IELTS Speaking - Real Test Topics (Topic cards)

In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Module, you need to give a short talk, of about 1-2 minutes, on a simple topic. The questions do not require any specific knowledge, but are based on personal experience. 

You are handed a card with the topic and you have one minute to prepare your talk. You can make notes and use these notes during your monologue. The examiner will not ask you any questions during this part of the test, so you must know how to answer all parts of the question you are given and speak fluently for a few minutes by yourself. Sample IELTS Speaking Module topics (for Part 2) are given below. It is quite likely that you will be given one of these topics or something very similar, so make sure you can speak confidently and clearly on each one.

1. Describe a museum

How often do you visit the museum? Which type of museum is popular in your country? Why do you want to visit the museum?

Follow-up:

What do you think of the importance of museums in history? How do you think of the heritage of a country? Compare the museums nowadays and in the past

2. Describe your favorite photograph

Where was the photo taken? Who took the photo? What can be seen from the photo? Explain why it is the favorite photograph for you.

Follow-up:

How to take good photo? When do people use camera? How can the new technology put cinema’s skill advanced?

3. The important historic place

What is the place? Where is it located? Why do you think it is important?

Follow-up:

What do you think of the historic place in the future? Will the government increase or decrease the safety guard? What are the changes to the local people and economy? What is the impact on the historic place by tourists?

4. Describe a party

What is the party? Why was the party held? Who attended the party? What did you do for that party?

Follow-up:

What’s the difference between serious party and friendly party? Why are some people late for parties intentionally? Why do some people like party while others hate it? What would you do if the guests feel bored? Will there be more and more people to attend parties?

5. Describe a subject taught in your school?

Who teaches it? How is it taught? What do you learn from the class?

Follow-up:

Is there any difference between the traditional and modern educational systems? What are the pros and cons of the current educational system in your country? Do you think it is necessary to give comment or criticism to teachers?

6. What is the important invention before the age of computer?

What is the invention? Why do you think it is very important? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the invention?

Follow-up:

What is the significant impact of modern inventions on life? Which skills do you want to study in the future? Do you think it’s necessary to develop modern invention in the countryside?

7. Describe a foreign country you have never been to

Where is the country? When will you go there? Why would you like to go there?

Follow-up:

Say something about the tourism development in China, facility, services and the effect on environment. What is the importance of travel and tourism industry? What do you think the function of tourist guides?

8. Describe your favourite movie

What’s the name of the film? What’s the theme of the film? Why do you like it?

Follow-up:

Describe a type pf movie you like. What’s the difference between Chinese and American movies? What do you think of the violent films (Hollywood films)? Why movies need computer techniques? Any example of movie using computer techniques Which parts of cinema are the most important and how to improve it?

9. Describe a newspaper or magazine

What’s your habit for reading? What are the benefits of reading? What's the main difference between newspaper and magazine?

Follow-up:

What do you think the important qualities for a news reporter? What’s the function of a report to the society? What kinds of books/newspapers/magazines do Chinese adolescents read? With the popularity of Internet, do you think newspapers and magazines will disappear?

10. Describe a children’s game (sports not suggested)

How is it played? What can you learn from the game? What impact does it bring on your growth?

Follow-up:

What do you think of the benefits of children’s games? Nowadays children have less and less time for game, what do you think about it? What do you think the difference between games nowadays and in the past? What’s the negative aspect of games?

11. Describe a happy event in your life?

When did it happen? Where did it happen? What was it?

Follow-up:

Tell me how you organize your study time? What do you think is important in achieving happiness? How do Chinese celebrate some happy events? What do the camera and video play in celebrating?

12. Describe a thing which is important to you

Who gave it to you? What is the thing? What does the thing mean to you?

Follow-up:

What are the changes of city between now and past? Does money represent happiness and why? How do you regard as the things people want to earn?

13. Describe one of your neighbours

When did you become neighbours? Do you often meet? State whether your neighbour is a good one

Follow-up:

What is the difference between neighbours and friends? Why do people like to watch TV serials in their houses? How do you think of the relationship in the city? How to improve the neighbourhood?

14. Describe one of the shopping centers you often go to

Where is the shopping center? How often do you go to the center? Why do you often go to it and its characteristics?

Follow-up:

Will smaller shops survive in the current business system? What are the characteristics of shopping malls and smaller shops and their difference? What is the trend of future shopping centers? Talk about Internet shopping

15. Describe your favourite animal

What kind of animal is it? Describe it briefly Why do you like the animal?

Follow-up:

What do you need to do to take care of it? What’s the future trend of the animal? How do you think of the poaching of some precious animals such as pandas?

16. Describe a historical place

What is the place? Where is it located? What is the historical meaning of the place?

Follow-up:

What do you think of the future trend of historic places? Will government strengthen its protection toward historic places? What are the changes brought about by the historic place in local economy, people, etc? What is the effect of tourists on the place?

17. Advertisement

What are the forms of advertisement? What are the functions of advertisement? What is the effect of advertisement to people?

Follow-up:

Do you feel bored and disgusted about advertisement? What do you think are the criteria of assessing a good piece of advertisement? What will happen if unauthoritative advertisements prevail in the market?

18. Describe an important letter

When did you receive the letter? From whom did you receive the letter? Explain the reasons why it is important

Follow-up:

What is the significance of handwriting? Does your country have handwriting lesson now? Compare the handwriting now and past With the popularity of computers and Internet, will people lose their ability to write letters?

19. Describe the best present you have received

Who sent it to you? When did you receive it? Detailed information about the present

Follow-up:

Do you think that present giving will play an important role in Chinese daily life? Why? Do you think that the brand name is very important for sales? In terms of the media, which do you think will play a main role in present giving, television, newspaper or Internet?

20. Describe your holidays

Where do you go for the holidays and how long do them last? Who do you go with? Talk about any interesting thins happening during your holidays

Follow-up:

What do the Chinese people mostly do in their leisure time? What's the difference between holidays today and 5 years ago and the reasons for the change? Do you think people will spend more time on leisure or working in the future?