SAMPLE IELTS SPEAKING TEST 5

PART 1 

How often do you go shopping?

I don’t go shopping very often. Well, I generally stop at a store a few times a week to pick up something small, pens, maybe, or something like that, my everyday needs. But I don’t make major shopping trips very often, maybe once a month, maybe even less than that. I just don’t need to buy very many things.

What kinds of shops are there in your neighbourhood?

My neighbourhood is residential, so there are very few businesses. We have a small grocery store. It has a limited assortment of things for sale, and they’re more expensive than at a supermarket, so we really just use that store for convenience. We use it when we need only one or two things and don’t want to go all the way to the supermarket, which is farther away. We also have a drugstore and a small bookstore that sells newspapers and magazines as well as books. Those are all the shops we have. We usually have to go to another part of the city to go shopping.

What kinds of things do you usually shop for?

I don’t have to shop for groceries or anything for the house because my mother does that, so I just have to buy the things I need. Once or twice a year I buy a clothes I need for school. Besides that, I like to buy CDs and DVDs and things for my computer, and I have to buy the things I need for school, books and pens and things like that.

Do you enjoy shopping? Why or why not?

I don’t think shopping is very interesting. If I need something, I buy it. If I don’t need anything, there’s no reason to go to the store. I know some people think of shopping like a hobby or a sport, but I don’t. I just think of it as a necessity. Well, sometimes I like to go to the store and look through the music and movies that are for sale, just because I like to look at them. Then sometimes I’ll buy a movie that maybe I hadn’t been planning on buying. But most of the time I never think about shopping unless there’s something I particularly need.

What are some of your favourite foods?

I like all different kinds of foods. I especially like to try foods from different countries. I like dishes that are severed with rice and noodles and that have a lot of vegetables. I don’t like meat very much, I almost never eat it. I don’t like sweet things too much either.

Who does the cooking at your house?

My mother does almost all the cooking at my house. She’s a very good cook, and I always enjoy the meals she prepares. Sometimes I do some of the cooking, or one of my brothers or sisters might cook a meal occasionally. My mother has taught all of us to cook, so we help her out in the kitchen from time to time. But she does most of the cooking.

Do you prefer eating at home or in restaurants? Why?

I like eating at home because, as I said, my mother always prepares delicious meals. And usually it’s more convenient to eat at home. But I like eating in restaurants, too. To food is different, and it’s really fun to get together with my friends at a restaurant. But it’s also expensive to eat out, so I don’t do it very often.

What kinds of restaurants do you enjoy eating in?

I like eating in restaurants that specialize in food from other countries. I like to try all different kinds of foods. My favourite thing to do it to go to a restaurant that has a style of cooking I haven’t tried before and just choose something from the menu. Most of the time I end up with a dish I really like. It’s a fun adventure to try different kinds of food. We have a lot of different restaurants in my city, so I have a lot of opportunities to try new kinds of foods.

PART 2

I’ve always wanted to go to the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Australia. It’s a natural place, a place where you can see and learn about the natural world, specifically, about ocean life. I think it might be considered one of the wonders of the natural world. I would really like to have the opportunity to go driving there. I think it would be really fun and really interesting to go swimming among the coral reefs and see all the different kinds of animals that live there. There are thousands of species of animals and fish living there, as well as different kinds of coral. I’d like to go there because I’m interesting in marine biology. I’m interested in learning about ocean life, and the Great Barrier Reef is one of the best place to observe it. Also, I’ve never been driving, and I would really like to learn how. I’m thinking about getting a degree in marine biology, so learning to dive at the Great Barrier Reef would probably be a good way to start!

 PART 3 

What are some popular places to visit in your country? Why are they popular?

There are a lot of popular places to visit in my country. We have a lot of natural places that are interesting to see, we have historical sites, and we have some very nice beaches. One of my favourite places to visit is Mountain National Park. It’s a popular place for tourist to visit, mostly because it’s very beautiful. Also, it has something for everybody. There are some great hiking trails, there’s fishing in the rivers, there’s camping, and for people who like to take things easy, there’s road to the top of the mountain. You can drive to the top and see the spectacular views, or take a tour by bus. Then you can ride back to your hotel and be comfortable.

