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SPEAKING
MODULE

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Introduction
The Speaking test consists of an oral interview between the test takers' and an examiner. All Speaking
tests are recorded. There are three parts to the test and each part fulfils a specific function in terms of
interaction pattern, task input and test takers output.

Part 1 – Introduction and interview

In this part, the examiner introduces him/herself and checks the test takers' identity. They then ask the
test takers general questions on some familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies and interests.
To ensure consistency, questions are taken from a script. This part lasts for 4–5 minutes and focuses on
the ability to communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences or
situations by answering a range of questions.

Part 2 – Long turn (Cue Card)

Part 2 is the individual long turn. The examiner gives the test takers a task card which asks the test takers
to talk about a particular topic, includes points to cover in their talk and instructs the test takers to explain
one aspect of the topic. Test takers are given one minute to prepare their talk, and are given a pencil and
paper to make notes. The examiner asks the test takers to talk for 1 to 2 minutes, stops the test takers
after 2 minutes, and asks one or two questions on the same topic. Using the points on the task card
effectively, and making notes during the preparation time, will help the test takers think of appropriate
things to say, structure their talk, and keep talking for 2 minutes. This part of the test focuses on the ability
to speak at length on a given topic (without further prompts from the examiner), using appropriate
language and organising ideas coherently. It is likely that the test takers will need to draw on their own
experience to complete the long turn.

Part 3 – Discussion

In Part 3, the examiner and the test takers discuss issues related to the topic in Part 2 in a more general
and abstract way and, where appropriate, in greater depth. This part of the test focuses on the ability to
express and justify opinions and to analyse, discuss and speculate about issues.

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Learn how IELTS speaking is scored

This only makes sense. IELTS speaking is scored according to strict grading criteria and if you want to
impress the examiner, you need to know what the examiner wants! In brief, pronunciation, fluency and
coherence, grammar and vocabulary all count for 25%.

Before the exam – practice – and listen

Following on from the previous advice, you need to practice before the exam to make sure that the
appropriate skills are automatic. The very best practice is to listen and then speak – language learning is
about repetition.

Understand what you will be asked about – everyday ideas

Typically, you will be asked to talk about everyday topics and ideas. As the test continues the questions
become harder and more theoretical. One simple suggestion is to just look at the types of questions you
will get. You may be surprised at how easy the questions are! IELTS speaking is not an academic test at all
– it’s just a test know your language. Sometimes people can go wrong because they treat it like an
intelligence test and forget to use good English.

Use natural spoken English

The best form of English to use in the test is natural spoken English. This will help you to speak more
fluently and improve your pronunciation. Here are some examples of what works:
 Short forms like it’s and not it is
 Words like quite that we use a lot in speaking
 Common spoken phrases like I guess and I suppose
The best way to learn this type of language is often to listen to native speakers

Extend your answer

If there is one key piece of advice, it is to extend your answer appropriately. For example, this is
inappropriate:
Question: “How many languages do you speak?”
Answer: “Two. Chinese and English.”
Better would be:
Answer: “I speak two languages. My first language is Chinese and I speak English too. I’ve been learning
English since I was 10. I started learning it when I was in primary school.”
Be aware, however, that very long answers are not always a good idea. It is possible that you will go off
topic and lose coherence.

Sometimes give short answers too!

Not all IELTS speaking questions are equal. For some you may have more to say about and some less. That
is only natural. If you get a question that you don’t know very much about, do NOT try and talk and talk
about it. If you do you will probably become incoherent. Much better is to just give a short answer saying
that you don’t know very much about that and then wait for the next question – there’s always another
question. Naturally, you can’t do this all the time and in part 2.

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Give yourself time to think – repeat/reformulate the question

In parts 1 and 3 you are not given any thinking time: you are supposed to start speaking immediately. This
does not mean, however, that you need to start answering the question straight away. What you can do
is start by repeating/reformulating or commenting on the question:
“What did I enjoy doing as a child? Let me see…”
“That’s not something I’ve thought about before. It’s an interesting question.”
This has several benefits. It is good communication. It allows you a little time to think. It should also make
you answer the question and not the general topic.

Correct yourself – if you can do it immediately

If you make a mistake and you can correct it immediately, do so. This will show the examiner that you
have control over the language. If, however, you are unsure how to correct yourself, move on: the
examiner may not have noticed the mistake in the first place and if you try unsuccessfully to correct it, a
small mistake may become a much bigger one.

