IELTS – Test 1 – Speaking

• Part 1: A few short questions about you and everyday things (4–5 minutes).
• Part 2: One topic for a cue card. You have one minute to get ready and two minutes to talk.
• Part 3: A more in-depth talk that builds on Part 2 (about 4–5 minutes).

What goes on in Part 1?

• The person who is testing you looks at your ID and asks for your name.
• Then they bring up topics by saying things like “Let’s talk about…”
• You usually get three topics, and each one has a few questions.

How to give a good answer (Part 1):

• Write more than one sentence, like two to four.
• Give a reason (“because…”) and a short example.
• Don’t memorize; speak naturally.

What goes on in Part 2?

You get a cue card that says:

• the main point
• bullet points to add
• a last question: “explain why/how”

You have one minute to plan and then one to two minutes to talk. The point is to show that you can talk for a long time and make your ideas clear.

Tips for planning (1 minute):

• Don’t write full sentences; just write keywords.
• Keep it simple: Past → Details → Result → Thinking about it
• Think of one or two quick examples to back up what you’re saying.

What goes on in Part 3?

Part 3 is related to Part 2, but it gets less specific and more general (society, trends, pros and cons, causes and effects).

How to give a good answer (Part 3):

• Use a clear structure: opinion, reason, example, and short conclusion.
• Look at: “In the past…, but now…”
• Balance: “On one hand… on the other hand…”