Why do people travel?

I think the biggest reason people travel is that changing is relaxing. If you follow the some routine at school or at work every day, then when you have a vacation, you want to do something different. Being in a different place can take your minds off the problems or boredom of your daily life. You can empty your minds of all those things and just relax. People like to take all different kinds of vacations. Some people like to go to other countries and see a different way of life. Some like outdoor adventures. Some like to relax on the beach or at a resort. But the one thing all these different ways of travelling have a common is that they all involve a change of scene from the traveler’s usual daily life.

Do you think parents should make a point of taking their children to see a variety of different places? Why or why not?

I think it’s very important for parents to take their children travelling. Children should learn from an early age that life everywhere isn’t the same as the life they know at home. That’s one thing that’s important to learn. The other thing is that travelling gives children the opportunity for different kinds of experiences. They can learn how to go camping, they can learn about art and history in museums, they can go on a boat and experience the ocean. Having different experiences like these is an important part of learning and growing up.

How do you think travel will be different in the future?

Sometimes I think people will have fewer opportunities to travel in the future. That’s because it seems that people are working longer and harder all the time and it seems that their vacation time is becoming shorter and shorter. In the future, I don’t think people will have the time to take long trips exploring other countries, or long hiking trips, or any kind of travelling that involves a lot of time. So maybe they’ll go to resorts more often, since that’s an easier way to travel.

SAMPLE IELTS SPEAKING TEST 4

When I was a child, I spent a great deal of time by the ocean. My family usually went to the ocean every summer. We spent two weeks there. Usually, my parents rented a small house for us right near the beach. We spent most of our time on the beach, swimming in the ocean and playing in the sand.

PART 1 

How much time have you spent by the ocean?

When I was a child, I spent a great deal of time by the ocean. My family usually went to the ocean every summer. We spent two weeks there. Usually, my parents rented a small house for us right near the beach. We spent most of our time on the beach, swimming in the ocean and playing in the sand. Some of my best childhood memories are of those days we spent our vacations by the ocean. These days, unfortunately, I don’t have much time to go to the ocean. I go when I can, but it’s not very often.

Why do people like being near the ocean?

One reason people like the ocean is that it’s very beautiful, no matter what the weather. When the day is calm, the ocean looks beautiful sparkling in the sun. when there’s a storm, the waves and color of the ocean are dramatic. I think people also like being near the ocean because there are so many fun thinks to do. You can swim, fish, ride in a boat, or just relax in the sun.

What do you like about the ocean?

The thing I like most about the ocean is swimming. I love the feel of salt water, and I like the fun and the challenge of swimming in the ocean waves. It’s so much better than swimming in a pool. The water in a pool is unnatural because it has chlorine, and the water is completely calm. It’s very boring. The ocean, on the other hand, is natural and exciting. It’s the best place to swim.

Would you like to live near the ocean?

Even though I love the ocean, I don’t think I would like to live near it. For one thing, towns near the ocean are usually crowded with tourists on vacation. Tourists at the beach are always in a relaxed, party mood. I think that’s fun sometimes, but I wouldn’t like to live around it all the time. Also, in towns near the ocean there often isn’t much to do besides go to the beach. I love the beach, but I prefer living in a city where there’s a wide variety of things to do and many more opportunities for jobs and studies and things like that.

Do you prefer to spend your leisure time indoors or outdoors?

I definitely prefer to spend my leisure time outdoors. I work all week in an office, so when the weekend comes, I want to spend as much time as possible outdoors in the sun and fresh air. It feels good to be outdoors, and there are a lot of outdoor activities that I enjoy doing.

Is there anything you don’t like about being outdoors?

