IELTS Speaking Recent Questions

Describe a time that something changed your life in good ways

You should say:

• what the change was about
• when it happened 
• how it happened
• and describe how it affected you later in life.

Follow-up Questions-

• What changes do you want to make in your life?

• Do you believe we can control our own fate? How?

• What three changes you would want to see in your country?

•  Do you think changes are always good? [Why/ Why not]?

• What are some of the significant changes that usually occur to people in their lives?

Describe a foreigner who speaks your native language very well

You should say: 

• who this person is
• when and where you met this person
• What you like /dislike about this person
• And explain how that person has learned this language.

  Follow-up Questions-

•  Have you learnt a foreign language? Why?

•  Do you want to become a foreign language teacher in the future? Why?

•  Why do some people learn fast while others are slow?

•  Do you think grammar is important when you learn a foreign language? Why?

•  Do you think that people learn more languages now than they used to learn in the past?

Describe a person who always has interesting ideas or opinions 

 You should say:

• Who is this person?
• How do you know this person?
• What kinds of ideas and opinions does he have?
• How do you think of this person?

 Follow-up Questions-

• Can we solve real-life problems?

• Who has better ideas: young or old people?

• When do you think children start to have their own opinions?

• Are children’s opinions influenced by their parents?

• How do inventors or philosophers come up with new ideas?

Describe a house or apartment you would like to live in.

 You should say:

• where it is / Where it would be
• what you would (like to) do there
• who you would (like to) live therewith
• And explain why you would like to live in this place.

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you think it’s better to rent or to buy a place to live in?

• How easy is it to find a place to live in your country?

• Do you agree that there is a right age for young adults to stop living with their parents?

• What options are available to young couples looking for accommodation in your country?

• What are some of the pleasures involved in making a home for ourselves?

Describe an interesting animal you have seen

You should say:

• What animal it was
• When and Where you saw it
• And explain how you feel about this animal

Follow-up Questions-

• What kind of animals do people have in their homes?

• A lot of animals are getting extinct these days. What do you think about this? Why is it happening?

• Earlier people used animals for their work. Now, what do people use to do their work?

• Researches are being conducted on animals, is this a good idea?

Describe a crowded place you’ve been to

You should say:

• when you went there
• where the place is (or, was)
• who you went therewith
• And explain how you felt about the place.

Follow-up Questions-

• Why do a lot of people enjoy going to crowded places?

• Where (or what) would you say is the most crowded place in your city?

• Would you say it’s important for a city to have amusement (and/or recreational) facilities?

• Why do you think people choose to live in big cities (despite certain problems)?

• How do you think cities overseas are different from those in your country?

• Would you say urban planning is important?

Describe a town where you live in future

You should say-

• Where is it?
• How do you know about this city?
• What is it famous for?
• Why would you like to live there?

Follow-up Questions-

• What challenges do you think people might face in such a futuristic city?

• How do you think social life would be different in Neon Haven compared to today’s cities?

• Do you think traditional jobs will still exist in a highly automated town like this?

• How do you imagine education would work in this future city?

• What kind of entertainment and recreational activities do you think would be available in Neon Haven?

Describe an activity that waste your time 

You should say:

• What is that activity?
• When do you usually do it?
• What makes you do it?
• And explain why you feel it wastes your time.

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you think social media is always a waste of time, or does it have some benefits?

• How can people control their social media usage to avoid wasting time?

• What are some productive alternatives to scrolling through social media?

• Have you ever tried taking a break from social media? How did it affect you?

• Do you think social media addiction will become worse in the future? Why or why not?

Describe your favorite weather

You should say:

• What kind of weather it is?
• When this weather usually occurs?
• What do you usually do during this weather?
• Explain how this weather affects you?
• And explain why you like this type of weather

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you think weather affects people’s moods and productivity? How?

• What kind of weather do most people in your country prefer?

• How does climate change impact the weather patterns in your region?

• What are some activities that are best enjoyed in your favorite weather?

• If you could live in a place with your favorite weather all year round, where would it be?

Describe a restaurant that you enjoyed going to

You should say:

• Where the restaurant was?
• Why you chose this restaurant?
• What type of food you ate in this restaurant?

