IELTS Speaking - Topic card - Describe someone in your family who you like

Describe someone in your family who you like.

You should say:

- How this person is related to you

- What this person looks like

- What kind of person he/she is and explain why you like this person

Sample IELTS Speaking Response:

I have a great admiration and love for my mother in my family. She is an exceptional person who has been irreplaceable in my life. Despite being petite with black hair and a fair complexion, she always takes pride in her appearance, even at the age of 80.

My mother is an intellectual person with a passion for learning. She reads the newspaper every night and was one of the few people in her family to graduate from university. She is also interested in various creative and cultural activities, such as literature, music, and dance, which she has passed on to all of her children, including me.

Emotionally, my mother has a heart of gold. She has always been willing to help others and has a genuine smile on her face. She practices the traditional ways of wishing friends and family on special occasions, attending their events and visiting them during difficult times. Her authenticity and kind nature make her well-liked by people of all ages. Thanks to her and my father's unconditional love, I feel grateful for the blessings in my life.

READ MORE - IELTS Speaking - Topic card - Describe someone in your family who you like

IELTS Speaking - 101 IELTS Speaking Part Two Topic Cards About Sports And Hobbies

As the topics of sports, hobbies and free time are easy ones that tie in with IELTS Speaking Part One and students like speaking about, they are well worth practising again and again.


IELTS Speaking Part Two topic cards about Sports, hobbies and free time A-Z
A

Activity- see also “Favourite” and “Future”
Describe an activity you like doing.
You should say:
- Where you do it
- Who you do it with
- Why you enjoy it
And say what kind of people you would recommend that activity to, and why

B

Talk about a book you have read in the last year
You should say:
- Why you decided to read that book
- How long you it took you to finish it
- What genre of book it was
And say if you would like to read something else by the same author or not, and why.

Talk about a book you have never read but would like to in the future.
You should mention:
- Why you would like to read it
- Why you have never read it before
- What you think it will be like
And say how you think it will compare to other books you have read

Talk about a book that impressed you. You should say:
- What it was about
- Why it impressed you
- If any other books have impressed you the same way
And say what kind of person you would recommend that book to, and why
 
Talk about a book you have at home.
You should mention:
- What it looks like
- What the topic of the book is
- Where you got the book from
And say how it compares to other books you have read or know about

Talk about a hobby that a brother or sister, or other relative, likes.
You should mention:
- Where and when they do that hobby
- How long they have been doing it
- If you have ever done it with them
And say if you think that is a good hobby or not, and why.

C

Talk about a hobby you were interested in when you were a child:
You should say:
- How you first became interested in it
- How long you did it for
- Why you enjoyed it
And say if you became more or less interested in that hobby as you got older, and why

Talk about something you can do on a computer that you think is enjoyable.
You should mention:
- What equipment or software you need to do that
- What you need to do to do it
- What kind of people it is popular with
And say if you would like to spend more time doing that or not, and why

Talk about something you or someone you know collects.
You should say:
- How many pieces there is in the collection
- How the collection is stored
- How quickly the collection is growing
And say what kind of person would enjoy collecting that thing, and why

Cook
Talk about a dish you know how to cook. You should describe:
- What the ingredients are
- How it is cooked
- Other preparation you have to do
And say if you think this is an easy dish to cook or not, and why

D
Days off
Describe a place where you often go on your days off
You should say:
- Where it is
- Who you go with
- Why you go there
And say how it compares to other places where you could spend your free time

Talk about what you are going to do or will probably do on your next day off.
You should include in your answer:
- Where you will go
- Who you will meet
- How long you will spend at each place
And say if you think you will enjoy that day or not, and why

E

Evening
Describe something you often do in the evening.
You should say:
- When you usually do it
- Where you usually do it
- Who you usually do it with
And say if you enjoy doing it or not, and why

Describe something you like doing in the evening.
You should say:
- How it makes you feel
- How often you do it
- How long you spend doing it
And say if you think most people would enjoy doing the same thing or not, and why

