IELTS speaking themes, topics and questions for Australia

IELTS speaking themes are subject areas such as work, family, home life and personal interests. IDP Australia says Part 1 is a friendly conversation of around four to five minutes on familiar topics. This page gives twelve themes of Part 1 questions, ten Part 2 cards, eleven kinds of Part 3 question and ten ladders that take one theme through all three parts, all of our own.

A theme is a subject area, such as work, travel or photography. The test does not publish a list of themes, but IDP Australia explains how Part 1 uses them and how to build your vocabulary around them.

For vocabulary, IDP Australia gives an example of what a theme can hold. Notice that it is not a list of difficult words. It is a set of words that go together.

• Technical terms like “exposure”, “aperture”, and “frame”.
• Adjectives like “blurry” and “sharp”.
• Vocabulary like “selfie”.
• Idioms, metaphors, and similes related to photography like “photo finish”, “the camera doesn’t lie”, and “camera shy”.

In Parts 2 and 3 the theme works as a chain, so learn the same words for both. IDP says this chain is fixed:

IELTS.org describes the third part as a discussion "in a more general and abstract way". Our full guide to the three levels, with a larger bank of questions, is on IELTS speaking topics and themes.

When IDP names topics, it names broad areas. Here are the lists it gives to test takers.

Our reading: the named topics are everyday ones. You do not need to know about science or law to talk about them. You need to be able to say something real about your own life, and then say something sensible about people in general. For a longer explanation of why current-topic lists are unreliable, see our full topics guide.

These questions are our own. Several themes (settling in, learning English, renting, and the weather) are chosen because they suit people who are new to Australia or studying English alongside the test. We are not saying the test will ask these. They are there to practise answering in full sentences about everyday life.

Take two themes a day. For each, write three key points and speak from them. Do not write sentences to learn.

Each card has a topic, three points and a closing question, the same shape as the cards IDP describes. Time yourself. If you stop before the two minutes are up, add a detail and keep going.

IDP's advice for the preparation minute is in the practice section below.

IDP lists the speech functions you may be asked to use in the final part. We kept its list and wrote an example question for each, so you can practise every kind.

The last row is different. It is not a question the examiner asks. It is something you may do. IDP says the examiner will help:

This table is ours. It helps when a question is unfamiliar: the first words tell you what kind of answer to give, even if the topic is new.

If you do not understand a question, ask. Do not guess. The British Council says it will not cost you marks:

For tips by part, see IELTS speaking tips for Australia.

Because the topic of Part 3 follows from Part 2, the best practice is to take one theme through all three parts. We call this a ladder. Each one below starts with the personal (Part 1), moves to a card (Part 2), and ends with the general and abstract (Part 3). They are written by us. They are not from any past test, and they are not a list of what you will be asked.

Transport

• Part 1 questions: How do you usually travel to work or study? Is there a kind of transport you do not enjoy? Why? Have you ever been late because of a delay?
• Part 2 card: Describe a journey you made that took longer than you expected. You should say: where you were going, what caused the delay, how you felt about it, and explain what you did while you waited.
• Part 3 questions: Why do many people in cities prefer private cars to public transport? How could a city make public transport more attractive? Will people travel less in the future because of technology? Why or why not?

Food and cooking

• Part 1 questions: Do you cook at home? What did you eat for breakfast today? Is there a dish from your region that visitors should try?
• Part 2 card: Describe a meal that you prepared for other people. You should say: who the meal was for, what you cooked, what went well or badly, and explain why you remember it.
• Part 3 questions: How have eating habits changed in your country over the last few decades? Should schools teach children to cook? Is it healthier and cheaper to eat at home than in restaurants?

Work and study skills

• Part 1 questions: Do you work or study? What do you like most about it? Would you like to change it in the future?
• Part 2 card: Describe a skill you learned that helps you in your work or study. You should say: what the skill is, how you learned it, who or what helped you, and explain how you use it now.
• Part 3 questions: Which skills will be most useful for young people in the next ten years? Is it better to learn skills at school or on the job? Should adults keep learning throughout their lives? Why?

Technology and the internet

• Part 1 questions: How often do you use a smartphone? Which apps do you use most? Do you prefer to message people or to call them?
• Part 2 card: Describe a piece of technology that you find useful at home. You should say: what it is, how long you have had it, what you use it for, and explain why it is useful.
• Part 3 questions: How has technology changed the way families communicate? Are there disadvantages to children spending a lot of time on screens? Will machines do most jobs in the future?

Neighbourhood and home

• Part 1 questions: Do you live in a house or a flat? What is your neighbourhood like? What would you change about your home?
• Part 2 card: Describe a place in your neighbourhood where people meet. You should say: where it is, who goes there, what people do there, and explain why it matters to the community.
• Part 3 questions: Why do some people prefer the city and others the countryside? What can local governments do to make communities friendlier? Are neighbours as important today as they were in the past?

Health and exercise

• Part 1 questions: Do you do any exercise? What do you do to relax? Do you usually get enough sleep?
• Part 2 card: Describe a time when you tried a new sport or activity. You should say: what it was, why you tried it, how it went, and explain whether you would do it again.
• Part 3 questions: Why do some people find it hard to stay active? Who should be responsible for people's health, individuals or governments? How might attitudes to exercise change in the future?