Follow-up Questions-

• What do you think makes a restaurant experience memorable?

• Do you prefer trying new restaurants or sticking to familiar ones? Why?

• How important is the ambiance of a restaurant compared to the food quality?

• Have you ever had a bad experience at a restaurant? What happened?

• If you could open your own restaurant, what type of food would you serve?

Describe a foreign culture that you like Cue Card

You should say:

• What culture it is ?
• How do you know about it ?
• What differences there are between that culture and your own ?
• Explain why you like that foreign culture ?

Follow-up Questions-

• What aspects of Italian culture do you find most interesting?

• How is Italian cuisine different from the food in your country?

• Do you think Italian fashion and art have influenced global culture? How?

• How important is family in Italian culture compared to your own?

• What Italian traditions or festivals would you like to experience?

• Do you think you would easily adapt to the Italian way of life? Why or why not?

• How does the concept of “La Dolce Vita” (the sweet life) influence Italian people’s lifestyle?

• If you had the chance to visit Italy, which places would you love to explore and why?

Describe a time of the day you like

You should say:

• what is it?
• what you do at that time?
• how it is different from other parts of the day?
• Why it is your favourite part of the day?

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you think waking up early has benefits? Why or why not?

• How does your morning routine affect the rest of your day?

• Do you prefer mornings or nights? Why?

• How does the environment in the morning differ from the evening in your city?

• What activities do you think are best done in the early morning?

• Have you ever struggled to wake up early? How did you overcome it?

• Do you think people in modern society wake up later than before? Why?

• If you could change your daily schedule, would you make your mornings longer? Why or why not?

Describe a risk you have taken

You should say:

• What it was?
• Why you took it?
• What the result was?
• How you felt about it?

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you think taking risks is important for personal growth? Why or why not?

• What do you think is the biggest challenge people face when taking risks?

• How do you usually decide whether or not to take a risk?

• Do you prefer taking calculated risks or spontaneous ones? Why?

• Have you ever regretted taking a risk? What did you learn from that experience?

• How do you manage fear when taking a big risk?

• What role does support from others play when you take a risk?

• Do you think some risks are not worth taking? Can you give an example?

Describe an advertisement that you remember

You should say:

• When and where you saw it?
• What was advertised?
• Explain why you remember it well?

Follow-up Questions-

• How important is emotional connection in advertisements?

• Do you think advertisements are more effective when they focus on emotions or product features?

• Can you remember any advertisements that have changed your buying decisions?

• Why do you think some advertisements stay with us for years?

• What role do celebrities or famous characters play in making advertisements memorable?

• How do you feel about advertisements that focus on social causes or charity?

• Have you ever disliked an advertisement? What made it less effective?

• How do you think advertisements have changed with the rise of social media?

Describe a long car journey you went on 

You should say:

• Where did you go?
• What did you do at that place?
• Who did you go there with?
• Explain why you went on that journey by car?

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you prefer traveling by car or by public transport? Why?

• What are the benefits of going on a road trip compared to flying?

• Have you ever had any challenges or surprises during a long car journey?

• How do you make a long car journey more enjoyable?

• Do you think road trips are better for relaxation or adventure?

• Would you like to go on a road trip to a place you’ve never been before? Where?

• What are some important things to carry on a long car journey?

• How do you think traveling by car enhances the experience of a destination?

Describe a time when you talked to a foreign tourist who was visiting your country.

You should say:

• when and where it was
• why you talked to this tourist
• what you talked about

Follow-up Questions-

• Have you ever traveled to a foreign country and talked to a local? What was your experience like?

• Do you think people should make an effort to talk to tourists in their country? Why?

• What are the challenges tourists might face when visiting your country?

• What kind of things do you think tourists like to know about local culture when they visit?

• How can you help tourists feel more comfortable in your country?

• Do you think speaking English helps when communicating with tourists? Why?

• What are the most common questions tourists ask when they visit your city?

• Would you like to visit a foreign country as a tourist? What places would you like to explore?

Describe an important day in your life.

You should say:

• when it was
• what happened on that day
• how it affected you

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you think graduation day is important for everyone? Why or why not?

