IELTS Speaking Part 1 Questions 2026
Over 100 current Part 1 questions across 15 topics with 20 model answers. Part 1 lasts 4-5 minutes — the examiner asks about familiar topics. Answer in 2-4 sentences: direct answer + explanation or example.
Part 1 Success Formula
Answer + Reason + Example
Give a direct answer, explain why, and add a brief example or detail. This gives the examiner enough to assess your fluency, vocabulary, and grammar without over-talking.
Home & Accommodation
- Do you live in a house or an apartment?
- What is your favourite room in your home? Why?
- How long have you lived in your current home?
- Would you like to change anything about your home?
- Do you plan to move in the future?
- Is your neighbourhood a good place to live?
- Do you know your neighbours well?
Sample Answer: Do you live in a house or an apartment?
"I live in a two-bedroom apartment in the city centre. I chose it mainly because of its location — it's within walking distance of my workplace and there are plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. The only downside is that it's quite small, so I'm hoping to move to somewhere larger in a couple of years."
Hometown
- Where is your hometown?
- What do you like most about your hometown?
- Is there anything you dislike about it?
- Has your hometown changed much in recent years?
- Would you recommend tourists visit your hometown?
- Is it a good place for young people?
- Do you think you will always live there?
Sample Answer: What do you like most about your hometown?
"What I love most is the food culture. My hometown, Chengdu, is famous for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, and there are incredible street food stalls on almost every corner. Beyond that, the people are very friendly and relaxed — it has a much slower pace of life compared to cities like Beijing or Shanghai."
Work & Study
- Do you work or are you a student?
- What do you do for work? / What are you studying?
- Why did you choose this job / subject?
- What do you enjoy most about it?
- Is there anything you would change about your job / course?
- What are your career plans for the future?
- Do you prefer working alone or in a team?
Sample Answer: Why did you choose this job?
"I chose to work in graphic design because I've always been creative and enjoyed visual problem-solving. At university I studied fine art, but I realised I wanted something more practical and commercially applicable. Design allows me to combine creativity with technology, and every project is different, which keeps the work interesting."
Hobbies & Free Time
- What do you usually do in your free time?
- Did you have any hobbies as a child?
- Is it important to have hobbies? Why?
- What new hobby would you like to try?
- Do you prefer indoor or outdoor activities?
- How much free time do you have each week?
- Do you prefer doing things alone or with others in your free time?
Sample Answer: What do you usually do in your free time?
"It depends on the day, but I usually either go for a run or read a book. Running helps me clear my head after work — I usually do about 5 kilometres three times a week. On weekends, I enjoy reading fiction, particularly crime novels. I find it's a great way to relax and switch off from screens."
Food & Cooking
- What is your favourite food?
- Do you enjoy cooking?
- What did you have for breakfast today?
- Do you prefer eating at home or in restaurants?
- Have you tried food from other countries?
- Do you like spicy food?
- How often do you eat with family?
Sample Answer: Do you enjoy cooking?
"I do, actually, although I only started cooking regularly during lockdown. Before that, I relied mostly on takeaways and ready meals. Now I cook almost every day — I find it quite relaxing after a long day at work. My speciality is Thai green curry, which I've perfected after many attempts."
Technology & Apps
- What apps do you use most often?
- How has technology changed your daily life?
- Do you think children should use smartphones?
- Have you ever paid for an app?
- Do you use social media? Which platforms?
- How often do you check your phone?
- What do you think about AI in everyday life?
Sample Answer: How has technology changed your daily life?
"Technology has changed almost everything about how I live and work. The biggest change is probably communication — I can video-call my family abroad instantly, whereas when I was a child, international calls were expensive and rare. I also rely heavily on apps for banking, navigation, and even grocery shopping. I honestly cannot imagine going back."
Travel & Transport
- Do you enjoy travelling?
- What is the most interesting place you've visited?
- Do you prefer travelling alone or with others?
- What type of transport do you use most?
- Do you prefer holidays by the beach or in the mountains?
- Is traffic a problem in your city?
- Would you like to travel abroad more?
Sample Answer: Do you enjoy travelling?
"Absolutely — travelling is probably my biggest passion. I try to take at least two trips abroad each year, usually to places I haven't been before. What I enjoy most is experiencing different cultures, trying local food, and just stepping out of my daily routine. Last year I visited Japan, which was extraordinary — the combination of ancient temples and futuristic technology was fascinating."
Weather & Seasons
- What is the weather like in your country?
- What is your favourite season? Why?
- Does the weather affect your mood?
- Do you prefer hot or cold weather?
- What do you like to do on rainy days?
- Has the weather in your country changed in recent years?
- Do you check the weather forecast regularly?
Sample Answer: What is your favourite season?
"I'd have to say autumn is my favourite. I love the changing colours of the leaves and the crisp, cool air after the heat of summer. It's also the perfect temperature for being outdoors — warm enough to be comfortable but not so hot that you're sweating. Plus, I'm a big fan of autumn fashion — jumpers, scarves, and boots."
