IELTS Speaking Topics for your Practice

When you embark upon learning a new language, you already have a fair list of reasons as to why you want to learn this new skill set in the first place. A certification validating your proficiency is the next step to embellish this newly acquired skill on your resume. But what truly defines your proficiency in English? Is it the certification course offered by an online spoken English class?

What we are discussing here are the universal standards necessary for ensuring that you can ascertain your language proficiency as a whole. Many online English speaking courses in India as well as globally aspire to offer English lessons for IELTS exams.

Several online English tutors also are qualified with the skill sets to teach students as per the IELTS curriculum.

What is IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is designed to help you work, study or migrate to a country where English is the native language. This includes countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and USA. Your ability to listen, read, write and speak in English will be assessed during the test. IELTS is graded on a scale of 1-9.

IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English.

Why take IELTS?

If you are looking to work, live or study in an English-speaking country, then you must be able to demonstrate a high level of English language ability.

English is the third most spoken language in the world, with 379 million speakers worldwide. Being able to communicate in the native language of the country you wish to work or study in, has a wide range of benefits. It is also essential for job opportunities as well as integration into the community.

IELTS is the most popular test for those looking to migrate to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. It is globally recognized by more than 11,000 employers, universities, schools and immigration bodies including 3,400 institutions in the USA.

IELTS Speaking Topics for your Practice

To get a high score on the IELTS Speaking Test, it’s important to understand what types of topics and questions you’ll be asked, and what sort of answers you should give.

The Speaking test in IELTS can be a little scary as no one knows about the kind of questions the examiner may ask them. Well, to give your best, you should familiarize yourself with various topics and questions that you may encounter on that day.

Here are some of the most common IELTS speaking questions:

1. Describe a website that you purchased something from. You should say:

• What is the name of the website?
• What you bought from this website?
• Your experience
• What you liked or disliked about using this website?

2. Describe your favorite photograph/memory.

• Where was the photo taken?
• Who took the photo?
• Describe the photo
• Why is it your favorite photograph?

3. Describe your favourite movie.

• What is the name of the film?
• What is the theme of the film?
• Why do you like it?
• Who are the actors in the movie?

4. Describe your favourite animal.

• What kind of animal is it?
• Describe it briefly.
• Why do you like animals?
• Is it a wild animal or a pet animal?

5. Describe a historical place.

• What is the place?
• Where is it located?
• What is the historical meaning of the place?
• Who built it?

6. Describe your holidays.

• Where do you go for the holidays and how long do they last?
• Whom do you go with?
• Talk about a few interesting things happening during your holidays.
• Where did you go on your vacation last time?

7. Describe an environmental problem in your country.

• What is the cause of the problem?
• What effect has it had on your country?
• Any steps that have been taken to solve this problem
• Do you think this problem is important to solve? Why?

8. Describe your favourite subject in school.

• When did you start studying it?
• Was it difficult?
• What made the subject different from other subjects?
• Explain why you enjoyed the subject more than others?

9. Describe a person you admire.

• What is your relation with this person?
• How often do you see this person?
• Is he well known?
• Explain why you really admire this person?

10. A piece of technology that you use frequently.

• What is it and what does it do?
• How does it make your life better?
• How is it different from other similar technology?
• Do you think you will still be using it in ten years’ time? Why/ Why not?

11. Describe your favourite hobby or pastime.

• How long have you been doing this hobby?
• How regularly do you do this hobby?
• Any benefit that you get out of this?
• Why do you enjoy it?

12. Describe your favourite game.

• Is it an indoor or outdoor game?
• How often do you play it?
• Does it have any benefit?
• Explain why you like the game?

13. Describe an important day you celebrate in your country.

• What day is it?
• How do you celebrate this day?
• Why do you celebrate this day?
• How is this different from other celebrations?

14. Describe an interesting city.

• What is the name of the city?
• Have you visited the city?
• What is it famous for?
• Why do you think it is interesting?

15. Describe a person you follow on social media.

• Who is this person?
• How do you know this person?
• Is this person famous?
• Why do you follow this person?

16. Describe a skill that was hard to learn

• What was the skill?
• When did you learn it?
• Why was it hard to learn?
• How did you feel about it? It it still useful to you?

17. Describe a time when you did shopping in a street market.

• Where is it?
• What can you buy there?
• What is it famous for?
• Have you bought something from there recently?
• How are the quality of products there?

18. Describe an exciting book you read

• What is the name of the book?
• What is it about?
• Who has written it?
• Why did you find it exciting?
• Do you recommend the book to others?

19. Describe your hometown

• Where is your hometown?
• Do you stay there?
• What do you like and dislike about that place?
• Do you find any recent developments there?

20. Describe something you did which was a waste of time.

• What was the thing?
• When did you do it?
• Did someone tell you to do it?
• Explain why it was a waste of time?

21. Describe a piece of important news you got through a text message

• What was the news?
• When did you get it?
• Whom did you get it from?
• How did you feel after getting the news?

22. Describe an app you use on your mobile phone.

• What is the name of the app?
• Is it a paid app?
• What are the advantages?
• Is the app very popular in your country?

23. Describe your favorite method of travel.

• What is the method of travel?
• How often do you travel by this method?
• Is this travel method cheap or expensive?
• Explain why this method of travel is your favorite?

24. Describe your favorite season of the year.

• Which season is it?
• How is the weather during the season?
• What do you like to do during the season?
• Explain why this season is your favorite?

25. Describe a gift that someone gave you.

• Who gave you the gift?
• What was the gift?
• When did you receive the gift?
• Was it any occasion when you received the gift?

26. Describe an interesting advertisement you watched on television.

• What was the advertisement about?
• When did you watch it?
• Explain why it was interesting?
• Have you purchased the item shown in the advertisement? How was it?

27. A type of cuisine you are fond of.

• Which type of cuisine do you like?
• Where have you tried it?
• Do you know how to cook it? Explain.
• Is it available easily in your country?

Once you have practiced these topics, try making up your own topics and questions related to education, transport, sport, health, the environment, music, leisure activities, hobbies and so on. With targeted practice like this, you will be able to achieve the goals you have set! Keep practicing!

Contributed By- Anjana Dutta

Related Article: Topics for Online English class