IELTS Speaking Part 1: What Happens and How to Answer

Part 1 opens the Speaking test with short questions about you, and it is marked like the rest. You are rated on your average performance across all parts of the test source: ielts.org.

So Part 1 counts towards your band. One weak answer here does not decide it.

The three parts of the Speaking test

The Speaking test has three parts, and each one asks for a different kind of answer.

It is a face-to-face interview with an examiner, and it takes 11 to 14 minutes source: ielts.org.

Part1Introduction and interview4 to 5 min

Part2Long turn3 to 4 minprepare 1talk up to 2

Part3Discussion4 to 5 min

11 to 14 minutes in all, face to face with an examiner, and recorded.

Source: ielts.org, Speaking format

Show the data

The three parts of IELTS Speaking

Part	What happens	Time
1	Introduction and interview	4 to 5 min
2	Long turn: 1 min to prepare, up to 2 min of talk	3 to 4 min
3	Discussion	4 to 5 min

• Part 1, this page: general questions about you and some familiar topics source: ielts.org.
• Part 2: a talk you give alone, from a task card, after one minute to prepare source: ielts.org.
• Part 3: a discussion with the examiner about issues linked to the Part 2 topic source: ielts.org.

On IELTS on computer, you still do Speaking face to face with a trained examiner. On IELTS Online, Speaking is an online video call with a trained examiner source: ielts.org.

What happens in Part 1

The examiner checks who you are, then asks short questions about everyday life.

Part 1 lasts 4 to 5 minutes. It tests your ability to give opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences source: ielts.org.

The examiner asks scripted questions. If your answer is too short, the examiner may ask "why?" or "why not?" to help you say more. You will generally be asked about one or two topics source: IDP.

So a one-word answer may get a "why?" in return. It is better to give the reason yourself.

How long your answers should be

Aim for two or three sentences: an answer, then a reason or an example.

The questions are simple and conversational. Give brief but complete answers, typically 2 to 3 sentences for each question source: British Council.

In Part 1, try to give more than one-word answers. Extend them naturally by adding a reason or an example source: British Council.

A long speech does not help here. The long answers come later, in Parts 2 and 3. Answer, add one thing, and let the examiner move on.

An example answer, with notes

Here is one question answered two ways, written for this page. The question was whether you enjoy cooking.

Yes. I like it.^{note 1}

Yes, I do, mostly at the weekend, because I don't have time on weekdays^{note 2}. Last Sunday, for example, I made soup for my family^{note 3}, and it was the first time it actually tasted right^{note 4}.

1. Add some more information to your answer before the examiner asks why source: IDP. This answer is correct English, but it is only four words. The examiner would need to ask why to hear any more.
2. At band 6, a speaker "produces a mix of short and complex sentence forms" source: ielts.org. Here a short answer is joined to a reason with "because", in one sentence.
3. A Part 1 answer can be extended "by adding a reason or an example" source: British Council. This sentence is the example. It is real and specific, and it stays on the question.
4. Part 1 answers should be "brief but complete" source: British Council. The last clause finishes the small story, so the answer has a clear end. The whole answer is two sentences long, and then it stops.

Five habits for Part 1

Each habit below starts from the public band descriptors or from an owner's own advice. Then it shows what that means for short, everyday answers.

Answer the question you were asked

Do not give a memorised answer about where your city is and why it is famous. You have not been asked for that source: IDP.

Listen to the exact question. If it asks what you like about your home town, answer that, in your own words. The Part 2 guide explains why a learned speech can limit your score in any part.

Learn the words for everyday topics

At band 5, the speaker's words are enough for familiar and unfamiliar topics, "but there is limited flexibility". At band 7, the words are "flexibly used to discuss a variety of topics" source: ielts.org.

Part 1 topics are familiar, so you can prepare the words without preparing the answers. For home, family, work, studies and interests, learn how to say what you do, what you like and what has changed. Lexical resource shows what the examiner listens for.

Use more than one tense

At band 7, "a range of structures" is "flexibly used" source: ielts.org.

Everyday questions give you room for this. "I used to live with my parents, but now I share a flat" uses the past and the present in one answer. Grammatical range and accuracy covers the rest.

Keep going, and keep it clear

At band 6, a speaker is "able to keep going", but coherence may be lost at times through hesitation, repetition or self-correction source: ielts.org.

Short answers make this easier to control. Say the answer first, so the listener knows your point even if you stop to think. Fluency and coherence explains how pauses are judged.

Speak in your own accent

Everyone speaks with an accent, and you are not expected to change it for the test source: IDP. Pronunciation assesses your ability to speak in a way which can be understood without too much effort source: ielts.org.

So aim to be clear, not to sound like someone else. Pronunciation explains the features the examiner listens for.

Where to go next

The band score calculator shows how your Speaking band affects your overall score. How IELTS Speaking is marked explains how the four criteria work together. After Part 1 comes the long turn in Part 2, then the discussion in Part 3. The Speaking hub lists every Speaking guide. To plan your practice band by band, see how to improve your IELTS Speaking score.

The Part 1 description, timings, the 11 to 14 minute length and the pronunciation point come from ielts.org's Speaking format page. The same-test point comes from its Academic sample questions page, and the delivery points from its ways to take IELTS page. The band wording comes from the Speaking band descriptors, which carry no revision date. Answer length comes from the British Council's Speaking format and Speaking preparation pages. The scripted questions come from IDP's Speaking question types article, and the memorised-answer point from its Speaking Part 1 article. The accent, recording and home country points come from its IELTS Speaking page. All were last checked on 3 October 2026. The example answer was written for this page and is not from any test.

Frequently asked questions

Is Part 1 the same in Academic and General Training?

Yes. The Listening and Speaking tests are the same for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training source: ielts.org.

Can I ask the examiner to repeat a question?

Yes. If you do not understand a question, you can politely ask the examiner to repeat or clarify it. This will not affect your score source: British Council.

Is the Speaking test recorded?

Yes. All Speaking tests are recorded in case they need to be reviewed source: IDP.

Does it matter where I am from?

No. The examiner knows where you are from, because they check your passport. They may ask about it, but it will not affect your score source: IDP.