websites? Why?
- What are the advantages of social websites?
- Is it a good idea for people to spend more time on social websites?
- Would you like to spend more time on social websites? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2019-06-19
- 2019-06-07
- 2019-05-23
- 2019-05-14
No: 6 2019-07-17: Part 1
Topic: CAR - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you own a car?
- How often do you use car?
- Do you think it is necessary to learn how to drive?
- Are there a lot of traffic jams in your city?
Recent Tests:- 2019-06-22
- 2019-06-06
- 2019-04-22
- 2019-04-03
- 2019-03-28
No: 7 2019-07-16: Part 1
Topic: PERFUME - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you like wearing perfume?
- What kind of perfume do you prefer?
- Is there a special brand of perfume you like?
- Have you bought yourself a bottle of perfume?
- Have you ever bought a perfume as a gift?
Recent Tests:- 2019-07-02
- 2019-06-29
- 2019-06-23
- 2019-06-21
- 2019-06-08
Vocabulary: Perfume No: 8 2019-07-12: Part 1
Topic: PUBLIC TRANSPORT - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you use public transport?
- Should people use more public transport? Why?
- When did the last time you travel by taxi? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2019-06-06
- 2019-05-15
- 2019-04-22
- 2019-04-03
- 2019-03-28
No: 9 2019-07-12: Part 1
Topic: SLEEP - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you sleep enough?
- How long do you spend sleeping?
- How much sleep is required to keep fit?
- Do you think children or adults need more hours of sleep?
- Do you take a nap in afternoon? How does that affect you?
- Have you ever found yourself struggling to fall asleep?
- What do you do when you have difficulty sleeping?
Recent Tests:- 2019-06-10
- 2019-05-27
- 2019-05-01
- 2019-04-13
- 2019-04-06
Vocabulary: Sleep No: 10 2019-07-10: Part 1
Topic: SHOPPING - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you like shopping?
- What’s your favorite shop?
- Do you prefer shopping alone or with others?
- Have you ever bought anything online?
- What is the difference between small shops of your town and international shops?
Recent Tests:- 2019-06-28
- 2019-06-03
- 2019-05-24
- 2019-05-07
No: 11 2019-07-04: Part 1
Topic: GO TO SCHOOL - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- How do you go to school?
- Do you consider taking any other transportation?
- When you were a kid how do you go to your school?
- What is the interesting thing about going to school?
Recent Tests: No: 12 2019-07-04: Part 1
Topic: LOST THINGS - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Why do people lose things? Are they careless?
- Which things frequently can to find?
- What do your parents teach you when you found things?
- Why do some people can find more things than others?
Recent Tests: No: 13 2019-07-03: Part 1
Topic: MATH - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you like math?
- What are the importance of learning mathematics?
- When did you start learning math?
- Is it your favorite subject?
- Do you use calculator for math?
- How math skill helps us in daily life?
- In your opinion, is it necessary to people nowadays to be good in mathematics?
Recent Tests:- 2019-07-02
- 2019-06-29
- 2019-06-27
- 2019-06-20
- 2019-06-10
Vocabulary: Math No: 14 2019-06-01: Part 1
Topic: FAMILY - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- How often do you see your family?
- When was the last time you visited your family members?
- How often do you see your friends?
- If you had an opportunity to see your family or friends more frequently, would you prefer family or friends? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2019-01-28
- 2019-01-02
- 2018-12-17 (Turkey)
- 2018-12-13 (Iran)
- 2018-08-01 (India)
No: 15 2019-05-05: Part 1
Topic: COLOR - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- What is your favorite color? Why is that?
- As a child did you prefer brighter colors?
- What is the color in your room? Do you like it?
- If you buy a car,what color would it be? Why is that?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-27
- 2019-04-22
- 2019-04-02
- 2019-03-27
- 2019-03-24
No: 16 2019-04-30: Part 1
Topic: CITY - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you like cities? Why?
- Have you lived for a long time in your current city?
- Why do you live in your current city?
- Do you think this city will change in future?
- What are interesting in this city?
- Which city would you like to visit? Why?
- Do most people live in the big cities in your country? why?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-25
- 2019-03-06
- 2019-02-26
- 2019-02-23
- 2019-01-19
No: 17 2019-04-29: Part 1
Topic: WORKPLACE - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- How is your workplace?
- Can you describe your workplace?
- How can it be improved?
- Do you like the environment at your work place?
- Would you continue to work there for long?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-25
- 2019-04-22
- 2019-04-18
- 2019-04-01
- 2019-03-21
No: 18 2019-04-27: Part 1
Topic: SUNGLASSES - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you like to wear sunglasses?
- How often you wearing sunglasses?
- Where can you buy sunglasses?
- Are you ever lose sunglasses?
- Do people in your country like to wear sunglasses?
- Have you gifted anyone with sunglasses?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-19
- 2019-04-06
- 2019-03-23
- 2019-02-18
- 2019-01-16
No: 19 2019-04-23: Part 1
Topic: PARK - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- How often do you visit parks?
- What do you like doing in that park?
- Are there a lot of green spaces around you?
- When was the last time you went to a park?
- Do you prefer to relax with your friends in a park, or an indoor place?
- Do you prefer parks with open or parks with leisure facilities?
- What do you want to improve at the parks in your hometown?
- What should people do to protect parks?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-12
- 2019-04-03
- 2019-03-27
- 2019-03-22
- 2019-03-12
Vocabulary: Park No: 20 2019-04-22: Part 1
Topic: MEAL,COOK - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Do you like cooking?
- How often do you cook?
- When was the last time you cooked?
- What kind of food do you dislike?
- Do you prefer home-cooked meal or eating outdoors? Why?
- What meal do people prefer in your country? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-13
- 2019-04-06
- 2019-04-04
- 2019-04-01
- 2019-03-20