IELTS Speaking Part 1

The IELTS Speaking test takes place separately and is scheduled a few days after your exam. The IELTS Speaking Part 1 is 4-5 minutes long. 
 

Here’s what to expect: 

• ID verification
• Introduction of both parties (examiner and you) 
• General questions about your life, including work, hobbies, interests, education, and hometown. 
   

IELTS Speaking Part 1 consists of questions that are extremely familiar to you; therefore, this part is the easiest. The very intention of this part is to ease you and create a comfortable atmosphere. Since you get asked questions you know about, it will allow you to put your best foot forward and confidently express yourself.
 

Let’s move on to how you can ace this section!

We’ve given a complete breakdown of the IELTS Speaking exam, including appropriate responses for each.

Let’s dive in. Here’s all you need to know about IELTS Speaking Part 1.

Walk in with a smile and respond with a general greeting. You can say, “Hi, that’s me” or “Good morning/afternoon”. 

At this point, the examiner starts recording. Sit down and take a deep breath. This is your sign to relax and prepare yourself for the upcoming rounds. At this point, you may be asked to submit your passport. 

The examiner will read out your details and ask for confirmation. The examiners may also make small talk. For example, they may ask you where you’re from. Remember, this is not the start of round one yet, so keep your answers short and direct. These questions are only to break the ice.

This marks the start of your part 1. Remember that the IELTS Speaking Part 1 is only 4-5 minutes long. Your answer need not be too elaborate. Answer straight to the point. 
 

You can also include the “why” behind your answer wherever it is relevant. If you don’t, the examiner will most likely prompt it. 

The examiner will then ask more questions about what you do or where you live. Try to speak at a good pace, not too fast or slow. Try to avoid filler words, such as “um,’ “uh,” “like,”  and also stay away from abrupt pauses. You can use linking words and phrases to sound fluent. 

In IELTS Speaking Part 1, the focus is on simple, everyday topics—things you're familiar with and can easily talk about. The topics change regularly to test your understanding and adaptability in the subject matter. 

Preparing for these common topics can help you feel more prepared and relaxed during the test.
 

Below is a list of commonly asked IELTS Speaking part 1 topics.
 

• Hometown
• Family
• Work/Study
• Free time and hobbies
• Travel and holidays
• Food and drink
• Sports and exercise
• Music
• Weather
• Friends
• Technology
• Shopping
• Education
• Daily routine
• Home and accommodation
• Environment
• Health
• Reading
• Pets
• Social media

The IELTS Speaking Part 1 aims to assess your ability through a casual conversation with the examiner, focusing on familiar and everyday topics.
 

The questions asked revolve around various topics, including hometown, weather, clothes, interests, and hobbies. Here is the list of common questions asked in IELTS Speaking part 1.
 

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• Confidence is key: Practice remaining calm! One way to look at it is like a discussion with a close friend rather than a test. Remember, the purpose of part 1 in speaking is to ease you!
• Avoid using unfamiliar and long words: Using unfamiliar words disrupts a speaker’s natural flow, and there is a risk of mispronouncing those words. Additionally, using these words in the wrong context can affect the band score negatively. 
• Take meaningful pauses: It’s natural to need some time to think before answering a thoughtful question. To pause before speaking is normal. You can also use phrases like ‘That’s a good point’ or ‘Let me think’.
• Don’t memorise answers to the IELTS questions:  You might be tempted to memorise the sample answers. However, this will hamper the natural speaking flow of a candidate, and the examiner can easily recognise these answers. So, rather than memorising, it is better to practise speaking beforehand. 
• Use a range of grammar and avoid using fillers: Candidates who show a range of grammatical use to express their thoughts are more likely to score a higher band than others. Also, correct grammar is necessary as it’s one of the band descriptors and affects your band scores.
• Avoid filler words: Most non-native speakers use fillers like ‘umm’ and ‘like’ while speaking. You must try to avoid these fillers to score high, as using fillers makes it difficult for an examiner to understand the ideas and indicates that your fluency isn’t great.
• Avoid monotonous and extended answers: Speaking at length is unnecessary during IELTS Speaking Part 1. To avoid sounding monotonous, you can enunciate certain words and take meaningful pauses, making the conversation more engaging for the examiner
• Smile while speaking: It is normal to feel anxious before any exam. So, smiling while speaking can relax the nerves and help you speak clearly and fluently. Smiling will also make the conversation more engaging and friendly for the examiner.
• Do not use Yes or No answers: Strictly avoid one-word answers. Provide logical answers in one or two sentences. 
• Answer all the questions: Try to answer all the questions. If you don’t understand a question, ask the examiner to explain it.