I suppose sometimes it can be uncomfortable to be outdoors. I don’t like it when the weather is bad. I don’t like getting wet from the rain or too hot when the temperature is high. I don’t like to be outdoors when it’s mosquito season. That’s a very uncomfortable time! But usually these things aren’t much of a problem. Usually I feel very happy outdoors.

What are some activities you do outdoors?

I enjoy a lot of outdoor activities. I like walking, which is good because I live in a city and that’s a great way to be outdoors in a city. There are so many places to walk. I also like to go to the park with my friends. Sometimes, we bring food and have a picnic, and sometimes we just hand out and relax. Another thing I like doing outdoors is playing tennis. I play several times a week when the weather is nice.

What do you enjoy about these activities?

The first thing I like about these activities is that they’re outdoors. That’s why I do them. Another thing I like is that they’re relaxing. I can leave my worries behind at the office or at home and take a relaxing walk, or enjoy the nice weather in the park or a good tennis game. Also, they’re a good way to spend time with my friends. We enjoy walking together or being in the park together. I think we enjoy each other’s company more when we’re in a pleasant outdoor place rather than being in some crowed, noisy indoor place like a shopping mall.

PART 2

A book I read recently was Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. This is a well known novel written in the 1930s, and the main character, Scarlett O’Hara, is also well known. The novel takes place in the United States around the time of the Civil War. Partly it’s a romance novel, and it’s also about history and the effects of war. I decided to read it because I saw the movie, which is from the 1930s, too. I was going on vacation, and I always like to take along a nice, long novel to read when I travel. I really enjoyed the book at first. There are very interesting descriptions of life at that time, and it was also interesting to get an idea of what the Civil War was like, especially how it affected daily life. But I have to admit that after a while I got bored. I didn’t really like the main character. She kept doing the wrong thing and ruining her happiness. Since I’d seen the movie, I knew what was going to happen, so I didn’t finish the book.

PART 3 

Why do people read?

People read for a lot of different reasons. Leisure time reading is to pass the time in a relaxing way. I think it also helps people escape from reality. Readers can imagine they’re in the time and place they’re reading about and forget their own problems. Of course, not everybody has the habit of reading for leisure. Most people read for information. They read newspapers, magazines, and certain websites to know about and understand what’s going on in the world, what the news is. People also read books, manuals, or pamphlets to learn something they need to know for their jobs or to find out about something they need help with, for example, a health problem.

How important do you think reading is?

I think reading is extremely important. They say that people are reading less these days, and I think that’s serious problem. If people don’t read, either they’re uninformed, or they get their information for radio, TV, and the Web. I think it’s also really important to read for information. The process of reading develops the mind, and reading forces you to think. I think that people are generally more analytical about all the information they receive if reading is part of their lives.

What kinds of things are popular to read these days?

As far as books go, I think light reading is very popular. People seem to be reading certain novels that are entertaining but not very deep. I think people also enjoy reading about the lives of famous people, especially different celebrities. A lot of movie stars and athletes have published memoirs recently. These are the types of light reading I see around a lot

How do you think reading will be different in the future?

In the future, there may not be any books, magazines, or newspapers at all. Probably everything will be electronic. Most people will read things on the Internet, or they’ll have electronic devices like those new electronic readers. This might mean that it will be easier for people to have access to a large variety of things to read, so maybe they’ll read more.

SAMPLE IELTS SPEAKING TEST 3

There’s a huge shopping mall just outside my city. It’s one of the biggest in the country, and people come from all over, even from faraway place, to shop there. It has hundreds of stores of all different kinds. It also has restaurants, clubs, and movie theaters.

PART 1 

Describe a place in your city or town where you like to go in your free time.

There’s a huge shopping mall just outside my city. It’s one of the biggest in the country, and people come from all over, even from faraway place, to shop there. It has hundreds of stores of all different kinds. It also has restaurants, clubs, and movie theaters. It also has a couple of areas kind of like indoor parks where you can sit on benches and watch a water fountain. There’s a lot you can do there.

Why do you like to do there?

