Part 1 Topics and Questions
For The IELTS Speaking Tests, January to April, 2019
Notes
The pages PAST_PART_ONE_TOPIC_INDEX.htm is also useful as a guide to when different topics were used in the past. That page is connected to PREVIOUS_PART_1_QUESTIONS.htm.
I don't always keep those four pages up-to-date so you might also need to specifically look at Part 1 pages that have not yet been added to the Past Part One Topic Index or the "All Part 1 Questions" pages. See "Older Materials" for that. This applies just to the past couple of years.
You should check the page Vocab_Lists_Index.htm to see if there is any useful vocabulary for each of the topics listed below.
See important information here and click the link for "student" or "work" at the bottom of that page. The grammar points apply both to students and people working, of course.
Do you work or are you a student?
WORK
Main Questions
What work (or job) do you do?
Do you enjoy that work?
Why did you choose to do that type of work?
Do you like your job?
What's the most interesting part of your work?
What is your work environment like?
How much (how many hours) do you work every week (or, every
day)?
Are you satisfied with the place where you work?
Where do you work?
Would you say that's a good place to work?
Would you like to change the place where you work?
How do you think your workplace (or company) could be improved?
What's the most important part of your work?
Do you do anything that especially helps you in your work?
How do you think you could improve your
efficiency at work?
What work do you plan to do in the future?
Possible Other Questions
Is that what you wanted to do when you were a child?
Do you work part-time, or full-time?
What do you do in that job? (= What are your responsibilities in that job?)
What does that company do?
How long have you been working?
What did you do to get your first job? *
Did you enjoy your first day at work?
(Similar to above) How did you feel on your first day at work?
Are you friends with the people you work with with?
(Similar) Have you made many (or any) friends at work?
Do you think it's important to be friends with the people you work with?
What time of the day do you work the best?
(Similar to above) Do you work better in the morning, or in the afternoon?
Did you have any training for this job?
Would you like to have some (or, more) training in the future?
Will you always do this job? ( = Will you continue to do this job / this type of work?)
STUDY
Main Questions
What subject are you studying?
Why did you choose to study that?
Do you like it (your subject)?
What's the most enjoyable part of your
studies?
Is it (your subject) interesting?
What's your favourite subject? (for high school stds)
(Similar to above) What classes do you like the most?
Do you like to study? (= Do you like
studying?)
How much study do you do every week?
What would you say is the most important part of your
studies?
Where do you usually study? See Note 1
(Possible question) Where did you do your studying yesterday?
Do you do anything that especially helps you to study?
How do you think you could improve your
efficiency as a student?
What school/university do (or, did) you study at? (= Where do you study?)
Do you like your school / university? See Note 20
What do you like most about your school / university?
Why did you choose to study at that school/university?
How do you think your school/university could
be improved?
Would you like to change your school (or university)?
Possible Other Questions
Do you think it (your subject) will be helpful for you in the future?
Is that a popular choice among your friends?
Do you plan to (or, will you) continue your studies in the future?
Do you plan to (or, will you) continue studying this subject?
Have you made many (or any) friends at school/university?
Main Questions
Where are you living (where do you live) at the moment? See Note 25
Have you lived there for a long time? See Note 26
Do you like it?
(Similar to above) Do you like the environment around where you are living?
What do you like about the area around where you live?
Where do you like to go to in your area?
Who do you live with?
Do many people live in your neighbourhood?
Do you know the people (or, many people) living around you (living nearby)?
Do you have many friends there?
Are you planning to move to another area to live? See Note 27
What changes have you seen in this area (since you have been living there)?
What changes (= what improvements) would you like to see in this area?
(Different to above) What changes are you expecting (to see) in this area? See Note 28
Possible Other Questions
Is that far from here (the test centre)?
Please describe the area you live in.
Would you say it's a good place to live?
Is this place famous for anything? See Note 6
Are there any interesting places near (or, in) this area?