If you don’t understand the question – ask

This is a speaking test and not a listening test. If you don’t understand the question, ask the examiner to
repeat or explain it. You will not be penalized for this. If you try to answer a question you do not
understand, you will almost certainly become incoherent.

Learn to use a range of functional vocabulary such as opinion language

One thing that you will do a lot in the test is give opinions and talk about what you like and dislike. The
examiner will be listening to see whether you can say I think and I like in different ways. This can be a
tough skill to learn as you may need to learn new speaking habits.

Discover the best way to use your preparation time in part 2

The one scary part of the test is likely to be part 2 where you need to speak for up to 2 minutes. This is a
slightly unusual task and you want to use your preparation time well to help you speak enough. There are
a variety of different ways you can use this time and the best advice is to find one that suits you. Try some
of these ideas and work out which one or ones work best for you.

Listen to the grammar in the question

The best advice for IELTS speaking is very simply to listen to the question and answer it. The reason for is
when you are face to face with the examiner and nerves are a significant problem. If you are trying to
remember complex advice, you are likely to become more nervous and not perform to your best. Keep it
simple.
One example here is in part 1. If you hear a question in the past tense:
“What sports did you play as a child?”
A good answer will use the past tense – the examiner will be listening for this.

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Don’t worry too much about using clever language – think fluency
When we speak a language we don’t have much time to choose our words and that means that we often
use far fewer words when we speak than when we write. In IELTS speaking candidates sometimes go
wrong because they try and use “clever” words that they think will impress the examiner. This can be a
mistake for a couple of reasons:
 As the words may in fact be wrong!
 If you spend too much time trying to think of words your fluency may suffer.

Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself – think coherence – the “as I was saying” trick
Part of your score in speaking is fluency and coherence. One way to make yourself more coherent is in
fact to repeat yourself. This is something professional speakers do a lot. They say something once and
then they say it again. The one trick is not use the same words both times. A practical suggestion is to
think about finishing your speech by referring back to something you have already said. A key phrase here
may be:
As I was saying/As I said before
If you use this, it helps to show the examiner that you are linking your ideas together and that in fact is
what coherence is!

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Speaking Part 1 lasts between 4-5 minutes and you will be asked questions about familiar topics, such as:
 Your job/studies
 Your family
 Your home
 Your hometown
 Your hobbies
Notice that these questions are all about you. It is considered easier than the other two parts because it
is much easier to talk about yourself than more abstract topics, but that doesn’t mean it is not important.

1. Know What to Expect

Before Part 1 begins four things will happen.
The examiner will introduce themselves and ask you what your name is. You can simply reply ‘My
name’s _______________’. Make sure that you use the contraction ‘name’s’
 Rather than ‘name is’. This will remind you to use contractions (e.g. I’m, We’d, they’ll) in the
rest of the test.
 The examiner will then ask you ‘What can I call you?’. You can simply say ‘You can call
me_______’. If you have an English name, it is fine to use it, but make sure that you pronounce
it correctly. If you can’t say your own name properly, it does not create the best first
impression. If unsure, just use your normal name.
 They will then ask you where you are from. Simply state “I’m from_____”. There is no need
for you to give any extra information about your answers at this stage.
 The examiner will finally ask to see your identification. Show it to them and then the test can
begin.

2. Create a Good First Impression

Students often ask, if they smile, are friendly and give the examiner good eye contact, will they
get a higher mark. The answer is no and yes. There is nothing in the marking criteria which says
that being nice, or looking the examiner in the eye will improve your grade. However, being
confident helps you because it will have an effect on your answers.

If you look at the floor and give the impression that you would rather be anywhere in the world
apart from in the room with the examiner, you will normally give very short monotone answers
and this will lower your score. However, if you are open and friendly with the examiner, you are
more likely to give natural sounding answers.

Don’t overdo the eye contact thing. It feels really strange when someone looks you straight in the
eye for 15 minutes. Pretend that you are having a normal conversation with a friend. If you were
looking at the floor the entire time, a friend would ask you if you were OK. If you were staring
them dead in the eye, they would get a bit freaked out. Pretend it is just a normal conversation
and you will be fine.

