Expert tips and strategies for this part of the IELTS Speaking test. Includes sample responses and key vocabulary for Band 7+.
Originally published August 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, you will see one of the most common IELTS speaking topics (hometown) 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 >> Each answer should be at least 2-3 sentences long.
TIP >> Listen carefully to the question so that you answer in the correct tense.
TIP >> When answering a yes/no question - answer then give your reasons for your answer. You must extend your answer to gain more marks.
TIP >> Just relax and think of it as a regular conversation you are having, make eye contact and be positive.
Take a look at the questions and sample answers below on the topic of 'hometown' >>
Q: Describe your hometown.
A: It is a big city in the North of England, with galleries, theatres and nightlife. It is a popular place for students, as there are two universities. Shopping and eating out are part of the lifestyle, with many places to go. In the surrounding areas, there are many historical places to visit.
Q: Is that a big city or a small place?
A: It is a big city, with a twenty-four-hour culture. It has a reputation as a party place, with many people travelling to visit the restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the city.
Q: What do you like (most) about your hometown?
A: I like that the city is close to historical sites in Northumberland. You can easily travel by car to places that the Vikings invaded and explore quaint seaside villages on the north coast.
Q: Is there anything you dislike about it?
A: I don't like the drinking culture and the violence that follows. On a night out in the city, there is often a heavy police presence, as many people make trouble. People frequently drink alcohol from early in the morning until late at night, which in my opinion is not a good way to spend time or money.
Q: Do you think you will continue living there for a long time?
A: I don't currently live there, I moved away for work and now live in Greece. I do however visit quite often to see friends and family. I have no plans to move back there anytime soon.
Q: Can you tell me something exciting about your town?
A: There have been quite a few celebrities from there, who have become well known in the media, including TV presenters Ant and Dec, Cheryl Cole, Sting and actor Charlie Hunnam.
Q: Has your hometown changed much since you were a child?
A: Yes it has evolved from a relatively quiet city to a hub of shopping and entertainment. There have been major developments, with shopping mall renovations and the addition of shop lined streets leading all around the city. There are also more restaurants and bars catering for all tastes.
Q: Are there any changes you would like to make in your hometown?
A: Perhaps the introduction of strict opening times for pubs, selling alcohol from a later time in the day. Also, the coffee shops could stay open much later, to promote a healthier culture of socialisation.
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
Expert tips and strategies for this part of the IELTS Speaking test. Includes sample responses and key vocabulary for Band 7+.
Originally published August 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, see the top 10 speaking part 1 tips that will help you to achieve a band score 7 or above.
The IELTS Speaking Test lasts 11-14 minutes.
The test has three parts, where you are interviewed by a trained examiner. You are not allowed to use a dictionary during the test. IELTS Academic and IELTS General students take the same test and it is marked in the same way.
PART 1 INFORMATION
To begin with, the examiner will introduce themselves to you, then ask you your name and for proof of identity.
Time:4-5 minutes You will be asked questions on familiar topics, like your hobbies, family, where you are from, what your hometown/city is like, etc.
The topics that are included:
Your studies/education
Hobbies/sports
Your family
What kind of movies, books, tv shows or music you like
What you like to eat / where you like to eat
Your job
Where you live
To view sample questions and answers on a variety of part 1 speaking topics, take a look at the other posts in this section.
Take a read through our top ten tips below, that will help you to gain a band score of 7 or above!
Speaking Tips
Tip 1: Be Prepared
As well as being prepared for the test questions on the day of your exam, you should also be aware of what to expect in terms of getting to the test centre and the beginning of the test. Arrive in plenty of time, so that you are not under pressure/late and have time to relax before the test.
The examiner will introduce themselves and ask you for your name and proof of identity (Passport etc), to begin with. They will also ask you where you are from, which requires a simple answer - this is more of a formality, so you don't have to extend your answer here, but simply state, for example; "I am from Romania' (or name the town/city etc you are from and where).
Take a look at this post for help with how to prepare for the speaking part 1 test..
Tip 2: Make A Good First Impression
Try to be relaxed and confident, having confidence will help you to do well in your test. Make eye contact with the examiner and answer any questions in a polite manner. Try to keep your body language friendly and open. Think of it as a natural conversation and try to stay calm, like you are talking to your IELTS teacher or practice partner.