See also these Sep-Dec 2011 Part 1 questions
Main Questions
Do you know how to drive?
Do you think everyone should get a drivers' licence?
Do you think driving skills are important?
Do you have a car?
Do you drive your car very often?
How often do you hire a taxi?
When was the last time you travelled by taxi?
The following questions might also be asked
What kind of transportation did you use to come to (= get to) the test centre today??
How do you usually go to school / work?
How much time do you spend each day travelling to school / work? (How long does it take to travel to school / work?)
What do you do while you are travelling (= commuting) to school / work?
Do you prefer to travel
(commute)
by bus, or the metro (= the subway = 'the underground')?
What colour do you like the most?
(Similar to above) Do you have a favourite colour?
Do you usually wear clothes in your favourite colour?
Are there any colours you dislike?
What colour are the walls of your room?
(Different to above) What colours would you (like to) paint your walls?
What colour clothes did you wear when you were a child?
Did you have bright-coloured clothes when you were young?
Does the colour of things influence you when you are shopping?
Are there any colours that have a special meaning in your country?
Do you think different types of people like different colours?
Do you prefer to eat at home or in restaurants?
(Similar to above) Do you usually eat at home or do you usually eat out? See Note 8
Do you prefer home-cooked food, or street food?
Do you know how to cook?
(If "No" for the question above) Would you like to learn how to cook?
How often do you cook?
Do you like cooking?
Can you explain why many people enjoy cooking?
The word, "picture" can also mean, a photograph.
Are you interested in painting and drawing? See Note 7
What (kinds of things) do you like to draw (or do, or sketch, or paint)?
Did you ever learn how to draw (or paint)?
Do you like to have pictures in your home?
If someone wanted to draw (or sketch, or paint) a picture of you, would you agree?
Do you often go to a park or a public garden?
When was the last time you went to a park / public garden?
Can you suggest how parks in your city could be improved?
Do you prefer a park with open space or recreational facilities? See Note 29
Do you like taking photos?
How often do you take a photo?
Do you prefer to take pictures by yourself, or to have others take them for you?
In what situations do you take photos?
Do you like to take pictures of your hometown?
How do you keep your photos?
How often do you buy shoes?
Do you ever to buy shoes online?
How many (pairs of) shoes do you have?
Do you know anyone who likes to buy a lot of shoes?
Do you prefer (to buy / wear) comfortable shoes, or fashionable shoes?
Do (or did) you have a favourite teacher?
In what ways can (or, do) teachers help their students?
What makes a good teacher?
Do you think teachers can help students to learn (in) ALL subjects?
Do you think teachers should be strict? See Note 9
In what ways do you think teachers and parents are different when teaching young people?
Would you like to be a teacher? See Note 2
Do you usually wear a watch?
What kind of watch do you wear?
Do most people in your country (still) wear a watch nowadays?
Do you prefer a warm, or a cool climate? See Note 30
Would you say most people prefer a warm climate?
Do you like it when it's raining?
Which season do you like best?
Are there four different (or, distinct) seasons in your hometown?
Do you feel the climate is changing?
Does the weather change often where you live?
Do you do different things in different weather (or different seasons)?
Would you prefer to live in a place that has the same weather all year, or a place that has four seasons?
Do you think the weather is more important to people who play sports?
See Note 3
Do you wear sunglasses?
Have you ever lost your sunglasses?
Have you ever bought expensive sunglasses?
Where can you buy sunglasses?
Do many people in your country wear sunglasses?
Would you (ever) buy sunglasses as a gift for someone?
What do you usually do in the mornings?
Do you like to get up early in the morning?
Do you think breakfast is important?
What time do you go to bed?
Did you have the same morning routine in the past?
Do you have the same routine every day of the week? See Note 13
Would you like to change your morning routine in the future? See Note 2
(The question above might be this) Is there anything you would like to change about your morning routine?
See Note 14
Do you like sports? (Why?) See Note 15
Do you have a favourite athlete?
