‘Neighbors’ topic

1. How well do you know your next-door neighbours?
I know my neighbours quite well. They’re really nice people, and I always stop to talk whenever I see them. I think it’s important to get on well with the people who live next door.

2. How often do you see them?
I see my neighbours at least a few times a week. We usually see each other when we’re leaving for work in the morning or coming home in
the evening.

3. What problems do people sometimes have with their neighbours?
I think the most common problem is probably noise. It’s difficult to live next to people who have a dog that barks at night, or who play loud
music or have too many parties.

‘Houses and apartments’ Topics

1. Do you live in a house or an apartment?
I live in a semi-detached house with three bedrooms in a suburb of Manchester. I’ve lived there for just over a year.
2. Which is your favourite room in your home? Why?
I don’t really have a favourite room. But if I had to choose, I’d say the living room because that’s where I go to sit and relax.
3. Would you change anything about your home? Why / why not?
Yes, I’ve been meaning to redecorate it since I moved in last year. It needs a new kitchen, so that’s what I’d change first.
4. Would you like to move to a different home in the future?
Yes, I’d definitely move again at some point if I could afford to. I’d like to
live in the countryside, or maybe in a different city or country.

‘Numbers’ Topic

1. Do you have a favourite number or a number that is special to you?
Yes, my favourite number is… because it’s the day I was born on, and it’s my lucky number.
2. Do any numbers have special importance in your country?
Yes, certain ages are special. For example, your 18th birthday is important because it’s when you are considered to become an adult.
3. Are you good at remembering numbers? Why / why not?
No, I’m not very good at remembering numbers. I don’t think it’s necessary to learn them by heart; I just save them on my phone.
4. What numbers do people often have to memorise?
The most important number to remember on a daily basis is the pin number for your bank card. Without this you can’t pay for anything or
get cash out.

‘Hometown’ Topics

1. Where are you from?
I’m from Manchester, which is a city in the north west of England.
2. Do you like your home town? (Why?)
Yes, I like living in Manchester because it’s where most of my friends live, and because there are plenty of things to do there. The only thing I don’t like is the weather.
3. Would you prefer to live somewhere else? (Why?)
For the moment I’m happy living here, but at some point I’d like to live in a country with a warmer climate, and I’d like to live near a beach!
4. Do you think your home town is a good place for young people? (Why?)
Yes, Manchester has lots of things for young people, such as sports facilities, music and cinemas.

‘Friends’ Topic

1. Are your friends mostly your age or different ages?
Most of my friends are about the same age as me because we met at school or university. I’ve got one or two friends who are older or
younger that I met through work.
2. Do you usually see your friends during the week or at weekends?
I tend to meet up with my friends at weekends because everyone’s too busy during the week.
3. The last time you saw your friends, what did you do together?
It was one of my friends’ birthday last weekend. Six of us went out for a meal to celebrate.
4. In what ways are your friends important to you?
I think it’s important to have friends that you can talk to and share experiences with. My friends make me laugh, but I know I can also rely on them whenever I need help or support.

‘Reading’ Topics

1. Do you like reading?
Yes, I like reading a lot. I read all sorts of things, including novels, newspapers, magazines, and online articles.
2. Do you usually read for leisure or for work purposes?
Well, I have to do a certain amount of reading as part of my job, but I probably read more for enjoyment. I pick up a newspaper most days,
and I usually have a book on the go.
3. What was your favourite book or story when you were a child?
The first book that I remember really enjoying was ‘……….’. It only took me a few days to read because I liked it so much that I couldn’t put it
down.
4. Do you think it’s important that children read regularly?
Definitely. I think reading is possibly the most important skill that children learn. The ability to read opens the door to all aspects of
education.

‘Study’ Topics

1. Do you like studying? Why / why not?
Yes, I like studying because it’s the best way to gain a deeper insight into any subject. I like reading, learning from others, and trying to
understand difficult concepts.
2. Do you prefer to study alone or with others? Why?
I prefer to study alone because I need to be able to concentrate fully. Other people are a distraction.
3. Where do you prefer to go when you need to study? Why?
I like to find a quiet corner in my local library; being in an old building and surrounded by books seems to help me to focus on my work.
4. How do you feel if someone disturbs you when you are studying?
It frustrates me because it breaks my concentration. I prefer to avoid distractions by going somewhere where nobody will interrupt me.

‘Walking’ Topics

1. Do you like walking?
I’m not one for going on really long walks in the countryside, but I don’t mind walking when I’m in a town or city, for example when I’m
sightseeing in a new place.
2. Do you think walking is important?
Yes, I think it’s important to be active, and walking is the most basic physical activity that we can do.
3. Do you think walking in the countryside is better than walking in the city?
Personally, no. As I said before, I like walking in the city, especially if it’s somewhere with a lot of history like London or Paris.
4. What could be done to improve the experience of walking in cities?
I suppose the main issues are space and safety. Pavements need to be wide enough to accommodate lots of pedestrians, and we need safe places to cross the street.