Exciting/ excited
Describe something you think is exciting.
You should say:
- Why it makes you excited
- If it is always exciting
- What other feelings that thing can give people
And say how it compares to other things that people usually find exciting

Talk about something that makes you excited.
You should include:
- How often you do that thing
- Where you do it
- Who you do it with
And say if other people who do the same thing feel exactly the same way or not, and why

Exercise
Give a presentation about something you think is a good way of doing exercise. You should include in your answer:
- What equipment is needed
- Where people usually do this form of exercise
- What they usually wear
And say if you think this form of exercise is getting more or less popular, and why

Talk about a form of exercise you used to do but no longer do now.
You should say:
- Where you used to do it
- Who you used to do it with
-Why you stopped
And say if you would like to restart that sport or not, and why

F
Family
Talk about something you often do or used to do in your free time with your family.
You should say:
- Why you often did that
- Who suggested doing it
- Who enjoyed it most
And say if you would like to do the same thing with your own children or not, and why

Talk about a hobby someone in your family has. You should say:
- Whose hobby it is
- Where and when they do it
- Why they enjoy it
And say if you would enjoy doing the same thing or not, and why

Favourite
Describe your favourite film.
You should say:
- What the film is about
- Who the main characters are
- What the ending is
And explain why it is your favourite film.

Describe your favourite place to eat out.
You should include in your answer:
- Where it is
- What kind of food is served
- What the décor is like
And say what kind of people you think would enjoy that restaurant, and why

Describe your favourite song or piece of music.
You should say:
- What kind of music it is
- Where you usually listen to it
- Why you like it
And say what kind of mood this music puts you in, and why

Give a short presentation about your favourite place to spend your free time.
Points to include:
- Where it is
- How to get there from the place you live
- What you do there
And say how you would improve that place if you could

Speak for one or two minutes about your favourite book
You should include in your presentation:
- What the story is about
- Who the main characters are
- How the story ends
And say if you think your friends would enjoy this book or not, and why

Give a one or two minute presentation about your favourite sport.
You should say:
- What equipment is used
- Where it is usually played
- How it is played
And say if you think it is an easy sport to understand or not, and why

Speak about your favourite magazine, newspaper or comic.
You should include in your answer:
- Where you usually buy it
- What parts of it you most enjoy reading
- Where you usually read it
And say how it compares to other things you read

Talk about your favourite news source. You should say:
- How often you use this news source
- Why you use this source
- What other sources you use
And say how you would change that news source if you could.

Describe your favourite free time activity. You should mention:
- Where you do it
- Who you do it with
- Why you enjoy it
And say if you think your favourite free time activities will change as you get older or not, and why

Describe a film you have seen which you remember well.
You should say:
What sort of film it is
When and where you saw it
What your favourite part of the film was
And explain why you remember it well

Describe a film you have never seen but would like to see.
You should mention:
- What kind of film it is
- What it is about
- Where the story is set
And explain why you would like to see that film

Give a short presentation about a film you have seen recently at the cinema, on TV, or on video or DVD.
You should include in your answer:
- Where and when you saw it
- Who you saw it with
- What you thought about it
And say if you would recommend that film or not, and why

Free
Speak about something that is free or cheap you like doing in your free time. You should say:
- How often you do it
- When you first started doing this
- Why you do it
And say if you think this thing is as enjoyable as things you do which are more expensive or not, and why

Talk about a book you have never read but would like to read in the future.
You should mention:
- If it is well known or not
- Why you would like to read that book
- Why you have never read it before
And say how you think it will compare to other books you have already read

Talk about a new sport or hobby you would like to take up
You should say:
- Why you are interested in that thing
- If it is an easy or hard thing to start
- What the best way to start doing it is
And say if you think you will start doing it soon or not, and why

