IELTS Speaking Topics

For more than 3 million people taking the IELTS exam each year, the Speaking section is considered as one of the most fearful parts. Did you know that by skillful topic preparation an examinee’s band score may increase by up to two points?

We will discuss the most popular IELTS Speaking topics here and give you practical suggestions for impressing your examiner to raise your scores. These subjects comprise reflecting on personal hobbies or providing detailed accounts of current events—both crucial for obtaining the desired band score.

Read on to learn all about IELTS exam Speaking topics!

The first part of the speaking test consists of introductory questions about familiar subjects such as home life, work or personal interests. It is meant to make you comfortable before going into more thorough IELTS Speaking questions in the subsequent parts 2 and 3.

Here is what to expect in terms of categories and sample questions:

Introduction and Personal Information

Sample Questions:

• "Can you tell me your full name?"
• "Do you work or study?"
• "Where are you from?"
• Home and Family

Sample Questions:

• "Can you describe your home?"
• "What do you like about your hometown?"
• "Do you have a large or small family?"
• Work and Study

Sample Questions:

• "What is your job? Why did you choose it?"
• "What do you study? Why did you choose that subject?"
• "Do you enjoy your work/study?"
• Personal Interests and Hobbies

Sample Questions:

• "What are your hobbies?"
• "How often do you do this hobby?"
• "Why do you enjoy this hobby?"
• Daily Routine

Sample Questions:

• "Can you describe a typical day for you?"
• "How do you usually spend your weekends?"
• "Do you prefer mornings or evenings? Why?"
• Future Plans

Sample Questions:

• "What are your future career plans?"
• "Do you plan to continue your studies?"
• "Where do you see yourself in five years?"
• Travel and Holidays

Sample Questions:

• "Do you like to travel?"
• "What was your last holiday destination?"
• "What places do you like to travel?"
• Food and Cooking

Sample Questions:

• "What is your favourite food?"
• "Do you enjoy cooking?"
• "What is your country’s most popular food?"

By familiarising yourself with these IELTS Speaking topics categories and practising your responses, you'll feel more confident and prepared to tackle the IELTS Speaking Test.

Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test topics involves answering introductory questions on simple and familiar topics like home, work, and personal interests. This section lasts about 4-5 minutes and is designed to help you settle into the test by discussing everyday subjects. Here are the main categories and some common topics you might encounter:

Introduction and Personal Information

• Your full name
• Where you live
• Your hometown
• Your job or studies
• Why you chose your job/studies
• How long you've been working/studying
• What you like about your job/studies
• Future career plans
• How you usually spend your day
• Your daily routine
• Morning or evening preferences
• Your interests and hobbies

Home and Family

• Describing your home
• The type of housing you live in
• Your neighbourhood
• What you like about your hometown
• Your family size
• Family activities
• Family traditions
• Pets in your family
• Chores at home
• Moving to a new house
• Ideal place to live
• Changes in your hometown
  Work and Study
• Your job description
• Why you chose this career
• Your study subject
• Why you chose your field of study
• Work or study satisfaction
• Work/study challenges
• Your work/study schedule
• Skills needed for your job/study
• Plans for further education
• Your favourite subject/work task
• Future career ambitions
• Balancing work and personal life

Personal Interests and Hobbies

• Your hobbies
• How you spend your free time
• Frequency of engaging in hobbies
• Why you enjoy these hobbies
• Hobbies with friends/family
• New hobbies you'd like to try
• Hobbies from childhood
• Importance of hobbies
• Challenges in pursuing hobbies
• Expensive hobbies
• Relaxing activities
• Seasonal hobbies

Daily Routine

• Your typical day
• Morning activities
• Evening activities
• Weekend plans
• Balancing work/study and leisure
• Exercise routines
• Commuting habits
• Meal times
• Sleep patterns
• Leisure activities
• Socialising with friends
• Household chores

Future Plans

• Career aspirations
• Education goals
• Travel plans
• Relocation plans
• Learning new skills
• Personal development
• Family plans
• Financial goals
• Retirement plans
• Dreams and ambitions
• Community involvement
• Language learning goals

