IELTS speaking topics, themes and subjects: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3
IELTS speaking topics are not a fixed list. Part 1 uses familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies or interests, Part 2 gives you one task card, and Part 3 discusses the same topic in a more general and abstract way. This page explains how that works and gives fourteen themes of questions of ours to practise.
People who search for IELTS speaking topics, themes and subjects often want a list of the newest questions. We found no such list on the IELTS.org, IDP or British Council pages we read, and this page explains what they do say and what to do about it. It gives you what is checkable: how the topics are built, what the owners name, and a bank of original practice questions for all three parts.
How IELTS speaking topics work
Three parts, three kinds of topic, one chain.
IELTS speaking topics are not a single list. Each part asks for a different kind of talk, and the topic of Part 2 decides the topic of Part 3. Here is how IELTS.org and IDP describe it.
| Part | Kind of topic | What the owners say |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Familiar and personal | The examiner asks you general questions on some familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies or interests. |
| Part 2 | One card, one long talk | The examiner gives you a task card which asks you to talk about a particular topic. The card tells you what points you should include in your talk |
| Part 3 | General and abstract | In Part 3, you and the examiner discuss issues related to the topic in Part 2 in a more general and abstract way |
"The long turn topic is always related to the part 3 topic area. For example, if your long turn is about your teacher, part 3 will be a general discussion about education."
That chain is the most useful fact on this page. Whatever your Part 2 card is, the discussion that follows is about the bigger idea behind it. If your card is about a person who taught you something, expect questions about teaching and learning in general. So when you practise a theme, practise all three levels together.
"You will then be asked some questions about a range of familiar topics, for example, about the music you like, cooking, the weather, or movies you prefer. You will generally be asked about one or two topics."
The "one or two topics" matters. Part 1 is short, so you will not meet all your prepared themes. You will generally meet one or two topics, and you do not choose which.
What the test owners say the topics are
The published lists, and the one rule about knowledge.
In the IELTS.org, IDP and British Council pages we read, we found no list of the topics used in current tests. They do name families of topics that you can practise, and these are the nearest thing to an official list.
| Where | Topics named |
|---|---|
| IDP, overview of the first part | Work, family, home life, personal interests |
| IDP, common topics to practise for the Speaking test (in its Part 2 tip) | Tourism and travel, education, transport, environment, family life, sport and recreation, crime and punishment, the internet, advertising and retail |
| IDP, topics to build your own cards on | education, transport, sport, health, the environment, tourism, history, music, leisure activities, hobbies |
Two more owner statements shape how you should prepare. The first is about knowledge. The British Council says vocabulary is judged on everyday topics, and you do not need to be an expert:
"These factors will be considered in the context of everyday topics with general relevance in all of the countries where IELTS is used. Specialist knowledge isn’t expected, but a good vocabulary will certainly be an asset."
The second is about the test taker's choice. The Speaking test is the same whether you sit Academic or General Training, so there are no "general" or "academic" speaking topics.
"The same speaking test is used for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training."
"Latest", "recent" and "new" speaking topics
What these lists are, and what to do instead.
Many pages promise the latest IELTS speaking topics, new topics, recent questions or topics for a given year. Before you spend time on a list like that, read what the owners say about how questions are made.
"Every test question that appears on the IELTS test is designed, screened and tested by Cambridge Assessment English (CAE) to ensure it meets standard requirements before being released as test material."
"Our highly trusted team ensures every version of the test is of comparable difficulty."
"The examiner will ask scripted questions and will listen to your answer, prompting you to extend your response with a “why?” or “why not?” if your answer is too short."
Here is our reading. Questions are written and tested over a long period, and every version is meant to be of comparable difficulty. In Part 1 the examiner works from a script. None of that tells you which questions a particular test taker will meet next month, and we found no owner page that names them. Lists that claim to know are, as far as we can tell, built from what candidates remember afterwards. They may be useful for ideas, but you cannot check them, and no list can be complete.
So we do not publish a "latest" list. We give you something more reliable: themes that cover the areas the owners name, with questions at all three levels, so you can practise the skill of talking about any theme, not the memory of one set of questions. If you meet an unfamiliar question in the test, the skill is what you will have.
"Don't memorise answers, especially in Part 1. Memorised language doesn't give the examiner an accurate measure of your English-language skills."
Part 1 question bank: 14 themes of ours
Familiar topics. Practise two or three answers per theme.