3. Pretend You’re Interested in the Questions

Let’s face it, most IELTS questions are really boring. If you listen to someone answer a boring
question you will notice one thing- their voice is monotone i.e. it does not go up or down in pitch
at all, it sounds very flat. If you speak like this, you will get a lower mark for pronunciation because
one of the crucial factors you will be tested on is intonation.

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When native English speakers talk, their voice naturally falls and rises depending on how they feel
about what they are saying. Imagine you are late for class, you walk into the room and the teacher
says to you in a falling tone ‘Sit down, please.’ They are probably telling you, through their
intonation, that they are not very happy with your lack of punctuality. However, if they said it with
a rising tone at the start, they would probably be telling you they don’t mind that you are late and
are happy to see you.

Similarly, if you pretend that you are interested in what the examiner is saying your intonation
should become more varied. However, be careful not to overdo it and make your voice really high
or really low because you will sound like a crazy person. Listening to native speakers talk and
copying their intonation will give you a good idea of what natural intonation sounds like.

4. Extend Your Answers

There is no set amount of words or sentences that you should use in Part 1. They shouldn’t be too
short because you want to show the examiner that you can actually use English, so ‘I’m a student.’
is not really long enough. However, they should not be too long either, because Part 1 is on
familiar topics (family, work, hobbies etc.) and you don’t normally talk for 2 minutes when
someone asks you where you are from. Also, you will have lots of opportunities to give longer
answers in Parts 2 and 3. As a general rule, if you only give a single sentence answer, with a single
clause like ‘I’m from Ireland.’, then your answer is too short. I also don’t think Part 1 answers
should ever have more than three sentences. Somewhere in between is just right.

5. Practice
It is a very bad idea to prepare memorized answers before your speaking test, but because Part 1
is very predictable, you should practice the familiar topics mentioned above in number one.
Try recording yourself and then listen back and think about the following:
 Could you improve the vocabulary?
 Did you make any grammar mistakes that could be fixed?
 Did you speak fluently or did you speak at an unnatural speed?
 How was your intonation?
 Did you extend your answer enough?
 Did you speak clearly?
Try again and keep practicing until you are really confident about talking about the common
topics.

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Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4 - 5 minutes)

The examiner will introduce himself or herself and confirm your identity. You answer general questions
about yourself, your home, your job, your interests and a range of similar topic areas. Be aware of question
types; the areas covered are fairly predictable so practice at home recording ideas onto a tape recorder.

 Keep in mind that examiners can assess what they hear. They will expect you to speak up so don't
give one or two word answers.
 Make sure to relate your answer to the interviewer's question. First, answer the question then
give 'added information'.

Examiner: Do you have any plans/or going to university?

Candidate: That's for sure. I’d like to major in chemical engineering.
Examiner: Do you like swimming?
Candidate: Yes, I do, but I don't get much time to go swimming these days.

In general, good answers have ' main and supporting ideas '.
Example: I love swimming (main idea) because it's so relaxing (Supporting idea 1). Besides, it helps me be
in shape (Supporting idea 2).

If you can't think of a word, simply paraphrase it.

Example: He's a reliable person.
He’s the sort of person YOU can always trust /depend on.

Example: She's so punctual.

She's never late; always on time.

Reply by offering a full and appropriate response in each case. Always add some extra information to your
answer; you are unlikely to get a second chance to answer them, but don't anticipate related questions.
For example, if you are asked what your job is, a suitable answer would be:
I work for a market research company. We do market research for companies that are planning to develop
new products.
NOT
I work for a market research company. We do market research for companies that are planning to develop
new products. My job is very demanding. It requires strong communication and interpersonal skills to get
the right results. The best thing about my job is the team that I work with. My work starts at 9 am and
finishes at 7 pm.

The second answer sounds like a 'learned answer' and the examiners next question might be:
How do you like your job? OR, Tell me about your working hours.

In order to present yourself in the best way possible, you should try to sound positive about your past,
present and future. Listen to the questions carefully and make sure you answer the question; answer the
questions directly and to the point. It is important to relax and speak confidently.

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There are a number of expressions used to express your feelings.