Tip 3: Listen Carefully
Listen carefully to the examiner, so that you understand the questions and can answer in an appropriate way. You should also be listening for tenses - for example; "What TV Shows did you use to like as a child?' then you know that you should answer in the past tense - 'I used to watch.....'
You should also listen out for any yes/no questions and remember to answer and give reasons. Take a look at this post for help with how to answer those yes/no questions.
Tip 4: Show Enthusiasm
Show that you are interested in the questions by answering with enthusiasm, even if you are not really interested in the subject. Native speakers show enthusiasm by varying the pitch of their voice (intonation - the voice falls and rises) to show how they feel about something.
Listen to examples and think about how native speakers talk when answering questions, what happens to their voice? It gets higher when they are interested or excited by a subject and it falls when they are not happy or disinterested.
Watch the video clip below from the US TV show 'Friends' and see how the intonation falls and rises when the actors talk - can you notice the difference? How does it impact on what they are saying?
Tip 5: Extend Your Answers
When giving your answers, try to make sure that they are not too short - for example, if the examiner asks you what is your favourite TV show, saying 'I really like Peaky Blinders' is too short.
You can expand your answer by adding more detail of what it is about, and why you like it so much for example; 'I really like the BBC drama Peaky Blinders, it has an excellent cast and the writing keeps me interested in the story. There is lots of action, as the story is centred on a gangster family in 1920's Birmingham, who are up to no good!'.
The answers in part 1 should not be too long either, talking for 2 minutes or more is far too long, parts 2 and 3 will allow you to speak for a longer time and go into more detail.
You should aim to use more than one clause when you give your answers, for example;
Q: Do you work or study?
A: I work at the moment but I continue my studies at the same time. I continue to learn through courses and gain new qualifications every year, this means my knowledge is always up to date.
Take a look at this post for more information on how to extend your answers.
Tip 6: Be Confident
Show your confidence by speaking clearly and at a normal level. Don't speak too loudly or quietly, make sure the examiner can understand and hear your answers. Have faith in yourself, to answer whatever questions you get to the best of your ability.
When answering the questions, try to be as honest as possible, telling the examiner your thoughts, feeling and opinions, for example:
Q: Do you think vacations are becoming more and more important?
A: Yes, I think that many people are working longer hours and have more stress than ever placed upon them. taking a break is necessary to unwind and recharge so that they can let go of the stress and focus on their own well-being.
Tip 8: Study/Look at past questions and sample answers
Look at past questions and sample answers to get an idea of how you can extend your answers and the type of questions that come up. There are some speaking topics that are popular, regularly being used over and over, which include;
Your studies/education
Hobbies/sports
Your family
What kind of movies, books, tv shows or music you like
What you like to eat / where you like to eat
Your job
Where you live
You may also be asked questions about any topic, recently there have been questions about flowers and photography. Going back to tip 7 - be honest, answer any questions you get with honesty, telling the examiner your own opinions, thoughts and views. Do not memorise answers to recite to the examiner, they will be able to tell and ask you something else.
Tip 9: Read The Criteria
You should read through the marking criteria and be aware of what is required for a band score 7 or above. Many students do not do this and have no idea what they need to achieve in order to get the band score they want. Read it, understand it and aim to achieve it. Ask your IELTS teacher for help to understand it and to see the level you are at now.
You should also read the scoring information to see how the band scores are given:
Tip 10: Practice
Practice as much as possible with your native speaking IELTS teacher, a partner or friend. Take a look at the most common topics (see the other posts in this section) and practice answering those questions. A good way to listen for errors is to record yourself speaking. Listen to your recording and notice any errors you have made, including grammar mistakes, pronunciation, intonation and fluency. Keep practising and use the posts in this section to help you.
Expert tips and strategies for this part of the IELTS Speaking test. Includes sample responses and key vocabulary for Band 7+.
Originally published August 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
This post will look at how to extend your part 1 answers.
In part 1 the examiner will ask you about familiar topics, like your home, hometown, hobbies and work. The answers you give should be honest and show the examiner your ability to use English well.
When giving your answers, try to make sure that they are not too short - for example, if the examiner asks you 'What is your favourite TV show?', saying 'I really like Peaky Blinders' is too short.
You can expand your answer by adding more detail of what it is about, and why you like it so much for example; 'I really like the BBC drama Peaky Blinders, it has an excellent cast and the writing keeps me interested in the story. There is lots of action, as the story is centred on a ganster family in 1920's Birmingham, who are up to no good!'.
