IELTS Speaking Topics

Contents

• How to Improve Your Speaking
• IELTS Speaking Practice #1
• IELTS Speaking Practice #2
• IELTS Speaking Practice #3
• IELTS Speaking Practice #4
• IELTS Speaking Practice #5
• IELTS Speaking Practice #6
• IELTS Speaking Practice #7
• IELTS Speaking Practice #8
• IELTS Speaking Practice #9

How to Improve Your Speaking

To begin with, it’s best for you to complete my IELTS Speaking test lessons.

• Lesson 1 – How IELTS Speaking is Scored & How to Improve
• Lesson 2 – What to Do & Expect in the IELTS Speaking Test

After that, you can practice what you’ve learned with the practice questions below.

However, it’s best not to look at all the practice questions until you’re ready to answer them. That way, you’ll have an experience closer to the real IELTS test.

Next, you can listen to the feedback in the videos below each set of practice questions. This will give you a deeper insight into what to do in your IELTS test.

Finally, you’ll need feedback on your own speaking performance which you can find here.

IELTS Speaking Topics #1

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 1)

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about your home.

1. Do you live in a house or an apartment? [Why/Why not?]
2. What does it look like? [Why/Why not?]
3. Which room in your home do you like best? [Why/Why not?]
4. Are there any rooms that you rarely use? [Why/Why not?]

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about shoes.

1. Do you own a lot of shoes? [Why/Why not?]
2. When was the last time you bought a pair of shoes? [Why/Why not?]
3. Do you prefer to buy shoes that are fashionable or comfortable? [Why/Why not?]
4. Do you own any shoes that you never wear? [Why/Why not?]

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about parks.

1. What things do you like to do when you go to a park? [Why/Why not?]
2. How often do you go to a park? [Why/Why not?]
3. Are there any parks near your home? [Why/Why not?]
4. What’s the most important feature of a park? [Why/Why not?]

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards (Part 2)

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 3)

Making Decisions

1. What problems can be caused by making quick decisions?
2. Why are some decisions more difficult to make than others?
3. What is the most important decision that people make in their lives?
4. Why do some people like to get advice from others before making a decision?
5. Are teenagers or adults more likely to regret their decisions?

Decisions in Families

1. Why are many young people unwilling to listen to their parent’s advice about important decisions?
2. Some say that children should decide about unimportant things like what clothes to wear. Do you agree with that?
3. At what age should parents stop making decisions for their children?
4. Why do many parents find it difficult to stop making their children’s decisions?
5. Is it common in your country for parents to ask their children for advice when making decisions?

IELTS Speaking Practice Test #1

IELTS Speaking Topics #2

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 1)

Now, I’m going to ask you some questions about your hometown.

1. Do you still live in your hometown? [Why/Why not?]
2. Was your hometown a nice place to grow up? [Why/Why not?]
3. Is your hometown popular with tourists? [Why/Why not?]
4. Is there anywhere else you would like to live? [Why/Why not?]

Now, I’m going to ask you some questions about household chores.

1. Who does most of the housework in your house? [Why?]
2. How much time do you spend doing housework every week? [Why?]
3. Which household chore do you think is the most difficult? [Why?]
4. Do you do more housework now than when you were younger? [Why/Why not?]

Now, I’m going to ask you some questions about shoes.

1. Do you like to buy shoes? [Why/Why not?]
2. How many pairs of shoes do you own? [Why/Why not?]
3. Do you have a favourite pair of shoes? [Why/Why not?]
4. Do you think some people spend too much money on shoes? [Why/Why not?]

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards (Part 2)

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 3)

Eating out

1. Is eating out popular in your country?
2. What types of restaurants are most popular in your country?
3. Why do you think some people prefer to eat out?
4. Is eating out more popular in your country now than it was in the past?
5. Many people think that it’s unhealthy to eat out regularly. Do you agree with that?

Working in restaurants

1. What is the best job to have in a restaurant?
2. Do you think restaurants should pay higher salaries to their employees?
3. Is it difficult to get a job in a restaurant in your country?
4. Why is it more common to see young people working in restaurants?
5. Do you think it’s unfair to the employees if a restaurant stays open very late?

IELTS Speaking Practice Test #2

IELTS Speaking Topics #3

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 1)

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about where you live.

1. Do you live in a house or an apartment? [Why/Why not?]
2. Do you enjoy living there? [Why/Why not?]
3. Which room do you usually study in? [Why/Why not?]
4. What would you change about your home? [Why/Why not?]

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about clothes.

