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Phase One More Common Topics and Questions |
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Aim: When you have completed these exercises you will have a good idea of what you might be asked about in speaking Phase One.
Problems: In Phase One of the speaking test many candidates don't listen carefully to the questions, they just talk generally about the topic and so get a lower score.
After you have been asked about either where you live or your routines (see 'Phase One: Common Topics and Question'), the examiner will move on to ask you about two more topics. The examiner has many topics to choose from, you cannot choose or change the topics asked.
Below are a selection of the more common topics and questions for you to brainstorm on your own or with friends to increase the number of ideas. You can check the 'How long should my answer be?' section on this website for help with the content and detail of your answers.
1. Travel
Do you play sports? Which ones?
What sports are popular where you live?
What are the benefits of playing sport?
Do women and men prefer the same sports? Why / why not?
Why do some people not like sport?
What sports facilities are there in your home area? |
2. Fashion
Is fashion important to you? Why?
Describe a traditional costume in your country?
How have fashion trends changed recently?
Why is fashion important to some people?
Describe your favourite item of clothing. |
Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
What do most people like to do in their
free-time where you live?
Are these activities a good way to spend time? Why/why not?
Compare how teenagers spend their free-time
now with you parents' generation?
Do you need to spend money to enjoy your free-time? |
3. Childhood
What were you like as a child?
What is important for young children?
Compare young children's behavior with teenagers' behavior.
Is the place where you live a good environment for
children to grow up in? |
4. Weddings
Is marriage important in your culture? Why?
Can you describe a traditional wedding in your country?
Have wedding ceremonies changed in recent years?
Have attitudes towards marriage changed? How?
What do people do at weddings in your country?
What do the bride and bridegroom wear? |
5. Free-time
When did you last go on holiday?
Where do people in your country like to go traveling?
What are the benefits of travel?
Compare travel now with travel in your grandparents' time.
Do you ever read books about traveling?
What effects can tourism have on local economies?
What effects can tourism have on the environment? |
Tips:
1. As you can see from the examples above, the question-types can be divided into several categories:
- ‘Wh___ / How ____?’ information questions
- Follow-up ‘Why/Why not ?’ questions
- ‘Yes/No’ questions
Open ‘Tell me about’ questions
2. Also, you will notice that the questions repeat certain patterns, for example:
- changes
- comparing
- like / don’t like
- what people do
-descriptions
3. DON’T memorise answers: The examiner will notice very quickly and change the topic. Just be prepared by brainstorming ideas for the topics and asking other students about their experiences.
4. Listen very carefully to the questions and take your time when you answer. Think about what you’re saying, not about how quickly you’re speaking.
5. Try to keep talking until the examiner stops you, providing as much relevant information as you can for each answer.
Do you need to know more about Phase One of the IELTS Speaking Test? Leave your comments below...
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