These are our own questions. They are written in the style of Part 1: personal, familiar and short. Answer each in two to four sentences, with an answer, a reason and, if you can, an example.
| Theme | Our Part 1 questions |
|---|---|
| Home and neighbourhood | What is the best thing about the street you live on? Who do you share your home with? What would you change about your home if you could? |
| Work and study | What do you enjoy most about your daily work or studies? Is there anything you would like to learn that you have not had the chance to? How do you usually organise your week? |
| Food and cooking | What did you eat for dinner yesterday, and was it typical? Do you prefer cooking at home or eating out? Is there a dish from your childhood that you still like? |
| Technology and the internet | Which app or website do you use most? Do you prefer reading on paper or on a screen? How did you learn to use a computer? |
| Travel and tourism | Do you prefer short trips or long holidays? Is there a place in your own country you would recommend? What do you usually bring with you when you travel? |
| Transport and getting around | How long does it take you to get to the places you go most? Have you ever been late because of transport? What would make your usual journey better? |
| Health and exercise | What do you do to keep fit? Do you prefer exercising alone or with other people? Have you ever tried to change a habit for your health? |
| Environment and weather | What kind of weather do you like best? Does the weather change what you do at the weekend? Do you do anything at home to protect the environment? |
| Family and friends | Who in your family do you spend the most time with? How do you keep in touch with friends who live far away? What do you like to do with friends at the weekend? |
| Media, music and film | What kind of music do you listen to when you are working? Do you prefer watching films at home or at the cinema? How do you usually find out the news? |
| Money and shopping | Do you prefer shopping online or in shops? How do you decide whether something is worth buying? Did you save money when you were younger? |
| Education and learning | What was your favourite subject at school? Do you prefer to study alone or in a group? Is there a skill you are learning at the moment? |
| Culture and traditions | Is there a festival or celebration that you look forward to? What do people in your area usually do on public holidays? Have you ever tried a tradition from another culture? |
| Time and daily routine | Are you a morning person or an evening person? How do you usually spend your free time on weekdays? Is there something you always do at the same time every day? |
Do not write out answers. Write three key points for each question, then speak from the points. If you repeat a question in a different week, your answer should be different in its words and the same in its facts.
Part 2 task cards: 14 of ours
One minute to prepare, up to two minutes to talk.
A Part 2 card has a topic, some points to cover and a closing question about why or how. These are our own cards, written in that shape.
Time yourself the way IELTS.org describes the task: one minute to prepare and make notes, then keep talking for 2 minutes.
"You have one minute to prepare your talk, and the examiner will give you a pencil and paper to make notes."
"have time to structure your talk so that you keep talking for 2 minutes."
You should say:
where it is
what is in it
when you use it
and explain why it helps you relax.
You should say:
who they are
what they taught you
how they taught it
and explain why it mattered.
You should say:
when it was
who you shared it with
what you ate
and explain why you remember it.
You should say:
what it is
how long you have had it
what you use it for
and explain why it is so useful to you.
You should say:
where you were going
what went wrong
how you dealt with it
and explain what you learned from it.
You should say:
where it is
how often you use it
what it is like at busy times
and explain why it matters to you.
You should say:
what it was
who introduced you to it
how it went
and explain whether you kept doing it.
You should say:
where it is
how you get there
what you do there
and explain why you like it.
You should say:
who they are
how you know them
what they are like
and explain how they influenced you.
You should say:
what it is
when you first came across it
what it is about
and explain why it stayed with you.
You should say:
what it was
where you bought it
why you chose it
and explain why you think it was good value.
You should say:
what it was
why you wanted to learn it
how you practised
and explain how you felt when you improved.
You should say:
what it is
when it happens
who takes part
and explain why it is important.
You should say:
when it was
what you had to do
how you managed your time
and explain how you felt at the end.
Use the same method every time. Write the question words down the page, give each one a real detail, and speak in order. You are not marked on your notes, so spelling does not matter.
Part 3 discussion questions: the same 14 themes
General, abstract and about people, not about you.
Each theme below matches the card with the same name. They are written in the style of Part 3: general questions that ask for opinions, reasons, comparisons and predictions. Answer them about "people" and "society", not about yourself.
| Theme | Our Part 3 questions |
|---|---|
| Home and neighbourhood | How has the way people choose where to live changed in your country? Should cities build more homes or protect green spaces? What makes a neighbourhood a good place to grow up? |
| Work and study | Do people learn more from school or from work? Why do some people change careers several times? How might jobs change over the next twenty years? |
| Food and cooking | Why do many people now eat fewer meals together? Should schools teach children to cook? How are eating habits changing in your country? |
| Technology and the internet | Has technology made communication better or worse? Should children have limits on screen time? What jobs might technology replace? |
| Travel and tourism | Does tourism help or harm the places people visit? Why do some people prefer to travel alone? How might travel change in the future? |
| Transport and getting around | Should cities limit private cars? Why do some people refuse to use public transport? How can transport be made safer for cyclists and walkers? |
| Health and exercise | Who is responsible for people's health, the individual or the government? Why are some people reluctant to exercise? How has the way people look after their health changed? |
| Environment and weather | Who should do more to protect the environment, individuals or companies? Why do people find it hard to change daily habits for the planet? How might climate change affect the way people live? |
| Family and friends | How have family roles changed over the past few generations? Is it better to have a few close friends or many acquaintances? What can older and younger people learn from each other? |
| Media, music and film | Do you think people trust the news less than they used to? Why are some films or songs popular in many countries? Should governments support the arts? |
| Money and shopping | Why do some people spend more than they earn? Should schools teach children about money? How has advertising changed the way people shop? |
| Education and learning | How has technology changed the way people study? Should university be free? Is it better to be good at one thing or to know a little about many things? |
| Culture and traditions | Are traditions disappearing as societies become more modern? How can communities keep their traditions alive? What can people learn from other cultures' traditions? |
| Time and daily routine | Why do many people feel they do not have enough time? Is it better to plan everything or to be flexible? How might working hours change in the future? |
IDP lists speech functions that may be used in this part. Six of them:
- giving reasons for your opinion.
