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 2019-05-29: Part 1
Topic: PHOTO,PICTURE - 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 click photographs?
- Do you think photographs are important in our lives?
- Do you prefer to take pictures with your phone or a camera?
Recent Tests:- 2019-05-29
- 2019-05-11
- 2019-04-19
- 2019-04-17
- 2019-04-12
No: 2 2019-05-27: 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.
- How many hours do you sleep at night?
- How many hours do you think people usually sleep?
- Do you think the number of hours you sleep at is healthy?
- 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:- 2019-05-01
- 2019-04-13
- 2019-04-06
- 2019-03-19
- 2019-03-12
No: 3 2019-05-15: Part 1
Topic: HOMETOWN - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Can you describe your hometown?
- Do you like your hometown? Why?
- Is it nice place?
- What is your hometown known for?
- What did you like about your hometown when you were a child?
- Is there anything you don’t like about your hometown?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-27
- 2019-03-08
- 2019-03-01
- 2019-02-22
- 2019-02-18
No: 4 2019-05-06: Part 1
Topic: CROWD - 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 crowded places?
- Do you feel the cities are crowded nowadays? Why?
- What places do you think are often crowded? Why?
- How do you feel when you are in crowded places?
- What are the advantages of living in less populated area?
- When did you last time enjoy being in the crowd?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-27
- 2019-04-03
- 2019-03-27
- 2019-03-01
- 2019-02-23
No: 5 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: 6 2019-05-04: Part 1
Topic: FILM STAR - 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 enjoy watching movies?
- Who is your favorite movie star? Why?
- Do you often see movie stars in your country?
- Do film stars popular in your country?
- Why do you think they are popular?
- Have you met an international films star ever?
- Would you like to be superstar someday? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-30
- 2019-04-13
- 2019-03-28
- 2019-03-27
- 2019-03-24
No: 7 2019-05-04: Part 1
Topic: MOVIE,CINEMA - 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 watch movies?
- How often do you go to cinema?
- Why do you like to watch movies?
- What type of movies do you like?
- What's your favorite film?
- Do you prefer to go with your friends or alone?
- Did you watch movies while you were child? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-30
- 2019-04-22
- 2019-04-04
- 2019-03-23
- 2019-02-17
No: 8 2019-05-02: Part 1
Topic: PLACE - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Where do you live?
- Why do you stay in the place?
- Is it an interesting place?
- How long have you been staying at this place?
- What do you like most for living there?
- What would you like to change?
- Where did you live before?
- What kind of places do you like to visit?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-29
- 2019-04-25
- 2019-04-24
- 2019-04-12
- 2019-04-07
No: 9 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: 10 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: 11 2019-04-27: 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 go to your school?
- What is the interesting thing about going to school?
No: 12 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: 13 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
No: 14 2019-04-23: Part 1
Topic: STUDY,EDUCATION - This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself andchecking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.
- Where do you study?
- What subject are you studying?
- Do you like your major and why?
- Is there something that helps you to study efficiently?
- What do you like the most about your studies?
- What facilities do university provide?
- What facilities do you suggest to add there in future?
- Is there anything you want to change in your university?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-22
- 2019-04-09
- 2019-04-08
- 2019-04-02
- 2019-04-01
No: 15 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
No: 16 2019-04-19: Part 1
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?
- Which type of drawings or painting do you like more? Why?
- 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?
- Do you like your room to be decorated with paintings? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2019-02-08
- 2018-12-14 (Brazil)
- 2018-12-01 (Jordan)
- 2018-11-09 (Egypt)
- 2018-10-13 (USA)
No: 17 2019-04-13: Part 1
Topic: HANDWRITING - 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 write letters and cards?
- Is your handwriting good?
- When did you last time write a letter?
- Have you written much letters today than you were a child?
- Do you prefer to write by hand or type?
- Do you think computers might replace handwriting one day?
- Do you love receiving handwritten letters? why or why not?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-07
- 2019-03-27
- 2019-03-10
- 2019-02-22
- 2018-09-15 (Australia)
No: 18 2019-04-13: Part 1
Topic: STRUGGLE AT 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.
- What is the thing you struggle most with at school?
- Why did you struggle the thing?
- How did you overcome it?
No: 19 2019-04-04: Part 1
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?
- Do you like buying shoes online?
- What kind of shoes do you usually wear?
- Do you have a favorite pair of shoes?
- When was the last time you purchased new shoes?
- Do you prefer shoes which are fashionable comfortable? Why?
Recent Tests:- 2019-04-02
- 2019-03-23
- 2019-03-04
- 2019-03-02
- 2019-02-17
No: 20 2019-04-02: Part 1
Topic: NEIGHBOR,NEIGHBOUR - 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 the people who live next door to you?
- Do you know all your neighbors?
- How often do you see each other?
- Would you say you have a good relationship with your neighbors?
- How can neighbors be helpful?
- What activities do you do with your neighbors?
- What kind of problems can people have with their neighbors in a big city?
- 2019-03-14
- 2019-01-11 (Ireland)
- 2019-01-04 (India)
- 2018-12-11 (India)