What are some popular sports in your country?
Do you prefer individual or team sports?
Is there any sport that you would like to try in the future?
Would you like to attend the Olympic Games? See Note 32
See also http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/Part_1_Questions_May_to_Aug_2018.htm#SLEEP
See some vocabulary here
How many hours do you sleep every day (or, every night)?
Did you sleep more in the past than you do now?
Do you think it's good to have a nap during the day?
Have your sleeping habits changed since you were younger?
Do you think old people need more sleep than young people?
Do you think it's important to have enough sleep (each day/night)?
See also http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/Part_1_Questions_May_to_Aug_2018.htm#ANIMALS
See some vocabulary here
Have you ever had (or, raised) a pet?
(Similar to above) Did you have any pets when you were a child?
Do many people in your country have a pet?
Is there any animal you would like to have as a pet?
What animal(s) would you not like to have as a pet?
See also http://ielts-yasi.englishlab.net/Part_1_Questions_MAY_to_AUG_2015.htm#The Sky
See some vocabulary here
Do you often look at the sky? (Why?) See Note 17
Do you prefer to look at the sky in the daytime, or at night?
Can you see the moon and stars at night where you live?
Is there a good place to look at the sky where you live?
Do school students learn much about planets and the stars (at school) in your country?
(Similar to above) Did you learn anything about the planets and stars at school?
(Possible question) Do you know much about the stars and planets?
See Note 16
See some vocabulary here
Do you like to watch movies? (Why?)
(Similar to above) Do you watch many movies (films)?
(Similar to above) Do you often watch a movie (a film)?
What types of films do you like to watch?
How often do you go to a cinema?
Do you prefer to (or usually) watch a film alone or with others?
Has your taste in movies changed since you were younger?
Do you have a favourite movie star?
Are any foreign movie stars famous in your country?
Have you ever seen a movie star in real life?
Do you think you could be a movie star?
(Similar to above) Would you like to be a movie star?
See some vocabulary here
What are the most crowded places in your hometown (or where you are living now)?
Do you like (to go to) crowded places?
(Similar to above) How do you feel in crowded places?
Do you prefer to go to crowded places or places that have few people?
When was the last time you went to a crowded place (or, were in a crowded place)?
Would you say people with the same interests usually get along with each other when they are in a crowd?
See also Part_1_Questions_SEP_to_DEC_2013.htm#Patience
See some vocabulary here
Would you say you are a patient person?
Do you think you are more patient now than when you were younger?
When (on what occasions) are you impatient?
(Possible question) Are you patient in your work or study? *
(Possible question) Do you think people should be patient? *
Can you explain why some people are not very patient?
How do you feel when other people are impatient?
Can you give any examples of work (or jobs) that require patience?
Would you say young people are more patient than older people?
Do you think you will be more patient in the future?
See some vocabulary here
Do you prefer to drink tea, or coffee?
When was the last time you drank some tea or coffee?
When you go out do you most often drink tea, or coffee?
(Similar to above) When people in your country go out do they most often drink tea, or coffee?
Which is more popular in your country, drinking tea or drinking coffee?
(Possible question) Do people in your country ever give tea as a gift? *
When people (in your country) entertain others (or guests) do they usually drink tea, or coffee?
(Similar to above) Do people in your country usually offer tea, or coffee to guests who visit them at home?
Does your country have many public holidays?
What public holidays do you have in your country?
(If you don't say this in answer to above) Why do you have those holidays?
Would you say most people in your country know why you have those holidays?
Do you have a favourite holiday?
What do you usually do during a holiday?
(Similar to above) What do people in your country do during holidays?
Do you think these holidays are important?
Do you think there should be more public holidays?
See some vocabulary here
Do you like to share things with your friends?
Is there anything that you would not share with others?
Are you willing to share your favourite possessions?
When you were young, did your parents teach you to share with others?
How do you think parents could encourage their children to share?
Do you think there will be a car sharing in the future?