- looking at the advantages and disadvantages of something.
- comparing and contrasting.
- thinking about the future.
- suggesting solutions.
Our questions above cover all six. 'Why do some people...' asks for reasons. 'Should...' asks for your position and a reason. 'Does X help or harm...' asks for both sides. 'How might...' asks for the future. 'Who should...' asks for a solution. Notice the question word, and you will know what kind of answer to give.
Three full chains, from Part 1 to Part 3
How one theme moves through the test.
Here are three themes shown as the test would move through them. The prompts are ours.
| Part 1 (about you) | Part 2 (one long talk) | Part 3 (ideas about society) |
|---|---|---|
| Do you prefer exercising alone or with other people? | Describe a time you tried a new sport or activity. | Who is responsible for people's health, the individual or the government? |
| Which app or website do you use most? | Describe a piece of technology you could not do without. | Has technology made communication better or worse? |
| Is there a festival or celebration that you look forward to? | Describe a tradition in your family or community. | Are traditions disappearing as societies become more modern? |
Notice what changes. In Part 1 the question is about your habit. In Part 2 it is about one story. In Part 3 it is about a general claim. The vocabulary of the theme is the same all the way through, which is why learning by theme works.
Starter phrases for six themes
A few phrases to attach to each topic. Add your own.
The British Council recommends learning words in related groups, not in long unconnected lists. Here is its wording, followed by a starter set of our own for six themes.
"Another useful tip is to group new vocabulary into related subjects (such as sports) to learn together, rather than making long lists of unrelated words. Mind maps can be useful here."
Use phrases only when they are true for you and you can say them clearly. A phrase you are unsure of is more likely to come out wrong than a simple word you know well.
"It is better to use simple, commonly used vocabulary and to use it correctly than to use advanced vocabulary that you are unsure about."
How to practise one theme in twenty minutes
Our method. It works with any theme above.
Pick one theme a day. Then run this routine. It takes twenty minutes and trains all three parts, which is how the test uses a theme.
| Minutes | Task |
|---|---|
| 4 | Part 1. Answer three questions from the theme aloud in two to four sentences each. Record them. |
| 4 | Notes. Make a mind map of the theme with six branches: people, places, problems, past, future, opinions. |
| 5 | Part 2. Take the card. One minute of notes, then talk. If you stop early, add one more detail and keep going. |
| 4 | Part 3. Answer two discussion questions about people in general. Use claim, reason and example. |
| 3 | Review. Listen to one recording. Write down one thing to repeat and one thing to fix. |
IDP's own advice agrees with the first point. It tells you to practise with other people:
"Practice common IELTS topics with friends, family or colleagues to improve and to learn vocabulary associated with each topic."
For a full set of tips by part, see IELTS speaking tips. For model answers, see IELTS speaking samples.
Common questions
IDP names Part 1 topics such as work, family, home life and personal interests, and suggests practising topics such as tourism and travel, education, transport, the environment, family life and the internet. We found no list of the topics used in current tests in the IDP and British Council pages we read.
We found no list of current questions on the IELTS.org, IDP or British Council pages we read. IDP Australia says every test question is designed, screened and tested before use, and every version is meant to be of comparable difficulty. In our reading, lists called latest or recent are built from what test takers remember afterwards. You cannot check them, so treat them as ideas.
There is no separate list. The British Council says the same Speaking test is used for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, so General Training candidates practise the same topics as everyone else.
Part 1 is the introduction and interview. IELTS.org says the examiner introduces themselves, checks your identity and asks general questions on familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies or interests. It is 4–5 minutes long.
Questions are about familiar topics. IDP says you will generally be asked about one or two topics, and gives examples such as music, cooking, the weather or movies. Our page has fourteen themes with three practice questions each.
No. The British Council says vocabulary is assessed in the context of everyday topics with general relevance, and specialist knowledge isn't expected. A good vocabulary is still an asset.
Yes. IDP says the long turn topic is always related to the Part 3 topic area. For example, if your long turn is about your teacher, Part 3 will be a general discussion about education.