IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The examiner asks: 'Do you enjoy cooking?' Which response best demonstrates Speaking Part 1 technique?
- Yes.
- Yes, I enjoy cooking. I especially love making pasta dishes on weekends because it helps me unwind after a busy week. (Correct answer)
- I enjoy cooking very much and I have been cooking since I was a child and my mother taught me many recipes and I cook every day.
- Cooking is something I do.
Correct answer: Yes, I enjoy cooking. I especially love making pasta dishes on weekends because it helps me unwind after a busy week.
A natural, extended answer (2-3 sentences) with a reason shows fluency without being overly long or rambling.
Question 2: Which phrase is most appropriate for showing you are thinking before answering in IELTS Speaking Part 1?
- Hmm, that's a really tough question I never thought about.
- Well, let me think about that for a moment… I'd say… (Correct answer)
- I don't know, maybe yes?
- Sorry, can you repeat the question?
Correct answer: Well, let me think about that for a moment… I'd say…
'Well, let me think…' is a natural filler that buys thinking time without suggesting confusion or lack of vocabulary.
Question 3: The examiner asks: 'Where are you from?' A Band 7+ candidate should:
- Say the city name only.
- Recite a memorised speech about their hometown's history and landmarks.
- Name their city and add one or two natural details about what it's like or why they like it. (Correct answer)
- Refuse to answer personal questions.
Correct answer: Name their city and add one or two natural details about what it's like or why they like it.
Providing a brief, genuine elaboration shows communicative fluency without sounding scripted.
Question 4: Which verb tense is most appropriate to answer: 'Do you prefer reading books or watching films?'
- Simple past: 'I preferred reading books.'
- Future perfect: 'I will have preferred reading books.'
- Simple present: 'I prefer reading books because…' (Correct answer)
- Past continuous: 'I was preferring reading books.'
Correct answer: Simple present: 'I prefer reading books because…'
General preferences are expressed with the simple present tense; using the wrong tense signals grammatical weakness.
Question 5: What does an IELTS Speaking Part 1 examiner primarily assess?
- The accuracy of factual information the candidate provides.
- Fluency, coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range, and pronunciation. (Correct answer)
- The length of each answer in number of words.
- Whether the candidate agrees with the examiner's implied opinion.
Correct answer: Fluency, coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range, and pronunciation.
The four IELTS speaking criteria are fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.
Question 6: A candidate says the same word 'nice' to describe their hometown, their job, and their hobby. This most likely affects which band descriptor?
- Pronunciation
- Fluency and coherence
- Lexical resource (Correct answer)
- Grammatical range and accuracy
Correct answer: Lexical resource
Overusing simple vocabulary reduces lexical resource scores; varied and precise word choice is rewarded.
Question 7: The examiner asks about hobbies. Which opening phrase best signals a developed, fluent answer?
- Hobbies? Um. I like sport.
- Actually, I'm quite into photography these days — I started about two years ago and… (Correct answer)
- I have many hobbies such as reading, writing, swimming, cooking, and travelling.
- My hobby is very interesting and unique compared to other people.
Correct answer: Actually, I'm quite into photography these days — I started about two years ago and…
'Actually, I'm quite into…' is a natural, colloquial opener that signals fluency and immediately gives specific information.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview 1
The examiner asks: 'Do you enjoy cooking?' Which response best demonstrates Speaking Part 1 technique?