Ielts Speaking: Vocabulary & Sample Answers

IELTS
SPEAKING
VOCABULARY &
SAMPLE ANSWERS
Asiya Miart
FasTrack IELTS
FASTRACK IELTS | IELTS SPEAKING VOCABULARY AND SAMPLE ANSWERS
TOPIC-SPECIFIC VOCABULARY
At the beginning of your IELTS Speaking test, your examiner
will ask you several questions about one of these topics:
your work or studies, family, home, or hometown.
Below, you will find some sample answers and useful
vocabulary. You should not learn them by heart as you
may be penalized for giving memorized answers. However,
feel free to learn any words and phrases that can help you
improve your answers.
FAMILY
Do you have a large or small family?
My immediate family is small as I’m an only child. It’s just my parents, my
husband and I, but I have two uncles and many cousins.
immediate family = parents, husband or wife, and children
extended family = grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins…
spouse = husband or wife
only child = someone who has no brothers or sisters
I grew up in a large family with three younger siblings: two brothers and a little
sister. Now I’m married and have three children myself.
siblings = brothers and sisters
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Well, I have a half-sister. My parents got divorced when I was 18; my father
remarried and has a daughter with his wife.
half-sister or half-brother = you have only one common parent

divorced = no longer married because the marriage
has been legally ended
separated = no longer living with your husband or wife
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to remarry = to marry again

widow = a woman whose husband has died
widower = a man whose wife has died
Do you think it’s good to be an only child in the family?
With me being an only child, I guess there are pros and cons. There’s this
stereotype that only children are selfish and spoilt, but I think it really depends
on their personality. I do agree that only children get more attention from
their parents, but may still feel a bit lonely.
pros and cons = (informal) advantages and disadvantages

selfish = caring only about oneself
spoilt = a spoilt child behaves badly because
they are given everything they ask for
Could you tell me something about your family?
It was actually my granny, my mum’s mum, who brought me up ‘til I was

seven. That’s because my parents worked in geology and spent most of their
time on expeditions.
to bring up (brought up) = to care for a child

My grandmother brought up three sons.
My father was brought up to respect authority.
upbringing = the way a child is cared for and taught
how to behave while he/she is growing up
I grew up with five siblings. My upbringing prepared me for everything.
What are your parents like?

What is someone like? = Describe their appearance, character,
and behaviour
What do your parents do? = Describe their occupation/jobs
My parents are both well-educated, intelligent people. My mum’s kind,
attentive and likes taking care of the family. My dad’s really energetic and
never says no to a challenge.
Do you enjoy spending time with your family?
3
I definitely do. Unfortunately, my family live far away and I don’t often get a
chance to see them. My in-laws are in Brussels though, so it’s easy to spend a
weekend together.
in-laws = relatives of your husband or wife

mother-in-law = your spouse’s mother
brother-in-law = your spouse’s brother
Do you get along well with your family?
Generally yes, especially with my mum. My dad’s a little short-tempered.

That’s why we used to quarrel a fair bit when I was younger, but our
relationship has improved in recent years.
to get along = to have a good relationship, to like each other

short-tempered = becoming angry quickly and easily
a quarrel = an argument between people who usually get
along well
a quarrel with somebody about/over something
I sometimes quarrel with my sister over domestic chores.
There’s always been a bit of sibling rivalry between my elder sister and me,
but I guess it’s inevitable.
sibling rivalry = competition and arguments among brothers

and sisters
Who are you close to in your family?
I’m very close to my mum. Even though we live in different countries, we

speak several times a week. I was also really close to my grandfather and
used to spend my summer holidays with him when I was at school. Sadly, he
passed away two years ago.
to pass away = polite for ‘to die’
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Are people in your country generally close to their families?
Very. It’s not uncommon for three generations to live together. Elderly parents
usually move in with their children and grandchildren rather than spend their
last years in a care home.
generation = all the people of about the same age

within a society or within a particular family
three generations = parents, children, grandchildren

to live under the same roof = to live together
HOME
Do you live in a house or a flat?
I’ve never lived in a house in my life. A few months ago, I moved to a two-
bedroom flat on the second floor in North London.
Could you describe it?

It’s quite spacious for London, with a south-facing living room, a well-
equipped kitchen, a master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a small
guest bedroom and a study.
spacious = with a lot of space

an open-plan living room = your kitchen and living room are together
a master bedroom = the main bedroom
an en-suite bathroom = it’s directly connected to a bedroom
a guest bedroom = a spare bedroom for your guests
a study = an office
a conservatory = a room with glass walls and a glass roof
What kind of building do you live in?

