IELTS Speaking - Part 1
📌 Format (~12 questions, 4-5 minutes)
• You will be asked around 12 questions on three different everyday topics.
• The first topic is about either where you live or what you do.
• To answer each question, you have around 20 seconds, which is roughly two long sentences.
General Approach for Answering All Questions
✅ Short answer + reason + possibly, an example
🔹 Starting phrases:
• I think…
• I believe…
• I guess…
• I suppose…
• I’d say…
• As I see it…
• Probably…
• Possibly/Maybe…
• Well/Actually…
🔹 Reason connectors:
• because
• since
• as
• for
• given
• owing to
• due to
🔹 Example connectors:
• like
• such as
• for example
• for instance
• as was seen
• a good example
• a good case in point
Agreement & Disagreement Phrases
✅ Agree:
• Yes, I agree / For sure
• Absolutely / Of course
• I guess so / I suppose so
• No question
❌ Disagree:
• No / Not at all / I disagree
• I’m not too sure / I don’t think so
• I wouldn’t say so
Do’s for IELTS Speaking Part 1
✔️ Use a range of uncommon vocabulary correctly
✔️ Use complex sentences (See Appendix B, page 406)
✔️ Use a variety of linking words
✔️ Use the correct verb tense, especially past simple for past actions (See Appendix A, page 405)
✔️ If you don’t understand a question or word, ask the examiner clearly and quickly:
• Sorry, what was that?
• What does “X” mean?
• Could you paraphrase the question?
📌 Part 1 in a Nutshell:
• Short answer + explanation
• Don’t repeat the question
• Don’t give a list as an answer
• State one or two opinions
• Use uncommon vocabulary and linkers
• State clear examples
• Use past simple for past actions
📌 Format (~12 questions, 4-5 minutes)
• You will be asked around 12 questions on three different everyday topics.
• The first topic is about either where you live or what you do.
• To answer each question, you have around 20 seconds, which is roughly two long sentences.
General Approach for Answering All Questions
✅ Short answer + reason + possibly, an example
🔹 Starting phrases:
• I think…
• I believe…
• I guess…
• I suppose…
• I’d say…
• As I see it…
• Probably…
• Possibly/Maybe…
• Well/Actually…
🔹 Reason connectors:
• because
• since
• as
• for
• given
• owing to
• due to
🔹 Example connectors:
• like
• such as
• for example
• for instance
• as was seen
• a good example
• a good case in point
Agreement & Disagreement Phrases
✅ Agree:
• Yes, I agree / For sure
• Absolutely / Of course
• I guess so / I suppose so
• No question
❌ Disagree:
• No / Not at all / I disagree
• I’m not too sure / I don’t think so
• I wouldn’t say so
Do’s for IELTS Speaking Part 1
✔️ Use a range of uncommon vocabulary correctly
✔️ Use complex sentences (See Appendix B, page 406)
✔️ Use a variety of linking words
✔️ Use the correct verb tense, especially past simple for past actions (See Appendix A, page 405)
✔️ If you don’t understand a question or word, ask the examiner clearly and quickly:
• Sorry, what was that?
• What does “X” mean?
• Could you paraphrase the question?
📌 Part 1 in a Nutshell:
• Short answer + explanation
• Don’t repeat the question
• Don’t give a list as an answer
• State one or two opinions
• Use uncommon vocabulary and linkers
• State clear examples
• Use past simple for past actions