Talk about a sport that interests you but you have never tried.
You should say:
- Where it is usually played
- What kinds of people usually play it
- Why it interests you
And say if you think you will ever do this sport or not, and why

Talk about a musical instrument you would like to be able to play but have never tried.
You should say:
- What the instrument looks like
- What it sounds like
- What kinds of people it is popular with
And say if you think you will ever try to play that instrument or not, and why

Give a short presentation about a movie that you have never seen but would like to see. You should say:
- What kind of movie it is
- How famous it is
- Why you want to see it
And say if you think you will see that movie in the near future or not, and why

Describe a free time activity you like doing.
You should say:
- Where you do it
- Who you do it with
- Why you enjoy it
And say if you think the things you do in your free time will change as you get older or not, and why

G
Game
Talk about a board game, card game or computer game you have played. You should include:
- What kind of game it is
- How many people can play
- How the winner is decided
And say if you think your whole family would enjoy playing that game together or not, and why

Talk about a game you used to play when you were a child. You should say:
- How often you used to play it
- Who you used to play it with
- How you used to feel when you played it
And say if you think children nowadays would enjoy that game or not, and why

H
Health/ healthy
Speak about something you or someone you know does that is a good thing to do for your health. You should talk about:
- How it is good for your health
- If there are any possible negative effects
- How popular this thing is
And say if you think this thing will become more or less popular in the future, or why

Speak about something you would like to do to improve your health.
You should mention:
- Why it is healthy
- Why you want to do it
- How popular that thing is
And then say if you think you will do that soon or not, and why

Talk about a hobby you had when you were a child:
You should say:
- How you first became interested in it
- How long you did it or have been doing it for
- Why you enjoyed doing it
And say if you have become more or less interested in that hobby since you were a child, and why

Speak about your main hobby. You should say:
- How often you do it
- How long you spend doing it
- Why you enjoy it
And say why you do that more than your other hobbies

Holidays
Talk about something you often do during longer holidays such as the summer holiday or Christmas/ New Year holiday.
You should say:
- How long it takes
- Where you do it
- Who you do it with
And say why you do that when you are on holiday rather than on your days off

Talk about something you do when you are away on holiday.
You should say:
- Why you do it
- How often you do it
- Where you have done it
And say whether you think you will have more or less time you do that in the future, and why

Talk about your last long holiday. You should include:
- Where you went
- Who you spent most of your time with
- How much you spent
And say if you think you will do the same thing in your next holiday or not, and why

Talk about what you are going to do or might do in your next long holiday. You should say:
- Where you will go
- What you will do
- Who you will spend your time with
And say how you think that holiday will compare to other holidays you have had.
Home/ house

Talk about a place in your home where you often spend your free time. You should say:
- What that place is like
- Where exactly it is
- Why you spend time in that place
And say what you would change about that place if you could, and why

Talk about something you like doing at home. You should say:
- Why you do it at home
- Where exactly you usually do it
- How much time you spend doing it every week
And say whether you enjoy spending time at home more than going out or not, and why

Talk about something in your home that you often use in your free time. You should include:
- What it looks like
- Where you usually keep it
- How you use it
And say if you would like to replace that thing or not, and why

I
Impression/ impressed
Talk about a book that had an impression on you. You should say:
- What the topic of the book was
- Why it impressed you
- If any other books have impressed you the same way
And say if you would like to read the same book again or not, and why

Talk about a film that impressed you. You should include:
- What the story was
- Who was in it
- Which part impressed you most
And say if you think you would enjoy the film as much if you saw it again or not, and why
Indoors

Talk about something that you enjoy doing indoors. You should say:
- Where you usually do it
- What equipment is needed
- Why it is better to do this thing indoors
And say if you prefer spending your free time indoors or outdoors or not, and why
Ingredients- see “Cook”
Instrument

Talk about an instrument you would like to be able to play. You should say:
- What the instrument looks like
- What it sounds like
- What kinds of people it is popular with
And say if you think you will ever try to play that instrument or not, and why