(Possible question) Would you be willing to share your job (your work) with others? *
See some vocabulary here
Possibly there is a separate topic, "Handwriting" but I think it is more likely that the questions about handwriting are in this group (under this topic).
Do you use email?
How often do you use email (or, write emails)?
Do you think it's important to reply to emails immediately (or, quickly) after you receive them?
Do you prefer to use email or text messaging?
Do you like to receive handwritten letters and cards?
Do you prefer to write on a computer or to write using a pen?
Would you say your handwriting is easy for others to read?
Do you think a person's handwriting reflects their personality?
See some vocabulary here
This topic is about a particular type of water, the water that you drink. This is called, "drinking water". Note how it is pronounced, with the stress on the word, "drinking". See Note 31 for the use of the word, "drink"
Do you like to drink water?
Do you drink much water every day?
How often do you have a drink of water?
Do you prefer to drink bottled water or tap water?
Is bottled water very expensive in your country?
(Possible question) Do you prefer to drink hot water or cool (or cold) water? *
Would you say it's important to drink water?
See also Part_1_Questions_JAN_to_APR_2017.htm#Bags
See some vocabulary here
Do you like (are you interested in) bags?
Do males and females (men and women) generally use (or, carry, or wear) the same kinds of bags?
Possibly the questions from Sep-Dec 2018 are still in use. See here
Where do you usually study?
This question means, "Where do you do such activities as studying your textbooks, writing essays and class assignments etc?" For example, "I usually study at my desk in my bedroom" or, "I usually study in the university library." The inclusion of the word, "usually" indicates that the question has this meaning.
If the question is simply, "Where do you study?" then it could have two possible meanings, either, a) What educational institute or school do you attend? or, b) Where do you do your private study, such as writing essays?
"Would like" Questions
Would you like to be a teacher?
Most likely this question uses the words, "Would you like" but possibly the question is, "Do you want to be a teacher?" These two are not exactly the same! See HERE for an explanation.
We never say, "A sunglasses" or "a sunglass"; it's always, "a pair of sunglasses".
Here, "take" = "travel by", "travel on", "go by" etc
Is this place famous for anything?
"Famous" more or less means the same as, "well-known". This question means, "Is there some fact that many people in your country (or, in the world) know about this place?" The question is not really asking about something famous that the people who live in this place know. It is possible to include that in your answer, but you should actually say something like, "... But as for the people who live there, almost everyone in the city knows the famous XYZ market, which ...."
"Painting" and "drawing" are activities (verbal nouns) that people do. These are from the verbs, "to paint" and "to draw". But "a painting" and "a drawing" (paintings and drawings) are nouns, the things that are created by those activities.
"eat out" = eat away from home.
To say, "eat outside" means to eat out of any building, i.e., to eat in the fresh air such as when you have a picnic, eat in your back yard, eat on your veranda or balcony, or eat at a restaurant table that is outside the restaurant, such as on the footpath (sidewalk).
"Strictness" here refers to the teacher strictly controlling the behaviour of the students, including strictly enforcing rules such as rules concerning homework. For example, a teacher not allowing the students to play games on their mobile phones while he or she is teaching is being strict or, strictly enforcing a rule.
A "strict" teacher is not the same as "an expert" teacher who teaches very well. A strict teacher may, or may not necessarily do a good job at teaching (be skilled at teaching) just as a lenient teacher may or may not necessarily do a poor job in teaching.
How often do you hire a taxi?
This might be, "How often do you travel by taxi?" or, ""How often do you take a taxi?"
Do you think everyone should get a drivers' licence?
This question might be worded as, "Do you think everyone should learn how to drive?"
The two questions do not always have exactly the same meaning. Some people say, "Learn to drive!" when they really mean, "Learn to drive properly!" or "Learn to drive correctly!" And some people "get a driver's licence" by paying someone but not sitting for a test! But generally speaking the two different questions represent the same idea.