I like to go there because there are so many different things to do. Whatever I many need to buy, I can buy it there. If I want to get together with my friends, it’s a good place for us to meet. We have our choice of restaurants, movies, and clubs. It’s kind of like a little city all under one roof. I especially like to go there in the winter when it’s too cold to be outside.

Is there anything you don’t like about it?

I can only think of one thing I don’t like about it, and that’s the parking situation. The parking garage is very crowed and sometimes I spend a long time driving around looking for an empty spot. That really annoys me. They should have a system to let people know where the empty spaces are so we can go right to them without driving around and around.

Is it a popular place for people in your city? Why or why not?

It’s a very popular place for people in my city. The main reason is because there are so many different things to do and buy there. There’s something for everyone. Another reason people like it is because it’s all indoors. We live in a cold climate, and the winters can be very, very cold. No one likes to walk around outside then. If you go to the shopping mall, you don’t have to go outside to get from place to place.

Describe a park in your neighborhood or city.

There’s a small park at the end of my street. It has a fountain in the middle and a few benches where you can sit and relax. It also has a small garden. Some of the local neighbors plant flowers there every year.

What are some things people can do there?

It’s small park, so there’s not much to do there. It’s mostly there for looking pretty. You can sit on the benches and watch the water in the fountain. That’s relaxing. You can enjoy the flowers. It’s right next to the bus stop, so you can wait for the bus there, too.

Do you enjoy spending time there? Why or why not?

Yes, I like to go there when the weather is nice. After being inside all day at work, I like to go to the park on my way home. It’s a way to be outside for a little while. Sometimes I run into friends there. I’ve gotten to know some of my neighbors by spending time in the park, so that’s an advantage.

Are parks important? Why or why not?

Parks are very important in the city. Without parks, there wouldn’t be any nice outdoor places to spend time in. Parks add beauty to the city because they’re places where we can see trees and flowers. Larger parks also provide places for outdoor sports. Without parks, it would be difficult to do any outdoor activities in a city.

PART 2

A hobby I enjoy is painting. I can’t say I’m very artistic, but I like painting. I do watercolor painting, so there materials I need are paint and brushes, water, and special watercolor paper. I learned to paint by taking classes. Frankly, I can’t remember how I got the idea to lean to paint, but once I decided I wanted to do it, I looked for classes at the local community center. I’ve taken several painting classes there, and I’ve learned a lot. I enjoy painting because it’s very relaxing. When I paint, I can talk my mind off my work and off personal problems. I just think about my painting. I also like the challenge. It’s a challenge to try to make a painting look the way I want it to look. I work all the time to improve my technique. I’ve had a lot of frustrations, but when I feel like I’ve finally made a painting look the way I want it to look, I feel really happy. It’s a satisfying feeling. Another thing I like about painting is that it gives me something to hand on the walls of my apartment! Of course, I only hand up the successful paintings.

 PART 3 

Why do people have hobbies?

I think the biggest reason people have hobbies is to relax. Another reason is that people have different kinds of interests, and hobbies give them a way to pursue those interests. For example, I like art, so I paint as a hobby. People who like music might learn to play the guitar or sing in a local choir. People who like flowers might garden as a hobby. Hobbies give people ways to express different aspects of their personalities and develop different abilities.

SAMPLE IELTS SPEAKING TEST 2

When and how much leisure time do you generally have in a week? I have a normal work schedule, nine to five, Monday through Friday, so my leisure time is in the evenings and on the weekends. 

PART 1 

When and how much leisure time do you generally have in a week?

I have a normal work schedule, nine to five, Monday through Friday, so my leisure time is in the evenings and on the weekends.

Who do you generally spend our leisure time with?

I spend my evenings at home with my family. I rarely see other people during the week. On weekends, we might get together as a family with other families that have children the same age as ours. Sometimes on weekends, I have to chance to spend time with my own friends, without my family.

What are some activities you enjoy in your leisure time?

Sometimes I just like to sit and relax because I’m so tired after work. I also enjoy talking with my family and playing games with my children. On weekends we often enjoy going to the movies together. We also spend time at the park if the weather is nice.