Travel and tourism

• Part 1 questions: Do you like to travel? What kind of holiday do you prefer? Is there a place near you that tourists like to visit?
• Part 2 card: Describe a trip that did not go as planned. You should say: where you went, what went wrong, how you solved the problem, and explain what you learned from it.
• Part 3 questions: What are the benefits and the problems of tourism for local people? Should popular sites limit the number of visitors? How might travel change in the future?

Learning and teachers

• Part 1 questions: What did you like about school? Do you prefer studying alone or with other people? Have you learned anything new recently?
• Part 2 card: Describe a teacher or trainer who explained something very clearly. You should say: who the person was, what they taught you, how they explained it, and explain why you remember them.
• Part 3 questions: What makes a good teacher? How has technology changed the way people learn? Should all students study the same subjects at school?

Money and shopping

• Part 1 questions: Do you enjoy shopping? Do you prefer to shop online or in shops? What was the last thing you bought?
• Part 2 card: Describe something you bought that turned out to be a good decision. You should say: what it was, where you bought it, why you chose it, and explain why it was a good decision.
• Part 3 questions: Why do advertisements affect what people buy? Is it better to save money or to spend it? Do young people spend money differently from older people? In what ways?

Nature and the environment

• Part 1 questions: Do you spend much time outdoors? What is the weather like where you live? Do you have any plants or pets?
• Part 2 card: Describe a green space that you enjoy. You should say: where it is, when you go there, what you do there, and explain why you like it.
• Part 3 questions: Why is it important to protect natural areas? What can individuals do to reduce waste? Should companies pay for the environmental damage they cause?

IDP gives a short routine for the long turn in Part 2. We follow it.

• Set up your timer to time yourself for 3 minutes (1 minute preparation, 2 minutes long turn).
• In the first minute, take notes on the topic.
• Start your long turn on the second minute and see if you can keep speaking for 2 full minutes.
• Listen to your recording and pay attention to breaks, pauses, hesitations and the use of fillers.

IDP gives advice for the preparation minute.

• A simple tip is to draw a cross on the piece of paper and take 4 sets of notes or to draw lines dividing your note paper into 4 columns.
• You are not tested on what you write, so don't worry about spelling.

When you speak, IDP gives these points.

• Start off with a measured pace, not too fast and not too slow.
• Remember that the examiner will interrupt you at the 2-minute mark.
• If the examiner asks you if you have anything more to say, always say 'yes' and then continue speaking.
• Avoid fillers (eh..., uh..., em..., er...) as they are meaningless and show that you are struggling to produce language and ideas.

Part 1: short answers that grow

In Part 1 the examiner may prompt you if your answer is short. IDP says so.

• Try and answer the examiner's questions in full. Extend your answers and don't wait for the examiner to prompt you with a question.
• Don't memorise answers, especially in Part 1. Memorised language doesn't give the examiner an accurate measure of your English-language skills.

Our method for Part 1 is three moves: answer, reason, example. Take the first Part 1 question of a ladder. Say a direct answer, say why, then give one small real example. That turns a one-word answer into a short, natural reply and keeps you from learning a script.

Part 2: a one-minute plan and a two-minute talk

Use the four-column note method, one column for each of the question words on the card. Our version of the method: write a word or two in each column, then talk through the columns in order. When you reach the end of the notes, add a feeling or a result. That keeps you speaking.

Part 3: general, with reasons

IDP says Part 3 is about opinions and general ideas, and it says what happens if you stay personal.

• In Part 3, you are assessed on your ability to express and justify opinions and to analyse, discuss and speculate about a range of issues connected to the general topic you spoke about in Part 2.
• In part 3, you are expected to discuss all topics in a general manner. If you try and talk about yourself and your family, the examiner will steer you away from these familiar topics and will encourage you to speak in a general way.
• In part 3, you have the opportunity to discuss the topic in more depth. It is important that you attempt to extend your responses as much as you can.

IDP lists eleven speech functions that may be used in Part 3. They are in the Part 3 table above, with an example question for each.

Our way to use this list: for each Part 3 question in a ladder, choose two of the functions. For example, answer the question with an opinion and a reason, then look at one advantage and one disadvantage, or add a prediction about the future. Practise out loud, and record yourself.

You will not always get a topic you know, and nerves can make you lose a word or run out of things to say. Three pieces of the owners' advice help with that.

• However, you can get credit for explaining the meaning, or ‘paraphrasing’, so having a range of synonyms to draw on can be helpful.
• Use stalling phrases (What else can I say about that, well, another thing that I can remember is...)
• There is no harm in taking a brief pause to think about what to say.

IDP's speaking tips article lists ‘Well’ among the fillers to avoid, while its long-turn article uses ‘well’ inside a longer stalling phrase:

Our reading: use a full phrase rather than a bare ‘well’.

Our phrases for buying a few seconds are below. They are ours, and each is short and natural. Use one, then answer. Do not stack three of them.

• That is a good question. Let me think about it for a moment.
• I have not thought about that much, but I would say that...
• It depends on the situation, but in general...
• If I had to choose, I would say...
• To put it another way, what I mean is...
• I do not know the exact word, but it is something like...

The last phrase shows paraphrase at work. The British Council says you can get credit for explaining a meaning. Our reading: explaining is better than going silent. Its other advice is to group words by topic, so you meet them together.

Our reading: a topic you know nothing about is a good test of this skill, so practise on ladders that you would not choose. If you can speak for a minute about a topic you dislike, you have practised the skill the test asks for. It does not promise any score.

Common questions