This question might be,"Would you say that's a good company to work for?"
Do you have the same routine every day of the week?
That might be, Do you have the same morning routine every day of the week?
If this topic is just "Sport" or "Sports" I suggest you be very careful about using any of the following words in your answers: "exercise", "exercises" or "gym". This is because "sport" and "exercise" are not the same thing. Although most sports involve physical exercise, exercise itself is not considered to be a sport.
Do you like sports?
This can mean either, a) "Do you like to play any sports?" b) "Do you like to watch sports, for example, on TV?" or, c) both a & b.
This question is asking you to express your feelings. If you simply say, "... because I want to keep fit" that is not wrong but it is not really expressing your feelings.
In general, we "watch" moving things and we "look at" things that are not moving.
Would you like to change the place where you work?
This probably means, "Would you like to change your job?" = "Would you like to get a different job?" = change your employer.
The question might be expressed as, "Have you thought about changing job?"
How much study do you do every week?
This most likely means, "How many hours of private study (e.g., at home) do you do?
However, it might mean, "How many hours of classes do you have every week?"
Do you like your school / university?
This might be expressed as, "Do you like your current learning (or studying) environment?"
Would you like to change your school (or university)?
This means, "Would you like to change the school (or university) you attend and go to a different school (or university)?"
The question might be expressed as, "Have you thought about changing your school (or university?"
Do you do anything that especially helps you to study?
This is referring to your private study.
The question might be, "Is there anything that especially helps you when you study?"
How do you think you could improve your efficiency as a student?
This might be expressed as, "What would (or, could) help you study better?"
Do you do anything that especially helps you in your work?
The question might be, "Is there anything that especially helps you in your work?"
Where are you living (where do you live) at the moment?
This is asking for the name of the place (the city or town). You should also add what part of your country this is in if it is not where you are doing the test.
Two common errors that people make when answering this are:
i) Saying the province instead of the hometown. For example, "My hometown is Heilongjiang". That's your home province, not your hometown. Of course, you can and probably should include the name of the province when you say where it is. An example of a good answer to the question is: "It's a small city in the north of China called ..... That's about 100 kilometers north of Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province."
Note that in English we first say the city, then the province or state. For example, we say, "Harbin, Heilongjiang Province." That's the opposite to the way Chinese people speak.
ii) "It's north of China". That should be, "It's in the north of China. "It's north of China" means it's outside China, for example, in North Korea or Siberia.
Have you lived there for a long time?
This might be expressed as, "Have you been living there (for) a long time?", "How long have you been living there?" or, "How long have you lived there?"
Are you planning to move to another area to live?
This wording could be interpreted to mean either, a) "Are you planning to move to a different part of this city or town to live?" or, b) "Are you planning to move to a different part of your country to live?" or even, "Are you planning to move to a different place to live, (including in a different country)?"
The question might also be, "Would you like to move to another area to live?", which is not the same as planning to move.
What changes are you expecting to see in this area?
The changes you are expecting in this area could either be improvements or a deterioration in conditions.
Do you prefer a park with open space or recreational facilities?
This has also been reported as, "Do you prefer a park with open space or entertainment facilities?" That question is possible but I think the examiner is more likely to use the word, "recreational". The two are not exactly the same.
Do you prefer a warm, or a cool climate?
This question has also been reported as, "Do you prefer a hot, or a cold climate?" but I think the other choice of words is more likely to be the real question. "Hot" and "cold" are more extreme than "warm" and "cool".
In English, if we say things like, "I like drinking", "He likes to drink", "He drinks a lot" etc it means "drink alcohol". Therefore, you should say what you drink, such as, "I like drinking water", "I like drinking tea" etc., not simply, "I like drinking".
Would you like to attend the Olympic Games?
It is not 100% certain that the word, Attend" is used in this question. If it is used, it means to be a spectator at the Olympic Games, not to compete in the games. However, it is possible that the wording is, "compete in the Olympic Games".