How to answer short questions in Speaking Part 1

*Most of the content from this page is now on the main Speaking page*.

Task 1 questions are ‘easy’, aren’t they?

Just simple questions about everyday life?

The danger is that simple questions get simple answers.

This 30-Day Task 1 Speaking Challenge will help you start making an excellent first impression in Task 1.

Because you never get a second chance to make a first impression!

The problem with Speaking Part 1

Speaking Part 1 is designed to be ‘easy’ so that everyone has a good chance of answering the questions.

The examiner starts by asking you familiar questions such as where you live or your job or studies (Do you work, or are you a student?).

Then the questions move on to everyday topics like food, daily life, travel, shopping, etc.

They won’t ask you to suggest ways of reducing the rate of global warming or how to bring about world peace!

But you do have to give full and natural answers.

Last year, I ran a 30-Day speaking challenge.

increase your fluency and confidence
help you extend your answers and speak for longer
give you lots of ideas of what you can talk about
improve your pronunciation
practice choosing the right tense
develop your independent study skills so you can practise at home
get you to Band 7 criteria of someone who ‘speaks at length without noticeable effort‘

You can do the challenge yourself at home.

Watch the video to get the questions and tips on each type of question.

Get the full Speaking booklet in the Members Academy.

Can you improve your Speaking by yourself? The 30-Day Task 2 Challenge.

What to expect in the IELTS Speaking Test.

Find a list of the best websites and apps to help you prepare for the Speaking test by yourself.

How to use the phonemic alphabet to improve your pronunciation for IELTS (my YouTube video).