IELTS Speaking Test Format with Sample Questions

IELTS Exam is divided into four parts; Listening, Writing, Reading and Speaking. Out of these four parts, IELTS Speaking Test has three parts beginning from a basic simple interview to a cue card question and a more specific discussion on the basis of the topic in the cue card.

Remember that for IELTS Speaking Test, you should be prepared to answer a wide variety of topics but do not get intimidated since they are commonly known topics such as work and study, transport, tourism, role models, favourite personalities, environment, health and fitness, movies, news and current affairs, technology, culture and society etc.

Here is some more detail about the 3 parts of IELTS Speaking Test.

IELTS SPEAKING Test Pattern Part 1-3

Introduction and Interview (4-5 minutes)

• The examiner will ask you simple questions about yourself, such as your name, occupation, and interests. You can usually answer these questions in one sentence or two. 
• The examiner will also ask you some questions about your hometown, family, and studies or work.
• Part 1 is basically a warm up session to prepare you for more specific questions later in the test.

Part 2 Cue card questions (3-4 minutes)

• The examiner will give you a task card with a topic and some instructions on it.
• You will have one minute to prepare and then speak for one to two minutes on the topic.
• The topic will be related to your interests and experiences just as your favourite meal, favourite travel destination, a personality you admire etc.

Part 3: Discussion on previous Topic (4-5 minutes)

• The examiner will ask you more complex questions about the topic from Part 2 and other related topics.
• This is your chance to show your ability to express your ideas and opinions fluently and coherently.
• The examiner may also ask you to compare and contrast different viewpoints and give your own opinion.

IELTS Speaking Test Sample Questions Part 1-3

IELTS Speaking Test part 1 sample Questions

Here is a list of questions that are mostly asked in IELTS Interview or speaking test part 1 with some variations of topics. As said earlier, IELTS Speaking part 1 is a warm up session. After asking a few introductory questions, the examiner will ask few basic question about your study, work, hobbies or interests. Always be prepared to answer these general questions. The examples are as follows. 

1. What is your name and how do you spell your name?
2. Where are you from?
3. What do you do for work or study?
4. Do you like your job or studies? Why or why not?
5. What do you like to do in your free time?
6. What kind of music do you like?
7. Do you have any hobbies?
8. What is the weather like today?
9. Have you traveled anywhere recently or have any plans to travel in the future?

IELTS Speaking Test part 2 sample Questions

IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 is always a question card with instructions. It is also called individual long turn since you get 2 minutes to speak on a topic.

These instructions are called the “cue card” instructions.

Here is an example of the instructions you may receive on a cue card:

“Describe a place you have visited that you found particularly interesting. You should say:

• where the place is
• what kind of place it is
• what you did there
• and explain why you found it interesting”

Instructions

The instructions for cue card will usually include:

• a specific topic for you to speak about
• some bullet points or information that you should include in your answer
• the length of time you have to prepare and speak (usually 1-2 minute)

It’s important to follow the instructions given on the cue card.

Pattern of IELTS Speaking Part 3

The most important thing to know about part 3 is that it is an extension of discussion from the cue card topic from part 2.

Example 1

For Example, if you are given a cue card about favourite vacation or holiday spot, the discussion in part 3 will be about vacationing in general, your view point about travelling and visiting new places , why travelling is important, what are the benefits of tourism for a country’s economy and so on.

Here are some examples:

1. What types of travel do you think are the most popular among young people today?
2. How do you think technology has changed the way we plan and book our trips?
3. In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of traveling alone?
4. How do you think travel can affect people’s perspectives on different cultures?
5. What are some of the most important things to consider when planning a trip?
6. How do you think travel can improve people’s mental and physical well-being?
7. How can tourism be sustainable and environmentally friendly?

Example 2

Likewise, if you get a speaking cue card about “your favourite scientific invention”, you will be led into a discussion about technology, people’s reliance on technology and science etc.

Some frequently asked questions about science and technology are:

1. In what ways do you think science and technology have improved our world?
2. How do you think technology has affected the job market?
3. How do you think technology has changed the way we communicate?
4. What are some of the potential dangers of science and technology?
5. How do you think technology can be used to solve environmental problems?
6. How do you think technology will change in the future?
7. How do you think technology has changed the way we learn?

Example 3

One more example is if you get a speaking cue card about “an animal you found interesting”; you will likely get questions about animals as pets, why some people like ferocious animals, why some people like to have pets in their houses etc. Some more related and popular questions for IELTS Speaking part 3 are:

1. A lot of animals are getting extinct these days. What do you think is it happening?
2. How do you think the relationship between humans and pets has changed over time?
3. In your opinion, what are the most important factors to consider when choosing a pet?
4. How do you think the responsibility of caring for a pet can be taught to children?
5. Can you give some examples of how animals have been used in therapy or assisted living?
6. How do you think the treatment of animals in captivity, such as in zoos, should be regulated?
7. Do you think it is ethical to keep certain wild animals as pets? Why or why not?
8. In your country, are there any laws or regulations in place to protect the welfare of pets?

It is recommended that you keep practising on various topics of IELTS Speaking test topics so that you are able to answer any question that you are asked in the test.