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Official IELTS Practice Materials General Training Speaking Test 1 (Online Test)

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Model answer notes

Built from each question on this page — a shape to follow and some phrases to borrow, not a script to memorise. Examiners mark you down for answers that sound learned by heart.

Part 1 · Question 1

Do you keep track of what you spend?

Aim for 40–60 words, roughly 20–30 seconds.

Answer the question directly in the first sentence, add the reason behind it, then finish on one concrete detail from your own life. Do not stop after three words, and do not turn it into a speech.

Pick up and paraphrase: track, spend

  • To be honest, …
  • …, which is something I have always found useful.
  • The main reason for that is …

Part 1 · Question 2

Did your parents teach you about saving?

Aim for 40–60 words, roughly 20–30 seconds.

Answer the question directly in the first sentence, add the reason behind it, then finish on one concrete detail from your own life. Do not stop after three words, and do not turn it into a speech.

Pick up and paraphrase: parents, teach, saving

  • What springs to mind is …
  • …, and that is fairly typical where I am from.
  • If I had to pick one, it would be …

Part 1 · Question 3

How do you usually pay for things?

Aim for 40–60 words, roughly 20–30 seconds.

Answer the question directly in the first sentence, add the reason behind it, then finish on one concrete detail from your own life. Do not stop after three words, and do not turn it into a speech.

Pick up and paraphrase: usually

  • It depends, but generally …
  • …, whereas ten years ago it was quite different.
  • A good example of that would be …

Part 1 · Question 4

Are you saving for anything in particular?

Aim for 40–60 words, roughly 20–30 seconds.

Answer the question directly in the first sentence, add the reason behind it, then finish on one concrete detail from your own life. Do not stop after three words, and do not turn it into a speech.

Pick up and paraphrase: saving, particular

  • I would say so, yes, mainly because …
  • …, at least that has been my experience.
  • On the other hand, some people would argue …

Part 2 · Question 5

Describe a change in the way people work that you have noticed.

Aim for 180–220 words — the full two-minute long turn.

Use the one minute of preparation to jot a word per bullet. Take the bullets in the order they are printed, spend the most time on the last one, and close by answering the final line of the card. Keep talking until the examiner stops you.

Pick up and paraphrase: change, noticed, affects

  • Not particularly, no — the thing is …
  • …, which makes a real difference day to day.
  • That said, I can see why others might …

Part 3 · Question 6

Which occupations have changed most in your country over the last twenty years?

Aim for 80–110 words, roughly 40–60 seconds.

Give your position, justify it, illustrate it with a general example rather than a personal story, then acknowledge the other side. Part 3 rewards discussion, not autobiography.

Pick up and paraphrase: occupations, changed, country

  • To be honest, …
  • …, which is something I have always found useful.
  • The main reason for that is …

Part 3 · Question 7

How does working from home affect the relationship between colleagues?

Aim for 80–110 words, roughly 40–60 seconds.

Give your position, justify it, illustrate it with a general example rather than a personal story, then acknowledge the other side. Part 3 rewards discussion, not autobiography.

Pick up and paraphrase: working, affect, relationship

  • What springs to mind is …
  • …, and that is fairly typical where I am from.
  • If I had to pick one, it would be …

Part 3 · Question 8

What skills will matter most once routine tasks are handled by machines?

Aim for 80–110 words, roughly 40–60 seconds.

Give your position, justify it, illustrate it with a general example rather than a personal story, then acknowledge the other side. Part 3 rewards discussion, not autobiography.

Pick up and paraphrase: skills, matter, routine

  • It depends, but generally …
  • …, whereas ten years ago it was quite different.
  • A good example of that would be …

Part 3 · Question 9

Are longer working lives inevitable as populations grow older?

Aim for 80–110 words, roughly 40–60 seconds.

Give your position, justify it, illustrate it with a general example rather than a personal story, then acknowledge the other side. Part 3 rewards discussion, not autobiography.

Pick up and paraphrase: longer, working, lives

  • I would say so, yes, mainly because …
  • …, at least that has been my experience.
  • On the other hand, some people would argue …
Part 1
Answer questions 1–4
Question 1:
Do you keep track of what you spend?
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Question 2:
Did your parents teach you about saving?
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Question 3:
How do you usually pay for things?
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Question 4:
Are you saving for anything in particular?
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0 words
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Question 5:
Describe a change in the way people work that you have noticed.
You should say:
  • what the change is
  • which jobs it affects
  • when you became aware of it
and explain whether you see it as an improvement.
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0 words
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Question 6:
Which occupations have changed most in your country over the last twenty years?
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Question 7:
How does working from home affect the relationship between colleagues?
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Question 8:
What skills will matter most once routine tasks are handled by machines?
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0 words
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Question 9:
Are longer working lives inevitable as populations grow older?
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0 words
Speaking Time: 0s