An introduction to Speaking Part 1
What You Need to Know
The first part of the IELTS Speaking test is designed to help you relax and show the examiner you can speak confidently about familiar topics.
It lasts 4–5 minutes and feels more like a short conversation than a formal interview.
How Part 1 Begins
The examiner will:
Introduce themselves and check your identification.
Start recording the session and explain that the test will be divided into three parts.
Ask general questions about you – for example, where you live, what you do, or what you study.
This short introduction helps you settle in and gives the examiner a first impression of your fluency.
Example Topics and Questions
You’ll be asked about familiar areas of daily life, such as your home, work, studies or free time.
Home or Hometown
What kind of place is it?
What’s the most interesting part of your town or city?
What kind of jobs do people do there?
Would you say it’s a good place to live? Why?
Accommodation
Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in.
How long have you lived there?
What do you like about living there?
What kind of accommodation would you most like to live in?
What Happens at the Start of the Test
Here’s what to expect, step by step:
Being called in – When the examiner calls your name, smile and say something like, “Yes, that’s me.” Walk confidently to the desk.
Greeting – Offer a polite greeting: “Hello,” or “Hi, how are you?”
Seating and ID check – Sit comfortably, place your passport on the table, and be ready to hand it over when asked.
Warm-up questions – You’ll be asked a few simple questions about who you are and where you’re from. Keep your answers short and natural, for example, “I’m from Vietnam.” Don’t memorise long speeches about your city or country.
Topic questions – The examiner will then move on to general questions about your work, studies or living situation.
Tip: If you both study and work, choose one to talk about, as your answer guides the direction of the next questions.
Matching the Question Tense
Listen carefully to the tense of the examiner’s question and match it in your answer.
Present: “What do you study?” → “I’m studying biology at university.”
Past: “What did you study?” → “I studied biology at secondary school.”
Future: “What will you study?” → “I plan to study biology at university.”
This shows you understand grammar and can respond appropriately.
How to Extend Your Answers
You’ll score better if you add a reason, example or short explanation.
“I’m studying biology because I’ve always been interested in how living things work.”
“I studied biology at university, and now I’m preparing for my master’s degree.”
“I’m planning to study biology in the future as I’d like to work in environmental research.”
Speaking Clearly and Naturally
Speak at a comfortable pace – not too fast or too slow.
Open your mouth and enunciate clearly. Smiling helps your pronunciation sound more open and natural.
Use intonation and stress to highlight key words.
Avoid sounding rehearsed; aim for a friendly, confident tone.
If You Don’t Understand
It’s perfectly acceptable to ask for clarification. You can say:
“Sorry, could you repeat that please?”
“What does _____ mean?”
This won’t lower your score — it shows that you can manage natural conversation.
Common Part 1 Topics
After questions about yourself, the examiner will move on to familiar topics like friends, food, hobbies, or travel.
Friends
Are your friends mostly your age or different ages?
Do you usually see your friends during the week or at weekends?
What did you do the last time you met your friends?
In what ways are your friends important to you?
Food and Cooking
What kind of food do you like to eat?
What new food would you like to try? Why?
Do you enjoy cooking? Why or why not?
What was the last meal you cooked?
Using Functional Language
Part 1 isn’t just about answering questions — it’s about showing flexibility in your language. Use short phrases to introduce examples or experiences:
I once …
I remember when …
Back when I was …
Not so long ago …
In my childhood …
When I was a teenager …
These expressions make your answers sound fluent and natural.
Final Tips
Prepare short answers on everyday topics like your home, hobbies, and work.
Use linking words such as because, actually, although, in fact, so that to connect ideas.
Keep your tone friendly and conversational.
Don’t memorise; be spontaneous.