 …I 'm very interested in
 ... seems fantastic
 …I'm fond of …
 … I am keen on ...
 …That sounds like fun
 ... would be really rewarding/ a lot of fun
 ... sounds more interesting than ...
 ... is so absorbing
 … I find it really helpful
 ... seems pretty difficult
 ... is rather complicated
 ... was rather difficult
 ... was much more difficult in compared with ...
 ... sounds kind of boring
 ... doesn't interest me
 …To be honest, I don’t enjoy ...
 …I’ve lost interest in ...

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Part 2: Independent Long Turn or Cue Card (3 - 4 minutes)

The examiner will give YOU a topic card, and hand you some paper and a pencil to make notes. You have
one minute to prepare before speaking for 1-2 minutes. Topic cards are very general they are related to
your personal experience. The examiner will remain silent while you are speaking then will ask one or two
rounding-off quest ions.

Read the topic card carefully.

Make the best use of the minute given to organize your answer, and make brief notes for each key word,
such as who, what, when, where, how or why. A common criticism of some candidates is that they don't
plan; you don't impress the examiner if you start immediately without planning, whatever your level is.
Candidates who don't take notes, tend to describe the general aspect of the question rather than covering
the prompts of the card and giving specific information.

Write notes not sentences.

It may be easier to read and use your notes if you write them in a vertical list and in order. It is important
to keep talking, but don’t talk about things which aren’t' related to the topic. As you speak, refer to your
notes to organize your answer. If your talk is not organized, you will lose marks.

Remember that the IELTS test is a communication test; not a memory test.
If there is something you can't remember, simply use other words and explain about it. “I'm not really
sure when II happened to me, but I 'm sure I was very young.” is just as good as giving a date. Don't worry
if you decide to change a little of what you have planned to say. Keeping your talk natural and fluent is
much important than sticking rigidly to your notes.
Note: Don't miss out any questions.
Don't hesitate for too long when it is time to speak. It’s better to speak about anything than not to speak
at all!

Some introductory prompts that you may use are:

 I'd like to talk about...
 I’m going to talk about...
 I'd like to begin with
 What I'd like to talk about is...
 I've chosen to talk about...
 What I 'm going to cover is...
 To start with...
 I'm going to describe how...
 There are quite a lot of..., but the one I've chosen is ...
 It’s quite a long story.

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Some phrases to talk about background detail.

 I particularly/vividly/distinctly remember (the day we first met).
 To the best of my memory
 What I most remember about him/her is...
 I vividly recall the day I first met him/her
 ... if (my) memory serves me well/ correctly,
 The story goes back to the time when I was in school! college
 It took place...
 ... happened to me ...
 ... happened when I was a kid; at the age of ten, I think
 ... is called ... /which is called...
 ... is located/ situated...
 The town has changed somewhat/ dramatically since I was a child
 ... has been going on ...
 I have known him/her since/for ...
 I met him/her by chance
 He/she happened to be there
 I suddenly realised...

Use a number of adjectives to describe the situation:

It was exciting, thrilling, interesting, pleasing, fascinating, amazing, absorbing, enticing. appealing,
amusing, entertaining, relaxing, refreshing, embarrassing, soothing, breathtaking, astonishing, rewarding,
deserving, satisfying, fulfilling, promising, challenging,..

It was boring, tiring, exhausting, confusing, puzzling, perplexing, worrying, frustrating, embarrassing,
depressing, heartbreaking, frightening, horrifying, shocking, nerve-racking, soul-destroying, hair-rising,
nail-biting, discouraging, disappointing, annoying, disturbing, irritating, distracting, disgusting,…

Make your talk as lively as possible.

 Try to relax and tell your interviewer as much interesting information as you can.
 Don't be afraid to use humour!
 Don't worry if the examiner doesn't look at you. He or she will be listening and checking the
criteria needed for assessing you,
 To cover all the prompts of the topic card, you need to talk about each question for about 30
seconds. Practice speaking with a watch and get an idea of how long two minutes is and
approximately how much content you need to cover the task.

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Some Example Topic Cards

1. Describe a song that brings back a lot of memories
You must say:
 What is this song?
 Where did you hear this song?
 What memories did this song bring back?
Explain what benefits people get from listening to music

2. Describe a place away from home where you go to relax

You must say:
 What is this place?
 Where is this place?
 What do you do there?
Explain why you feel relaxed at this place

3. Describe an important conversation you had with someone

You must say:
 Who was the person?
 What was the conversation about?
 Why was it important?
Explain which types of conversations are important, face to face / via the phone

4. Describe one of your family members with whom you spend most of the time.
You must say:
 Why do you spend so much of time?
 When do you spend so much of time?
 How do you spend your time together?
Explain the importance of spending time with family members.

