⚡ TL;DRThe IELTS Speaking test lasts 11–14 minutes and has three parts: Part 1 (personal questions on familiar topics), Part 2 (a two-minute talk from a cue card), and Part 3 (an in-depth discussion on abstract themes). This page lists the most commonly reported topics for each part, with guidance on what examiners are looking for.
Originally published July 2026. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
How the IELTS Speaking Test Works
The Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with one certified IELTS examiner. It is the same for both Academic and General Training candidates. You are assessed on four criteria, each worth 25 % of your Speaking band score:
Criterion
What It Measures
Weight
Fluency and Coherence
Ability to speak at length without excessive hesitation, with logical organisation
25 %
Lexical Resource
Range and accuracy of vocabulary, including less common words and paraphrasing
25 %
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Variety of sentence structures and proportion of error-free sentences
25 %
Pronunciation
Clarity, intonation, stress patterns, and ability to be understood
25 %
Part 1: Introduction and Familiar Topics (4–5 Minutes)
The examiner asks you short questions about yourself and topics you are familiar with. You will typically receive questions on three different topics, with approximately four questions per topic. Answers should be 2–4 sentences long — enough to demonstrate language ability without over-talking.
Commonly Reported Part 1 Topics
Topic
Example Questions
Work and Studies
What do you do? Do you enjoy your job/course? What would you like to change about it?
Hometown
Where are you from? What do you like about your hometown? Has it changed much?
Home and Accommodation
Do you live in a house or a flat? What is your favourite room? Would you like to move?
Social Media
Do you use social media often? What kind of content do you share? Has your usage changed?
Cooking and Food
Do you enjoy cooking? What food is popular in your country? Do you prefer eating out or at home?
Music
What kind of music do you listen to? Do you play an instrument? Has your taste changed?
Reading
Do you enjoy reading? What do you prefer — books or articles? Did you read more as a child?
Weather and Seasons
What is the weather like in your country? Do you prefer hot or cold weather?
Shopping
Do you enjoy shopping? Do you prefer shopping online or in stores?
Transport
How do you usually travel? Is public transport good in your area?
Outdoor Activities
Do you spend much time outdoors? What outdoor activities are popular where you live?
Photography
Do you take many photographs? Do you prefer taking photos with a phone or a camera?
Neighbours
Do you know your neighbours? Is it important to have a good relationship with them?
Sleep and Relaxation
How many hours do you sleep? What do you do to relax?
Birthdays and Celebrations
How do people celebrate birthdays in your country? Do you enjoy parties?
Languages
How many languages do you speak? Would you like to learn another language?
Movies and TV
What kind of films do you enjoy? Do you prefer watching at home or in a cinema?
Pets and Animals
Do you have any pets? Are pets popular in your country?
Technology
What technology do you use every day? Has technology changed how you communicate?
Exercise and Sport
Do you exercise regularly? What sport is most popular in your country?
Part 2: The Individual Long Turn (3–4 Minutes)
You receive a cue card with a topic and four bullet points. You have one minute to prepare notes, then you speak for 1–2 minutes. The examiner may ask one or two brief follow-up questions.
Commonly Reported Cue Card Topics
Cue card topics fall into five broad categories:
Category
Example Topics
People
Describe a person who inspires you · Describe someone who is good at their job · Describe a family member you are close to
Places
Describe a place you visited recently · Describe a quiet place you enjoy · Describe a historical building
Objects
Describe a gift you received · Describe a piece of technology you find useful · Describe a book you recommend
Experiences
Describe a time you helped someone · Describe a skill you learned recently · Describe a time you had to wait
Activities and Habits
Describe a healthy habit you have · Describe a podcast or programme you enjoy · Describe a sport you like to play or watch
How to Use Your One-Minute Preparation Time
Read all four bullet points on the cue card before writing anything.
Jot down key words — not full sentences — for each bullet point.
Think of one specific example you can describe in detail.
Note two or three descriptive adjectives you want to use.
When you begin speaking, follow the bullet points in order. This gives your talk a natural structure that covers everything the examiner expects.