‘Parks’ Topics

1. Do you like parks? Why / why not?
Yes, I like parks because they’re great places to relax or go for a walk. I think every city needs some green space where people can escape from the crowds.
2. How often do you visit parks?
There’s a park very close to where I live, so I probably go there once or twice a week if the weather’s nice.
3. Why are parks an important part of many towns and cities?
Parks are like an oasis where people get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. They are where people go to have lunch, to take some
exercise, or to forget about work for a while.
4. What do you think could be done to make parks better?
The parks in big cities are already really good in my opinion. If I think about the famous parks in London, Paris or New York, I can’t imagine
what I would do to improve them.

‘Maps’ Topics

1. Do you ever use maps?
Yes. Whenever I go somewhere new, I plan my journey with the help of a map.
2. When do people usually need to use a map?
I imagine that some people use a map every day if they travel to different places for work. Others might only use a map when they’re on
holiday.
3. Do you prefer electronic or paper maps?
I still prefer paper maps for a long journey; I like being able to open the map out on a table and see the full journey ahead.
4. Do you ever ask people for directions instead of using a map?
Only if I’m really lost. Whenever I ask for directions, I find it difficult to remember what the person said. So I prefer to find my own way.

‘Games’ Topics

1. What games are popular in your country?
Well, if we can consider sports as games, then football is definitely the most popular game in my country, but we also love board games like chess.
2. Do you play any games?
Not regularly these days. I play the occasional game of tennis with my brother-in-law, and I recently played a bowling game on the Nintendo Wii with my nephew. I wasn’t very good at it.
3. How do people learn to play games in your country?
I think children teach each other to play games. I remember a friend at primary school teaching me to play chess, for example.
4. Do you think it’s important for people to play games?
Yes, it’s really important, especially for children. I think research has shown that play can improve brain development, intelligence, creativity, and the ability to cooperate with others.

‘Travel’ Topics

1. What form of transport do you prefer to use? Why?
I prefer to travel by car because it means that I have my own space. Also, the buses and trains in my city are usually overcrowded; my car is much more comfortable.
2. How much time do you spend travelling on a normal day?
I probably spend about an hour and a half travelling to and from work. I travel during the rush hours, so there is quite a lot of traffic.
3. What do you do while you are travelling?
I usually listen to the radio or a CD. In the morning I like to listen to the news to find out what is happening in the world.
4. Do you ever have problems with transport?
Yes, as I said, I get stuck in traffic on my way to and from work. I used to get annoyed by traffic jams, but now I’m used to them.

‘Work’ topic

1. Do you work or are you a student?
I’m a qualified doctor, but at the moment I’m studying English so that I can work in this country.
2. Do you enjoy your job?
Yes, I really enjoy my job. Ever since I was a child I have always wanted to be a doctor; I’ve always wanted to be able to help people.
3. What’s the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is that I can make a difference in people’s lives. It’s a great feeling to see someone recover after an illness because my colleagues and I were able to help.
4. Do you prefer working alone or with others? Why?
In a hospital you have to work as part of a team. I’ve got used to working with others, and I think you can achieve a lot more as a team than you would alone.

‘Collecting’ Topics

1. Have you ever collected anything as a hobby? (What?)
Yes. When I was younger I used to collect keyrings. I remember that my favourite was a Lego man keyring that someone bought me as a present.
2. What kinds of thing do people often like collecting?
Some people collect cheap items like stamps, keyrings or toys. Others collect expensive antiques, watches, jewellery or even cars.
3. Why do you think people collect certain objects?
Maybe they like the constant search for a new item, or they want to remember past experiences. Others might like the feeling of organising
and presenting what they own.
4. Is there anything that you would like to collect in the future?
Yes. If I could afford it, I’d love to have a collection of guitars in different colours, shapes and sizes!

‘Cooking’ Topics

1. Do you like cooking? Why / why not?
Sometimes, I like preparing a special meal for family or friends who visit, but everyday cooking is a bit boring; it’s something that has to be done, but it’s not really fun.
2. Who did the cooking in your family when you were a child?
My mother almost always did the cooking when I was young. I don’t think she trusted my father to make a nice meal.
3. Do you think that it’s important to know how to cook well?
I’m not sure whether it’s important to cook well, but I do think that everyone should know the basics. It definitely isn’t healthy to rely on
pre-prepared meals or fast food.
4. Do you think that children should be taught cookery at school?
Yes, that’s probably a good idea. If all children knew how to cook a few basic, healthy meals, that would surely be a good thing.