5. Describe a place you want to visit in the future?

You must say:
 Where is this place?
 With whom would you visit this place?
 Why do you want to visit this place?
Explain what preparations you would make before visiting this place?

6. Describe a day when you woke up very early

You must say:
 When did you wake up?
 Why did you wake up so early?
 What did you do then?
Explain the benefits of waking up early in the morning.

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7. Describe a recent time in your life when you were happy

You must say:
 What was the happy moment?
 Why were you happy?
 When was it?
Explain what makes people happy in their life

8. Describe an important thing in your life that you forgot

You must say:
 What was it?
 When was it?
 How did you forget about it?
Are there any disadvantages if people forget important things in their life?

9. Describe a stage in your life you liked the most

You must say:
 When was it?
 What was it?
 Where was it?
Explain why you like this stage of your life the most.

10. Describe a thing that you borrowed from someone

You must say:
 What did you borrow?
 Why did you borrow?
 From whom did you borrow?
Explain how helpful was the thing which you had borrowed?

11. Describe an important thing that your family has

You must say:
 What is that thing?
 How does it look like?
 How long has this thing been with your family?
Explain why this thing is important to you and your family.

12. Describe something that you do to save money

You must say:
 Why do you save this money?
 How do you save this money?
 How will this money you save help you?
Explain the benefits of saving money.

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13. Describe your favorite application on the mobile/computer

You must say:
 What is it?
 How useful is it?
 Where do you use it?
Explain why this is your favorite application is.

14. Describe your favorite toy you played with during your childhood
You must say:
 What was the toy?
 Who bought the toy for you?
 When you would play with this toy?
Explain where you would like to play with this toy the most.

15. Describe a member of your family who is most successful.

You should say:
 who this person is
 how often you see each other
 what this person does
Explain why he/she is successful

16. Describe a job that you would like to do in the future.

You should say:
 why you are attracted to this job
 how much training would be necessary
 what kind of personal qualities it would require
Explain why you would like to do this job

17. Describe a tourist trip that you have been on which you particularly enjoyed
You should say:
 where you went
 why you took the trip
 what you remembered most about the trip
Explain why you particularly enjoyed this trip

18. Describe a city that you would like to visit in future

You should say:
 where the city is
 how you would travel there
 what you would do there
Explain why you would like to visit this city

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19. Describe the best gift/present you have received.

You should say:
 what the gift was
 who gave it to you
 when you receive it
Explain why it was the best gift /present you have ever received

20. Describe a teacher who has influenced you in your education.

You should say:
 where you met him/her
 what subject he/she taught
 what was special about him/her
Explain why this person influenced you so much

21. Describe one of your childhood memories

You should say:
 what it is
 when it happened
 how it affected you in your life
Explain why you still remember it

22. Describe a hotel you have stayed in.

You should say:
 where the hotel is
 why you stayed at that particular hotel
 give details description of the hotel and the view from it
Explain what makes the hotel special.

23. A famous person you know in your country.

You should say:
 who the person is
 why he is famous
 what makes you mention specifically him/her
Describe what positive changes this person has brought for your country.

24. Describe an important invention which has helped the human civilization.
You should say:
 what the invention is
 who invented it
 what changes it brought
Explain how it has positively influenced human race.

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25. Describe a game or sport you enjoy playing.

You should say:
 What kind of game or sports it is
 Who you play it with
 Where you play it
Explain why you enjoy playing it.

26. Describe a national festival in your country.

You should say:
 When it takes place
 Why it takes place
 What the people do during this festival
Explain why this festival is important to you.

27. Talk about a pet that you or someone you know once had.
You should say:
 What kind of animal it was
 What kind of care it needed
 What you liked / disliked about it
Explain why this is a popular type of pet.

28. Describe something you plan to learn in the future.

You should say:
 what you plan to learn in the future
 why you want to learn it
 where and how you will learn it
Explain how will it help you in your future

29. Talk about a funny incident that happened to you.

You should say:
 What it was
 Why it was funny
 Who was there with you
Explain what you remember most about it.

