IELTS Speaking Topics: Compilation of questions and answers

Dưới đây là IELTS Speaking Topics Part 1,2,3 được cập nhật mới nhất hiện nay, thí sinh có thể tham khảo thêm phần câu trả lời mẫu để phát triển ý tưởng cho câu trả lời của mình. Ngoài ra, bài viết còn gợi ý những phương pháp hiệu quả để phát triển ý tưởng khi trả lời các dạng câu hỏi IELTS Speaking mà thí sinh chưa từng gặp phải.

Compilation of IELTS Speaking Topics, Questions, and Answers

IELTS Speaking Part 1

Subject: Trees 

Q: Have you ever planted trees?

A: No: No, I have never planted any tree in my entire life because I haven’t had the chance to plant one. However, if an opportunity arises, I will grow a maple tree in my garden since it’s such an iconic tree of my favorite nation, Canada.

A: Yes: Well, I don’t know if this counts, but when I was a child I used to help my grandparents plant fruit-bearing trees on their farm, you know, oranges, apples and such. Even though it was hard work, I still remember these memories fondly.

Q: Do you keep plants at home?

A: Yes, I keep a small pot of cactus, which is a popular houseplant since it is so low-maintenance, you can just put it on your desk and forget about it. Having some greenery nearby can greatly reduce my stress and help me focus better.

Q: Do you know anything about growing a plant?

A: I’m not a farmer or gardener, so my knowledge about this is rather limited, I guess you just need to water the plant and let it enjoy some sunlight everyday?

Q: Do you think places with trees attract more visitors than places with few trees?

A: This is a no-brainer. Places with trees such as parks will have more visitors because of the fresh air and cool shade that they provide, which can help people escape the scorching heat of the city.

Subject: Museums

Q: Do you like visiting museums?

A: No: Not really. I think they are quite old, boring and they do not bring me any joy. Events in the past are not related to my life or my work, so I don’t pay any attention to history or anything like that.

A: Yes: Certainly, I’m a history buff so going to museums is my favorite pastime. Looking at the historical artefacts like guns and blades makes me feel like a child in a candy store.

Q: Are there any museums in your hometown?

A: No: I don’t think so. My hometown has an uneventful past, so no important historical event took place there, which means there is no museum.

A: Yes: Absolutely, there are many museums in Saigon, which is the place where I was born and raised. Most of them are war museums where photos and objects in the war are preserved to remind people about the horrors of war. I think these museums attract more foreign tourists than locals because we just take them for granted.

Subject: New Year celebrations 

Q: How do you celebrate New Year? Do you have any ceremonies to celebrate the New Year in your country?

A: Most Vietnamese consider the Lunar New Year, which often occurs after the end of a year, as the true new year. On this day, we usually just stay at home and enjoy a hearty meal or pray to our forefathers. I think this is a good way to improve family relationships.

Q: Do you still remember a new year that you celebrated?

A: Definitely. I still remember in 2020 when the pandemic was really bad, I couldn’t go back to my hometown and visit my family because the government restricted travel. Therefore, I had to spend my new year on my own in my apartment, which makes me realize the value of a family gathering.

IELTS Speaking Topics Part 2

Discuss a toy you enjoyed in your childhood.

You should say:

• What type of toy it was
• When you received it
• How you played with it
• And how you felt about it

I would like to talk about my Nintendo DS, which is one of my favorite childhood toys. If I’m not mistaken, I got this toy when I was a preteen. So, back then, my father made a promise that if I got a highscore on my Math exam, he would buy me a new toy. Therefore, I tried my best and passed the test with flying colors, so my father kept his promise and I was over the moon.

At first, I thought that he would buy me a lego set or an action figure. To my surprise, we went into a video game shop and bought a Nintendo DS, which is a small device to play video games.

Well, in terms of appearance, it looked like a smartphone but thicker, and it can fold itself. I chose one with grey color so that my father and I could lie to my mom that it was an electronic dictionary that I needed to learn English.

There are many reasons why this toy made me so happy as a child. First, it has many entertaining and enjoyable games such as Pokemon and Mario, so I can spend hours playing them and having a blast. I must say that it made my childhood so much better. Second, playing video games on the Nintendo DS helped me improve my reflex and imagination, so I learned better at school. Finally, all the games are in English, so I had to use a dictionary to understand them. Even though it was a white lie to my mom, I think that the Nintendo DS actually motivated me to learn English more.

