Both modules
All three parts, with the real timings. Cooking, photographs, transport, and a business you would like to start.
This is a complete IELTS speaking practice test, covering cooking, photographs and transport in Part 1, then a cue card about a business you would like to start.
Part 1 answers should be two or three sentences: answer the question, then add a reason or an example. A one-word answer gives the examiner nothing to assess, and Part 1 is where they form a first impression of your level.
Each part has a model answer you can open once you have spoken. Open it before you answer and you lose most of the value of the exercise.
Part 1 · four to five minutes
Answer each one in two or three sentences: the answer, then a reason or an example. Speak aloud rather than reading.
1Let’s talk about cooking. Do you enjoy cooking?
2Do you prefer home-cooked meals or fast food?
3What would you typically eat for lunch?
4Now let’s talk about photographs. Do you take many photographs?
5Do you enjoy looking at photographs?
6Do you prefer photographs of people or places?
7When do you mostly take photographs?
8Let’s move on to transport. Do you often use public transport?
9Do you often walk anywhere?
10Have you ever been on a long journey?
11Do you prefer to travel alone or with other people?
Do you enjoy cooking?
Not especially, although I can cook a few basic dishes quite well. For me, the biggest problem is that cooking takes more time than I expect, especially if I have to prepare a lot of ingredients first. I also don’t enjoy cleaning up afterwards, so I usually prefer making something quick and simple. That said, I do sometimes enjoy cooking if I’m making food for friends or family.
Do you prefer home-cooked meals or fast food?
I definitely prefer home-cooked meals because they’re usually healthier and taste fresher. You also have more control over the ingredients, so it’s easier to make something that suits your taste. Fast food is convenient when you’re tired or in a hurry, but I think it becomes boring if you eat it too often. For that reason, I see it as an occasional choice rather than something I’d want every day.
What would you typically eat for lunch?
It depends on whether I’m busy or not. On a normal working day, I usually eat something light and quick, like a sandwich, noodles, or a salad, because I don’t want to spend too much time on lunch. If I have more free time, I might have something warmer and more filling. At the weekend, I often eat a bigger lunch, especially if I’m going out with friends or family.
Do you take many photographs?
Yes, I do, although not in a professional or serious way. I mostly use my phone to take pictures of places I visit, good food, or moments with friends and family. I like taking photos because they help me remember small details that I might otherwise forget. I probably take more pictures when I’m travelling than in everyday life.
Do you enjoy looking at photographs?
Yes, I do, especially when they remind me of a good memory. I enjoy looking back at travel photos or pictures from family events because they bring back the feeling of that moment. Sometimes a single photo can remind you of a whole day or conversation, which I really like. I’m less interested in looking through hundreds of photos at once, though, because that can get repetitive.
Do you prefer photographs of people or places?
I’d say I slightly prefer photographs of places, especially natural scenery or interesting city views. There’s something relaxing about looking at landscapes, and I think they can be very beautiful even if you don’t know where they were taken. Having said that, photos of people are more meaningful if they show someone I know well. So overall, I prefer places visually, but people’s photos can be more personal.
When do you mostly take photographs?
Mostly when I’m travelling or celebrating something special, like a birthday or family gathering. Those are the times when I want to capture memories and keep a record of the day. I don’t usually take many photos during an ordinary week unless I see something unusual or particularly interesting. So for me, photography is more connected with special moments than daily routine.
Do you often use public transport?
Not very often, mainly because it isn’t especially convenient where I live. The routes are limited, and sometimes it takes much longer than driving. If I’m going somewhere busy or difficult to park, public transport can still be useful. But in general, I only use it when it’s clearly the easiest option.
Do you often walk anywhere?
Yes, I try to walk whenever the distance is reasonable. For example, if I’m going to a nearby shop or just need some fresh air, I’d rather walk than drive. It’s a simple way to get a bit of exercise without making a special effort. I also find that walking helps me relax and clear my mind.
Have you ever been on a long journey?
Yes, I have, especially on long flights. The longest journey I can remember was an overseas trip that took many hours, and although it was exciting, it was also exhausting by the end. At first, long journeys can feel interesting because everything is new, but after a while you just want to arrive. I think the experience depends a lot on how comfortable the journey is.
Do you prefer to travel alone or with other people?