30. Describe the traffic jam in your city.

You should say:
 how it happens
 what is the situation
 what problems people face due to this.
and what can be done to control this traffic jam.

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31. Describe a building / structure with architectural interest.

You should say:
 What is it
 what's the historical significance of it
 Why should we preserve it
Describe the building / structure in details.

32. Describe a time you needed to use imagination

You should say:
 what the situation was;
 why you needed to use imagination;
 what the difficulties were;
and explain how you felt about it.

33. Describe a time when you are very busy

You should say
 When it was
 What you had to do during that time
 How you managed it
and explain how you felt about being busy

34. Describe a country you have visited

You should say:
 Where is this country
 When did you visit it?
 With whom did you go?
and explain what were the interesting things about this country?

35. Describe something expensive you would like to buy.

You should say
 What it is?
 Why do you want to buy it?
 When are you going to buy it?
and explain why do you want to buy this particular thing

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Part 3: Discussion (4 - 5 minutes)

The examiner will invite you to discuss a number of issues, broadly related in theme to the Part 2. The
questions will increase in difficulty slightly as this part of the test progresses. Remember there is no right
or wrong answer.

 Try to give informed, interesting and appropriate responses to the examiner's prompts.
 Try to have a clear understanding of the questions.
 Don’t worry if you can 't think of a word. You can paraphrase and get around it.
 Be willing to give extended responses.
 Show your ability by expressing abstract ideas, support your opinions, point out both positive and
negative aspects and speculate about the future.
 Listen carefully which word to address and build you answer around.

For Example:
What are the benefits of vegetarianism?
Obviously, you need to speak about the benefits. Use a paraphrase or synonym when answering. Use
appropriate introductory phrases. You can give an opinion without using an opening clause, but it will
sound very direct. To soften your responses, it is better to start with an expression such as:
 Personally I think
 In my opinion
 To my mind

If you are asked to talk a subject you have never thought about, the most important thing is not to panic.
Avoid responding with 'don't know' or 'I have no idea'. To think of an idea or speak more naturally, you
can use the following phrases:
 What I'm trying to say is…
 I'm not sure. You could say..., but ...
 I'm fairly certain that...
 Well, here’s a fifty-fifty chance of...
 Generally speaking
 Broadly speaking
 Personally speaking
 Metaphorically speaking
 Practically speaking
 Relatively speaking
 Simply speaking
 Technically speaking
 Roughly speaking
 To put it more simply
 To be more exact
 To put it more accurate
 To be honest / realistic, I have different views about / on [. . .]
 I don’t foresee any problems in the future.
 It’s almost impossible to predict what will happen
 The (economic) consequences of (. . .) are enormous

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 Well, it's difficult to say, but in my experience

 It's a difficult issue
 I think it's a complicated issue
 Well, it's hard to say
 That's an interesting point I think / would have to say ...
 Beyond any doubt...
 It's hard to say. One way of looking at it I ..., but ...
 To be honest, that it’s not something I've ever really thought about, but I suppose ...
 Perhaps one should make that clearer by saying ...
 Let me illustrate my point by ...
 I'm no expert but I think
 If you ask me,
 There is no simple solution to the problem of (. . .)
 It’s reasonable to say ...
 The truth (of the matter) is ...
 As a matter of fact..
 In fact, this is an issue of much importance to everyone’s
 In fact, many factors should be taken into account l considered
 There are many different opinions about this issue, but I think
 Well, people have got mixed feelings about that
 Another justification is
 Another reason which....

When you are asked a ‘How question’ (How+ adjective / adverb), you can use an adverb of degree to
express your opinion.
Example
Examiner: How important is it to have a regular fitness programme?
Candidate: I think it is highly/incredibly important.
 When you are asked for your opinion on a subject, you can avoid sounding too dogmatic by using
suitable linking words. e.g. Although, Admittedly, Despite the fact ...
Although computers are very useful in everyday life, I think we rely too heavily on them.
Admittedly, it’s hard to learn but it’s worth trying.
 If you don't know much about a topic, talk about something related to that topic then explain the
connection. This is not ideal, but better than saying nothing at all!