The answers in part 1 should not be too long either, talking for 2 minutes or more is far too long, parts 2 and 3 will allow you to speak for a longer time and go into more detail.
You should aim to use more than one clause when you give your answers, for example;
Q: Do you work or study?
A: I work at the moment but I continue my studies at the same time. I continue to learn through courses and gain new qualifications every year, this means my knowledge is always up to date.
Take a look at the ways that you can extend your answers below, in the aim of getting you a higher score! >>
Be Honest
When answering the questions, try to be as honest as possible, telling the examiner your thoughts, feeling and opinions, for example;
Q: Do you think vacations are becoming more and more important?
A: Yes, I think that many people are working longer hours and have more stress than ever placed upon them. taking a break is necessary to unwind and recharge so that they can let go of the stress and focus on their own well-being.
Give Details (Contrast)
You can extend your answers by giving contrasting details, using words like - but, however, although, even though, while, whereas.. etc. For example;
Q: Do you use the Internet for your studies?
A: Yes, I do research online, reading articles from trusted resources. However, there is a lot of information out there, so you need to be able to separate the good from the bad.
You can also add more details into your answer by using the words with, and, another, also, next - for example;
Q: Do you enjoy your work?
A: Yes I do, it is always exciting to meet new students and to help them on their learning journey. Writing is also a fun way to let my imagination free and to research topics that interest me, like interior design, architecture and fine art.
You may also be asked to contrast an opinion or opinions of others where these words - but, however, although, even though, while, whereas.. etc. would also be appropriate to use. For example;
Q: What do you like/dislike about your job?
A: The thing I like most about my job is being able to help people achieve their goals. I also like the flexibility, as I am responsible for my own schedule. However, I don't like the number of hours I sometimes work, but it can be necessary.
Compare
You can make comparisons thinking about things you used to enjoy or used to do but now enjoy/do something different. You can use words like - similarly, likewise, also, like, same as, similar to... For example;
Q: What sports do you like? (Why?)
A: I used to enjoy classes like Zumba and body combat but now really enjoy swimming and running. Swimming and running are great ways to stay fit as they allow me to experience nature, as well as exercise.
Give a reason why
Expand your answers with reasons.....why you do or do not like something etc (depending on what you are being asked). You can use words like - for, because, since, as. For example;
Q: Why are vacations important to you?
A: Because they are much needed during certain times of the year, for example when the weather becomes too hot to bear or I feel as though I need a break from work. They help me to relax and de-stress from everything.
Q: What’s your favourite weather? (Why?)
A: I prefer warm days at around 24/25 degrees with clear blue skies and the sun, since this is good for walking my dog and to enjoy the outdoors without being too uncomfortable.
Think about the future
When the examiner asks you a question, think about the future - using the future tense and what you would like to do in the future. You can use will be/going to or in a hypothetical situation you can use would or could. For example;
Q: What will you do in the future? (work related)
A: In the future, I would like to be able to expand my teaching responsibilities and to have more student groups. I also want to write a book, a fiction novel or two!
Q: If you could take a vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why? (travel)
A: I would like to visit a pretty place with snow, lots and lots of snow, somewhere like Canada or maybe even in the mountains in Greece during the winter months. In the future, I would like to go skiing, try snowboarding and stay in a well-decorated log cabin, with a large real fireplace.
Give examples
Support your answers with examples from your life or past experiences. It is much better to do this then try to make something up, as you will be more confident giving an example that you have experienced. You can use - for example, for instance, such as, including. For example;
Q: How often do you buy something in a shop?
A: That depends on what it is, for example, I will go the shop every day to buy freshly baked bread. For other groceries, it may be once a week and for other items, such as clothes it will be less often.
Q: Does the weather ever affect what you do?
A: Yes, plans change according to the weather, for instance, if there is a heavy downpour I will not be able to walk my dog or to go shopping in town.
Regularity
You can extend your answers by using words to show how often you do something. Use words like - never, often, sometimes, all the time, usually. For example;
Q: How often do you swim?
A: I usually go swimming every day or at least three times per week. This allows me to do some exercise in the water which is good for my overall health.
Practice
Practice as much as you can with a partner or your teacher, looking at past questions and working on your overall conversation. The best student answers are given naturally, explaining, giving detail and being honest.