‘Laughing’ Topic

1. What kinds of thing make you laugh?
I laugh most when I’m with friends talking about funny things that have happened to us. I also like watching comedians and comedy films.
2. Do you like making other people laugh?
Yes, it’s a nice feeling when you can make someone laugh because you can see that you’ve made them happy. It’s great to share a funny
moment with someone.
3. Do you think it’s important for people to laugh?
Yes, of course. It’s important to see the funny side of things; humour helps us not to take life too seriously. I think that laughter is good for our health.
4. Is laughing the same as feeling happy?
It’s not exactly the same because you can be happy without laughing, and sometimes we laugh when something bad has happened; a sense of humour can help us to cope with difficult situations.

‘Emails’ topic

1. At work or in your studies, do you often write things?
Yes, I write a lot of emails as part of my job. I work for a company that has offices in several countries, so we use email to communicate.
2. How often do you send e-mails?
I probably write between 5 and 10 work emails every day, and I send emails to friends or family a few times a week.
3. Do you prefer to write by hand or on a computer?
It depends what I’m doing. I prefer the computer for most things because it’s faster and you can save or copy things, but I still like making
notes or writing ideas down by hand.
4. Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?
No, I think we will always write by hand as well. I think it’s an important skill, and schools will continue to teach children to write by hand before they learn to type.

‘Accommodation’ Topic

1. Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in.
I live in a house that has a living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a small garden. It’s not a very big house, but it’s just right
for me.
2. How long have you lived there?
I’ve lived there for about five years. It’s the first house that I’ve owned; before that I was renting an apartment.
3. What do you like about living there?
I like living there because I think the house reflects my personality: I decorated it myself, I chose all the furniture, and everything is where I
want it to be.
4. What sort of accommodation would you most like to live in?
If I could, I’d buy a bigger house near a beach or in the mountains, preferably somewhere with a warm climate.

‘Communication’ Topics

1. How do you usually keep in touch with members of your family? I mostly keep in touch with my family by phone, and I’ve started using
the Internet to make video calls. I also try to visit members of my family in person as often as I can.
2. Do you prefer to speak to people by phone or by writing emails?
It depends on the situation. I use email and text messages to communicate with friends, but my parents prefer it if I phone them.
3. Do you ever write letters by hand? (Why / Why not?)
No, I don’t write letters by hand because it’s so much easier to send an email that will arrive immediately.
4. Is there anything you dislike about mobile phones?
Well, I don’t like listening to other people’s conversations in public places, and I don’t like it when someone’s phone rings in the cinema or
during a lesson.

‘Clothes’ Topics

1. Are clothes and clothing fashions important to you? (Why/Why not?)
No, clothes and fashions are not really important to me. I tend to wear clothes that are comfortable and practical rather than fashionable.
2. What different clothes do you wear for different situations?
Well, I have to dress quite formally for work, so I wear a shirt and trousers. At home I prefer to wear jeans and a T-shirt, and on special
occasions I might wear a suit.
3. Do you wear different styles of clothes now compared to 10 years ago?
No, not really, because I don’t follow fashion. I think I have dressed in a similar way for the last 10 years.
4. Do you think the clothes we wear say something about who we are?
Yes, they probably do. Some people are really careful about what they wear because they want to be seen as stylish. Other people wear clothes that show wealth or status, such as clothes by famous designers.

‘Musical instruments’ Topics

1. Which musical instrument do you like listening to most? (Why?)
My favourite musical instrument to listen to is the guitar. I like the fact that there are different types of guitar, like classical, acoustic and electric. I love the variety of sounds a guitar can make.
2. Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?
I took some guitar lessons when I was younger and still have a guitar at home. I don’t play it much nowadays. I wish I had more time to practise.
3. Do you think children should learn to play an instrument at school?
Yes, I think it’s a great skill and it’s really enjoyable to be able to play a musical instrument. All children should be given this opportunity.
4. How easy would it be to learn to play an instrument without a teacher?
It would probably be more difficult without a teacher. You need someone to show you what to do and correct your mistakes. You need a
lot of discipline to teach yourself.

‘Telephoning’ Topics

1. How often do you make telephone calls?
I probably make three or four phone calls every day, usually just to make arrangements with work colleagues or to speak to family and friends.
2. Who do you spend most time talking to on the telephone?
I think it would be one of my closest work colleagues. We often call each other rather than meeting face-to-face.
3. When do you think you’ll next make a telephone call?
My family are expecting me to phone them as soon as I finish this exam. They’ll want to know how it went.
4. Do you sometimes prefer to send a text message instead of telephoning?
Yes. I prefer to send a text message when I’m arranging something simple, like a time to meet someone. In those situations, a phone call
isn’t necessary.

