IELTS Speaking Sample Questions: Part 3

IELTS Speaking Part 3 - Questions and Topics

Eating habits

1. Tell me about the types of food that people eat in your country.
2. How are the eating habits now in your country different from eating habits in the past?
3. How healthy is your country’s food?
4. Why do you think different cultures have different table manners?
5. How may eating habits change in coming decades?

Education

1. How are education priorities today different from those in the past?
2. What is your opinion on the way languages are taught in schools?
3. How can the type of school you go to affect career success?
4. What changes do you think will happen in the classroom in the near future?

Environment

1. Is water pollution a problem in your country?
2. What are some of the causes of water pollution?
3. What can individuals do to try and ensure water is kept clean?
4. Do you think problems with the cleanliness of water will improve in the future?

Influence of television

1. How popular is watching television in your country?
2. Tell me about the types of programme that are generally on television in your country.
3. Why do people like watching television?
4. Do you think state or private television is better?
5. What effects can watching television have on children?

Influences on the young

1. What type of people influence the young in your country?
2. Why it is important to have role models?
3. Do you think the education system in your country influences young people’s behavior?
4. What type of person (parents, teachers, friends etc) are best to influence young people’s behavior?
5. What do you think young people will be most influenced by it the future?

Leisure activities

1. What types of leisure activities are popular in your country?
2. Why it is important for people to have time for leisure activities?
3. Why are some activities more popular than others?
4. Are the types of leisure activities that are popular today the same as those that were popular when your parents were young?
5. What types of leisure activities may become more popular in the future?

Shopping

1. Is shopping a popular activity in your country
2. How have shopping habits changed over recent years?
3. To what extent do you think advertising affects the way people shop?
4. Do you think shopping habits are likely to change in the future?

Sports

1. What types of sports are popular in your country?
2. What are the benefits of playing a sport?
3. Do you think the types of sport that are popular will change in the future?
4. how can sports bring people from different countries closer together?

Transport

1. How do most people travel long distances in your country?
2. Have the types of transport people use changed much over the last few decades?
3. What kinds of improvement have there been in transport in your country in recent years?
4. Do you think transport is likely to continue to improve in the future?

IELTS Speaking Topics & Questions: Part 2

IELTS Speaking Part 2 - Cue Cards

Describe a child that you know. You should say: Who the child is How you know the child When you see the child Explain why you like/dislike this child.

Describe someone who has had an important influence on your life. You should say: Who the person is How long you have known him/her What qualities this person has Explain why they have had such an influence on you.

Describe an old person that you know. You should say: What your relationship is to this person How often you see them What people think about this person Explain why you like them.

Describe a lake, a river or a sea you have visited. You should say: Where the lake is How often you have visited it What activities you do there Explain why you like this particular place.

Describe a present you have given someone. You should say: Who you gave it to What kind of present it was How it compared to other presents you have given Explain why you decided to give this particular gift.

Describe a sporting event you attended. You should say: What kind of sport is was How it compared to other events you’ve been to How often it takes place Explain why you consider this event to be of interest.

Describe a TV show that you enjoy. You should say: What type of show it is How often it is on How popular it is with other people in your country Explain why you like it.

Describe a happy childhood event. You should say: When it happened Who was involved How you felt at the time Explain why you remember this particular occasion.

IELTS Speaking Questions: Part 1

Example IELTS Speaking Questions & Topics

Hometown
I’d just like to ask you some questions about your hometown or city.

1. What type of place is it?
2. What was it like growing up there?
3. Has it changed much since you were a child?

Studies
I’d just like to ask you some questions about your studies.

1. What are you studying?
2. Why did you choose that particular course?
3. What job would you like when you have completed all your studies?

Work
I’d just like to ask you some questions about your work.

1. What work do you do?
2. What do you enjoy most about your work?
3. What are your main duties?
4. Is there any other work you would like to do in the future?

Free Time
I’d like to move on and ask you some questions about your free time

1. What type of activities do you like to do in your free time?
2. How long have you been interested in these activities?
3. Do you like to do theses activities alone or with other people? (Why)?
4. Do you think people have enough free time? (Why/why not)?

Family
I’d like to move on and ask you some questions about your family.

1. How many people are there in your family?
2. Do you all live in the same house? (Why/why not)?
3. What things do you like doing together?
4. Who is your favourite family member?

Timing
Let’s move on and talk about being on time for appointments.

1. Is being late acceptable in your culture? (Why/why not)?
2. Are you ever late for appointments? (Why/why not)?
3. What type of excuses do you think are alright for lateness?
4. How do you feel when someone is late for an appointment with you?

Neighbours
Let’s change the topic and talk about your neighbours

1. Do you know the people who live next door to you?
2. How often do you see each other?
3. What kind of relationship do you have?
4. How can neighbours be helpful?
5. What kind of problems can people have with their neighbours in a big city?

Food
Moving to a new topic, I’d like to discuss cooking and meals with you.

1. Do you enjoy cooking? (Why/why not)?
2. What type of things can you cook? (Why)?
3. What kinds of food are popular in your country?
4. Is it an important part of your culture to have dinner parties? (Why)?
5. Do you prefer to eat with other people or on your own? (Why)?

Dreams
I’d now like to discuss your night time dreams with you.

1. Do you dream much at night?
2. Do you often remember your dreams?
3. Do you think we can learn anything from dreams? (Why)?
4. Do people in your country talk about their dreams? (Why)?
5. Do you think that dreams can come true?

Magazines and Newspapers
Okay, let’s move to a different topic and discuss magazines and newspapers.