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Additional Frequently Asked Questions

TOPIC: Travel
 Do you like to travel?
 Which places have you visited?
 What kind of places do you travel to?
 Which place would you really like to visit?
 How often do you travel?
 What was the last place you travelled to?
 Why do you travel? Do you like long trips?
 Do you prefer to travel alone or with friends/family?
 What form of transport do you prefer to use when you travel?
 What's the most interesting place you have been to?
 Which places in your country would you recommend for visitors?
 What do you think are the benefits of travel?
 What kind of place would you like to travel to in the future?

TOPIC: Food
 What kind of food do you like to eat?
 Is there any food you dislike?
 What do you usually eat for lunch?
 What do you usually eat for breakfast?
 What did you like to eat as a child?
 Do you have a favourite food?
 Do you ever eat 'junk food'?
 What kind of food do people eat in your country?
 Do you prefer to eat out or eat at home?
 Do you prefer to eat alone or with other people?
 Do you think it's important for people to eat with their families?

TOPIC: Daily Routine

 Can you describe your daily routine?
 Has your routine changed much in recent years?
 What does your typical day look like?
 What do you do after you get up?
 Which part of the day are you most efficient?
 If you could change something in your daily routine, what would it be?
 Do you like to plan your daily routine?
 What do you usually do at this time of the day?
 Do you get together with your work colleagues after work?
 Do you get together with your fellow students after classes?

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TOPIC: Television
 Do you like watching television?
 How much time do you spend watching television?
 Do you have a favourite TV programme?
 Do you prefer to read a newspaper or watch TV?
 Do you prefer to watch TV or listen to the radio?
 What type of programmes do you enjoy watching?
 What type of programmes did you watch as a child?
 Has your television watching habits changed much in recent years?
 Do you watch foreign TV programmes?
 Do people in your country have the opportunity to watch English language TV programmes?
 Do you think people can improve their English by watching English language TV programmes?
 How much TV would you like your children to watch?
 What are the most popular television shows in your country?
 Why do you think they are popular?
 What are some of the benefits of watching television?
 What are some of the drawbacks of watching television?
 How do you think TV broadcasts in your country could be improved?

TOPIC: Shopping
 Are street markets very common in your country?
 Do you prefer to shop at a street market or a normal shop?
 When was the last time you went shopping?
 Do you like to go window-shopping?
 Have shopping habits changed in your country in recent years?
 Are there many shops near your home?
 Do you prefer shopping in small shops or in large shopping centres (malls)?
 What are some differences between men and women shopping?
 Do people in your country spend a lot of money on shopping?

TOPIC: Driving
 Do you drive a car?
 Do you have a driving license?
 Was it easy to get your driving license?
 Do you think there should be a minimum age for a young person to get a driving license?
 Do you think it's necessary to learn how to drive?
 Is it necessary to drive a car in your hometown?
 Do you prefer to travel by car or use public transport?

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TOPIC: Languages
 What languages do you speak?
 Which language do you use the most?
 How long have you been studying English? Do you think that English is difficult to learn?
 What do you think is the most difficult aspect of learning English?
 What do you think is the most difficult part about learning foreign languages?
 What do you think is the most effective way to learn a foreign language?
 How would you compare learning English to learning other languages?
 Do you think it's important to know more than one language?
 Is there any other language you would like to learn?
 What is the value of knowing a foreign language?

TOPIC: Celebration
 What's the most important festival in your country?
 How do people celebrate this festival?
 What special food do people eat at this festival?
 Do you think festivals are important?
 When did you last celebrate a special event?
 Do you like parties?
 Are there any parties that you dislike?
 How do people in your country celebrate birthdays?
 Do you think it's important to celebrate your birthday?
 Do you like to dance?
 Do young people like dancing in your country?

TOPIC: Reading
 Do you enjoy reading?
 What sort of things do you read?
 Do you have a favourite book?
 Is there anything you dislike reading?
 Why do people sometimes dislike reading?
 Do you think reading is important?
 Do you prefer to read or go to the cinema?

TOPIC: Health
 What do you do to stay healthy?
 Is it easy to keep fit where you live?
 What is more important, eating healthily or doing exercise?
 Do you have a good public health system in your country?

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TOPIC: Hobbies
 Do you have any hobbies?
 What are some of your hobbies?
 When did you first develop this hobby?
 What are some of the advantages of having a hobby?
 How much time do you spend on your hobby?

TOPIC: Films
 Do you enjoy watching movies?
 What’s your favourite film?
 Who are your favourite actors?
 How often do you watch films?