‘Toys’ Topics

1. Did you play with toys when you were a child?
Yes, of course. I loved playing with toys when I was a child; I think all children do.
2. What kinds of toys did you like?
As far as I remember, I mostly played with toy cars, planes and action figures from films or cartoons. I also liked building things with Lego.
3. In your country, do boys and girls play with the same types of toys?
Not really. I think boys like the kinds of toys that I mentioned before, whereas girls play with dolls. My niece, for example, doesn’t like toy
cars; she prefers dressing dolls in different outfits.
4. Do you think that toys help children to learn?
Yes, I do. All toys encourage children to use their imagination and creativity. Even with simple toys, children imagine situations and invent
games and rules.

‘Shopping’ Topics

1. Who does most of the shopping in your household?
I think it would be one of my closest work colleagues. We often call each other rather than meeting face-to-face.
3. When do you think you’ll next make a telephone call?
My family are expecting me to phone them as soon as I finish this exam. They’ll want to know how it went.
4. Do you sometimes prefer to send a text message instead of telephoning?
Yes. I prefer to send a text message when I’m arranging something simple, like a time to meet someone. In those situations, a phone call
isn’t necessary.

‘Sports or games’ Topics

1. What sports or physical activities do you regularly do?
Unfortunately I don’t have time to do any sports or physical activities because of my work commitments. I’d like to find more time for regular exercise.
2. Which sport or game would you like to be good at?
I’d like to be good at tennis. It must be great to be able to hit the ball as hard as you can and watch it land exactly where you wanted it to.
3. Do you prefer watching or playing sports?
I don’t watch much sport on TV and I’m not a big sports fan, so I think I would probably enjoy doing sports more than watching them.
4. Do you think children should be encouraged to do more sport?
Yes, I think that sport is really important for children. Sports and games teach children to play together and try their best.

Extra Examples for IELTS Speaking Part 1

Hometown

I’d just like to ask you some questions about your hometown or city.
1. What type of place is it?
2. What was it like growing up there?
3. Has it changed much since you were a child?

Work

I’d just like to ask you some questions about your work.
1. What work do you do?
2. What do you enjoy most about your work?
3. What are your main duties?
4. Is there any other work you would like to do in the future?

Free Time

I’d like to move on and ask you some questions about your free time
1. What type of activities do you like to do in your free time?
2. How long have you been interested in these activities?
3. Do you like to do these activities alone or with other people? (Why)?
4. Do you think people have enough free time? (Why/why not)?

Family

I’d like to move on and ask you some questions about your family.
1. How many people are there in your family?
2. Do you all live in the same house? (Why/why not)?
3. What things do you like doing together?
4. Who is your favorite family member?

Timing

Let’s move on and talk about being on time for appointments.
1. Is being late acceptable in your culture? (Why/why not)?
2. Are you ever late for appointments? (Why/why not)?
3. What type of excuses do you think are alright for lateness?
4. How do you feel when someone is late for an appointment with you?

Neighbors

Let’s change the topic and talk about your neighbors
1. Do you know the people who live next door to you?
2. How often do you see each other?
3. What kind of relationship do you have?
4. How can neighbors be helpful?
5. What kind of problems can people have with their neighbors in a big city?

Food

Moving to a new topic, I’d like to discuss cooking and meals with you.
1. Do you enjoy cooking? (Why/why not)?
2. What type of things can you cook? (Why)?
3. What kinds of food are popular in your country?
4. Is it an important part of your culture to have dinner parties? (Why)?
5. Do you prefer to eat with other people or on your own? (Why)?

Dreams

I’d now like to discuss your night time dreams with you.
1. Do you dream much at night?
2. Do you often remember your dreams?
3. Do you think we can learn anything from dreams? (Why)?
4. Do people in your country talk about their dreams? (Why)?
5. Do you think that dreams can come true?

Magazines and Newspapers

Okay, let’s move to a different topic and discuss magazines and newspapers.
1. Which do you prefer reading, newspapers or magazines? (Why)?
2. What type of stories do you like to read about? (Why)?
3. Do you think reading a magazine or a newspaper can help you learn a language? (Why)?
4. Why do you think some people prefer magazines to newspapers?

Humor

Let’s change the topic and talk about comedy and humor.
1. What type of programs do you find funny on TV?
2. Which types of programs are most popular in your country? (Why)?
3. What kind of things make you laugh? (Why)?
4. Do you like to make people laugh? (How)?
5. Do you think it is important to have a sense of humor? (Why)?

Studies

I’d just like to ask you some questions about your studies.
1. What are you studying?
2. Why did you choose that particular course?
3. What job would you like when you have completed all your studies?