• How did you celebrate your graduation?

• What impact did your graduation have on your career choices?

• Do you think your perspective on life changed after graduation? How?

• What was the most memorable moment during your graduation day?

• How did your family react when you graduated?

• What advice would you give to someone preparing for graduation?

• Do you think it’s important to celebrate big achievements in life? Why?

Describe an exciting book that you enjoyed reading.

You should say:

• what book it was
• when you read it
• why you enjoyed reading it
• and explain why this book was so exciting to you.

Follow-up Questions-

• What other books by J.R.R. Tolkien have you read?

• How do you think “The Hobbit” compares to “The Lord of the Rings”?

• Do you prefer reading fantasy books or books from other genres? Why?

• What qualities do you think make a book exciting?

• Did reading “The Hobbit” inspire you to explore more fantasy literature?

• Do you think adventure stories have an impact on personal growth? How?

• What was your favorite scene or character from “The Hobbit”?

• If you could visit one place from “The Hobbit,” where would you go and why?

Describe a time when you tried to do something but weren’t very successful.

You should say:

• when it was
• what you tried to do
• why you were not successful in doing it
• and explain how you felt about it.

Follow-up Questions-

• Have you tried to learn any other skills that were challenging for you?

• How do you handle frustration when you’re not succeeding at something?

• What do you think is the key to succeeding when learning a new skill?

• Do you believe that patience is important when learning something difficult? Why?

• Have you ever given up on something completely? Why?

• What strategies do you use to stay motivated when you’re not seeing progress?

• How do you feel when you finally achieve something you’ve struggled with for a while?

• Do you think failure is a necessary part of the learning process? Why?

Describe a special occasion when you had a really enjoyable meal.

You should say:

• what the occasion was
• who was at the meal
• what was served and what you ate
• and explain why the meal was so enjoyable.

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you think sharing a meal with family makes it more enjoyable? Why?

• What kind of meals do you usually enjoy during family gatherings?

• Have you ever cooked a special meal for someone? How did it feel?

• Do you believe that food plays an important role in celebrations? Why?

• What’s your favorite dish to have during a special occasion?

• How do you think food helps in building bonds and creating memories?

• Do you like trying new dishes or sticking to traditional favorites at meals?

• What role does the atmosphere play in making a meal more enjoyable?

Describe a second language that you have learned.

You should say:

• what language it is
• how you learned it
• how fluent you are in this language
• and explain how this language is useful to you now.

Follow-up Questions-

• Why did you choose to learn Spanish as your second language?

• How do you practice your second language on a regular basis?

• Do you find it easier to learn a second language as an adult or a child? Why?

• Have you ever been to a Spanish-speaking country? What was your experience like?

• What are the challenges you face while speaking a second language?

• How do you think learning a second language has affected your cognitive abilities?

• Do you plan to learn any other languages in the future? Which one and why?

• How do you feel when you speak in your second language with native speakers?

Describe something you liked very much which you bought for your home.

You should say:

• what you bought
• when and where you bought it
• why you chose this particular thing

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you enjoy shopping for furniture? Why or why not?

• What factors do you consider when buying furniture for your home?

• How important is comfort to you when choosing home items?

• Do you prefer modern or traditional furniture styles? Why?

• Have you ever bought something for your home that you later regretted? What was it?

• How do you feel about making large purchases for your home?

• Do you like decorating your living space with things that have sentimental value?

• How has your home décor changed over the years?

Describe an item of clothing that someone gave to you.

You should say:

• what type of clothing it was
• who gave it to you
• why this person gave it to you

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you enjoy receiving handmade gifts? Why or why not?

• Have you ever given someone a handmade item of clothing?

• What type of clothing do you usually wear for comfort?

• How important is the sentimental value of a gift to you?

• Do you prefer receiving clothing as a gift or other types of items?

• Do you think personalized gifts are more meaningful than regular gifts? Why?

• How do you feel about clothing that is passed down from family members?

• What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever received?

Describe your favourite season.

You should say:

• what season it is
• how long it lasts
• what are some distinct features of this season
• and explain why this is your favourite season.