Think about the structures you need to use and the words that will help you to connect your information together. Take a look through the practice question and answers in this section to get some ideas.
Don't overcomplicate it by thinking of 'complex structures' and grammar that you need to use when you are answering.
Join our private Facebook Group and find people to start practising with! Sign up for our newsletter to receive the link, then join the group to meet other IELTS students.
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
Comprehensive guide covering essential IELTS preparation strategies and techniques to help you achieve your target band score.
Originally published July 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, we will be looking in-depth at the grammatical range and accuracy.
While you are preparing for your IELTS Speaking Test it is important that you understand the marking criteria. Grammatical range and accuracy count for 25% of your speaking score, therefore it is vital that you understand what the examiner wants.
You will be able to achieve a higher score if you can demonstrate your ability to use a variety of sentence structures, a variety of tenses and advanced verb forms including conditionals, modal verbs and the passive voice.
Complex Sentences
Complex sentences have more than one clause, they contain an independent clause (main clause) and at least one dependent clause.
Therefore, a complex sentence is made up of the main clause with one or more dependent clauses joined to it with an appropriate conjunction or pronoun.
The complex sentence is conventionally regarded as one of the four basic sentence structures in English. The other structures are the simple sentence, the compound sentence, and the compound-complex sentence.
Complex Sentences examples;
Although Lana had a busy day at work, she decided to go to the beach with her friends.
The woman who lives at the end of my street is good friends with my grandmother.
I wish that I could go on holiday this month with my friends to relax and have fun.
Complex sentences have more than one clause >>
Although Lana had a busy day at work, she decided to go to the beach with her friends.
The woman who lives at the end of my street is good friends with my grandmother.
I wish that I could go on holiday this month because I want to relax and have fun.
Sentences with multiple clauses use connecting words such as -> that, which, who, where, when, how, although, because, before, after, etc.
Can you answer these questions using complex sentences?
Where do you live?
I live in a house that is built on top of a larger house in a quiet area, which has great views of the city.
What is your favourite movie?
The movie that I can watch again and again is dirty dancing because it has a great love story with an amazing soundtrack.
Where do you like to go on holiday?
Although I like to travel to the city for some culture, I love to have a relaxing beach holiday, with hot weather and a laid back atmosphere.
What was the last book your read?
I read an interesting book that detailed the life stories of young women who worked in a factory in 1920's called 'The Radium Girls'.
Simple And Complex Sentences
Native speakers use both simple and complex sentences when speaking. In the IELTS Speaking Test, it is important to use a variety of sentence structures.
A simple sentence is a sentence with only one independent clause (also known as a main clause). Also known as a clausal sentence.
For example;
My favourite book is Harry Potter.
I like to eat sorbet.
I buy gluten free pasta.
I enjoy swimming in the sea.
Look at the example below, can you see which sentences are complex and which ones are simple?
Question
Where is your favourite place to visit in your country?
I really enjoy walking my dog in a large park called Mon Repos because it is a great place to explore and some paths lead to a secluded beach. My dog enjoys it very much. We often take him there late afternoon, which is perfect for him as the temperature is a lot cooler and the other dog walkers are there, so he can play with his furry friends. Mon Repos is steeped in history, although it is open to the public now, it was where some of the Greek Royal family once lived.
The simple sentences are highlighted below >>
All of the other sentences are complex - > can you see the connecting words?
I really enjoy walking my dog in a large park called Mon Repos because it is a great place to explore and some paths lead to a secluded beach. My dog enjoys it very much. We often take him there late afternoon, which is perfect for him as the temperature is a lot cooler. When we visit the park the other dog walkers are often there, so he can play with his furry friends. Mon Repos is steeped in history. Although it is open to the public now, it was where some of the Greek Royal family once lived.
The example gives an answer to the question, but also provides extra information, which is a great way to be able to demonstrate vocabulary and grammar to the examiner.
We hope you found this post helpful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. Let us know in the comments or on the Facebook page if you have any questions. The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, and then follow us onInstagramand Pinterest. We offer essay correction services, mock exams, and online courses. If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can help you achieve your desired band score faster.
Essential vocabulary and phrases for IELTS success. Includes contextual usage, collocations, and practice exercises.
Originally published July 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, we will be looking in-depth at lexical resources for IELTS Exams, Marking Criteria, Synonym, Antonym, Paraphrasing and Collocations. Also, check the list of Lexical resources for the IELTS Test.
