IELTS Speaking

IELTS Speaking Topics and Tips

This page provides IELTS speaking topics, with tips at the bottom of the page.

Speaking Test PDF Download

IELTS Speaking Topics Video

IELTS Speaking Questions Video

Grammar for IELTS Speaking Video

IELTS Speaking Topics

The speaking part of the IELTS usually has questions on these topics:

  • Culture and Society
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Family, Friends and Colleagues
  • Food and Nutrition
  • Free Time, Hobbies and Leisure
  • Historical Buildings 
  • Housing
  • Newspapers, Media and Technology
  • People 
  • Places 
  • Relationships
  • Shopping
  • Social Problems 
  • Television 
  • Transport 
  • Travel and Tourism       

Now have a look at the example test below:

IELTS Speaking Topics – Part 1

Please tell me something about your hometown. (4 to 5 minutes)

IELTS Speaking Topics – Part 2

You will be given a card with a question. For example:

“Holidays can help us relax and unwind. Please explain.” (3 to 4 minutes)

IELTS Speaking Topics – Part 3 Extended Discourse

Pollution continues to increase around the world. What can be done to solve this problem? (4 to 5 minutes)

IELTS Speaking Tips

Please see the section below for tips on your speaking test.

IELTS Speaking Tips (1) Know the Exam Structure
  • The speaking section will have three parts.
IELTS Speaking Tips (2) Look at the examiner when you speak
  • You will respond to the questions during your interview with a certified examiner.
  • Some students feel shy and look at the table or their hands.
  • Avoid doing this. You seem confident if you look at the examiner.
IELTS Speaking Tips (3) Watch the time
  • The speaking test normally lasts between 11 to 14 minutes, and it is divided into three parts.
  • The examiner will time you.
  • However, you should practice speaking to a time limit.
IELTS Speaking Tips (4) Interact with your partner
  • If you have to speak with another student, be sure to ask his or her opinion.
  • Don’t keep talking over the other person.
  • The examiners want to see that you have conversational ability.
  • So make a conversation, not a monologue.
IELTS Speaking Tips (5) Get Ready
  • Our study guide is a great way to get ready for the test.

IELTS Speaking Study Guide with Topics and Tips

Improve your skills for the speaking exam with our study guide:

IELTS Speaking Skills Book

The study guide covers all of the IELTS speaking topics mentioned above.

It also covers all of the grammar, vocabulary, and useful phrases that examiners look for on the speaking test.

Please click on the book cover above for further information on the study guide.

Improve Your IELTS Speaking – More Tips

Do you need to improve your skills?

Then you might like to get our download.

Looking at Sample Test Papers will certainly boost your confidence and help you get ready for the test.

IELTS Speaking – Exam Format

The sections below give information on each part of the speaking test.

They also give more exam topics and tips.

IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Topics & Tips

  • The first part of the speaking exam is the easiest.
  • It is help you begin speaking in a natural and relaxed way.
  • During the first part of the interview, the examiner will ask you about topics that are familiar to you.
  • This includes topics such as your family, your hometown or your hobbies.
  • So, the first part of the speaking test is a chat between you and the examiner.

TIPS:

  • You will need to ask and answer questions.
  • It will be your responsibility to help keep the conversation going.

The first part of the interview is usually four or five minutes long.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 – TOPICS & TIPS

  • In the second part of the speaking test, you will have an in-depth talk.
  • This talk will be on a topic that is more complex, but still familiar to you.
  • Examples of topics for this part of the test include subjects such as holidays and travel.
  • You may be given a prompt, which is a small piece of paper with some information about the topic on it.

TIPS:

  • You will be allowed sixty seconds to get ready to speak about the topic.
  • Then you need to talk for about two minutes about the topic without stopping and without help from the examiner.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 – TOPICS & TIPS

  • In the last part of the interview, you will have to talk about complex and abstract topics.
  • This part of the speaking test will challenge your conversational skills.
  • Topics on this part of the test often ask you to speculate about or predict something.

TIPS:

  • Part 3 is designed to make you use conditional sentence structures.
  • For instance, if the question asks you about the possible future effects of pollution on global warming, you would use sentences like this:
  • If pollution continues to increase, world governments will have to intervene in order to solve the problem. − We use the first conditional sentence structure here to talk about a real possibility.
  • We would not be in this position had we taken care of the environment. − We use the third conditional here to talk about a past hypothesis.
  • Our study guide shows you how to use conditional sentences on this part of the test.

The third part of the speaking test is four or five minutes long.

Speaking Test Download

Each one of our practice tests includes a full three-part speaking test.

Each speaking test has prompts and sample topics like those on the actual exam.

Click on the following link for more information on our practice tests.