I live in a four-storey red-brick mansion built in the 1930s. It has nice
architecture and a private garden that we share with other residents.
I live on the second floor of a four-storey building.
5
I live in a modern high-rise building in a gated development. We have a good

range of facilities on its territory: a supermarket, a gym and a couple of
coffee-shops.
I live in a typical single-storey house with a small garden at the back and a
parking space at the front. Our neighbours’ houses look very similar.
What do you like about living there?

I like that most of the rooms face south, which means we get a lot of natural
light. The living room has an open view overlooking a green lawn. What’s
more, the location is really convenient. All the facilities are within walking
distance and it takes half-an-hour by Tube to get to central London.
Could you describe your favourite room?

I would say it’s the living room because it’s the most spacious room in the flat,
with two big windows, a comfy sofa and a big glass table where we eat
dinner every night. That’s the room where the whole family gathers together.
Would you change anything about your home?

There’s quite a lot, actually. Before we moved in, we only had time to do a
basic refurbishment. We changed the floors and repainted the walls a creamy
colour. We still need to buy lamps and decorations and at some point, redo
the bathroom completely.
I love my house a lot the way it is. But there’s always scope for improvement, I
guess. I would…
Would you like to move to a different home in the future? What sort of
accommodation would you most like to live in?
One day I’d like to live in a house with more space and privacy. My dream
house would have a large open plan living-dining area, a garden with a BBQ
and a conservatory, to make the most out of sunny days.
There’s no place like home.

… feels like home.
6
I was born in Kazakhstan, but I’ve lived in London for so long that it feels like
home now.
HOMETOWN
Are you from a town or a village?
I’m from a city called Almaty. It’s the former capital of Kazakhstan.
I’m from a small village called Teke in south Kazakhstan.
What is your hometown like?
It’s quite a large and modern city of over two million people. It’s growing fast
because many people move there to work or study; I like its hustle and bustle.
The city is located in the foothills of the Alatau mountains, which means that
the views are beautiful and we can easily go hiking in summer and skiing in
winter.
hustle and bustle = a large amount of activity and

work, usually in a noisy surrounding
a bustling city/neighbourhood = full of people moving about
What kinds of public transport are there in your hometown?
There are buses, electric trolleybuses and trams and one metro line, which
took over twenty years to build. That’s definitely not enough for such a large
city. As a result, most people use cars and traffic congestion is a major
problem.
public transport (Br) = public transportation (Am)

= buses, trains, taxis, etc.
to travel by public transport
traffic congestion = there are so many cars on the

roads that they move very slowly
traffic jam = cars stop as a result of congestion,

snow or an accident
7
What are people like in your hometown?
I find that people are generally friendly and quite open. I mean they share
personal information with you freely, so it’s easy to make friends. But I must
admit that not everyone respects the queue, so queue jumping is quite
common, which stresses me out.
talkative = like to talk
to respect the queue = to wait in line for your turn
to jump the queue = to go to the front of a line of

people without waiting for your turn
What is it known for?
What is the most interesting part of your town?
What would you recommend a visitor to see or do in this town?
On the outskirts of Almaty, there’s an outdoor skating rink called Medeu. It’s
famous because of its high altitude, and it’s even hosted some international
competitions. I think it’s definitely worth seeing, even for people who don’t
skate, because the views from there are simply breathtaking.
on the outskirts of the city = near the edge of the city; far from
the city centre
to be worth seeing
breathtaking = very beautiful
a breathtaking view
What kinds of jobs do the people in your town/village do?
I suppose that most people work in manufacturing – I know that there are
some big factories in Almaty. Others work in small businesses, such as shops
and restaurants. Almaty is known as the financial centre of Kazakhstan, which
means that some of the country’s largest banks and the stock exchange are
also based in the city.
small and medium-sized businesses = shops, restaurants, etc.
8
Has your hometown changed much since you were a child?
A lot. When I see old photographs of Almaty I can hardly recognize it. It used
to be a quiet medium-sized town, but in recent years big developments have
sprung up like mushrooms. The city centre is now dominated by glass and
concrete offices and big shopping malls. I think the city has almost doubled in
size in the last twenty years and has completely changed its appearance.
It used to be = something was true in the past but

isn’t true anymore
to spring up like mushrooms = to grow very quickly (talking about

buildings)
glass and concrete offices
shopping malls
to double in size
Would you say it’s a good place to live? Why?
I think there are a lot of great things about it. I like its climate – the hot, sunny
summers and snowy winters. I also think that Almaty’s universities are the best
in the country and the city offers good job opportunities. However, traffic
congestion and related air pollution are big problems in the city and need to
be addressed.
great/limited job opportunities
traffic congestion
air pollution
9
WORK
Do you work or study?
I graduated last year and now I work full-time.
to graduate = to finish university
to work full-time = to work 30 or 40 hours per week
to work part-time = to work less than 30 hours per week
I’m employed full-time. I work for Coca-Cola.

