The International English Language Testing System is an English proficiency exam for
students who wish to pursue their higher education in a country where English is the
primary language of communication.
It assesses four primary skills: writing, reading, speaking and listening. One needs to learn
about the IELTS speaking topics if he or she wishes to crack this exam. So, keep reading to
know more about IELTS speaking topics.
IELTS Speaking Section
IELTS speaking consists of three parts and aims to evaluate one’s fluency in communication.
The test spans 11-14 minutes.
Part 1
In the first part, the examiner will have a conversation with a candidate regarding family,
hobbies, professional life, etc. like:
1. Let us talk about your home town
2. What do you do in your leisure time?
3. Do you like travelling?
Part 2
In the second part, candidates will be given a cue card upon which they must speak and
elaborate on the topic. Moreover, the candidate can write down keywords and discuss
those points in detail. In this part, the topics are:
1. Describe some advice that you had received
2. Describe a magazine or book which you enjoy reading
Part 3
In the third and final part, candidates will be asked follow-up questions, and the examiner
may ask about abstract topics. Questions in this section can be hypothetical, causal,
compare, contrast and opinion. Some of the topics for this round are:
1. Do people spend a lot of money on social events such as a wedding or a birthday
party
2. Why do people come to parties late?
Some Additional Speaking Topics
Several common topics appear in the Speaking section of IELTS that one needs to be
acquainted with. Some of them are given below.
● Travel
● Education
● Weather
● Environment
● Music
● Books and Films
● Health
● Food
● Sports
Tips to Prepare for IELTS Speaking Section
An individual can score good marks in this section if he or she prepares well, which will
increase their average score. One must follow the below-mentioned tips to attain a good
score in IELTS:
1. Be Wary of Pronunciation
Candidates must speak fluently, and the examiner must understand their pronunciation.
One can record himself or herself and hear it. This will help them know whether it is
accurate and fluent.
2. You Should Not Pause Much
Candidates should not pause much in the conversation. This is indicative of the fact that one
is unaware of what to say, or he or she is not confident. Furthermore, it shows that he or
she cannot articulate his or her idea. Therefore, it is best not to use words like, you know,
umm, well, yeah, etc.
3. Paraphrase the Question
Candidates must try to answer the question in their own words. This will reflect that one has
a wide range of vocabulary.
4. Be Aware of the Tenses
Candidates must be aware of tenses while answering the question. For example, if the
examiner asks, ‘What are your hobbies?’, the candidate should also answer the question in
the same tense, i.e., present tense.
5. Emphasise Certain Words
The candidate must avoid speaking in a monotone. This is because the examiner might not
be able to differentiate which words are essential. Hence, candidates need to put emphasis
on certain words to better engage the examiner in the conversation. Moreover, one can also
use hand gestures to add rhythm to that conversation.
6. Avoid Using Any Unfamiliar Words
One should never use unfamiliar words if one does not know their meanings. In such a
situation, one can even mispronounce such words or use them in a different context which
can hamper one’s band score.
7. Do Not Memorise Answers
One should not memorise answers as one may not be asked the same question. Moreover,
the examiner will be able to decipher whether the candidate has learned the answer, which
can lead to obtaining scores that one did not expect.
8. Do Not Answer with a Yes or No
One should never answer the question with only a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as this will reflect that one
does not know how to express their ideas. For instance, if the question is ‘Do you like eating
outside?’, one should elaborate their answer in this manner. One can answer the question
by saying, ‘No, I do not like eating outside food as I feel it harms my body. I instead enjoy
home-cooked food due to its health benefits.’
9. Practice Sample Questions
One should also practice sample questions from the previous years to better understand
what is asked. It will help one develop a stronghold over the section.
Now that one knows IELTS speaking topics, one must prepare for it accordingly. It is vital to
practice mock tests.