Speaking Questions for IELTS: IELTS Exam Questions Explained in Detail with Examples

The IELTS exam has 4 sections: Reading, Writing, Listening and speaking. The total time given to complete the IELTS exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes. In this stipulated time the candidate has to complete the whole test which requires to speed up your work while giving the exam.

Along with speeding up, you need to know about the various smart techniques to be used for different sections so that you complete each section at the right time with greater accuracy. You will get to know about these smart techniques through various sources.

While you are starting with your IELTS preparation, you should practice keeping in mind these smart techniques so that they are not new to you and you become familiar with these techniques. For the Speaking section, you need to acquaint yourself with the types of questions that can be asked to you by the examiner.

 All about the Speaking Section

A speaking section in IELTS is taken separately as it involves face to face interaction with the examiner.  Reading, listening, and writing sections are taken together either on a paper-based IELTS test or on a computer-based IELTS test. The speaking section is taken separately by the examiner so you need to book a separate slot for this section.

In this section many candidates may feel anxious because they are being evaluated by the examiner who is sitting in front of them, candidates may find this a troubling thought. But a solution to obviate this is to prepare your best, when you are confident enough about what you are speaking then no thought can make you nervous.

So preparation is the key to scoring good marks in the exam. Read more to know about the questions that are asked in the speaking sections.

Also Read:- Describe a Short Trip You often Take but Do Not Like: IELTS Cue Card Sample Topic

 Types of Questions Asked 

There are many types of questions that can be asked, and you have to answer those questions in a structured manner. The speaking section is divided into three parts where first is the introduction: candidates introduce themselves and give basic information to the examiner, followed by part 2 where the examiner provides a “Topic” to the candidate on which he/she has to speak for 7-8 minutes.

The third part includes the discussion with the examiner, where the examiner asks the candidate few questions that can be related to the topic given in part 3 or it can be an independent question to know the opinion and knowledge of the candidate.

This part is also called follow up questions. You can get any interesting topic on which you have to speak. Hence, the speaking section is also considered to be one of the interesting section where the candidate gets interesting questions and cue card topics like” Shopping”

Topics for Part 2 of Speaking Sections

You are given wonderful topics to speak on, but you have to keep in mind that along with evaluating your speaking skills, they also want you to be authentic in giving your answers. Copied answers are not supported. Here is the list of few topics for speaking questions for IELTS:-

Also Read:- Describe a Time when You got Lost Somewhere: Cue Card Topic for IELTS Exam 

1. Describe Something You Enjoy doing with a Group of People

You will be happy enough to speak on this topic right? But don’t forget that you have to follow a structure. Starting with this topic “Describe Something You Enjoy doing with a Group of People”, you can talk about your friend’s circle. Then you can continue with What was it? To whom you did it? When you did it? And you can conclude with How do you feel about it?

Follow-up questions that can be asked:-

1. What activities do you generally involve in?
2. Why is it important to have peer support?
3. Do your parents like your friend’s circle?

2. Describe Your First Day at School

Describing Your First Day at School is an exciting topic to speak on. You can start with Where has it been? And What has occurred? You can conclude with how you felt the whole day? You can also give your description a humorous texture. Follow the structure and keep your vocabulary simple yet rich.

Follow-up questions

1. Were you excited or were you crying?
2. What efforts did your parents make to send you to school?
3. Which is your best school life memory

 Also Read:- Describe a Person Who is Open Minded: Cue Card Topic for IELTS Exam

3. Describe a Piece of International News that You have recently Heard

To describe a Piece of International News that You have recently Heard, you can start with how reading a newspaper helps a person or why it is important. You can also tell how frequently you read the newspaper. Then you can continue with specifying the international news that you have read recently. What impact will this news have on countries or you? You can also tell why this particular news attracted your attention

Follow-up questions:-

1. What is your general style of reading newspapers?
2. Do you think reading international news is important?
3. The news you have shared, what is its future implication?

4.Describe a Thing You Bought and You are Happy About

Describe a Thing You Bought and You are Happy About is a very interesting topic for you to speak on. Even if we don’t give you an idea about how you have to give this answer, then you will be speaking a lot on this topic. But we will still help you with how you can answer it, Explain why you bought it? Why did you select this product?, From where you purchased it? Explain why you like it?

Follow-up questions:-

1. What makes you happy?
2. What are your future plans?
3. Will you wish a happy life or a life full of wealth?

5.Describe a Time when You were Really Close to a Wild Animal

Another interesting topic is “Describe a Time When You Were Really Close to a Wild Animal”. To Describe this topic you can answer the questions: What was that animal? Where have you seen it? What does it like to eat? And clarify how you felt when you saw it. Answers this way will give a structure to follow, giving a good impression on the examiner evaluating you.

Follow-up questions:-

1. Do you like animals or not?
2. In your country, What attitudes do people have towards wild as well as domestic animals?
3. Which is your favourite animal and why?

Also Read:- Describe an Occasion when You Wasted Your Time: Cue Card Topic for IELTS Exam

6.Describe a Time when You had to Wait in a Long Line

To speak on such a topic “Describe a Time when You had to Wait in a Long Line” you can keep in mind these questions to make your answers accordingly: When did it happen? How long was the line?, What was the reason for the line? and how were you feeling that time? Following these questions, you can get a structured answer that will impress the examiner

Follow-up questions:-

1. Will you give your spot to an old, pregnant or injured person?
2. How can we eliminate the problem of huge waiting lines?
3. Was there a need for large lines or the process can be made easier without troubling anybody?

Criteria for Evaluation?

If you think that you are evaluated on the basis of your English fluency then you are wrong, because there are various criteria on the basis of which you are evaluated. You need to keep these criteria in mind while you are describing a topic and answer the follow-up questions. So the component that you have to keep in mind for the speaking section is:-

• Use of a wide range of grammatical structure.
• Use correct pronunciation.
• Use of vocabulary:- try to use decent words, neither very unique nor very common words.
• Use of voice module:- avoid using only one tone of voice, as it becomes boring.
• Use idioms that give a great impression in front of the examiner.
• Don’t use fillers like:- umm, ahh, and, like, so.
• Instead of fillers use the right pause at the right time.
• Don’t memorize answers given for the topic, be authentic.

Conclusion

When you are preparing for the IELTS speaking section, you can practice as much as you can from these cue card topics mentioned above in the article. You also have to know about the structure of the speaking section in which you are given 14-15 mins. Speaking questions for IELTS are explained in this article. The structure of the speaking section is divided into 3 parts:- introduction, topic, and follow-up questions. You will get a description of all these 3 parts in the article below. You are also acquainted with some of the interesting topics that you can be given in the IELTS exams and how you can answer these questions, along with their follow-up questions that are asked after the second part of the IELTS speaking section.