Part 3: Two-Way Discussion (4–5 Minutes)
The examiner asks more abstract, opinion-based questions related to the Part 2 topic. This is the most challenging part because you need to express and justify opinions, compare ideas, and discuss hypothetical situations.
Commonly Reported Part 3 Themes
Theme
Example Questions
Technology and Society
How has technology changed the way people communicate? Do you think people rely too much on their phones?
Environment
What can individuals do to protect the environment? Should governments do more about climate change?
Education
Is a university education necessary for success? How has education changed in recent years?
Health and Well-being
Why do some people find it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle? What role should governments play in public health?
Work and Employment
Is it better to work for a large company or a small one? How important is job satisfaction compared to salary?
Culture and Tradition
Are traditional customs important in modern society? How can countries preserve their cultural heritage?
Media and Information
Do you think news reporting is always accurate? How do people verify information they read online?
Globalisation
Has globalisation been positive or negative for developing countries? Do you think local businesses can compete with international ones?
General Preparation Strategies
Speak regularly in English — even 15 minutes of daily practice builds fluency more effectively than occasional long sessions.
Record yourself answering practice questions and listen back for hesitation patterns, grammar errors, and pronunciation issues.
Expand your vocabulary by topic — learn 10–15 words related to each common theme and practise using them in sentences.
Practise extending your answers — use phrases like “What I mean is…”, “For instance…”, “Having said that…” to give longer, more developed responses.
Do not memorise scripts — examiners are trained to detect rehearsed answers, which can lower your Fluency and Coherence score.
🔑 Key Takeaways
The Speaking test has three parts: familiar topics (Part 1), a two-minute talk (Part 2), and abstract discussion (Part 3).
You are assessed on Fluency, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Pronunciation — each worth 25 %.
Part 1 covers personal topics like work, home, hobbies, and daily routines.
Part 2 cue cards fall into five categories: People, Places, Objects, Experiences, and Activities.
Part 3 explores abstract themes like technology, environment, education, and culture.
Practise regularly, record yourself, and avoid memorised scripts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ask the examiner to repeat a question?
Yes. You can ask the examiner to repeat or rephrase a question in any part of the test without losing marks.
Is the Speaking test the same for Academic and General Training?
Yes. The Speaking test is identical for both Academic and General Training candidates. The same topics, format, and scoring criteria apply.
Will I lose marks for my accent?
No. IELTS examiners assess pronunciation, not accent. You can speak with any accent as long as your speech is clear and intelligible.
What happens if I run out of things to say in Part 2?
If you stop before one minute, the examiner will prompt you with a follow-up question. Aim to speak for the full two minutes by preparing detailed examples during your one-minute note-taking time.
Can I change my answer during the test?
Yes. Self-correction is natural and shows awareness of accuracy. Correcting yourself is better than leaving an error uncorrected.
Practice with sample cue cards for the IELTS Speaking Test part 2. You can read a sample question, answers and feedback on the topic – Describe a restaurant you enjoyed going to
Practice with sample cue cards for the IELTS Speaking Test part 2. You can read a sample question, answers and feedback on the topic – Describe a small business you want to start.
Practice with sample cue cards for the IELTS Speaking Test part 2. You can read a sample question, answers and feedback on the topic – Describe a photograph that you remember.
Practice with sample cue cards for the IELTS Speaking Test part 2. You can read a sample question, answers and feedback on the topic – A problem that effects the environment.
Practice with sample cue cards for the IELTS Speaking Test part 2. You can read a sample question, answers and feedback on the topic – An activity you like to do in your free time.
Practice with sample cue cards for the IELTS Speaking Test part 2. You can read a sample question, answers and feedback on the topic – The perfect vacation.
Practice with sample cue cards for the IELTS Speaking Test part 2. You can read a sample question, answers and feedback on the topic – Something you like to do in the winter.
Practice with sample cue cards for the IELTS Speaking Test part 2. You can read a sample question, answers and feedback on the topic – A Job That Is Considered Important In Your Country.