1. Do you enjoy shopping for clothes? [Why/Why not?]
2. How often do you buy new clothes? [Why/Why not?]
3. Have you ever bought second-hand clothes? [Why/Why not?]
4. Do you ever buy clothes for other people? [Why/Why not?]

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about school.

1. What was your favourite subject at school? [Why/Why not?]
2. Were there any subjects that you didn’t enjoy? [Why/Why not?]
3. What is your favourite memory from school? [Why/Why not?]
4. Do you still keep in touch with your friends from school? [Why/Why not?]

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards (Part 2)

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 3)

Amateur Sport

1. Why is playing sport less common with adults than children?
2. In some schools, it’s mandatory to play a sport. Do you think this is fair?
3. Why do some people prefer playing individual sports rather than team sports?
4. Are school sports competitions more competitive now than they were in the past?
5. How can amateur sports competitions negatively affect the players?

Professional Sport

1. What makes professional sports enjoyable to watch?
2. Why do many people enjoy watching sports more than playing them?
3. Do professional athletes deserve the high salaries they earn?
4. What are the traits do all top-level athletes have in common?
5. How can professional sports improve international relations?

IELTS Speaking Practice Test #3

IELTS Speaking Topics #4

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 1)

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about what you do.

1. Do you work or are you a student? [Why/Why not?]
2. What do you enjoy best about this? [Why/Why not?]
3. Is there anything you don’t like about what you do? [Why/Why not?]
4. Do your classmates/colleagues seem to enjoy studying/working there? [Why/Why not?]

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about sleeping.

1. How many hours do you sleep every day? [Why/Why not?]
2. Do you sleep more now than when you were younger? [Why/Why not?]
3. Do you ever sleep during the daytime? [Why/Why not?]
4. How often do you stay up late? [Why/Why not?]

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about reading.

1. How often do you read books? [Why/Why not?]
2. What is the last book you bought? [Why/Why not?]
3. What is your favourite book? [Why/Why not?]
4. Have you ever borrowed a book from a friend? [Why/Why not?]

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards (Part 2)

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 3)

Importance of holidays

1. Why do people get holidays from work and school every year?
2. Do people in your country get enough time off work?
3. Some people feel that employers should give their staff more days off work. Do you agree?
4. Why do school children get more holidays than working adults?
5. Do you expect that people in your country will get more or fewer days off work in the future?

Travelling abroad

1. Why do some people prefer to travel abroad during their holidays?
2. Do people in your country holiday abroad more often now than in the past?
3. What are the disadvantages of travelling abroad for a holiday?
4. Is it more common for older people or younger people to holiday abroad?
5. Why do most tourists do the same activities when visiting a country?

IELTS Speaking Practice Test #4

IELTS Speaking Topics #5

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 1)

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about work.

1. What work do you do?
2. Why did you choose to do that type of work?
3. Do you like your job?
4. What’s the least interesting thing about your job?

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about animals.

1. What’s your favourite animal?
2. What is the most common animal in your country?
3. Have you ever had a pet?
4. Do you think you’ll ever get another pet?

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about headphones.

1. How often do you use headphones?
2. Do you usually have the volume high or low on your headphones?
3. What type of headphones do you like best?
4. Do you prefer to buy cheap or expensive headphones?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards (Part 2)

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 3)

Exercise

1. What type of exercise is most popular with people in your country?
2. Do people in your country do more exercise nowadays compared to the past?
3. Why do you think some people are so enthusiastic about doing exercise?
4. Some people feel it’s unfair that gym memberships are so expensive. Do you agree with that?
5. Why is it that school children tend to get more exercise than adults?

Professional Athletes

1. Why do so few people become professional athletes?
2. What’s the best way to become a top athlete?
3. How can we encourage children to become professional athletes?
4. What are the advantages of becoming a professional athlete rather than pursuing a more conventional career?
5. Why do so many professional athletes become poor later in life?

IELTS Speaking Practice Test #5

Speaking Topic #6

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 1)

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about your studies.

1. Where do you study?
2. Why did you choose to study there?
3. Do you like studying there?
4. What is the most interesting thing about where you study?

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about maps.

1. How often do you use maps?
2. Do you find it easy or difficult to read a map?
3. Do you prefer paper or digital maps?
4. Have you ever got lost while using a map?

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about concentration.

1. Do you find it difficult to concentrate for a long time?
2. What do you do to help you concentrate?
3. What time of day can you concentrate most easily?
4. Can you concentrate in noisy environments?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards (Part 2)

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 3)

Natural talent

1. What do you think is the most common natural talent in your country?
2. At what age do most people discover their natural talents?
3. Is it possible that most people have natural talents that they’re unaware of?
4. Do you agree that children are more likely than adults to use their natural talents?
5. What natural talents are not helpful in people’s day to day lives?

