IELTS speaking questions with answers

Sports

Q: Do you play sports? 
A: I don’t, but I’m considering starting one. I think it pushes us to be fitter and that matters to me. Competitive sports aren’t really my thing because winning or losing aren’t important to me. 

Q: How often do you do sports? 
A: Not too often. I don’t believe in pushing myself too hard. Just enough exercise is what we need to keep fit. Not that I’m against daily exercise, but there are people who just don’t know when to stop physical training. I’m certainly not one of them.

Q: Has doing sports helped you in any way? 
A: Playing sport has meant putting my time and effort into something productive. What else would I be doing with my time if I weren’t involved in sports? Obviously, I’d just be parked in front of the television or eating for pleasure. Sports is the best way to put your time to good use.

Q: What are some popular sports in your country?
A:   I have to say that it is football. Almost everyone loves to watch it even if they don’t play football. It’s cheap to play everywhere. Another thing that makes it popular is its unpredictable nature. Telling which team is going to win is impossible most of the time. 

Q: Are you interested in watching sports on TV? 
A: Actually, watching sports is y hobby. I am absorbed and emotionally involved when I’m in front of the television watching football. I sometimes even put off other important activities like grocery shopping or tidying up the house to get to watch more football. 

Advertising 

Q: Is there a lot of advertising in your country?
A: Yes. We are bombarded with ads all over the city. There is no escaping the ads on television and everywhere else. You might think that ads are informative and useful when it comes to telling the consumer about products and services, but with this much advertising people only get a headache. Too much advertising just ruins it.  

Q: Do you like advertising? 
A: Well, the majority of ads are just in your face. The rest are either plainly bad or just far too obvious about what they’re trying to make you like. So, in a sense, I’m not too keen on advertisements because I don’t see the attraction in them. Maybe I need to see a few good ones to be impressed. 

Q: What kinds of ads do you dislike? 
A: I really find the ads that keep popping up annoying. They are quite pestering because they come out of the blue. People are so irritated sometimes that they choose to turn off the television or computer to get away from them. In fact, switching off the device is my immediate reaction too. 

Q: Have you ever bought anything after seeing an ad for it? 
A: I’m not a very impressionable type of person. I tend to weigh all of my options before making a purchase. I may have bought a few things here and there because the ads kept highlighting their perfection and superiority over the competition, but I’m sure that I haven’t bought anything too expensive after being persuaded by advertising. 

Q: Do ads on TV, the internet or in magazines interest you? 
A: I think the best ones are shown on TV because it’s the most common and widely accessible medium for people. Online advertisements are overwhelming and confusing for me, but on the other hand, I can connect with TV ads on an emotional level, and this makes them more memorable for me.

Q: Are ads on the internet a good thing? 
A: For certain products and services, I would say that they are. if you’re a travel agent, or a new school and want to create a buzz to get the word around regarding what you do and how much better you are than the rivals, then online advertising is the right fit.   

Punctuality (Being on time)

Q: Are you usually on time for things? 
A: It’s generally easy for me to be punctual, but sometimes it is just impossible. Something unexpected can come up like a long telephone call or heavier-than-usual traffic which can lead to delays and hold-ups. Having said that, I tend to leave home early for appointments to make sure that I’m not a late-comer. 

Q: How do you try to be on time? 
A: This is much easier said than done. I mean you can calculate the amount of time it takes to get somewhere, but other factors like road congestion, car breakdowns and incidents like that can add extra minutes to your commute time. I believe that getting everything ready beforehand like your briefcase, and the clothes you are going to wear could guarantee more punctuality and prevent unnecessary delays.  

Q: How do you feel when you are late for something
A: I would have a guilty conscience which is not what a lot of people experience these days. I believe being on time is a sign of politeness and standing people up shows your lack of respect for others. I hate to be seen as a rude person. 

Q: How do you feel when others are late? 
A: I’d be lying if I said I don’t mind it. I’m seriously bothered by it. Despite this, I sometimes give people a break. I mean, I put myself in their shoes to understand the problem they had run into which caused the delay. This is how I manage my anger at times like this. 

Q: Why are some people usually late for things? 
A: Punctuality is a personality trait. I mean to say that it is something we are born with and if you’re messy and unpunctual by nature, not much can be done to improve your personality. I also believe that our parents may not have done a good job of bringing us up to be on time and orderly.  