Practice with sample cue cards for the IELTS Speaking Test part 2. You can read a sample question, answers and feedback on the topic – An object that is important to you.
Practice with sample cue cards for the IELTS Speaking Test part 2. You can read a sample question, answers and feedback on the topic – A place you have visited when you were a child.
See how you can develop a successful strategy for the IELTS Speaking Test Part 2. View the example given and confidently develop your own strategy for a high-level score
Learn how you can organise your notes for the IELTS Speaking Test Part 2. You can look at examples and learn skills that will help you to deliver high-level answers.
Expert tips and strategies for this part of the IELTS Speaking test. Includes sample responses and key vocabulary for Band 7+.
Originally published May 2020. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, you will see one of the most common IELTS speaking topics for part 3 (The Environment) and sample answers.
Please remember that in the actual test you should give honest answers and talk about your own experiences, thoughts, feelings and opinions. Do not try to memorise answers, as the examiners will probably be able to guess and you will lose marks.
However, you are able to make up information to extend your answers, but be sure that you are confident when speaking about the chosen topic and that it is believable.
TIP >> Listen to the questions the examiner asks you and think about the structure of the question. Are they asking your for your opinion? or to say how something has changed from the past to the present?
TIP >> Learn about the most commonly asked question types used in the part 3 questions. This will help you to identify how you should respond and what to look out for when you are practising.
TIP >> It is common for many people to say ‘I don’t know’ or to lose focus when they get a question they know little about. Always answer the questions and if you feel as though you don’t know about the topic, then buy yourself some time by saying; ‘I haven’t really thought about that before…. but in my opinion……’ then give your opinion, etc.
TIP >> Don’t try to answer the questions as quickly as possible, take your time and answer them to the best of your ability. Give your opinion, the reasoning behind it and support with specific examples.
Take a look at the questions and sample answers below on the topic of ‘The Environment‘ >>
Q. What causes environmental problems?
A: I think that there are many things that are harming the environment, including greenhouse gases, fossil fuels and pollution. One of the main causes that I have an interest in is pollution caused by plastic. This is a huge issue that is making the environment suffer, on beaches, in the sea and in other places. People not choosing to use reusable shopping bags is having a huge effect on the amount of plastic that is going to waste.
Q. What should the government do to protect the environment?
A: In my opinion, they should make more incentives for people to learn about how they can help at an individual level. If they could educate people and make more rules about recycling or using plastic bags, then perhaps we would see a difference. I read in the news recently about how Kenya has passed a law, making it illegal to use plastic bags. In the UK they have a price for a plastic bag. But maybe this type of law, making them illegal should be implemented everywhere. The governments should unite and work together to combat these problems before it is too late.
Q. What should we do to protect the environment?
A: Obviously we all have a responsibility to do something to prevent the deterioration of the environment. Ever little bit that we can do as individuals could help, for example by recycling our household waste, donating clothes to charity, going on litter clean-ups and using reusable shopping bags. I always use cotton bags for my grocery shopping instead of plastic bags and recycle as much as I can.
Q. What other measures can you think of to protect the environment?
A: We can all do something to help, for instance, get together with groups of friends to collect litter from beaches or other public places. We can also walk or cycle more, rather than driving, use less electricity, recycle waste and limit the use of plastic bags. On a wider level, the government should impose more laws that protect the environment.
Q. How should we educate children to protect the environment?
A: Children should be taught in school about the effects of things we do that can be harmful to the environment. They can complete projects and work together to learn about how to recycle and the importance of it. They could also complete work outside, looking at how to preserve wildlife, plants and flowers. It is really important that they learn about this at an early age so that they can grow up with some awareness of the impact their actions can have.
Q. What’s the difference between the old and the young as regards environmental protection?
A: In my view, I think that older people seem to be more aware and have a larger concern about protecting the environment, whereas younger people are very self-obsessed nowadays. They are more interested in looking at their social media apps and taking selfies, than about caring for the environment. Older people run groups that meet and pick up litter, clean beaches of plastic waste and run charity events. Some younger people may also do these things, but most are too self-involved to actually do something that can make a difference.
