Sample answers

Sample questions and answers  from speaking part 1, 2 and  3

Key vocabulary

Words and terms frequently used  when talking about work

Word formation



Find out groups of words that usually used together by native speakers

Useful resources



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Books: Sample questions and answers for IELTS speaking exam

Part 1

  1. Do you like reading books?

-Absolutely. I love reading books especially the fantasy ones such as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings and A Game of thrones.

  1. What kind of books do you like to read? [Why?]

-I’m into fantasy books because I think they are creatively made and the authors have a great deal of imagination.

  1. Where do you like to read? [Why?]

-I usually read books at home because it is the coziest place for me. I’d like to be at the most comfortable corner of my house which is my bed.

  1. Do others in your family read books too?

-Well, I think my youngest brother is the only person who read books aside from me. He is presently a high school student and should study his lessons by reading the academic books they use in school.

IELTS Speaking part 1 tips

Part 2

Describe a book that you have read which you would like to read again:

    • What is it about?
    • What genre of book is it?
    • Is this your favorite genre of book?

and explain why you would like to read it again.



Actually, I’m not so fond of non-fiction type of books, however, once in my life, I got interested in cooking and I have always told my bestfriend about it. We both know that I’m a terrible cook that time and so that must be the reason why she bought me that book.

When I started reading it, I realized that cooking is not really that complicated as it seemed to me before. Through it, I’ve learned to prepare different Filipino dishes from main course to deserts.Each time I was able to cook a recipe perfectly, I always felt a sense of achievement. This recipe books is very useful for me because firstly, it taught me the do’s and dont’s in the kitchen. Another one is, it helped me develop another essential life skill which is cooking and now finally, I can prepare scrumptiuous and healthy meals for my family. I probably would like to read it over and over again because I haven’t memorized yet some of the recipes and reading it again will refresh my memory once more.

IELTS Speaking part 2 tips

Part 3

  1. Do children need to learn how to read while they are still young?

(Answer) In my opinion, children has to learn how to read in as early as three to six years of age. (Explain) In the first six years, a child’s brain is like a sponge which can easily absorb information and make them easier to teach. (Example) For example, I have been teaching reading classes to graders and after talking the parents, I figured out that the students who can effortlessly remember what I teach are those who started reading at a very young age.

  1. Do you think there is a difference between reading habits in the past and in the present day?


  1. What is the impact of e-books on reading habits?


IELTS Speaking part 3 tips

Key vocabulary: Definitions and examples





science fiction

a book with imaginative concept about advanced science and technology, time travel, and extraterrestrial life

I, Robot is one of the science fiction book that has a film adaptation.


adventure book

a story of adventure, such as travel, difficult quests and discoveries

Huck Finn is the protagonist in the adventure book entitled “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”.


romance novel / romantic novel

a story of a romantic relationship between two people

Martha Cecilia is one of the famous authors of romance novels in the Philippines.


comic book / comic/ comic magazine

a magazine or a book that contains pictures with less writing

When I was young, I used to have a lot of comic books and most of them are stories of my favorite superheroes.


self-help book / self-improvement book

a book with the intention of helping readers solve personal problems

My friend who used to be a chain-smoker was able to eventually quit smoking because of reading self-help books.




E-books can be accessed conveniently.



skimming / skim reading / skim-read

reading a text quickly to get the general idea

During reading tests, students usually skim-read to save time.



a type of reading wherein you only look for specific information such as the name of author, a particular event, telephone number or address

I think the most common type of reading is scanning because we have scanned through different reading materials all our lives.


intensive reading

reading intensively with full comprehension

To be able to arrange events from the story into chronological order, one must have done an intensive reading.



plot twist

an unexpected development in a book, film, television program, etc..

A perfect example of a good twist can be found in the movie The Sixth Sense, a 1999 film starring Bruce Willis.



the name of a book, composition, or other artistic work

The full title of the book is Conversation Gambits – real English conversation practices.



a writer of a book, article, or report

The original author is unknown.



a book or other product that sells in very large numbers

When you see “best-seller” written on the cover of a book that is most likely a market strategy.



athe cover of a book or magazine

Hard cover is intended to be rigid since such design is for making books into collections on the shelf.


hard copy

a printed version of book

Ebooks are greener than hard copy books as they don not use paper.




He contributed book reviews to The Torch, a student magazine.


breathtaking story

astonishing, so as to take one’s breath away, account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment




an occurrence, a thing that happens

What is a better way to keep track of the plot, timeline, characters, geography and events when reading a book?



a fictional story

I have an interesting tale to tell.



a person in a novel, play or film

The central character is a young boy.




In this vivid chronicle the author recounts 52 bombing missions over enemy territory.



creating a distinctive ambience

A superbly atmospheric book full of menace and secrets.


crime story


There is a whole book about the crime story which gave birth to the field of Cyber Security.



feelings of excitement or apprehension experienced in response to sth, eg a film or play

Different authors have different ways to creating tension/excitement..


compelling character

character evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way

What makes Batman such a compelling character?


beautifully crafted book

book that made in a skillful manner

It is a beautifully crafted book which encompasses thriller, suspense interspersed with love and emotions.



illustrations, photos and other non-textual material in a publicationl

There is an art gallery in Los Angeles called “Every Picture Tells a Story” that specializes in original artwork from childrens books.



Word Formation





to read





Some readers are easily affected emotionally by what they read.



I think you should work on making your handwriting readable because I barely understood what you just wrote.



Science books contains facts about the universe and all living things.



The media should only provide factual information to the public.



Fact-finding is a crucial part of investigating criminal cases.



Scarlett Johansson played the fictional character Black Widow in The Avengers movie.



Scarlett Johansson played the fictional character Black Widow in The Avengers movie




She has been a victim of online scams because she can hardly recognize fictitious profiles.














but that’s another…
it’s a long …
somebody’s side of …




to cut the long story short…



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