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 4-5 mark. 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 regularly, e.g., 3 or 4 months. The recent topics have more chances to be repeated in near future. We collect 20 hot topics and their sample questions that are from memories of test takers.
More topics are in "Topics and Samples" section of
IELTS Speaking Test. The latest Part 1 topic and its sample questions are presented at this page's "Hot Questions".
No: 1 2018-12-12: Part 1 (Rwanda)
Topic: ROUTINE - 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’s the first thing you do in the morning?
- Do you think that breakfast is an important meal?
- What is your morning routine?
- Do you prefer to have the same morning routine every day?
- What is your daily routine?
- Do you want to change it?
- Is this routine changed from your childhood to now?
Recent Tests:- 2018-12-03 (Nepal)
- 2018-11-10 (Australia)
- 2018-11-08 (Sri Lanka)
- 2018-11-07 (India)
- 2018-10-27 (UAE)
No: 2 2018-12-12: Part 1 (Uzbekistan)
Topic: WATER - 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 much water do your drink daily?
- Do you normally drink bottled water or tap water?
- Why do you drink bottled water?
- Do you think its expensive?
- Did you ever find yourself in a thirsty situation without water? When? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2018-12-10 (India)
- 2018-12-08 (Australia)
- 2018-10-23 (UAE)
- 2018-10-07 (Saudi Arabia)
- 2018-09-15 (Turkey)
No: 3 2018-12-10: Part 1 (India)
Topic: SEASON,WEATHER - 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 many seasons are there in your place?
- Do you prefer wet season?
- How often does it rain at your place?
- Which season is your favourite? Why?
- Which weather do you like the most?
- Do you like hot weather or cold weather? Why?
- Do you prefer to stay in dry or rainy weather? Why?
- Where would you like to live, in a place with same weather or different types of weathers?
Recent Tests:- 2018-12-01 (Brazil)
- 2018-11-10 (Canada)
- 2018-11-06 (Nigeria)
- 2018-10-27 (USA)
- 2018-10-14 (Georgia)
No: 4 2018-12-08: Part 1 (Australia)
Topic: SUNGLASSES,GOGGLES - 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 wear sunglasses?
- Why do you wear sunglasses?
- How often do you buy sunglasses?
- Would you give someone a sunglasses as a gift?
- Do youngsters like to wear sunglasses? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2018-10-23 (Philippines)
- 2018-09-16 (India)
- 2018-09-15 (USA)
- 2018-09-07 (Saudi Arabia)
- 2018-09-07 (India)
No: 5 2018-12-07: Part 1 (Lithuania)
Topic: FOREIGN FOOD - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Did you eat foreign food when you were a child?
- What kinds of food are popular in your country?
- What is your favourite fast food?
- Have you tried any new foreign food recently?
- Which food are you eating with your friends in leisure time?
- Do you think youngsters in your country prefer foreign food these days?
- Do you think next 20 year in your country foreign food are dominated? Why?
- Did you ever try an unusual food?
- Do you think people will eat more international food in the future in your country?
Recent Tests:- 2018-12-07 (Bahrain)
- 2018-11-14 (India)
- 2018-10-08 (lran)
- 2018-10-07 (Bangladesh)
- 2018-09-25 (Philippines)
No: 6 2018-12-07: Part 1 (Lithuania)
Topic: PUNCTUALITY,ON TIME - 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 wear a watch normally? How often?
- Is there a tradition in your country to be on time?
- Do people in your country care about punctuality? Why?
- Do you usually be on time or do you often late?
- What do you do when you have to wait for someone?
- How do you feel when people are late?
Recent Tests:- 2018-12-01 (Australia)
- 2018-11-24 (Canada)
- 2018-11-10 (Hong Kong)
- 2018-10-12 (Saudi Arabia)
- 2018-09-13 (Philippines)
No: 7 2018-12-03: Part 1 (Nepal)
Topic: COLOUR - 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 colors?
- What is your favourite color? Why?
- Do you want to paint the color in your bedroom?
- Do you wear bright colors?
- Did you like bright color when you were child?
- Do you wear bright colors now also?
- Do you think the color of the car represent the personality of the owner?
Recent Tests:- 2018-12-03 (Bangladesh)
- 2018-12-02 (Brazil)
- 2018-10-27 (UAE)
- 2018-10-25 (India)
- 2018-10-23 (UAE)
No: 8 2018-12-03: Part 1 (India)
Topic: E-MAIL,LETTER - 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 email or letters? Why?
- Do you write a lot of letters or cards?
- Do you prefer to have email or a card for you birthday? Why?
- Do you think in the future email will replace letter?
Recent Tests:- 2018-11-09 (UAE)
- 2018-09-14 (Sri Lanka)
- 2018-09-04 (India)
No: 9 2018-12-03: Part 1 (India)
Topic: PLANT - 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 plants?
- Do you know anything about how to grow plants?
- What kind of plant do you like?
- Do you like to grow plants at home? Why?
- Would you like to receive a plant as a gift? Why?
- Have you plant anything when you were a child?
- How do you look after them?
- Do you have any knowledge about fertilisers?
Recent Tests:- 2018-11-04 (Iran)
- 2018-10-26 (Egypt)
- 2018-10-09 (lran)
- 2018-08-23 (Sri Lanka)
- 2018-07-28 (India)
No: 10 2018-12-01: Part 1 (Jordan)
Topic: ART,PAINT - 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 drawing or painting?