I was unemployed for several months and have just joined a new company.
to be unemployed = not to have a job
to join the company = to find a new job
What is your job?

It’s just an admin nine-to-five office job. I’m a personal assistant at a law firm.
nine-to-five = the normal working hours in an office
I work nine to five.
I’ve been working in accounting for a few years and now I’m a senior
accountant at a big multinational corporation.
I have been working in (accounting)/as (an accountant) for…years = This is a
great opportunity to use the present perfect continuous tense.
Why did you choose this job?

Both of my parents are lawyers. I guess it runs in the family.
to run in the family = If a quality, ability, disease, etc. runs in the

family, many members of the family have it
I needed a job and the office across the road advertised a vacancy. So I
thought, “Why not?”
10
I guess I chose to become a photographer because I’m deeply fond of

photography. In my occupation, no two days are alike.
to be fond of something = to like something for a long time
an occupation = (formal) profession or job
Is it a popular job in your country?

Absolutely. Every company needs an accountant. I suppose it’s a popular job
in every country.
Not really. It seems that most people don’t think that being a YouTuber is a
real job.
Do you like your job?

The perk of being a travel agent is that I’ve travelled to so many destinations
for free. The pay could be better, though.
the perk = something you receive as well as your wages for doing a particular
job
high-paid job
low-paid job
Accounting can be a bit boring at times but the money is good.
Being a teacher is not a high-paid job, but a deeply rewarding one.
rewarding work/job/career = it gives the sense of doing something important
fulfilling work/job/career = it gives you personal satisfaction or happiness
I find something satisfying in recording every little transaction correctly.
What do you dislike about your job?

I have to work overtime quite regularly and I’d prefer not to.
overtime = time worked in addition to one's normal working hours
to work long hours

overwhelming = very great in amount
11
Sometimes the amount of work is simply overwhelming. At other times, it’s so

quiet that I have nothing to do.
Do you get on well with your colleagues?

to get on/along with somebody = to have a friendly relationship with
somebody
I’m lucky to work with very nice people, and we all sometimes have drinks
together after work.
I have a good working relationship with most of my colleagues, but I prefer to

keep my private and professional lives separate.
What was your first day at work like?

I had an induction day when my manager explained how things work in more
detail and took me around the office to introduce me to my colleagues.
induction = introducing somebody to a new job or skill
What responsibilities do you have at work?

I’m responsible for answering calls and booking appointments for new clients.
I also support more senior colleagues with any admin tasks, such as updating
reports, answering emails, or collecting information.
What is your typical day like at work?

I usually start at 9 am and take about an hour to answer all the emails or finish
any small but urgent tasks for the day. Then I start working on more important
projects, such as creating new courses or recording new videos, and the day
flies by. I only take a short lunch break and try to finish no later than 7pm.
Would you like to change your job in the future?

I’d like to progress with my career in accountancy and gain more
responsibilities in the future, so I may change jobs one day.
I’m thinking about moving to auditing in a couple of years. I just need to gain
the required skills and knowledge first.
12
STUDIES
Do you work or study?
I’m in the final year of my bachelor’s degree, and I’m graduating this summer.
I’m a first-year student.

I’m in the second year of my master’s degree.
bachelor’s degree = undergraduate degree
master’s degree = postgraduate/graduate degree
to graduate from university = to get a university degree
What do you study?
I am studying for a bachelor’s degree in international economics, which at

my university includes courses in economics, business, law, international
relations and two foreign languages.
to pursue a bachelor’s degree in economics
to study for a master’s degree in business
to do a master’s in law (British, informal)
I have a double major in economics and business. I believe this combination

gives me an understanding of how the economy works in general and also
equips me with more practical skills to run a business.
I major in accounting. It is quite narrow but I feel that this degree can give me
an advantage when it comes to job hunting.
to have a double major in X and Y = to study two main subjects
to major in X = to study something as your main