1. Which do you prefer reading, newspapers or magazines? (Why)?
2. What type of stories do you like to read about? (Why)?
3. Do you think reading a magazine or a newspaper can help you learn a language? (Why)?
4. Why do you think some people prefer magazines to newspapers?

Humour
Let’s change the topic and talk about comedy and humour.

1. What type of programmes do you find funny on TV?
2. Which types of programmes are most popular in your country? (Why)?
3. What kind of things make you laugh? (Why)?
4. Do you like to make people laugh? (How)?
5. Do you think it is important to have a sense of humour? (Why)?

End of IELTS Speaking Questions Part 1

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Useful IELTS Interview Expressions

In this lesson we will look at some useful IELTS interview expressions.
You need to make sure that you have adequate vocabulary and phrases to explain your position in the speaking test.

You may need to ask for clarification if you don't understand something, or for something to be repeated if it was said too fast for you.

It is also good if you have a variety of phrases to give your opinion. It is common in part three of the IELTS test, for example, to be given an opinion or view and to say what you think about it.
So you will need to say if you agree or disagree, or partially agree. Or maybe you think it depends on the circumstances.

Or you may need to give yourself some thinking time before you can answer a question.
Knowing and practicing some useful phrases will help you in this respect.
Below are a list of phrases to help improve your IELTS speaking and under the table is some further explanation for some of the phrases.

Most of these phrases and the examples below are more relevant to part 3 of the speaking test because this is where you are asked your opinion more than part 1, and you are more likely to misunderstand a question or need further clarification because the questions are more difficult.

USEFUL IELTS INTERVIEW EXPRESSIONS
Saying something in another way	What I'm trying to say is... In other words... To put it another way... What I mean is... Perhaps I should make that clearer by saying...
Agreeing with an opinion	Yes, I agree... That's my view exactly. I would tend to agree with that. I couldn't agree more.
Disagreeing with an opinion	No, I disagree. I'm afraid I disagree. I see things rather differently myself. I wouldn't say that is necessarily true. I tend to disagree. I'm not so sure about that.
Partially agreeing with an opinion	I don't entirely agree. It is true that......however... That is partly true, but... I agree with that to an extent. However...
Getting asked an opinion (by the examiner)	What do you think? What's your view / opinion? What are your views on...? How do you feel about...?
Saying your opinion could vary according to the situation	That depends... I think it really depends... That depends on how you look at it.
Asking for clarification (part 3 only)	Could you please explain what ...(word)... means? Sorry, I don't understand the question. Could you explain? Sorry, I'm afraid I didn't understand the question. Sorry, can I just clarify what you mean. Are you asking me ...(say what you believe you have been asked)...
Asking for repetition	Sorry, would you mind repeating the question? Sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Could you repeat the question?
Summing up	So all in all... To sum up... To conclude...

When do I use these phrases?

Saying something in another way
People use these phrases to further clarify what they have said. In other words, to make it clear exactly what they mean.
So you are saying the same thing you have just said but in a different way. Maybe you felt you did not explain something properly to the examiner and it is better to say it again but differently.

Getting asked an opinion / agreeing with an opinion / disagreeing with an opinion
You may use these phrases if the examiner asks you for your opinion on a topic. For example:

Examiner: Some people think that children should not be allowed to watch anything they like on television because some programmes can negatively affect their behaviour. What do you think?
Candidate: I wouldn't say that is necessarily true. Most children are mature enough to understand that television is not real and so I don't believe that it causes them any harm. I think children should be given the freedom to decide what is right for them to watch and not be told by parents what they can and cannot see.

Partially agreeing with an opinion
You may not fully agree with the opinion and wish to explain this further.

Examiner: Some people think that children should not be allowed to watch anything they like on television because some programmes can negatively affect their behaviour. What do you think?
Candidate: I don't entirely agree. It is true that some programs cause harm to children. For example, programs with very violent behaviour, so parents must ensure children don't watch these kinds of programs too much. However, there has to be a balance. Children have to be given some responsibility to make their own decisions to and it is simply not possible for the parents to monitor their children's TV habits all the time.

Saying your opinion could vary according to the situation
It is very often the case that an opinion is never that simple or straightforward that you can just 'agree' or 'disagree'.
It usually depends on the context, particular situation or person. It is common to say 'depends' when this is the case.

Examiner: Some people think that children should not be allowed to watch anything they like on television because some programmes can negatively affect their behaviour. What do you think?
Candidate: I think it really depends on the way the child has been brought up. Some children are brought up well by their parents and they know what is right and wrong and I don't think watching some programmes that have violence or similar things will change that. Other children aren't given the care or attention they need by their parents and they may have personal problems. Watching violence on TV may make them even worse if they already have a bad behaviour, so they probably do need to be monitored.

Answering part 3 questions using 'depends' is quite effective as it shows you can analyse a situation well rather than simply agreeing or disagreeing, and it also gives you a chance to say more than if you just agree or disagree.

IELTS Speaking test in Sri Lanka – June 2014

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your full name?
- Can I see your ID?
- Where are you from?
- Do you work or study?
- What subject are you studying?
- Why do you think people choose such a subject in your country?
- Do you like reading books?
- What type of books do you read?
- Are you reading a book presently?
- Would you like to write a book in the future?

Cue Card

Talk about an event that changed your life. Please say

- What was the event?
- Why did it change your life?
- Where and when did it take place?
- Who was there with you?

Discussion

- Who is more prone to change: younger or older people? Why?
- Who is more adaptable to changes: younger or older people?
- Do you prefer to use an old fashioned dictionary or an electronic one? Why?
- Would you like to get a dictionary as a birthday gift?
- If you had a chance of writing a dictionary, would you do it?
- Would you find it interesting? Why?