- What kind of drawing or pictures do you like?
- Would you like to have yourself draw by someone?
- Did you use to draw when you were a child?
- Did you learn to draw something?
- Is it easy to learn how to draw?
Recent Tests:- 2018-11-09 (Egypt)
- 2018-10-13 (USA)
- 2018-09-08 (Indonesia)
- 2018-09-04 (India)
No: 11 2018-12-01: Part 1 (Bahrain)
Topic: 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.
- What was you favourite holiday?
- Where would you go for next holiday?
- Do you like to plan your holiday in advance?
- Is it important to have a plan for holiday?
- What is the most important thing when you plan the holidays?
- Did you enjoyed your holidays when you were a child?
Recent Tests:- 2018-11-17 (Philippines)
- 2018-10-27 (Ireland)
- 2018-10-13 (Qatar)
- 2018-08-25 (Kazakhstan)
- 2018-08-10 (Turkey)
No: 12 2018-12-01: Part 1 (Brazil)
Topic: NEIGHBOR - 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 know your neighbours?
- How often do you see each other?
- Do you get in touch whit your neighbours? Why?
- What kind of relationship do you have?
- How can neighbours be helpful?
- What kind of problems can people have with their neighbours in a big city?
- Would you prefer to have your neighbour to be young or old? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2018-09-15 (Brazil)
- 2018-09-06 (Kazakhstan)
- 2018-09-04 (Iran)
No: 13 2018-12-01: Part 1 (Brazil)
Topic: SHOES - 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 buy shoes?
- Where do you buy shoes usually?
- When was the last time you purchased new shoes?
- What type of shoes do you wear?
- Do you prefer comfortable shoes or fashionable shoes? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2018-10-31 (Brazil)
- 2018-10-27 (UAE)
- 2018-10-13 (Indonesia)
- 2018-10-06 (Iran)
- 2018-09-07 (Saudi Arabia)
No: 14 2018-11-30: Part 1 (Kosovo)
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.
- How often do you listen to music?
- Do you listen to music when you are studying or driving?
- What kind of music do you like? Why?
- Do you download music from website or buying a CD? Why?
- Do you think your taste in music will change in future? Why?
- What kind of music do people in your country prefer?
- What are differences between traditional and modern music?
- How music is helping human beings throughout the world?
Recent Tests:- 2018-11-12 (India)
- 2018-10-27 (USA)
- 2018-10-14 (Georgia)
- 2018-10-13 (Iran)
- 2018-09-13 (Egypt)
No: 15 2018-11-24: Part 1 (Canada)
Topic: MAP - 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 use map?
- When did you learn to use maps?
- Do you prefer using electronic map or paper map?
- What are the differences between them?
- Do you take help from people to know about the directions?
- Do you think maps are helpful? How?
Recent Tests:- 2018-11-12 (India)
- 2018-10-27 (Ireland)
- 2018-10-26 (Saudi Arabia)
- 2018-10-01 (India)
- 2018-09-26 (India)
No: 16 2018-11-17: Part 1 (Philippines)
Topic: BORE - 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 after do you get bored?
- What circumstances makes you feel bored?
- What do you do when you get bored?
- How do you avoid boredom?
- When was the last time you were bored?
- With whom would you like to spend time while boring? Why?
- Do you get bored more often now than previously?
Recent Tests:- 2018-11-10 (USA)
- 2018-10-23 (Malaysia)
- 2018-10-09 (Iran)
- 2018-08-17 (Saudi Arabia)
- 2018-08-10 (UAE)
No: 17 2018-11-17: Part 1 (Qatar)
Topic: CAR,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.
- How often do you use car?
- Do you like to travel by car?
- Are there a lot of traffic jams in the city?
- Do you use public transport?
- Should people use more public transport? Why?
- When did you use taxi last time? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2018-11-10 (Australia)
- 2018-10-12 (Kazakhstan)
- 2018-10-12 (India)
- 2018-09-15 (Pakistan)
- 2018-09-06 (Kazakhstan)
No: 18 2018-11-17: Part 1 (Qatar)
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?
- Why do some people enjoy cooking?
- When was the last time you cooked?
- When did you eat a tasty food last time?
- Do you prefer eating home or going to restaurants? Why?
- What meal do people prefer in your country? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2018-11-10 (Brazil)
- 2018-11-03 (UAE)
- 2018-11-03 (Philippines)
- 2018-10-24 (India)
- 2018-09-06 (Kazakhstan)
No: 19 2018-11-12: Part 1 (India)
Topic: CLOTHES - 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 for clothes?
- How often do you buy clothes?
- What kinds of clothes do you usually buy?
- Do you prefer comfortable clothes, or formal clothes?
- Can we judge a person by clothing? Why?
- Can we judge a person's character by clothing? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2017-12-06 (China)
- 2017-10-25 (Saudi Arabia)
No: 20 2018-11-12: Part 1 (India)
Topic: MONEY - 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 save money?
- Did you save money when you were a child?
- Were you helping family in money?
- How will you teach someone to save money?
- How to teach a child to save money?
- Is it good to give money as a gift?
- Have you given money as a gift to someone?
Recent Tests:- 2018-09-25 (Philippines)
- 2018-09-13 (Philippines)
- 2018-09-10 (India)
- 2018-08-18 (USA)
- 2018-08-16 (Oman)