What do you like about these activities?

For me, leisure time is important because it’s my time to relax and be with my family. I like playing games with my children because it gives me the chance to know them better and also to teach or guide them. Also, it’s fun. I enjoy my children. After we’ve seen a movie together, we always talk about it. It’s nice to share things like this with my family. It’s interesting to hear what my children think about and how they understand things.

What kinds of music do you like listening to?

I listen to music to relax, so I generally like slow, quite music. I often listen to classical music, and I like romantic music, too.

Have you learned to play a musical instrument? Why or why not?

When I was a child, I took piano lessons for about a year. I wasn’t very good at it, though, so I wasn’t motivated to continue or to try another instrument. I just don’t think I have musical talent. But I like listening to other people play music.

Tell me about any traditional music in your country

We mostly hear traditional music on holidays or at special festivals. It’s played with guitar and some other string instruments. Some of the songs are very pretty. I like it, but I don’t get the chance to hear it much since it’s just for special occasions. There are some traditional dances that go with the music, but hardly anyone knows them anymore.

Do you think that traditional music will be popular in the future? Why or why not?

These days our traditional music is played only by certain musicians who specialize in it. Not many people know how to play it or know the songs. Children learn a few of the songs in school, but that’s all. It’s very nice music but it isn’t commonly played or listened to now, so I think in the future it will be even less common. Unfortunately, it may soon die out. I think in the near future there won’t be any more left who knows how to play our traditional music

PART 2

I recently saw a movie called The Secret Garden. It talks place more than 100 years ago. It’s about a lonely little girl who is an orphan. She goes to live with an elderly relative in a big house in the country. There she discovers a garden that no one is allowed to enter. The movie is about how she discovers the secret history of the garden, and how she makes some friends in the process and isn’t lonely anymore. I saw the movie with my husband and child a few weeks ago. We saw it at the movie theater that’s near our house, where we often go to see movies. I really enjoyed this movie. It’s a nice story for children. It shows them some sad things in life – loneliness and loss, and some good things as well – friendship and gardens. It’s a little bit scary but not too scary, and the ending is very happy. The characters seem very real, and the actors are very good. The movie didn’t rely on special effects or fast action or loud music to hold child’s attention. Rather, it was a well-done movie with a good story. My children enjoyed it too and it gave us a lot to talk about afterward.

PART 3 

What kinds of movies are popular these days? Why do you think they are popular?

Romantic movies seen to be popular, and I think they always have been. Everybody dreams of romance, but since we often don’t have it in real life, we enjoy seeing it in the movies. Action movies are popular, too, and I think for the same reason – we don’t have much action in our lives, so we get it from watching movies.

What can we learn from watching movies?

From some movies we can learn about life in other places and other times, but we have to be careful about that because not all movies are factual. We can also learn about the same things we can learn from literature, themes like love, loss, overcoming difficulties, heroism, things like that.

How are movies different from live theater?

In the theater, everything takes place on the stage, so I think theater relies a lot more on the acting to convey the sense of place, the mood, and things like that. A movie is filmed in a real setting and can use real scenery not only to tell the story but also to convey mood, foreshadow events, and other things. Watching live theater is quite different from watching a movie, but I enjoy them both.

How do you think movies will be different in the future?

I think in the future movies will make much more use of computers. There will probably be more animated films. Special effects will be more elaborate and will probably be used a lot more. However, I think that the types of movies made aren’t going to change much. There will still be romance movies, action movies, sad movies, spy thrillers, all the same kinds of movies we enjoy now.

SAMPLE IELTS SPEAKING TEST 1

The neighborhood I live in is right outside of the city. It’s almost like living in the city, except that it has houses instead of apartment buildings. The houses are small with small yards. People in the neighborhood really like to garden, so there are a lot of flowers and nice plants.

PART 1 

Describe the neighborhood where you live.

