IELTS Speaking Practice Test 1
All three parts of the IELTS Speaking test: questions about where you live, a cue card about a useful skill, and a discussion about learning. Record your answers and compare them with model answers.
How this practice matches real IELTS use
Recordings stay on your device and are never uploaded. Speaking is not marked automatically; use the model answers and the self-check list.
How to use this practice set
1. Attempt seriously
Use realistic timing, avoid random guessing, and finish the set as one focused session.
2. Review by skill gap
Separate vocabulary gaps, concentration errors, weak task strategy, and careless mistakes instead of looking only at score.
3. Repeat with purpose
After review, move to the next related IELTS section or repeat weak-question types until your accuracy becomes stable.
Speaking
Before you start
- Questions
- 9
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Parts
- 3
- The timer starts when you press Start. When it reaches zero, your answers are submitted automatically.
- Use the numbered navigator to move between questions, and flag any you want to come back to.
- For typed answers, keep within the word limit. Answers over the limit are marked wrong, as in the real test.
- You can submit early. Your score, the correct answers and explanations appear straight away.
IELTS Speaking Practice Test 1: all 9 questions with answers
Prefer to work through the test on paper? Answer the questions, then open “Show answer” to check.
The examiner asks you questions about familiar topics: where you live. Press Start to hear each question, then answer.
Q1.Let's talk about where you live. Do you live in a house or an apartment?
Show answer
Model answer
I live in an apartment on the fourth floor of a building near the city centre. It's not very big, but it has a balcony with a lovely view of the park, so I really like it.
Q2.What do you like most about the area where you live?
Show answer
Model answer
What I like most is that everything is within walking distance. There's a supermarket, a gym and a couple of good cafés just around the corner, so I hardly ever need to use the car.
Q3.Is there anything you would like to change about your neighbourhood?
Show answer
Model answer
I'd say it could do with more green space. The park nearby is lovely, but it gets very crowded at weekends, so a few more trees and benches along the main streets would make a big difference.
Q4.How often do you spend time with your neighbours?
Show answer
Model answer
Not as often as I'd like, to be honest. We say hello in the lift and chat now and then, but everyone's quite busy. We did have a small party on the roof last summer, which was fun.
You have one minute to prepare, then speak for up to two minutes. You can make notes while you prepare.
Q5.Describe a skill you learned that you think is useful.
- what the skill is
- when and how you learned it
- how often you use it
- and explain why you think it is useful.
Show answer
Model answer
I'd like to talk about cooking, which I think is one of the most useful skills I have. I learned it when I moved away from home to go to university, about five years ago. Before that, my parents did all the cooking, and I could barely boil an egg. In my first few weeks I was living on instant noodles and takeaways, which was expensive and not very healthy, so I decided to do something about it.
At first I learned mainly from online videos, starting with very simple dishes like pasta and omelettes and gradually trying more complicated recipes. My flatmate was a really good cook, so she gave me lots of tips, for example how to season food properly and how to plan meals for the whole week.
Nowadays I cook almost every day, and at weekends I sometimes cook for friends. I think it's useful for several reasons. It saves a lot of money, I eat much more healthily because I know exactly what's in my food, and it's a great way to bring people together. Inviting friends round for a meal is one of my favourite ways to relax.
The examiner asks more general questions connected to Part 2: learning skills. Give longer answers with reasons and examples.
Q6.What skills do you think young people should learn at school?
Show answer
Model answer
I think schools should focus more on practical life skills, like managing money, cooking and basic first aid. Academic subjects are important, of course, but many young people leave school without knowing how to make a budget or understand a contract, and those skills affect everyday life.
Q7.Is it better to learn a new skill from a teacher or by yourself online?
Show answer
Model answer
It depends on the skill. For a language or a musical instrument, I think a teacher is better, because they can spot your mistakes and keep you motivated. But for many practical or technical skills, online courses can be just as effective, and they're cheaper and more flexible. A combination is probably ideal.
Q8.Why do some adults find it difficult to learn new skills?
Show answer
Model answer
There are a few reasons. Adults usually have less free time because of work and family, so it's hard to practise regularly. They may also be more afraid of making mistakes than children are, and some had bad experiences at school, which makes them less confident.
Q9.How might the skills people need for work change in the future?
Show answer
Model answer
Technical skills will probably change very quickly, especially as artificial intelligence takes over routine tasks. So the ability to keep learning will become more important than any single skill. Communication, problem-solving and creativity will probably matter more too, because they're harder to automate.