Travel and Holidays

• Places you've visited
• Favourite holiday destinations
• Types of holidays you enjoy
• Travel experiences
• Future travel plans
• Travel companions
• Preferred travel season
• Packing for a trip
• Cultural experiences while travelling
• Travel expenses
• Local vs. international travel
• Travel-related challenges

Food and Cooking

• Favourite foods
• Cooking at home
• Dining out habits
• Traditional foods in your country
• Trying new cuisines
• Cooking skills
• Healthy eating
• Food you dislike
• Special meals or celebrations
• Street food experiences
• Family recipes
• Eating habits

Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test involves speaking for 1-2 minutes on a given topic. You will be given a task card with a topic and several bullet points to cover in your response. This section assesses your ability to talk at length on a particular subject with relevant details. Here are the main categories and some common topics you might encounter:

People

• Describe a person you admire
• Describe an old friend of yours
• Describe a family member who inspires you you
• Describe a person who helped you in the past
• Describe a person you spend your time with
• Describe a person you want to meet

Places

• Describe your hometown
• Describe a place you have visited recently
• Describe a place you go to relax
• Describe a place you have lived
• Describe a place with a lot of water
• Describe a beautiful place in your country
• Describe a famous tourist attraction
• Describe a place you go to exercise
• Describe a place you go to study
• Describe a place you enjoy shopping
• Describe a place you have learned about from a book or TV

Objects

• Describe an important object you own
• Describe a gift you have received
• Describe something you bought recently
• Describe an object you use every day
• Describe something old that you have kept
• Describe a piece of technology you like
• Describe an item of clothing you like
• Describe a book that you enjoyed
• Describe a piece of furniture in your home
• Describe something you would like to buy
• Describe a souvenir you have bought
• Describe an object that reminds you of someone

Events

• Describe a recent celebration you attended
• Describe a memorable journey
• Describe a concert or event you enjoyed
• Describe a sports event you watched
• Describe a party you enjoyed
• Describe a time when you helped someone

Experiences

• Describe a time when you tried something new
• Describe a time when you were surprised
• Describe a time when you were scared
• Describe a time when you were lost
• Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision

Part 3 of the test involves a two-way discussion with the examiner on broader issues and abstract ideas related to the topic covered in Part 2. This section lasts about 4-5 minutes and assesses your ability to express and justify opinions, analyse, discuss, and speculate about issues. Here are the main categories and some common topics you might encounter:

People and Relationships

• Importance of family relationships
• Influences of friends versus family
• Changes in family structure over time
• Gender roles in families
• Parenting styles and their effects
• Impact of social media on relationships
• Building and maintaining friendships
• The role of community in people's lives

Society and Culture

• The role of religion in society
• Influence of celebrities on culture
• Differences between urban and rural cultures
• Cultural festivals and their importance

Education and Work

• The importance of education in modern society
• Changes in educational methods
• The role of technology in education
• Benefits and drawbacks of online learning
• The impact of education on career success
• Work-life balance in different professions
• Gender equality in the workplace

Environment and Nature

• Importance of environmental conservation
• Impact of climate change
• Role of government in environmental protection
• Sustainable living practices
• Impact of pollution on health
• The role of individuals in protecting the environment
• Importance of water conservation
• Challenges in tackling global warming

Technology and Innovation

• Impact of technology on daily life
• Advances in medical technology
• Role of technology in communication
• Future of artificial intelligence
• Technology in education
• Ethical issues in technological advancements

Health and Lifestyle

• Importance of a healthy lifestyle
• Role of government in public health
• Impact of diet on health
• Benefits of regular exercise
• Mental health awareness
• Changes in healthcare systems

Mastering IELTS Speaking topics and questions requires having a clear knowledge on the structure of every section and thorough practice. This will include starting from talking about everyday things in Part 1, going on to develop some specific ideas in Part 2, and finally examining them critically in Part 3. Therefore, if you are well-prepared for all aspects, you can improve your performance greatly.

If you want assistance regarding IELTS preparation, contact AECC for a thorough guidance on examination procedure, preparation strategies and practice tests. Ace the IELTS and prepare for higher studies abroad with AECC.