What is a Lexical resource?
The lexical resource is the criteria that measure the capability of language knowledge of the candidate based on the use of the various aspects of contextual vocabulary in particular.
In IELTS lexical resources are measured in the Speaking and Writing section where the idea is to be presented by the candidate as a task.
Marking Criteria:
While you are preparing for your IELTS Speaking Test it is important that you understand the marking criteria.
Lexical resources count for around 20-25% of your speaking test score, therefore it is vital that you understand what the examiner wants.
You will be able to achieve a higher score if you can demonstrate your ability to paraphrase and use synonyms. Knowing how to say something in a different way.
Using varied vocabulary and common word combinations is important in order to get a band score 7 or above.
How can we improve lexical resources in IELTS?
To get better at Lexical resources in IELTS you need to focus on following elements of English Grammar:
Synonym
Antonym
Paraphrasing
Collocations
Synonyms
What is a synonym?
Synonym, in general, is a word or phrase that offers the same or similar meaning to the word or phrase provided. Example: synonym of amazing is incredible, awesome Use of synonyms is a good way to show your vocabulary knowledge, as long as they are appropriate choices.
To be successful in all areas of the IELTS test you need to be able to recognise and use synonyms appropriately.
One way to do this when you are practising is by looking up for synonyms of common words in a thesaurus. This can help you to find synonyms but also to learn to select the right synonym to fit into your sentence.
Use of synonym: Example;
Last year we visited Corfu in Greece and it was amazing.
Can you think of another word to use other than ‘amazing’?
How about incredible, marvellous, awesome, stunning or wonderful?
Last year we visited Corfu in Greece and it was incredible.
Antonyms
What is an Antonym?
Antonyms, in general, is a word or phrase that offers the opposite or different meaning to the word or phrase provided. Example: antonym of early is late. You can use antonyms, to show your vocabulary/lexical ability as long as they are appropriate choices.
For example:
My language lesson was really early today. My language lesson was really late today.
Other examples of antonyms:
Happy and sad
Young and old
Risky and safe
Rich and poor
Cool and hot
Excited and bored.
Paraphrasing
What is an Paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing is an activity of presenting the sentence or phrase using alternate words(usually synonym and antonym) to attend better clarity.
It is a skill that is needed in all parts of the test. When the examiner asks you a question, you should not repeat the question back to them as part of your answer.
Instead, you should paraphrase it and this means restructuring.
For example, if the examiner asks you:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of young people using social media?
Your answer could include the words benefits and drawbacks, instead of repeating the words, advantages and disadvantages.
Question example:
Examiner: What kind of holiday do you like?
Answer 1
The holidays I like tend to be anywhere that is hot with a beach! I like to go and spend time with my friends.
Answer 2
When I travel, I really enjoy visiting places with a warmer climate, where I can relax on a beach. Last year I visited Corfu in Greece and I had the most wonderful time, exploring small unspoilt beaches by hiring a boat to tour the island.
Which one do you think is the better answer?
Answer 2 is better because it answers the question with more specific information. It also does not repeat words that are in the question.
Collocations
What is an Collocations?
A collocation is made up of two or more words that are commonly used together in English. Think of collocations as words that usually go together.
The more you use collocations, the more you will sound like a native speaker.
There are different kinds of collocations in English. Strong collocations are word pairings that are expected to work together.
For example;
make the bed: I need to make the bed every morning.
do the homework: My niece does her homework after dinner.
take a risk: Some people don’t take enough risks in life.
give someone advice: The teacher gave us some advice on taking tests.
Common verb collocations are often followed by particular nouns or adjectives.
For example;
make a phone call: I have to go and make a phone call.
get wet: It rained today and I got wet.
keep a record: I keep a record of all of my bank statements.
break down: I was on the way to work this morning and my car broke down.
Collocations are often used as short expressions to describe how someone feels about a situation. In this case, collocations can be used in the adjective form, or also as emphatic expressions using an intensifier and a verb.
For example;
positively encourage someone to do something: I’d like to positively encourage you to apply for the position.
deeply regret the loss of someone/something: I deeply regret saying no to that job offer.
to be in an utter fury over something: I am in an utter fury over missing out on getting those gig tickets.
to go to great lengths to do something: She went to great lengths to be able to move to another country.
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