Item
Describe an item you often use in your free time. You should mention:
- What it looks like
- How it is used
- Where you keep it when you are not using it
 And say how you would improve that item if you could, and why

M

Give a short presentation about a movie that you would like to see. You should say:
- What kind it is
- Why you want to see it
- How it is different to other movies
And say if you think you will see that movie in the near future or not, and why

Talk about a musical instrument you would like to be able to play but have never tried. You should describe:
- Its appearance
- Its sound
- The kinds of people it is popular with
And say if you think you will ever try to play that instrument or not, and why

N

Talk about a news source you like to use. You should say:
- How often you find out the news this way
- Why you use this source
- What other sources you use
And say how you would improve that news source if you could.

O

Describe a TV programme that you often watch. You should say:
-What kind of programme it is
- Why you watch it
- When and why you first started watching it
And say if you think that programme is better than other TV programmes that are on at the same time or not, and why

Describe something you often do when you are not working or studying
You should mention:
- When and where you do it
- Who you usually do it with
- What things you need in order to do it
And say if you think you will do it more or less often in the future, and why

Outdoors
Give a one or two minute presentation about something you like doing outdoors. You should say:
- Where you usually do it
- How you get there
- What things you need to do it
And say why you do that thing outdoors rather than indoors

P

Phrasal verbs
Talk about a new sport or hobby you would like to take up. You should say:
- Why you are interested in that thing
- If it is an easy or hard thing to start
- What the best way to start doing it is
And say if you think you will start doing it soon or not, and why

Describe a place you go when you are not working or studying. You should say:
- Where it is
- How you get there from where you live
- What you do there
And say how it compares to other places in your local area

Present Perfect- see also “Recently”
Talk about something you have read recently:. You should say:
- What it was about
- How and why you got it
- How long it took you to finish it
And say if you would like to read something similar or not in the near future, and why

R

Talk about something you have done in your free time recently. You should say:
- How and why you did it
- How long it took you to do it
- What kind of book it is
And say if you would like to read something else similar or not, and why
Recommend- see “Film”

Relax/ relaxing
Talk about something you often do to relax. . You should mention:
- Where you do it
- How often you do it
- Why it relaxes you
And say whether you think everyone would find that thing relaxing or not, and why

S

Simple Past
Talk about a hobby you had when you were younger:
You should say:
- When you did it
- How long you did it
- Why you enjoyed it
And say if you have become more or less interested in that hobby since you were a child, and why

Talk about a sport you are interested in
You should say:
- How you first became interested in it
- Why you like it
- What equipment and skills are needed to play it
And say if you think it is an easy sport to learn or not, and why

Talk about a sport that interests you but you have never tried.
You should say:
- Where it is usually played
- What kinds of people usually play it
- Why it interests you
And say if you think you will ever do this sport or not, and why

Talk about a sport you did when you were a child.
You should include in your answer:
- How often you did it
- Where you did it
- If you were good at it
And say if you would like to do that sport again or not, and why

Summer
Talk about something you often do during the summer.
You should mention:
- Where you do it
- How often you do it
- Why you do it during the summer
And say if you often do that during the winter or not, and why

T
Take up
Talk about a new sport or hobby you would like to take up
You should say:
- Why you are interested in that thing
- If it is an easy or hard thing to start
- What the best way to start doing it is
And say if you think you will start doing it soon or not, and why

TV
Describe a TV programme that you watch or know about. You should say:
- When it is on and which channel it is on
- What kind of programme it is
- What kind of people watch it
And say if you think that programme is or could be popular in other countries or not, and why

Describe a TV programme that you often watch. You should say:
-What kind of programme it is
- Why you watch it
- When and why you first started watching it
And say if you think that programme is better than other TV programmes that are on at the same time or not, and why

Typical
Describe a typical day when you are not working or studying. You should say:
- Where you go
- What you do
- Who you spend your time with
And say how those days vary