Bicycles and cycling

Q: Did you ride a bicycle when you were a child?
A: Like crazy I did. I rode my bike all the time, and I fell off more than I can remember. It was and still is a popular recreational activity for children. I had the time of my life riding that bike. Your question has made me wanna buy a new one. 

Q: Do you still have your old bicycle? 
A: I can’t imagine throwing my bike away. It brings back so many sweet memories. Back when I was a kid, it was like a best friend to me. Despite all that, I rarely go out for biking nowadays. I once though about giving it away to someone else, but then I decided to pass it down to my children someday. 

Q: Are there places for people who want to ride bicycles where you live? 
A: If you mean special cycling lanes or biking parks, I don’t think so. It would be an incredible idea though, because it reduces our dependence on cars. Besides that, it’s a healthy, inexpensive and environmentally-friendly means of transport. That’s something I would always support. 

Q: Do you think bicycles will be more or less common in the future? 
A: Well, I hate to say it, but bicycles don’t stand much of a chance against cars and other vehicles. They are faster, safer and offer more comfort. Another drawback with bicycles is their increasing prices at a time when cars are becoming more affordable. On top of everything, cycling, to and from our workplaces, on a daily basis is out of the question.

Q: What are the benefits of cycling? 
A: I can say so many good things about it. You’ll enjoy better health because it’s a form of exercise after all. One other plus point is that you can cut through traffic in the rush hour. 

Q: What are the disadvantages of riding bikes? 
A: I’d say that they are painfully slower than cars, and that not all drivers respect cyclists and consider their safety on the road. That’s why cyclists feel intimidated on city roads.   

Birthday celebrations

Q: Are birthdays important to you? 
A: I celebrate my birthday every year and it’s the highlight of the year for me. By not throwing a big party, I avoid the hassle and trouble, so the preparations don’t tire me out or take too long. All I love is slicing up the cake, opening my presents and the hugs and kisses.  

Q: What do you usually do on your birthdays? 
A: All people like fun stuff, and I’m one of them. Best of all is inviting friends and family over. The more the guests, the more the birthday presents. For extroverts such as myself, that’s the best thing ever. With outgoing and sociable people at the party, you’re sure to have loads of fun.
 
Q: What did you do on your last birthday? 
A: Nothing special. Every year, it’s the same old thing. I bake or buy a cake. As well as that, I make some light food and put out some snacks for my family and friends to enjoy. It gives me joy to keep things plain and simple. I’m the kind of person who finds peace and pleasure in the little things. 

Q: What is the most important birthday in your country? 
A: It has to be the 18th birthday. That’s when you’re legally allowed to get a driver’s license. Teenagers get excited because they’ll be entering adulthood, which is a new chapter in life, so in many ways, this is an important occasion in my culture.   
Cameras and Photography 
Q: Do you have a camera? 
A: Yes, I have a very good one actually. As far as I can remember, I got it as a birthday gift a while back, and ever since, I’ve been taking pictures whenever I see something photo-worthy. It’s a digital camera so I can just transfer all the photos in its memory onto my computer and start taking more. I suppose that’s the best feature.  

Q: What kinds of photos do you like to take? 
A: I’m passionate about pictures of beautiful scenery and landscapes. I tend to take photos of places of natural beauty, and then just delete the ones that are less sharp or out of focus. I have the best photos printed and then add them to my photo album. This is what I’ve been at for a while, so I have a bunch of really spectacular photographs to brag about.

Q: Would you like to have your photos taken? 
A: Why not? As long as I get a copy of the photo as well. I don’t see any harm to it. However, I wouldn’t like my picture photoshopped or go around on social media. It’s a matter of privacy and personal freedom to me, but other than that, it’s not a bad idea at all. 

Q: Would you like to be a professional photographer? 
A: It’s better to say that I find photography as a profession fascinating. I think you will start to see the world differently. Besides, someone who takes photographs for a living is seen as an artist, so he is respected and appreciated by the artist community. Having said that, so far I’ve realized that I’m not talented enough.  

Celebrities 

Q: Do you like the celebrities in your country?
A: No, not really. I’m not star-struck. Hearing about what celebrities do or say doesn’t interest me in the slightest. In fact, it’s all a waste of time and it distracts everyone from more important matters in life. I really don’t understand the fascination that some people have with the particulars of celebrity lives. 

