IELTS Speaking Part 1: 30 Sample Questions and How to Answer Them
The IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions that come up most often, with band 7 sample answers and the mistakes you should avoid.
What Speaking Part 1 is
Part 1 is the opening section of the Speaking test and lasts 4–5 minutes. The examiner asks about familiar topics: your home, work, hobbies or daily habits. The aim is to put you at ease while measuring your basic conversational ability.
The key: answer in 2–3 sentences, get to the point, then add a reason or an example. A one-word answer is too short; a one-minute answer is too long.
The topics that come up most
| Topic | Sample question |
|---|---|
| Work or study | Do you work or are you a student? |
| Hometown | What do you like about your hometown? |
| Home | Do you live in a house or an apartment? |
| Hobbies | What do you usually do in your free time? |
| Food | What kind of food do you like? |
| Weather | What is the weather like in your country? |
| Technology | How often do you use your phone? |
| Friends | Do you prefer having many friends or a few close ones? |
The examiner usually picks three topics and asks 3–4 questions on each.
Band 7 sample answers
Q: Do you work or are you a student?
I'm currently working as a junior accountant at a logistics company in my home city. I've been there for about two years, and although the workload can be heavy at the end of the month, I really enjoy working with numbers.
Q: What do you like about your hometown?
What I love most about Malang is the climate. It's noticeably cooler than most cities in Java, so it's pleasant to walk around in the evening. There are also plenty of cafes, which is great because I'm a bit of a coffee addict.
Q: How often do you use your phone?
Probably more than I should, to be honest. I check it first thing in the morning for messages, and I use it throughout the day for work. I've been trying to cut down recently by leaving it in another room while I study.
Notice the pattern: a direct answer, then a detail, then a touch of personal opinion. That is what makes an answer sound natural.
Common mistakes
- Memorising answers. Examiners are trained to hear rehearsed answers and will lower your Fluency score.
- Repeating the question. "Do I like my hometown? Yes, I like my hometown." This wastes time without adding value.
- One-word answers. "Yes." or "No." without a reason gives the examiner nothing to assess.
- Being too formal. Part 1 is a relaxed chat. Academic vocabulary is not needed here.
- Long pauses while searching for a word. Use a simple word you know rather than going silent.
Useful phrases
- To start: Well, I'd say..., To be honest..., Actually...
- To give a reason: mainly because, the reason is, that's why
- To add an example: for instance, like last weekend, I...
- To show frequency: every now and then, hardly ever, most days
How to practise effectively
Take one topic a day, answer five questions while recording yourself. Listen back and check: are there long pauses, do you repeat the same words, is the grammar tidy. The Wono IELTS AI examiner gives a band per criterion for every recording, so you know exactly which part to fix.
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