IELTS Speaking / IELTS speaking Part 1

IELTS speaking Part 1: the first four minutes, done right

Part 1 is designed to be easy. That is exactly why one-word answers and memorised openings stand out.

Updated August 2026

Part 1 is four to five minutes of questions about your own life: where you live, what you do, what you like. The examiner checks your identity, then works through two or three familiar topic sets at a brisk pace — three or four questions each, no tricks, no traps. Because the content is easy, the scoring pressure sits entirely on how you answer: a one-word reply gives the examiner nothing to score, and a memorised self-introduction gets interrupted because examiners are trained to cut through scripts. The target register is two to four natural sentences — answer, reason, small example — delivered like conversation, not recitation. This page lists the current Part 1 topic sets, shows the extension pattern on real questions, and covers the pacing: the examiner will move on quickly, and that is normal, not a bad sign.

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The process

  1. 1Identity check and greeting — one sentence answers, relax.
  2. 2Topic set one (often home, hometown, or work/studies): 3-4 questions.
  3. 3Answer in 2-4 sentences: direct answer + reason + example.
  4. 4Topic set two (interests: food, hobbies, weather, technology): same pattern.
  5. 5Do not fear interruption — brisk movement between questions is the designed pace.
  6. 6No opinions to defend yet — save the argument energy for Part 3.

What Part 1 is for

It is a warm-up for both sides: the examiner calibrates their ear to how you speak, and you settle into the rhythm of the test before the harder parts arrive.

The current topic sets

Two or three sets from the familiar-topic pool, three or four questions each, covering areas like home, work or studies, food, hobbies, weekends and technology.

The extension pattern

Answer, reason, example — worked on a real question: not just ‘yes’, but what, why, and a small concrete detail that shows genuine, unrehearsed language.

The two mark-losers

One-word answers give the examiner nothing to score. Memorised openings get interrupted, because examiners are trained to recognise and cut through rehearsed speeches.

Pace and nerves

The examiner moves briskly between questions by design — that is normal pacing, not a signal that something went wrong. Expect it, and keep answering at the same conversational pace regardless.

Real questions

Grouped by area.

Home

“Do you live in a house or a flat?”
“What would you change about your home?”

Work/studies

“Do you work or are you a student?”
“Why did you choose this field?”

Food

“What kind of food do you like most?”
“Did you eat differently as a child?”

Hobbies

“What do you do in your free time?”
“Is there a new hobby you would like to try?”

Weekends

“What do you usually do at the weekend?”
“Is the weekend long enough for you?”

Photos, weather and friends

“Do you like taking photos?”
“Do you prefer hot or cold weather?”
“Do you prefer one close friend or many friends?”

Pricing

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FAQs

How long should Part 1 answers be?

Two to four sentences — long enough to show language, short enough to stay conversational.

Can I ask the examiner to repeat a question?

Yes, once per question is fine and costs nothing; a natural ‘Sorry, could you say that again?’ is itself good English.

Do first impressions in Part 1 decide my score?

Scoring runs across the whole test, but Part 1 sets your rhythm — candidates who warm up here speak better in Parts 2 and 3.

Should I prepare a self-introduction?

No — there is no ‘introduce yourself’ task; memorised openings get interrupted.

What if my life is boring?

Content is not scored; language is. ‘I just work and sleep, honestly — my job takes most of my energy because...’ is a scoreable answer.

Sources

IELTS.org: Academic Speaking Format ↗IELTS.org: Sample Test Questions ↗

More IELTS speaking guides

IELTS speaking hubIELTS speaking mock testIELTS speaking questions and topicsIELTS speaking Part 2 & cue cardsIELTS speaking band descriptors & scoringIELTS speaking Part 3

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