Part 1: Questions & Strategies (British Council Academic IELTS: Speaking): Study Material

Part 1: questions & strategies

Examples of questions

In IELTS Speaking Part 1, you may hear questions like:

• Do you work or are you a student?

• What do you like about your hometown?

• Do you enjoy reading? Why or why not?

• What do you usually do at weekends?

• What kind of weather do you like most?

• Do you spend a lot of time with your family?

• What kind of food do you enjoy eating most?

• Do you often listen to music?

• How often do you see your friends?

• Do you have any hobbies?

• Do you do any sports?

• What kind of TV programmes do you like watching?

• Do you often watch films?

• Do you like travelling to new places?

• What do you usually do during holidays?

• How often do you use technology in your daily life?

• What is your daily routine like?

What makes a good answer

• In Part 1, a full answer is often about two or three sentences

• A good Part 1 answer is usually:

  • clear

  • direct

  • natural

  • short but complete

• A useful way to answer Part 1 questions is to:

  • answer the question

  • add a reason, explanation, or example

  • stop

• Good answers in Part 1 should:

  • sound natural, like a real conversation

  • show fluency

  • use accurate English

  • not be too long

Common mistakes to avoid when answering Part 1 questions:

• Giving only one-word answers

• Speaking for too long until the examiner has to interrupt

• Trying to use very complex vocabulary or difficult grammar to impress the examiner

Useful language

In the IELTS Speaking test, try to use a wide range of vocabulary and expressions in your answers. This helps you get a higher score in “lexical resource” and achieve a higher score. Below are some useful words and phrases you can use.

Giving a direct answer

• Yes, definitely

  • Example: Yes, definitely. I spend a lot of time reading in the evening.

• Not really

  • Example: Not really. I do not watch much television these days.

• I’d say yes

  • Example: I’d say yes. I really enjoy living in a small town.

• I don’t think so

  • Example: I don’t think so. I prefer studying in the morning.

• It depends

  •  Example: It depends. I like hot weather, but only if it is not too humid.

Giving a reason

• Because…

  • Example: I enjoy swimming because it helps me relax.

• mainly because…

  • Example: I like my neighbourhood mainly because it is quiet and safe.

• That’s because... 

  • Example: I prefer tea to coffee. That’s because tea feels lighter.

• The main reason is that…

  • Example: I enjoy travelling by train. The main reason is that it is more comfortable.

Adding an example or extra detail

• For example…

  • Example: I like outdoor activities a lot. For example, I often go hiking at weekends.

• For instance…

  • Example: I’ve been doing lots of things with my friends recently. For instance, yesterday we went to the cinema to watch an action movie.  

• Especially…

  • Example: I like fruit, especially strawberries and peaches.

• In particular…

  • Example: I enjoy reading, in particular short biographies. They’re my favourite!

Talking about frequency

• Usually/often/rarely/always/never

  • Example: I usually go to bed quite early during the week.

• most of the time…

  • Example: Most of the time, I travel to work by car.

• From time to time…

  • Example: From time to time, I meet my friends for dinner.

• Every now and then…

  • Example: Every now and then, I go to the cinema on my own.

Talking about personal preference

• I prefer…

  • Example: I prefer studying at home because it is quieter.

• I’m quite keen on…

  • Example: I’m quite keen on photography, especially street photography.

• I’m not a big fan of…

  • Example: I’m not a big fan of crowded places.

• My favourite ... is…

  • Example: My favourite season is autumn because the weather is mild.