The neighborhood I live in is right outside of the city. It’s almost like living in the city, except that it has houses instead of apartment buildings. The houses are small with small yards. People in the neighborhood really like to garden, so there are a lot of flowers and nice plants. It’s very pretty. We are near a bus stop, so it’s easy to get to the city. There are a few small stores that sell food and newspapers and things like that.

What do you like about living there?

What I like about my neighborhood is that it’s close to the city. It’s very easy to get to work. Also, it’s not very expensive. I can afford to live there and not spend all my money on rent.

What do you dislike about your neighborhood?

My neighborhood is in a boring area. If I want to do something interesting like go to a movie or a concert or if I want to shop at good stores, I have to go to the city. It’s quite, so it’s a good place to relax, but it’s not a good place to have fun.

What kind of neighborhood would you like to live in?

When I start making more money, I’m going to move into the city. I would like to live in a city neighborhood that’s full of activity. I’d to live near restaurants and stores and clubs. I’d like to live in a place where I can walk out my front door and be right in the middle of everything.

Do you like walking? Why or why not?

I don’t dislike walking but I can’t say that I particularly like it. I walk to the bus stop ever day, and I often walk to the store because it’s nearby. I walk to get places, but I never walk for fun. I don’t think it’s an interesting thing to do.

Are there places you can walk near your house?

There’s a nice park not far from my house. It has pretty gardens and some walking trails through the woods. A lot of my neighbors go there to take walks. It’s also easy to walk around my neighborhood because there are sidewalks everywhere.

Do people in your country like walking? Why or why not?

Walking is popular in my country. A lot of people walk for their health. In fact, there are walking clubs. Often, early in the mornings you can see groups of people walking around the neighborhood together. These are the walking clubs. The walk together every morning, I think.

What other kinds of exercise do you enjoy?

I never walk for exercise, but I enjoy bike riding. I often ride my bike on weekends. I go wherever I can find bike trails. There are a lot of them near where I live. When the weather is bad, I go the gym and use the exercise machines there. I really like doing that. I like to play soccer, too. I play it with my friends every week.

PART 2

My friend’s name is Bob. We’ve known each other most of our lives. We met in preschool when we were around four or five years old, and we’ve been friends ever since. We like to do a lot of things together. When we were little kids, we played a lot of different kinds of games together. In high school. We used to study together, but we don’t do that anymore because Bob isn’t studying business administration like I am. He’s studying law. We’re both busy with school and work, but we still get together often. It’s easy because we’re still living in the same city. We play soccer with some other friends at least once a week, and we go to the soccer games together. When the weather’s nice, we go to the beach or hang out in park. We talk about thing we’re doing now, and these days we also talk a lot about the future, the things we hope to do after we finish school. Bob is an important friend because we’ve know each other all our lives. We grew up together. I guess you could say we know just about everything about each other. I know if I ever needed serious help or if I needed money or any kind of support, Bob would help me. And I would help him if he needed it. He’s the kind of friend you can always count on. I think we’ll always be friends, all our lives. I hope so.

PART 3

Generally, are friendships important to people?

I think friendships are important to most people. Nobody likes to be alone. Friends like to do the same things you like to do. Usually, they have ideas similar to yours. Friends understand how you feel. Of course, friends don’t always think alike or feel alike, but generally, they’re similar to you in many ways.

How can friends help each other?

Friends can help each other at work and school. Close friends can help each other with personal problems, and they can be company for each other. That way you don’t have to be alone.

Do people spend more time with friends or with relatives?

I think this depends on the time of life. Children and teenagers spend a lot of time with their friends. But when they get a little older and start their own families, then they spend more time with relatives. They spend time with their children because they have to take care of them, and they spend time with other relatives because they need their support. When the children are older and spending more time with their friends, then the parents might have time again for their own friendships.

How do our friendships change as we grow older?

As we grow older, our lives change, so our friendships change too. Children have a lot of time to play with their friends. When you get older and study or work, you don’t have so much free time, so you might have fewer friends, maybe even just one or two close friends. When you start a family, then your family becomes more important than your friends. Your friend might be other parents and you help each other out with your children.