IELTS General Training · Speaking · S1
IELTS General Speaking Part 1: Introduction and Interview
IELTS General Training Speaking Part 1 is an introduction and interview lasting about four to five minutes. You answer short questions about familiar topics such as your work, your home, your daily routine and your interests. There is no preparation time. The Speaking test is the same for General Training and Academic candidates.
- Length
- About 4 to 5 minutes
- Preparation
- None; you answer straight away
- Topics
- Familiar topics: work or studies, home, routine, interests
- Assessed on
- Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, Pronunciation
- Shared test
- Same Speaking test for General Training and Academic
How it works
- 1The interview opens with a short introduction.
- 2Questions come on two or three familiar topics, one at a time.
- 3Answer each in a few sentences before the next question is asked.
- 4The interview moves straight into Part 2.
Sample task
Original sample · not from an official test
Topic: your work 1. What do you do for a living? 2. What do you like most about your job? 3. Is it common for people in your country to change jobs often? Topic: public transport 4. How do you usually travel to work? 5. Would you like to use public transport more? Why or why not?
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Outline: Question 2 outline: direct answer (the variety, no two days are the same); one reason (I work in a hotel kitchen, so I cook for weddings one day and business lunches the next); a short personal detail (last week we served 300 guests, which was tiring but satisfying). About three sentences, 20 to 30 seconds.
A good Part 1 answer replies directly, then adds a reason or example. One-word answers give the examiner little to assess; long speeches are not needed and will be cut short.
Tips that work
- Answer in two to four sentences: a direct answer, a reason, and an example.
- Use natural spoken English; you do not need formal vocabulary to talk about your routine.
- If you are between jobs or studying, say so honestly and talk about that; there are no wrong facts in Part 1.
- Vary tenses naturally: what you do now, what you did before, what you plan.
Common mistakes
- Memorised answers that do not match the exact question, which examiners notice quickly.
- Answering 'yes' or 'no' with nothing after it.
Questions candidates ask
Is the Speaking test different for General Training?
No. General Training and Academic candidates take the same Speaking test with the same parts, timing and assessment criteria. Part 1 questions are about familiar everyday topics for everyone.
What if I am currently unemployed or recently moved country?
Just say so. Part 1 is about your real life and you are assessed on how you speak, not on what your situation is. Talking about looking for work or settling into a new city is a perfectly good answer.
Can I practise Speaking Part 1 on my own?
Yes. In our practice sets you record your answers to exam-style Part 1 questions and receive AI feedback on your answers, so you can hear and fix short or unclear replies before test day.
Other IELTS General Training Speaking tasks
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