The moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived. You sit down opposite the IELTS examiner, they press the record button, and the Speaking test begins. The very first questions they ask you will be from Part 1.
This initial section, which lasts for about 4-5 minutes, is your warm-up. It’s a series of simple questions about you and your life. While the topics are straightforward, your performance in this part is absolutely crucial.
Why? Because Part 1 is your first impression. A strong, confident, and fluent performance here will help you to relax, build a good rapport with the examiner, and set a positive tone for the entire test. It’s your best opportunity to show the examiner from the very first minute that you are a high-band candidate.
This guide will provide a deep dive into IELTS Speaking Part 1. We will show you the most common topics you can expect, provide a simple but powerful formula for structuring your answers, and give you clear, high-scoring model answers that you can use as a blueprint for your own success.
First, Understand the Purpose of Part 1
The examiner has two main goals in this section:
- To Verify Your Identity and Get You Settled: They will start with some standard identity checks and then ask you very simple questions to help you get used to the test environment.
- To Assess Your Ability to Communicate on Familiar Topics: They want to see if you can answer basic questions about your own life clearly and coherently. They are listening for your ability to use common vocabulary and simple grammatical structures accurately.
The questions are not designed to be tricky or to test your expert knowledge. They are designed to be a gentle start to the conversation.
The Most Common Topics in Speaking Part 1
The great thing about Part 1 is that the topics are very predictable. The examiner will almost always start by asking you about one of “The Big Three.”
The Big Three (You MUST Prepare for These):
- Your Work / Your Studies:
- Do you work or are you a student?
- What do you do/study?
- Why did you choose that job/subject?
- What are your main responsibilities?
- Your Hometown:
- Where are you from?
- Tell me something interesting about your hometown.
- What do you like or dislike about living there?
- Has your hometown changed much in recent years?
- Your Home / Accommodation:
- Do you live in a house or an apartment?
- Can you describe the place where you live?
- What is your favorite room in your home? Why?
- Do you plan to live there for a long time?
After the initial questions, the examiner will then ask you about one or two other common topic areas.
Other Common Part 1 Topics:
- Hobbies and Free Time: (e.g., sports, music, films, reading, cooking)
- Food and Drink: (e.g., your favorite food, cooking, restaurants)
- Travel and Holidays: (e.g., places you’ve visited, your dream holiday)
- Friends and Family: (e.g., spending time with friends, the importance of family)
- Technology: (e.g., your mobile phone, the internet, social media)
- Weather and Seasons: (e.g., your favorite type of weather)
- Daily Routine: (e.g., what you do in the mornings/evenings)
The Biggest Mistake: Short, “Dead-End” Answers
The most common mistake that prevents students from getting a high score in Part 1 is giving answers that are too short.
- Examiner: “Do you like cooking?”
- Band 5/6 Answer: “Yes, I do. I cook every day.”
This answer, while grammatically correct, is a dead end. It gives the examiner very little language to assess. It doesn’t show any range of vocabulary or grammar, and it doesn’t demonstrate fluency.
The Score-Boosting Solution: The “Answer-Reason-Example” Formula
To get a Band 7 or higher, you must extend your answers. A simple and incredibly effective way to do this is to use the Answer-Reason-Example (A-R-E) formula.
- A – Answer: Give a direct and clear answer to the question.
- R – Reason: Explain why you have this opinion or do this thing. Use the word “because.”
- E – Example: Give a specific example to support your reason.
Let’s transform our weak answer using this formula.
- Examiner: “Do you like cooking?”
- Band 7+ Answer:
**(A) Yes, I’m actually quite passionate about cooking.**
**(R) I find it to be a very relaxing and creative activity, mainly because I love experimenting with different ingredients and flavors.**
**(E) For instance, last weekend I tried to make a Thai green curry for the first time, and it was a really fun challenge to get the balance of spices just right.
Analysis:
This answer is perfect. It’s detailed, fluent, and it naturally demonstrates a much wider range of vocabulary (“passionate about,” “experimenting with,” “a fun challenge”) and grammar. It gives the examiner everything they need to award a high score. You should aim for your answers to be about this length—around three sentences.
More Examples of the A-R-E Formula in Action
Question: “What do you like most about your hometown?”
**(A) The thing I appreciate most about my hometown is its sense of community.** (R) It’s a relatively small town, so you get to know your neighbors, and people are generally very friendly and willing to help each other out. (E) For example, every summer there is a local festival in the main park, and almost everyone from the town comes along, which is a lovely experience.
Question: “Do you use your mobile phone a lot?”
**(A) Yes, I probably use it more than I should.** (R) The main reason for this is that I rely on it for so many different things throughout the day, not just for making calls. (E) For instance, this morning alone I’ve used it to check my emails, listen to a podcast on the bus, and pay for my coffee.
Final Tips for a Perfect Part 1
- Don’t Memorize Scripts: The examiner will know. Prepare your ideas and your vocabulary, but always use your own words on the day.
- Be Natural: You don’t need to use overly formal or academic language in Part 1. The topics are personal, so your language should be natural and conversational.
- Smile and Be Confident: Your body language can have a big impact on how you feel. Sit up straight, make eye contact with the examiner, and smile. This will help you to relax, which will in turn improve your fluency and pronunciation.
A strong performance in Part 1 is the perfect foundation for the rest of the Speaking test. It builds your confidence and shows the examiner from the very beginning that you are a high-level candidate.
Ready to practice your Part 1 answers?
👉 Take a full, computer-based IELTS Speaking Mock Test and try out the A-R-E formula.