Unusual IELTS speaking part 1 topics

October 9, 2023February 6, 2020 by Ray IELTS Focus

Tricky or strange IELTS part 1 speaking topics.

Updated: September 2023

Part 1 of the IELTS speaking test is actually the easiest. The topics are always about you and your experiences. Usually, the topics are pretty easy everyday topics such as job, studies, hobbies, accommodation, travel, hometown, music, daily routine, pets and so on. The examiner asks between 9 to 12 questions based around 3 topics and this part of the test lasts around 5 minutes.

However, the examiner will often ask you questions around an unusual topic. This is quite normal as the examiner wants to check whether you have memorised answers to the most common topics and needs to evaluate your true ability. Do not memorise stock answers as the examiner is trained to spot these and you could lose marks.

Paraphrasing in IELTS speaking

October 9, 2023December 6, 2019 by Ray IELTS Focus

The key to a higher score in IELTS speaking is paraphrasing.

Updated: September 2023

You are probably aware that paraphrasing is a key skill in IELTS writing and is important for a good Band score if it’s done skillfully, but what about in the speaking section of the exam?

In the IELTS speaking Band descriptors for Band 7 lexical resource, it says: ‘uses paraphrase effectively’ and for Band 4 lexical resource it mentions: ‘rarely attempts to paraphrase’. So clearly this is important to consider when you are in the IELTS speaking exam.

Common questions about IELTS speaking

October 9, 2023September 5, 2018 by Ray IELTS Focus

18 commonly asked questions about the IELTS speaking test.

Updated: September 2023.

There is a lot of misinformation, wrong advice, and myths out there surrounding IELTS writing and speaking, so hopefully, this blog post should help clear up any confusion before you go into the IELTS exam. This post goes over common misconceptions and common questions about the speaking part of IELTS. Click on the blue buttons to see the answers to the questions.

If there are any questions not listed or if you have any suggestions, leave a comment in the comments section at the bottom of this post. I will try to answer them for you.

IELTS Speaking part 1 topics and example responses.

October 9, 2023July 21, 2017 by Ray IELTS Focus

Common topics and model responses for IELTS speaking part 1.

In part one of the speaking test, you will be asked questions on 3 different topics. There could be up to 12 questions. It lasts about 4 to 5 minutes.

The topics are pretty general and are mainly about you. The aim of this part of the test is to get you to speak in a natural way without hesitation. If you are memorising answers or scripts, the examiner will notice that and you could lose points. Make sure you speak naturally.