TOPIC: Sports
 Do you like sports?
 Do you enjoy watching sports?
 Do you enjoy participating in any sports?
 Which sports are most popular in your country?
 What’s your favourite sport?
 When did you first become interested in sports?
 How often do you participate in sports?
 What equipment do you need for your favourite sport?

TOPIC: Tourism
 Which places would you recommend to a visitor to your country?
 Do a lot of tourists visit your country?
 What do they usually do there?
 How has tourism changed your country?
 Is your country expensive for most tourists?
 What are some famous landmarks in your country?

TOPIC: Your Country

 Which country are you from?
 Where is this country located?
 Which part of the country do most people live in?
 What are the main industries in your country?
 Is it easy to travel around your country?

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TOPIC: Clothes
 What type of clothes do you like to wear?
 What kind of clothes do people in your country usually wear?
 How important is fashion to you?
 What kind of clothes do you dislike?
 Do you think people behave differently in different kinds of clothes?
 What kind of clothes do people wear to work in your country?
 Are clothes expensive in your country?

TOPIC: Going Out

 Do you like going out or staying at home?
 What do you like to do when you go out?
 How often do you go out?
 Do people in your country go out a lot?
 How and where do people in your country usually socialize?
 What kind of entertainment is popular in your country?

TOPIC: Games
 Do you enjoy playing any games?
 What kind of games do you play?
 Do you think adults should play games?
 What do children learn from games?
 What kind of games did you play when you were a child?
 What games are popular in your country today?
 What kind of games were popular when you were young?
 Do you think mental games like chess are good for you?

TOPIC: Colours
 Do you have a favourite colour?
 Are there any colours which have a special meaning in your country?
 Do you think colours affect our moods?
 Can you learn anything about a person from the colours he/she likes?
 Do you like the same colours now as you did when you were a child?

TOPIC: Music
 Do you like music?
 What kind of music do you like?
 When do you usually listen to music?
 What kind of music did you like when you were younger?
 What kind of music is popular in your country?
 Do you play any musical instruments?
 Do you wish could play any musical instruments?

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TOPIC: Family
 Describe your family?
 Do you have a large or small family?
 How much time do you spend with your family?
 What do you like to do together as a family?
 Do you get along well with your family?
 Are people in your country generally close to their families?

TOPIC: Hometown
 Describe your hometown.
 What’s special about it?
 Where is your hometown located?
 Is it easy to travel around your hometown?
 What is it known for?
 What do people in your town do?
 What are the main industries in your hometown?
 What languages are spoken in your hometown?
 What are the advantages of living in your hometown?
 What are some problems faced by your hometown?
 Compare your hometown with another city.
 What are some environmental problems faced by your hometown?

TOPIC: Weather
 What’s the weather like in your country?
 Does the weather affect your mood?
 How do rainy days make you feel?
 What’s your favourite season of the year?
 What do you like to do when it’s hot?
 What do you usually do in the winter?
 How many seasons does your country have?

TOPIC: Travel
 Do you like to travel?
 What kind of places have you visited in your life?
 Which place would you really like to visit? Why?
 What’s the best place you’ve ever visited?

TOPIC: Computers
 Do you think computers help society?
 Do you think computers are bad for health?
 How do you think computers have changed the world?

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TOPIC: Internet
 Do you use the internet much during the day?
 What do you usually do on the internet?
 What are some advantages of the internet?
 What are some disadvantages?
 Do people in your country use the internet a lot?
 Do you do any shopping on the internet?

TOPIC: Email
 Do you send and receive email regularly?
 Who do you usually communicate with?
 How often do you check your email?
 Do you think writing email has strengthened or weakened people’s writing skills?
 What are some disadvantages of email?

TOPIC: Friends
 Describe a friend?
 How long have you known each other?
 What do usually do together?
 What do you like the most about him/her?
 How often do you see each other?

TOPIC: Marriage
 What is the attitude toward marriage in your country?
 Do most young people plan on getting married in your country?
 What are the some of the advantages of marriage?
 What are some of the disadvantages?
 Is the divorce rate high in your country?
 Do you think people should be allowed to get divorced?

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Full Speaking Tests

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Full Speaking Tests

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Full Speaking Tests

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Full Speaking Tests

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