Health & Exercise
- Do you exercise regularly?
- What type of exercise do you prefer?
- Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?
- How many hours of sleep do you get?
- Is mental health important to you?
- Do you walk or cycle often?
- What healthy habits do you have?
Sample Answer: Do you exercise regularly?
"Yes, I try to exercise at least four times a week. I usually go for a run on weekdays and play football with friends on Saturdays. I find that regular exercise really helps with my energy levels and concentration at work. If I skip exercise for more than a couple of days, I definitely notice a difference in my mood."
Music
- What kind of music do you like?
- Do you play a musical instrument?
- How often do you listen to music?
- Has your taste in music changed over the years?
- Do you prefer listening to music alone or with others?
- Have you ever been to a live concert?
- Is music important in your culture?
Sample Answer: What kind of music do you like?
"I listen to a wide range of music, but I'm particularly drawn to jazz and R&B. I find jazz relaxing and intellectually stimulating — the improvisations are fascinating. R&B is what I listen to when I want something more upbeat. My taste has changed quite a lot — as a teenager I was really into rock music, but my preferences have mellowed with age."
Clothes & Fashion
- What type of clothes do you usually wear?
- Do you care about fashion?
- Do you enjoy shopping for clothes?
- Do you prefer online or in-store shopping?
- Has your clothing style changed over the years?
- Do you wear jewellery or accessories?
- What do you think about uniforms?
Sample Answer: Do you care about fashion?
"I wouldn't call myself a fashion enthusiast, but I do care about looking presentable and put-together. I tend to go for classic, timeless pieces rather than following trends — things like well-fitted jeans, plain shirts, and good-quality shoes. I think personal style is more important than fashion, and I'd rather have a few quality items than a wardrobe full of fast fashion."
Nature & Environment
- Do you spend much time in nature?
- Do you have plants at home?
- Do you enjoy gardening?
- Is there a park near your home?
- Do you recycle?
- Do children spend enough time outdoors?
- What could improve the environment in your neighbourhood?
Sample Answer: Do you spend much time in nature?
"I try to, especially on weekends. There's a lovely park about a 10-minute walk from my apartment, and I often go there for a morning run or just to sit and read. I find spending time outdoors really helps reduce stress. During the summer, I also try to go hiking at least once a month — there are some beautiful trails within an hour's drive of the city."
Numbers & Dates
- Are you good at remembering numbers?
- Do you have a lucky number?
- Are there any important dates in your culture?
- Do you use a calculator often?
- Did you enjoy maths at school?
- Is remembering dates important to you?
- Do you play the lottery?
Sample Answer: Are you good at remembering numbers?
"Not particularly, to be honest. I'm quite good at remembering phone numbers for some reason, but I'm terrible with dates — I always forget birthdays unless I set reminders on my phone. I think most people rely on technology for this now, so the skill of memorising numbers has become less important than it used to be."
Names
- Do you like your name?
- Does your name have a special meaning?
- Who chose your name?
- Would you ever change your name?
- How do people choose baby names in your country?
- Are names important in your culture?
- Do you find it easy to remember people's names?
Sample Answer: Does your name have a special meaning?
"Yes, it does. My name means "sunrise" in my language, and my parents chose it because I was born very early in the morning. In my culture, names carry quite a lot of significance — parents often consult elders or even astrologers when choosing a baby's name. I quite like the meaning of mine, actually."
Daily Routine & Sleep
- What is your daily routine?
- Are you a morning person or a night owl?
- Has your routine changed recently?
- Do you think routines are important?
- What time do you usually go to bed?
- Do you ever have difficulty sleeping?
- What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
Sample Answer: Are you a morning person or a night owl?
"I'm definitely more of a morning person. I usually wake up around 6:30 without an alarm and feel most productive in the first few hours of the day. By the evening, my energy drops quite significantly, so I try to get all my important tasks done before lunch. I know many of my friends are the opposite — they come alive after midnight — but that's just not me."
Part 1 Tips for Band 7+
DO
- Answer directly, then expand
- Give reasons and examples
- Use a range of vocabulary
- Vary your sentence structures
- Speak naturally and confidently
- Use discourse markers: "To be honest...", "I'd say...", "Actually..."
- Ask the examiner to repeat if needed
DO NOT
- Give one-word or yes/no answers
- Speak for a full minute per question
- Memorise scripted answers
- Go off-topic or tell long stories
- Use overly complex vocabulary unnaturally
- Pause for too long before answering
- Panic if you do not understand — ask to repeat
Frequently Asked Questions
Speaking Resources
Part 1 Quick Facts
| Duration | 4-5 minutes |
| Topics | 3 (first is always home/work) |
| Questions | 3-4 per topic (~11 total) |
| Answer length | 2-4 sentences |
| Scored on | Fluency, Vocabulary, Grammar, Pronunciation |