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you prefer the cold or warm months of the year? Why?

• How do you usually spend your time during autumn?

• Do you like the changes in nature during autumn? What is your favorite part?

• Are there any specific festivals or holidays you enjoy during autumn?

• Do you think autumn has a particular mood or atmosphere? How would you describe it?

• Do you enjoy autumn-themed foods or drinks? Which ones are your favorites?

• How do you feel when the season changes from autumn to winter?

• Do you like the changes in your daily routine that come with the change in seasons?

Describe a website you have bought something from.

You should say:

• what the website is
• what you bought from this website
• how satisfied you were with what you bought
• and explain what you liked or disliked about using this website.

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you usually read reviews before making a purchase online? Why or why not?

• What factors do you consider when deciding where to buy something online?

• Have you ever had a negative experience buying something online? What happened?

• Do you prefer shopping in physical stores or online stores? Why?

• What are the advantages of buying things from websites like Amazon?

• Do you think shopping online is more convenient than shopping in person? Why?

• How do you feel about the return policies when shopping online?

• What are your favorite types of items to buy online?

Describe an experience when you played an indoor game with others.

You should say:

• when it was
• what game you played
• who you played with
• and explain how much you enjoyed playing this indoor game.

Follow-up Questions-

• What’s your favorite board game to play with friends or family?

• Do you think playing indoor games is a good way to bond with others? Why?

• How do you feel when you win or lose a game like Monopoly?

• Have you ever had any memorable moments while playing board games? What happened?

• Do you prefer playing competitive games or cooperative games? Why?

• How do you feel about playing games with new people who don’t know the rules?

• Do you think playing games like Monopoly helps improve certain skills? What are they?

• What other indoor activities do you enjoy with friends or family?

Describe some local news that people in your locality are interested in.

You should say:

• what the news is
• how you know about this news
• how the news involves your locality
• and explain why people in your area are interested in the news.

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you think parks and green spaces are important for cities? Why?

• How do you feel about the development of new public spaces in your area?

• What kinds of activities do you think will be most popular in the new park?

• How do you stay updated on local news and events in your area?

• Have you ever been involved in a community project like this before? What was your experience?

• Do you think urban renewal projects positively affect the local community? Why?

• How important is it for neighborhoods to have spaces for socializing and recreation?

• What other kinds of developments or improvements would you like to see in your locality?

Describe a person who has apologized to you.

You should say:

• when it was
• who the person was
• why this person apologized to you
• and explain how you felt about it.

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you believe in forgiving people when they apologize? Why or why not?

• How do you feel when someone apologizes sincerely to you?

• Have you ever had to apologize to someone for something you did? How did you feel?

• What do you think makes a good apology?

• Do you think it’s harder to apologize or accept an apology? Why?

• How do you usually react when someone apologizes to you?

• Do you think apologies can truly heal a relationship? Why or why not?

• Have you ever forgiven someone who didn’t apologize?

Describe an interesting conversation you had with someone you never knew before.

You should say:

• who this person was
• what type of conversation you had
• how you met this person and how the conversation started
• and explain how you felt about having this conversation with a stranger.

Follow-up Questions-

• Do you enjoy meeting new people and having conversations with strangers? Why or why not?

• How do you feel when you meet someone from a different culture or background?

• Do you think talking to strangers can help broaden your perspective? Why?

• What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned from a stranger?

• Have you ever had a conversation that changed the way you think about something?

• Do you prefer casual or deep conversations with people you meet for the first time?

• Have you ever had an unexpected connection with someone you met briefly?

• How do you usually start a conversation with someone you don’t know?

Describe a software that you often use.

You should say:

• what it is
• what you use it for
• what benefits it brings to you
• and explain why this is an important software for you.

Follow-up Questions-

• How did you first learn about Autodesk Maya?

• What other software do you use for animation or design work?

• Do you prefer using Maya over other animation tools? Why or why not?

• How long did it take for you to become comfortable using Maya?

• What features of Maya do you find most useful for character animation?

• Do you think learning software like Maya is essential for a career in animation? Why?

• What challenges have you faced while using Maya?

• What types of projects do you plan to work on using Maya in the future?