Originally published 2018. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
TL;DR — This page collects recently reported IELTS Speaking exam questions and topics from test takers worldwide. Use these to identify trends, practise with realistic material, and focus your preparation on the most common themes. Updated regularly based on student reports.
Why Track Recent Exam Questions?
IELTS recycles and rotates questions across test centres worldwide. By studying recently reported topics, you can identify patterns and high-frequency themes that are likely to appear in upcoming tests. While the exact questions will differ, the topics and question types follow consistent patterns.
How We Collect This Data
Our database of recent exam questions comes from verified test-taker reports submitted through our community channels. We cross-reference multiple reports from different test centres to confirm accuracy before publishing. Each entry includes the approximate test date and the region where it was reported.
Recent Speaking Topics — 2026
Below are the most frequently reported speaking topics and question types from recent IELTS exams. Topics are grouped by theme and ordered by frequency of appearance.
Expert tips and strategies for this part of the IELTS Speaking test. Includes sample responses and key vocabulary for Band 7+.
Originally published September 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, you will see one of the most common IELTS speaking topics for part 3 (Travel) and sample answers.
Please remember that in the actual test you should give honest answers and talk about your own experiences, thoughts, feelings and opinions. Do not try to memorise answers, as the examiners will probably be able to guess and you will lose marks.
However, you are able to make up information to extend your answers, but be sure that you are confident when speaking about the chosen topic and that it is believable.
TIP >> Listen to the questions the examiner asks you and think about the structure of the question. Are they asking your for your opinion? or to say how something has changed from the past to the present?
TIP >> Learn about the most commonly asked question types used in the part 3 questions. This will help you to identify how you should respond and what to look out for when you are practising.
TIP >> It is common for many people to say ‘I don’t know’ or to lose focus when they get a question they know little about. Always answer the questions and if you feel as though you don’t know about the topic, then buy yourself some time by saying; ‘I haven’t really thought about that before…. but in my opinion……’ then give your opinion, etc.
TIP >> Don’t try to answer the questions as quickly as possible, take your time and answer them to the best of your ability. Give your opinion, the reasoning behind it and support with specific examples.
Take a look at the questions and sample answers below on the topic of ‘Travel‘ >>
Q: How easy is it to travel around your country?
A: It is really straightforward to travel anywhere you want to go, whether it is in the country or to visit other countries. There are airports in every major city, national rail lines and nation bus services. The flights are often good value and make it convenient for people to travel to other countries. There are good roads too, which means that you can easily travel in your own car to anywhere you want to go.
Q: Which method of travel do you consider safest?
A: I think that I consider flying to be the most secure way to get around. When you take a flight, everything is so well organised by the airport, air traffic control and other departments, that you know you are in good hands. I prefer travelling this way above going on a train, a boat or in the car, as more accidents happen on those types of transport.
Q: Has travel become safer in recent years?
A: Actually, I think that travel has become safer because of the many terrorist attacks we have seen in the air and on the ground. Airport security has become more intense, with more checks on each person and biometrics introduced. There are also more checks on vehicles, on national train services and on public transport. This is an important measure to take, because of the dreadful attacks that have occurred recently. In the past, the rules were more relaxed, with some airports waving people through without proper papers or identity cards.
Q: What are the pros and cons of low-cost air travel?
A: The main benefit of low-priced air tickets is that people can afford to visit more places around the world. Other benefits may include, travelling more frequently and saving money. The drawbacks, however, are that these airlines often add on extra charges for baggage and food. The prices of food and drink onboard the aircraft is high, along with any other extras that were not included in the flight price. They also have many cancellations and very uncomfortable seats.
Q: How do you think people will travel in the future?
A: I think more people will opt to take a train to get to where they want to go. Some people enjoy a lengthy train ride as this gives them time to relax and unwind. I think they will make ‘super’ trains, with deluxe cabins and luxury facilities, encouraging travellers to want to travel by train on long journeys. Already in China, they have designed double-decker trains and luxury fast trains, with an idea to transport more people in higher quality surroundings in the future.
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