Well, that’s everything I want to say about this topic.

Discuss a visit to an art exhibition that you experienced.

You should say:

• When you attended this exhibition
• Where the exhibition took place
• What artworks were showcased
• And share your thoughts on the exhibition.

I would like to talk about Hanoi Photography Exhibition , which is one of my favorite art exhibitions. If I’m not mistaken, I took part in this event four months ago. So, back then,  I went on a trip to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, and came across a photography exhibition near Ho Guom walking street, so I decided to check it out.

At first, I thought that a photography exhibition would be lame and uninteresting. To my surprise, this event was an eye opener about how a camera can create great artworks.

Well, in terms of venue, it was an outdoor event and the photos were displayed alongside Guom lake, so anyone could freely come and take a look at the photos without buying a ticket. The exhibits fit the beautiful scenery of that area and attract a lot of pedestrians.

There are many reasons why I really like this art exhibition. First, there were many beautiful photos that depict life in different parts of the world. For example, there were photos of rural villages in Africa where people lived harsh but happy lives. Second, the photographers use interesting perspectives and techniques to create dramatic photos which express a clear message about love, equality and freedom. Finally, there were descriptions under each photo so I can learn about the meaning and context that the photographers want to show in their artworks.

Describe an encounter with wild animals.

You should say:

• Where you were
• What the animals were doing
• Who was with you
• And describe your reaction

I would like to talk about a time when I got close to an elephant, which is one of the most important wild animals of my country. If I’m not mistaken, a few years ago I went on a school trip with my family to the city zoo. At that time, we went to the elephant enclosure and I was excited to see an elephant in the flesh since I have only seen them on TV.

At first, I was under the impression that the elephant would look so cute and adorable. However, it turns out that the elephant was a gigantic, lumbering beast that towered over everyone at my school, and it was much more majestic than what I saw on TV shows.

Well, in terms of appearance, the elephant was a huge animal, I guess it must be 4 meters tall and weigh several tons. The most outstanding features of this animal were its trunk, which it can use to manipulate objects or interact with the environment like drinking water and so on. It also has a giant pair of tusks, which are made of white ivory and it uses these tusks to defend itself. The elephant ears also take up a lot of space on its head, to me it looked like a huge pair of wings.

I really love this encounter with the elephant for many reasons. First, we got to feed the elephant with sugar canes, and the elephant ate them with so much joy. Another reason is that the elephant is like my spirit animal, they are so huge and have so much strength but also have a gentle heart and rarely hurt anything, which are the qualities that I try to emulate in my own life. Finally, the elephant plays an important role in the history of my country because many national heroes like Nguyen Hue rode elephants into battle and crushed his enemies, which was pretty wicked, you know.

Recall a time when you faced difficulties with using a computer.

You should say:

• When the incident occurred
• Where it took place
• Reasons behind the computer malfunction
• And describe how you eventually resolved the issue

I would like to talk about a time when my computer was infected with a malware program. If I’m not mistaken, this happened when I was in grade 9. At that time, I was trying to pirate some video games on some sketchy websites when suddenly my computer froze and shut down.

At first, I was under the impression that my computer had a hardware problem, so I booted it up again. However, it turns out that my computer was affected by a malware program and there were many messages on the desktop telling me to download stuff to fix my computer.

I was a tech savvy kid at my age, so I didn’t let that problem faze me at all. I tried many things to get the computer to work. First, I tried to uninstall the harmful software but it just crashed my computer if I tried to delete it. So, I tried to use the Antivirus software on my computer, and it detected many viruses and dangerous programs, and I tried to clean up my computer with the antivirus. Fortunately, it worked and I was able to remove the malware from my computer.

Thanks to this incident, I learned a valuable lesson that I shouldn’t download everything on the Internet and I should be more careful when browsing the web.

IELTS Speaking Topics Part 3

Theme: Childhood

Q: What’s the difference between the toys kids play now and those they played in the past?

