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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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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?

If you want to practice Part 1, check out our IELTS part 1 questions!

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2 Responses

  1. IELTS Part 1 Speaking Questions - Oscar Lessons
    July 17, 2021

    […] If you want to practice Part 1, check out our IELTS part 2 and 3 speaking questions! […]

  2. Grammar and Vocabulary Lesson - Slang Relative Clauses - 1 hour -
    July 17, 2021

    […] How about some more grammar lessons? […]

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