I think both have their advantages, but I slightly prefer travelling with other people. It’s more enjoyable when you can share the experience, talk about what you’ve seen, and make memories together. At the same time, travelling alone gives you more freedom and flexibility, which can also be nice. So ideally, I’d travel with someone easy-going who doesn’t mind a bit of independence.
Part 2 · three to four minutes
One minute to make notes, then speak for one to two minutes. Start the timer and it will move you on automatically.
Describe a business you would like to start
You should say:
and explain why you would like to start this business.
Stopping after forty seconds is the commonest problem in Part 2. Plan a beginning, a middle and an end during the minute so you always have somewhere to go next.
If I had the chance to start a business, I’d probably open a small café combined with a bookshop. It would be a quiet, welcoming place where people could come not only for coffee and snacks, but also to relax, read, or work for a while.
Ideally, I’d like to open it in a pleasant neighbourhood, perhaps near a university, a park, or a town centre where there’s already a lot of foot traffic. I wouldn’t want it to be in a noisy or overly commercial area. I’d prefer somewhere with a calm atmosphere, because that would match the style of the business.
As for customers, I think it would attract quite a wide range of people. Students might come to study, office workers could drop in for a coffee during their break, and other people might simply want somewhere peaceful to spend time on their own or meet a friend. I’d also try to make it appealing to regular customers by creating a warm atmosphere and remembering what people like to order.
The main reason I’d like to start this kind of business is that I really like places that feel comfortable and personal. Many cafés nowadays are either too crowded, too expensive, or designed mainly for people to grab a drink and leave. I’d want to create somewhere people genuinely enjoy spending time in.
Another reason is that I think books and cafés are a great combination. Even though people spend a lot of time online, there’s still something special about sitting down with a drink and reading a physical book. So overall, I think it would be a business that could be both enjoyable to run and useful to the local community.
This card is worked through in more detail, including the grammar it demands, on describe a business you would like to start.
Part 3 · four to five minutes
These are abstract and this is where the higher bands are decided. Take a position and justify it, even if you have never thought about the question before.
1What are the advantages and disadvantages of running your own business?
2What makes a successful business person?
3Do you think technology will affect the way we do business?
4What makes a good employer?
5Do you think life would be better if we all worked less?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of running your own business?
One major advantage is independence, because you can make your own decisions and shape the business in the way you want. However, the downside is the pressure. If something goes wrong, you can’t really pass the responsibility to anyone else, and that can be quite stressful.
What makes a successful business person?
I think successful business people usually have a clear vision, strong self-discipline, and the ability to adapt. They also need good communication skills, because even the best idea won’t go very far if you can’t build trust with customers, staff, or partners.
Do you think technology will affect the way we do business?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, it already has. A lot of business is now done online through websites, apps, video meetings, and digital payments. I think in the future technology will make business even faster and more international, although it may also create more competition.
What makes a good employer?
A good employer should be fair, approachable, and able to motivate staff. I also think it’s important to trust employees rather than control every small detail, because people usually work better when they feel respected.
Do you think life would be better if we all worked less?
In many cases, yes. People need time to rest, spend time with family, and enjoy life outside work. If working hours were reduced sensibly, I think many people would actually become happier and possibly even more productive.
The honest limit of a free page
This page gives you the questions, the timings and the pressure of not seeing what is coming. What it cannot do is tell you what your answers would score, because speaking is judged against four criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.
Recording yourself is worth doing and tells you how you sound. It does not tell you which of those four is holding your band down, and that is nearly always the thing worth working on first.
IELTStestONLINE assesses your speaking against those four criteria, as often as you like, using a system built by a former IELTS examiner and examiner trainer.
See what membership includesEleven to fourteen minutes in total: four to five minutes for Part 1, three to four for Part 2 including the preparation minute, and four to five for Part 3.
Yes. Speaking and listening are identical in the Academic and General Training modules. Only reading and writing differ.
One minute to make notes, then one to two minutes speaking. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, and stopping early at forty seconds is the commonest problem.
No. Speaking is judged against four criteria by listening to you, so no free page can score it. That is what full membership on IELTStestONLINE is for.
No. Examiners hear memorised material constantly and it lowers your band. Prepared vocabulary for common topics helps; prepared sentences do not.