Q: When did you last hear or read about a celebrity? 
A: I don’t have an obsession with celebrities, so I’m not ever eager to buy a magazine or switch to an entertainment channel on television to see what they are up to. I have far more important concerns in life. Plus, reading science magazines, books by great authors, or just a documentary on television are better alternatives if you ask me.

Q: Have you ever met a celebrity? 
A: Not in person, but I have been somewhere that a star walked by. I didn’t walk up to them to ask for an autograph or a selfie, because I’m not a creep. That’s something which would make anyone uncomfortable. I don’t remember his name now, but he seemed friendly and approachable.  

Q: Do you like to be a celebrity one day? 
A: I can’t imagine putting myself in their shoes. I mean, their wealth and the great deal of attention they get are all fine and great, but the price you pay is too high. You would have to accept the reality that having a private life goes out of the window. Having no privacy in life is a sacrifice I can never make. It’s simply not worth it. 

Q: Why do people like to know about celebrities? 
A: If I had to take a guess, I would say that it’s because they think famous people are special or more important than ordinary people. They couldn’t be more wrong. They are not the perfect people that the media portrays them as. I honestly can’t look up to someone with a drug habit or drinking problem. To me, very few of them are positive role models.   
    

Children’s activities 

Q: What kinds of things did you like to do as a child? 
A: Well, to tell you the truth, a myriad of activities. I participated in sports like swimming and soccer. I was also into performing arts like drama and choir practice, and I learnt to socialize through those activities. Personally, what drove me towards doing those activities was mainly my own preference.

Q: Did you like indoor or outdoor activities when you were a child? 
A: As a matter of fact, it didn’t matter where I was playing around, as long as I had fun. In the afternoons and at weekends, we had a family tradition of going out and about and I never said no to that. I should also tell you that I didn’t like being too supervised, so playing outdoors was my thing. 

Q: What kinds of activities are popular among children in your country? 
A: Children here are crazy about playing computer games. The imaginary worlds that these games show are very attractive to kids. The massive appeal make parents helpless at stopping or limiting children’s gaming. Some children go for board games as well, but the sad thing is that physically engaging entertainment is becoming less interesting for the youth.

Q: What activities do you think are best for children? 
A: I suppose anything that boosts creativity. No matter how smart a child is, the brain is a muscle like any other muscle that needs to get regular exercise in childhood. To give you a few examples, painting, drawing or learning to play a musical instrument sound right to me. They must be encouraged to get out of their comfort zones and get a taste of the world. 

Chocolates and sweets

Q: Do you eat a lot of chocolate? 
A: As little as possible in fact. I know it’s tempting, but because I know how harmful they are for my health, I try avoiding sugary foods and drinks to the best of my ability. I don’t want to live to see the day when I hear I have a nasty incurable disease for my unhealthy eating habits. I know people who eat large amounts of chocolate regularly. They’re addicted to chocolates and sweets.

Q: Are there any special kinds of chocolate in your country?   
A: I don’t think so, and even if there is something particular to my country, I’m not familiar with it. Actually, what I do know is that chocolate, you know, the regular kind is produced in large quantities in some regions, but as for their uniqueness, like I said, I have no idea.

Q: Do you give others chocolate as a gift/present? 
A: Well, I’m convinced that chocolate makes a great gift for most occasions. This is me speaking from experience. A gift of chocolate has never let me down, because every time I buy a box of chocolate for someone, I see that it puts a smile on their face. Get a fancy chocolate box, tie a ribbon around it, and tape a handwritten note to it. Who wouldn’t like to get a present that beautiful?   

Q: Why is there so much chocolate variety these days? 
A: Clearly, there is a huge market for it. it’s in demand. From kids to adults, everyone loves eating some. Chocolatiers want as much variety as possible for the consumers. There’s white chocolate, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate just to name a few. The fact of the matter is that businesses thrive on the variety and quality of the products they offer. Chocolate companies are well-aware of the importance of product diversity as a competitive advantage.

Q: Who do you think likes chocolate more: children or adults? 
A: It’s the young ones. They’re the chocoholics. As a parent, your job is making sure they don’t eat too much, because too much of anything is unhealthy. Often times, children don’t know their limits, and since chocolates and sweets are on the cheaper side and easily available unlike alcohol and tobacco, an average child is able to buy himself a large amount of chocolate which should be concerning for parents.