IELTS Part 2 and 3 Speaking Questions
The Task 2 Speaking Question is often one of the most challenging parts of the IELTS for students. It is the long-turn question. Students must prepare the question for 1 minute, then speak for 1-2 minutes. To improve students’ confidence in this area, you can practice these questions in class, or alternatively, have students record their answers for homework. Task 3 is like a conversation with the examiner/teacher and follows the topic set in Task 2.
Nervous
- TASK 2: Talk about a time when you felt really nervous.
- You should say…
- what the situation was
- why you felt nervous
- how you calmed yourself down
- what you learned from the situation
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- What are some ways to deal with nervousness?
- What makes people nervous at work?
- Do bosses have a duty to make the work environment less stressful?
- What makes people nervous at school?
- Is there too much pressure on children nowadays to do well at school?
- Are people more or less anxious than they were in the past? Why?
Furniture
- TASK 2: Describe a piece of furniture that you use all the time.
- You should say…
- what this piece of furniture is
- what it looks like
- when you use it
- how important this piece of furniture is to you
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- Do our homes look the same now as they did in the past?
- Do old people and young people use the same type of furniture?
- Is the type of furniture at school and work the same as the furniture we use in houses?
- Is comfort the most important aspect of a piece of furniture?
- Why do some people prefer a minimalist style while some people prefer to have lots of furniture in their house?
- Is it common nowadays to build your own furniture?
Resolutions
- TASK 2: Talk about a New Year’s resolution that you have made.
- You should say…
- what the resolution was
- why you made it
- whether or not you kept the resolution
- whether you thought it was a good resolution
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- Is it common to make New Year’s resolutions in your culture?
- Are there any other situations where people make promises to themselves besides New Year’s?
- What are the most popular types of resolutions that people make?
- Do most people keep their resolutions? Why or why not?
- Why is it sometimes difficult to keep resolutions?
- Is it easier for people to keep promises to themselves or promises to other people? Why?
Performance
- TASK 2: Describe an interesting performance you saw.
- You should say…
- what type of performance it was
- when you saw it
- who you saw it with
- whether you liked the performance or not
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- What are some common types of performances in your country?
- Are there any traditional performances in your country?
- Is it more common to be involved in performances as a child or adult? Why?
- Are performances important to a culture? Why or why not?
- Some people are afraid of performing. What are some ways to get over stage fright?
- Are street performances culturally significant? Why or why not?
Difficult Class
- TASK 2: Talk about a difficult class or course you took.
- You should say…
- what the class was
- when you took it
- why you took it
- why it was difficult
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- What types of classes are common in your country’s high schools?
- Is it the teacher’s job to make sure that a class isn’t too difficult?
- What are some ways that students can deal with difficult classes
- Is it common in your culture to talk to the teacher about your problems in class? Why or why not?
- In the future, will all classes be online?
- Are online classes as good as face-to-face classes? Why or why not?
Handcrafts
- TASK 2: Describe a time when you had to make something by hand.
- You should say…
- what you had to make
- why you had to make it
- if you made the object successfully
- how you felt about the process
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- Are hand-made gifts popular nowadays?
- Some people believe handcrafts are more valuable than products made in a factory. Is that true?
- Does your country have any traditional handcrafts?
- Should children learn to make things by hand at school?
- Is it important to learn to write by hand or is typing more important? Why?
- Is sewing an important skill? Why or why not?
Friends
- TASK 2: Talk about one of your childhood friends.
- You should say…
- where you met this friend
- what this person looked/looks like
- what this person was/is like
- why you liked/like this person
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- Is it easier to make friends as a child or as an adult? Why?
- How has the internet impacted the way people connect to other people?
- Do people value friendships or are friends replaceable?
- What are the best places to make friends? Why?
- What are the best personality traits for friends to have?
- Has social media affected the quality of our friendships?
Natural Areas
- TASK 2: Describe a natural area near your home.
- You should say…
- where is this place
- what it looks like
- what you can do there
- whether or not you like this place and why
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- Do people value nature these days? Why or why not?
- Is it important to preserve natural areas?
- What can governments do to preserve natural areas?
- Are natural areas good for practicing hobbies? Why or why not?
- Some people think green spaces in cities are a waste of limited space. Do you agree?
- What are some environmental problems in your country?
Reading
- TASK 2: Talk about a time when you read something that impacted you emotionally.
- You should say…
- what you read
- what it was about
- how it made you feel
- why it made you feel that way
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- How has the internet changed our reading habits?
- Will print books eventually be a thing of the past?
- Some people believe that today’s children are facing a literacy crisis. Is that true?
- Do adults often read for pleasure? Why or why not?
- How have e-readers changed the way we read?
- Is it more important to read novels or to read the news? Why?
Generation Gap
- TASK 2: Talk about a time when you felt there was a big generation gap with another person.
- You should say…
- what happened
- why you felt there was a generation gap
- how you reacted during the situation
- how you felt
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- What are some ways that different generations act differently?
- How can people deal with generation gaps in families?
- What are some problems that might arise from generation gaps at work?
- Do different generations have different definitions of politeness?
- What are some positive aspects of interacting with people of different generations?
- Are people respectful of the elderly in your country? Why or why not?
Hard-Working
- TASK 2: Talk about someone you know who is very hard-working.
- You should say…
- who this person is.
- how you know this person.
- why you feel that they are hard-working
- what this person does.
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- Who is more hard-working: students or workers? Why?
- What are some jobs that require a lot of hard work? Why?
- Were people more hard-working in the past than they are now? Why?
- What personality traits do companies look for when they are hiring new people? Why?
- Some people believe that success in business is more about being lucky than hard-working. Do you agree? Why?
Inside Hobbies
- TASK 2: Describe a hobby that can be done inside the house.
- You should say…
- what this hobby is.
- how to do this hobby.
- why it can be done inside the house.
- if you like this hobby and why or why not.
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- Which is more popular: indoor or outdoor hobbies? Why?
- What is the most popular hobby in your country? Why is it popular?
- Do men and women have the same hobbies? Why or why not?
- What are some hobbies which were popular in the past, but which are no longer popular? Why has the popularity of those hobbies changed?
- Do we have more or less time for hobbies nowadays? Why?
Animals
- TASK 2: Describe an animal which is very useful.
- You should say:
- what this animal is.
- why it is useful.
- what you know about this animal.
- if you have a lot of experience with this animal and why or why not.
- You should say:
- TASK 3:
- Should people have pets? Why or why not?
- What are some types of animals that are common in your country?
- What are some ways in which people can protect wild animals?
- Should the government be doing more to protect wild animals? If yes, what can they do? If no, why not?
- Are zoos important? Why or why not?
Adventurous
- TASK 2: Describe a time when you did something adventurous.
- You should say…
- what you did.
- why it was adventurous
- how you felt.
- if you would do it again and why.
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- Is it good to take risks? Why or why not?
- Who is more adventurous: younger people or older people? Why?
- Is it important to take risks at work? Why or why not?
- What are some examples of risky jobs?
- Should we encourage children to be adventurous? Why or why not?
TV Show
- TASK 2: Describe a TV show that you have seen or heard about.
- You should say…
- what the TV show was/is about.
- how the TV show made/makes you feel.
- if you liked/like the show and why or why not.
- if you would recommend this show.
- You should say…
- TASK 3:
- Is watching TV a good hobby? Why or why not?
- What is the most popular way to watch TV nowadays? (On TV, on your phone, through a streaming service…?”
- Some people say that TV shows are becoming more violent in recent years. Is that true?
- Is it possible to learn something from a TV show? Why or why not?
- What is the most popular type of TV show in your country? Why?