Artistic talent

1. Do you think artistic talents are useful?
2. Is it a good idea for artistic people to pursue a career in this field?
3. Were people more artistic in the past than they are now?
4. Which type of artistic talent is most valued nowadays?
5. Will artistic talent become more or less valued in the future?

IELTS Speaking Practice Test #6

Speaking Topic #7

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 1)

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about your home.

1. Do you live in a house or an apartment?
2. Do you spend a lot of time in your home?
3. How often do you have visitors?
4. In which room do you normally entertain your visitors?

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about flowers.

1. What is your favourite kind of flower?
2. Do you ever buy flowers for your home?
3. Have you ever planted flowers?
4. Do you think flowers make a good gift?

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about barbecues.

1. Do you enjoy barbecues?
2. What is your favourite barbecue food?
3. Do you ever have barbecue parties at your home?
4. Do you prefer gas or coal barbecues?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards (Part 2)

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 3)

Video Games

1. Why do some parents discourage their children from playing video games?
2. Nowadays, video games seem to be the most popular type of indoor game. Why has this happened?
3. Why do you think playing video games can become an addiction for some people?
4. Older generations tend not to be interested in playing video games. Why is that?
5. Do you think virtual reality headsets will become more popular in the future?

Outdoor Games

1. What skills can children learn from outdoor games that they can’t learn from indoor games?
2. Why do so many parents encourage their children to play outdoors?
3. Are outdoor games nowadays similar or different to the games children played in the past?
4. What outdoor game do adults in your country often play?
5. Why does society expect adults not to play games that require imagination?

IELTS Speaking Practice Test #7

Speaking Topic #8

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 1)

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about your hometown.

1. Where is your hometown?
2. Do you like your hometown?
3. Is it easy to travel around your hometown?
4. What is your hometown most famous for?

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about road trips.

1. How often do you go on road trips?
2. Who do you usually go on road trips with?
3. Do your road trips ever take more than one day?
4. Do you prefer to be the driver or a passenger on road trips?

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about relaxing.

1. How do you like to relax?
2. Did you do the same things when you were young?
3. How much time do you spend relaxing every day?
4. Do you spend more or less time relaxing than your family members?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards (Part 2)

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 3)

Tourism

1. Why do some people prefer to travel with friends rather than family?
2. Will international tourism become more or less popular in the future?
3. Is it common for people in your country to go on holiday alone?
4. How can a country’s cuisine affect its tourism industry?
5. Why are older people usually less interested in foreign holidays?

Tourist attractions

1. In what ways are tourist attractions negatively affected by the visitors?
2. Are tourists in your country more likely to visit natural or man-made attractions?
3. Why are some tourists mainly interested in natural attractions?
4. In your country, do local and foreign tourists tend to visit the same places?
5. What type of tourist attractions are most popular with the young people in your country?

IELTS Speaking Practice Test #8

Speaking Topic #9

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 1)

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about your hometown.

1. Do you like your hometown?
2. Do the people in your hometown know each other well?
3. What is one thing you don’t like about your hometown?
4. What is your favourite place to go?

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about belts.

1. Do you often use a belt?
2. Do you like to wear different belts for different occasions?
3. Have you ever given someone a belt as a gift?
4. Do most of your friends use belts?

Now I’m going to ask you some questions about your primary school.

1. What did you like most about your primary school?
2. How did you travel to and from your primary school each day?
3. Was there anything you didn’t like about your primary school?
4. Are you still friends with anyone who you went to primary school with?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards (Part 2)

IELTS Speaking Questions (Part 3)

Smartphones

1. Why do you think smartphones have become so popular all over the world?
2. How could smartphones be made better?
3. Do you think smartphones will continue to be as popular in the next 20 years?
4. What negative effects have smartphones had on daily life?
5. Why is it that so many older people find it difficult to use smartphones?

Communicating with phones

1. Why are phone calls less popular now than they used to be?
2. How have phone conversations changed now that video calls are possible?
3. Why do some people not like receiving phone calls?
4. In what situations is sending a message more appropriate than making a phone call?
5. Why do some people prefer to meet in person instead of having a phone call?

IELTS Speaking Practice Test #9

Free Live Feedback Lessons

If you need more support improving your IELTS Speaking scores, come along to my free Live Feedback Lessons.

More Practice IELTS Speaking Questions

As well as the questions above, you will find more reliable practice questions by clicking on the links below.

• IELTS.org #1, #2 & #3
• IDP #1 & #2
• BC #1