subject at a university
job hunting = the process of looking for a job
Is it a popular subject at your university?
Oh yes, I’ve heard that this is the most sought-after subject in the whole
university. Apparently, the competition is even higher than for medicine.
13
sought-after subject = wanted by many people, popular subject
Is there anything you don’t like about your programme?
Well, there are some courses that I don’t feel I need. At my university there’s
no division between compulsory and optional modules; they are all
compulsory, and sadly we have no opportunity to tailor the programme to our
interests.
compulsory modules = all students study them
optional modules = some students choose to

study them
to tailor the programme to one’s interests = to adapt the programme to

suit your interests
When it comes to your studies, what do you find most challenging?
Definitely the exam periods. The problem is that we study between 10 and 12
modules in each semester, which is a lot! What makes it worse is that most of
them are assessed based on final exams. This means that every January and
June we take around 10 exams over a period of three weeks. The workload is
just crazy.
semester or trimester/term = periods that the university year is divided into
to take an exam
to appear for an exam
to attempt an exam
It’s difficult to keep up with the workload because if I relax just a little and
don’t do my homework for a few days, I immediately fall behind with my
studies.
to keep up with the workload = to complete all your tasks on time
to fall behind with studies = to fail to complete all your tasks on time
14
Do you get along with your classmates?
Generally, yes. I have two close friends with whom I spend a lot of time, and
I’m on friendly terms with everyone else. I do my best to avoid conflicts at
university.
to get along with somebody = to be on friendly terms = to have a friendly

relationship with somebody
to do one’s best = to do as much as you can to try to achieve something
If you could study a different course, what would it be?
Sometimes I think that I should have applied to study medicine. I wanted to

be a doctor and I had the required grades, but back then I was scared of the
long training and low salaries. Now I think that the most important thing is to
do what you really like, even if it’s not easy. So if I could change my
programme now, I would study to become a doctor.
I could have become a doctor. = I had a chance to become a

doctor, but I’m not a doctor.
I should have become a doctor. = I regret that I’m not a doctor.
What are you planning to do after you graduate?
I’d like to work at a bank. So I’m already applying for some graduate positions
in corporate banking and hope to secure a place before I graduate.
to work at
to work for
a graduate position/programme = a job for university graduates only
to secure a place = to get a job
Why did you choose to study at your university?
Why did you choose to study this subject?
Is it important to select a career while you are still young?
Are there many people with your profession in your city?
15
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IELTS

siblings = brothers and sisters

Do you have any brothers or sisters?

half-sister or half-brother = you have only one common parent

to remarry = to marry again

Do you think it’s good to be an only child in the family?

pros and cons = (informal) advantages and disadvantages

Could you tell me something about your family?

It was actually my granny, my mum’s mum, who brought me up ‘til I was

to bring up (brought up) = to care for a child

What are your parents like?

Do you enjoy spending time with your family?

in-laws = relatives of your husband or wife

Do you get along well with your family?

Generally yes, especially with my mum. My dad’s a little short-tempered.

to get along = to have a good relationship, to like each other

sibling rivalry = competition and arguments among brothers

Who are you close to in your family?

I’m very close to my mum. Even though we live in different countries, we

to pass away = polite for ‘to die’

Are people in your country generally close to their families?

generation = all the people of about the same age

three generations = parents, children, grandchildren

Could you describe it?

spacious = with a lot of space

What kind of building do you live in?

I live in a modern high-rise building in a gated development. We have a good

What do you like about living there?

Could you describe your favourite room?

Would you change anything about your home?

There’s no place like home.

Are you from a town or a village?

I’m from a small village called Teke in south Kazakhstan.

What is your hometown like?

hustle and bustle = a large amount of activity and

a bustling city/neighbourhood = full of people moving about

What kinds of public transport are there in your hometown?

public transport (Br) = public transportation (Am)

traffic congestion = there are so many cars on the

traffic jam = cars stop as a result of congestion,

What are people like in your hometown?

talkative = like to talk

to respect the queue = to wait in line for your turn

to jump the queue = to go to the front of a line of

What is it known for?

What is the most interesting part of your town?

What would you recommend a visitor to see or do in this town?

breathtaking = very beautiful

What kinds of jobs do the people in your town/village do?

small and medium-sized businesses = shops, restaurants, etc.

Has your hometown changed much since you were a child?

It used to be = something was true in the past but

to spring up like mushrooms = to grow very quickly (talking about

glass and concrete offices

Would you say it’s a good place to live? Why?

great/limited job opportunities

I’m employed full-time. I work for Coca-Cola.