IELTS Speaking: Topics, Questions, and Tips

Familiarizing yourself with IELTS speaking topics before your test helps a lot. Here, we list the topics in 2 categories: topics occurred in current period and topics in 2024-2026.

The former shows the most active topics in the current period, but you can only open one topic to see its questions if you aren't a VIP. The latter is accessible only to VIP users.

In the actual speaking test, Part 1 usually has 2-3 topics in a small-talk style. However, Parts 2 and 3 share the same topic, which helps deepen the discussion. We present topics for Part 1 and Part 2/3. If you click a topic word, you can see its questions and sample answers.

This is a handy tool for searching IELTS speaking questions by topic. Because IELTS updates its test topics periodically, the most recent topics are more important to test takers. The latest topics, for example, IELTS Speaking Topic: Jan to Apr 2026, deserve to be studied and practiced with high priority if you book the test this or next month.

Click topic to get sample questions 

Click topic to get sample questions 

IELTS Speaking is a shared module for both Academic and General Versions. The test is an oral interview of about 11-14 minutes with an examiner. Although the IELTS speaking test is a one-to-one interview, it follows some rules on both topics and patterns.

In the IELTS speaking test, the examiners are responsible for guiding and controlling the interview in similar ways, using similar questions. Below is a full-size mock test that allows you time to answer each question. You can also practice by IELTS Speaking Online Practice.

In addition to video samples, we provide a set of the latest sample questions, covering Part 1, 2, and 3, to help test takers understand the test's big picture.

Latest Part 1 Question Sample    More New Part 1 Topics

Latest Part 2 and Part 3 Question Sample    More New Part 2/3 Topics

The IELTS speaking test is recorded for security purposes. The recording doesn't affect your score, so don't be nervous or care about it.

IELTS speaking test patterns are published to all test takers, and they are essential to improving the final speaking score. The test consists of 3 parts. The first two parts follow a question list picked up by the examiner, who would ask questions precisely by the question list. The problems of Part 3 may or may not be prompted to you, relying on your actual speaking skill in the preceding questions.

Part 1: Introduction and interview: The candidate talks about personal information, like at the first meeting.

• 4-5 minutes
• Questions based on script, driven by examiner
• General topics, like home, family, or hobby

Part 2: Individual long turn: Candidate delivers a monologue of 1-2 minutes on the given subject.

• 3-4 minutes
• Based on the topic card, one minute to prepare notes
• monologue of 1-2 minutes

Part 3: Discussion: The candidate has a chance to answer more difficult questions.

• 4-5 minutes
• Questions are usually expanded from Part 2
• The maximum question number is 7, and the real amount depends on your proficiency level.

In addition to its topics and questions, you had better understand its assessment criteria to prepare for the IELTS speaking module. If you know the requirements very clearly, you will get a fair reward for your time and effort.

The key points of a high score are fluency, coherence, and pronunciation. Please focus on these details:

1. Express ideas clearly and coherently
2. Use vocabulary size and ability in the right way
3. Show grammar knowledge, range, and accuracy
4. Use intonation and stress naturally, no matter the accent

Details of assessment criteria can be found at IELTS Official Web Site.