A: Modern toys are drastically different from toys in the past.The biggest difference is that modern toys are made from plastic or other synthetic material, so they can be manufactured on a large scale in a factory, which reduces their price. In comparison, in the past toys were made by hand using natural materials like wood or clay, and they required a lot of skills to make so toymakers were artisans and craftsmen.  Take the classic doll, as an example, they used to be luxurious works of art that only the rich can afford, but nowadays anyone can buy a plastic doll in a mall.

Q: Do you think parents should buy more toys for their kids or spend more time with them?

A: Parents should absolutely spend some quality time with their children because parental care and guidance are crucial to the healthy development of a child. For instance, playing and telling stories with kids can help them learn verbal communication and express their feelings better. However, toys can also be helpful in enhancing children’s imagination and creativity since they can play with many colors and shapes.

Theme: Art

Q: Do people have different opinions about art?

A: I believe everyone has different taste in arts because beauty is entirely subjective. For example, Picasso’s paintings may look like a bunch of meaningless shapes to some people, but they are also priceless masterpieces to others. Therefore, I believe each person should form their own opinion about the value of artworks.

Q: Why do some people like to collect expensive paintings?

A: Collecting valuable artworks is a way for wealthy individuals to show their social status. Since some paintings are invaluable and cost millions of dollars, having them displayed in their gallery can boost the prestige and reputation of the owner. For instance, imagine having famous paintings like the Mona Lisa in your living room, it would gather more attention than the most expensive supercars. Still, I think that some rich people genuinely enjoy art for its own sake, not showing off.

Theme: Animal

Q: Are animals important to our life?

A: Without a doubt, animals play a crucial role in our life. An important benefit of animals is that they provide us with food and without them it is hard for humans to get enough nutrition for our body. For example, beef, pork and poultry provide an important source of protein and other nutrients that cannot be substituted with vegetables. However, the meat industry has many unethical practices because animals are kept in horrible conditions and slaughtered with inhumane methods.

Q: Why do people keep pets?

A: I believe that people enjoy having a pet such as cats or dogs because they provide us with good company because they always shower us with affection if we treat them well. For instance, whenever I’m in a bad mood, my cat always sits on my lap and makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside so I no longer feel down. Still, I think that being a pet owner is a big responsibility and can cause you a lot of stress because you need to take care of them, feed them and take them to the vet regularly.

Theme: Computer

Q: Is it better to fix a computer yourself or bring it to a repair shop?

A: I think this depends on the types of problems that your computer might have because fixing minor problems can help people become more tech-savvy compared to relying on other people to repair it for them. For example, when my computer was infected with a virus, I looked up some online tutorials to install a new operating system, which taught me many useful lessons about technology. However, when it comes to serious hardware issues, I think bringing my computer to a professional is inevitable because I don’t have enough parts and skills to repair it myself.

Q: Are young people better with computers than old people?

A:  Personally, the majority of younger individuals exhibit greater proficiency in technology compared to the elderly due to their increased exposure to various technological devices. For instance, my younger sibling effortlessly operates a smartphone, whereas my grandfather encounters challenges when attempting to use Facebook despite my guidance. Nevertheless, I believe that many senior citizens possess extensive knowledge of computers since during their era, computers were considerably more complex, necessitating self-learning. 

Developing Ideas across Various IELTS Speaking Topics

• 10 IELTS Speaking tips for candidates: A compilation of essential dos and don'ts for the exam. Candidates can practice these tips beforehand to achieve better results.

• Developing Ideas in IELTS Speaking through Wh-Questions: Broaden responses by considering questions beginning with Wh-Questions such as What, Where, When, Why, Who, etc.
• Implementing the 4-3-2 Method to Enhance Fluency in IELTS Speaking: This speaking technique, known as the 4/3/2 method, was devised by Prof. Paul Nation, an expert in linguistics and applied linguistics at Victoria University of Wellington, Australia, and recommended by Cambridge University. (Kerr, 2017)
• Developing Responses for IELTS Speaking Part 1 Beginners: Candidates should provide responses comprising two parts: Answer (Response to the question) and Back-up (Additional details).

• Responding to Describe A Person – IELTS Speaking part 2: The approach is divided into three sections: General, Specific, and Tailored to each unique content, assisting candidates in delivering better responses.

Conclusion