U

Talk about something you used to do in your free time but no longer do.
You should say:
- When you first and last did it
- Were you used to do it
- Why you stopped doing it
And say whether you would like to start doing it again or not, and why

W

Talk about something you like doing when the weather is cold or cooler. You should say:
- Where you do it
- How often you do it
- What clothes or equipment you need
And say if you prefer hot or cold weather, and why

Talk about something you like to do when the weather is hot or warmer than usual. You should include in your answer:
- Where you do it
- Why you do it when the weather is hot
- When you first started doing that thing
And say if you think people like doing in other countries or not, and why

Talk about something you do when the weather is good.
You should say:
- Where you do it
- How you get there
- Why you particularly do that when there is good weather
And say if it is also possible to do that when the weather is bad or not, and why

Give a short presentation about when the weather is bad.
You should mention:
- Where you usually do it
- What things you need in order to be able to do it
- How long you usually spend doing it
And say if you also do that thing when the weather is good or not, and why

Winter
Talk about something you like doing during the winter.
You should explain:
- Where you do it
- What clothes or equipment you need
- Why you do it during the winter
And say whether you like to spend your days off in the winter indoors or outdoors, and why

Would like- see also “Future”
Talk about a book you have never read but would like to read.
You should mention:
- How well known it is
- Why you would like to read it
- Why you have never read it before
And say how you think it will compare to other books you have read

READ MORE - IELTS Speaking - 101 IELTS Speaking Part Two Topic Cards About Sports And Hobbies

IELTS Speaking - Speaking Parts 1 and 2

To practise for the speaking test, find a friend or study partner and take it in turns to ask one another questions and speak about the following:
Part 1
In the initial stage of the interview, the examiner will inquire about your general information and knowledge, including your educational background, work experience, and leisure activities. Upon entering the interview room, the interviewer will greet you, verify your identity, and begin the interview by asking you questions on familiar topics. This will give you an opportunity to showcase information about yourself and provide you with a chance to relax and get comfortable. It's crucial that you strive to give elaborate responses, as the interviewer's aim is to get you to speak. Additionally, the questions may revolve around your country's culture, such as its educational system and social customs, or aspects of your lifestyle like family life, hobbies, and city life. These broad areas can lead to numerous questions, so it's not possible to prepare specific answers.
Draw up a personal information form like the one below and be prepared to talk about it for four minutes:

			Your full name
			Nationality
			First language
			Other languages
			Educational background
			Occupation and work experience
			Personal interests
			Family
			Features of your home culture

Then your partner should ask you to talk in more detail about specific aspects, which could include work, education, hobbies and interests or some aspect of the culture of your country, for another four minutes.  The aim here is to show your fluency so it is important to keep the conversation going.
Part 2
In the second stage of the interview you will be given a card which tells you the topic you should talk about for one to two minutes. It also gives you some prompts about what you should include in your talk.  You then have one minute to prepare your topic and you will be allowed to make some notes.  The examiner will tell you when to start and finish and may ask you one or two questions. In this part it is important to try to keep talking for the whole two minutes.  It is not a conversation so do not expect the examiner to join in.
Here are some example cards.  Use them to practise with your partner:

	Describe a wedding you have been to or heard about.              You should say: who got married what they wore what they did on the day and explain how you felt about this wedding.

	Describe a wild animal that can be found in your country. You should say: what it looks like where it lives what you like/don't like about it and explain how people in your country generally feel about it.

Practicing speaking English on your own can also be effective. Record yourself speaking and listen to the playback to evaluate your performance. Focus not just on fluency, but also on clarity, accuracy, and appropriateness in your speech. Organizing your thoughts and using proper introductions, numbered main points, and conclusions can help. Keep in mind that spoken English is less formal than written English and make sure to use appropriate conversational cues.

READ MORE - IELTS Speaking - Speaking Parts 1 and 2

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?

READ MORE - IELTS Speaking - Real Test Topics (Topic cards)