IELTS Speaking – Mock Tests

IELTS Speaking

IELTS speaking test is a 13 to 15-minute test and is done face-to-face with an examiner. The examiner asks questions and you have to answer them directly. The test is also being recorded so that the examiner can cross-verify in case he/she has any doubts in marking you. The recording is also helpful in case you wish to apply for the remarking of your paper.
There are four factors on which you are being marked:
1. Fluency and Coherence
2. Grammatical Range and Accuracy
3. Pronunciation
4. Lexical Resources.

You will be able to learn more about the explanation of these parameters in this link.

In this lesson, I am sharing with you theme-based latest IELTS Speaking exam questions along with their answers. I have highlighted the words which get counted as good vocabulary and will help you increase your band scores.Prepare well!

Mock Test 1: Theme – Environment

Part 1

1. Could you tell me a little about yourself and where do you live?Well, as I mentioned my name is Manish Pandey and I live in Gurgaon. My father’s name is Mr Rajendra Pandey and currently, he is practising law at the state’s high court. My mother is a housewife, and I have got 2 sisters who are married and well-settled. I finished my graduation from one of India’s leading technical institutions and since then I have worked in various companies. With regard to my profession, I run my own company wherein we offer various courses to aspiring candidates preparing for various study-abroad examinations.

2.What are some of the nicest things about where you live?
The place where I live is very modern, calm, neat and clean. I reside in DLF City which situated in the heart of my city Gurgaon. Though it is the metropolitan hub of Northern India and prone to higher levels of pollution, my residence is in a peaceful and pollution-free zone. We have 4 parks in our colony and surrounding the colony you will see many corporate multinational companies. Every building is at a walking distance and well-connected to our area. Also, since many foreign officials and ex-pats live in our colony, it is very well managed by the municipal corporation and this is an advantage of living here.

3.Are there any places of special interest I could visit in your home area?
Yes, there are many. The majority of the city dwellers throng Cyber-hub which is adjacent to our colony itself. This is an urban marketplace where you will find the best of restaurants, bars, pubs and strolling areas. Be it for a leisure walk or for a rendezvous, you will be able to find an area of your liking. If you would want to avoid the public glare, then you can also take a bike ride to the nearby hillock which will give you the entire view of our city’s beautiful skyline. Moreover, if you are a lover of nature, then I recommend you to visit the Aravali biodiversity park. The park is rich with flora and fauna, and in some seasons you will see beautiful migratory birds in the area.

4.What would be the best way for me to get there?
If you have a private car, you can always drive along the roads and reach these places. From the city centre, both the places are approximately 2 kilometres away. Alternatively, you can always book a cab. We have Uber and Ola both operating in the city so it won’t be difficult for you to search for a vehicle at any time of the day or night. I wouldn’t suggest you book a private tour operator as they are more expensive and Gurgaon doesn’t have many places of historical importance so no one prefers to book a tour guide or a company.

5.What sort of places could I stay at?
There are multiple options. If you are looking for a premium stay, I would suggest you book any 5-star property in the city. But, if you are a budgeted traveller like me, you may rent a room at any location in the city. There are many small guest houses also, which you can book from any app like Oyo or Fab Hotels. A better alternative would be, that you give me a call and I’ll arrange a fine accommodation for you overlooking the cityscape. My uncle runs a travel company and I would be obliged to help you out.

6.Should I go at any special time of year?
Yes, you can always avoid the summer season because the heat is unbearable. Moreover, many music festivals and night shows are organised during the winters. So I would advise you to pay a visit during the winters.

Part 2 – Cue CardTopic:

Describe a problem that affects the environment in the area where you live.

You should say:

-what the problem is
–what causes it
-what people feel about the problem
–and explain what you think could be done to solve it.

India is still counted amongst the third-world countries and there are many problems that affect the environment. However, in the area where I live, the development of various high-rises is a major problem. I say so because the construction dust contributes to the increase in air-pollutants and thereby, an increase in the pollution threshold is seen. Because of the migrant labours, there is an increase in population which is a related challenge for many of us.

Since the area is a developing one and the real estate industry is flourishing, we see construction work going on in every locality of our city. The closeness to the international airport makes Gurgaon a global marketplace, and so the government has sanctioned various funds for the creation of Special Economic Zones. This makes it easy for the builders to put in their money and create high-rise buildings and apartments.

The people, on the other hand, have adapted to the situation and many who reside in the city earn by working in many of these companies that are building their bases in the city. We have accepted our fate and hardly do we see anyone raising their voice against such deteriorating circumstances.

According to me, there are multiple ways by which we can control the increasing pollution levels. First of all, we have to create awareness amongst the farmers to put a stop to stubble burning in the surrounding villages, as the ash from the burning crop-residue creates a dense smoke that combines with the already existing pollutant matter in the air. Second, I would suggest that the state government should push more for the establishment of the green buildings, and the builders must make use of advanced technology for the construction work. But to save cost, everyone is playing with the health of their own people. Finally, we, as citizens, should come forward and observe car-free days. The more we reduce the private cars on the road, the better will be the air quality index.

Part 3

1. Tell me, what do you think are the greatest problems facing your country at present?
As I said, there is a range of challenges that we face in our country. Political instability, poverty, unemployment, child abuse, domestic violence, access to healthcare etc are the few great problems that most people face in the country.

2.And what has been done so far to solve these problems?
The government, as well as several NGOs, have taken substantial steps and initiatives to solve these problems. As per the recent statistic, the rate of crime is going down in many cities of India and the state of policing has also increased. But I do not feel the change happening around me. Of course, living in a country with a population of 1.3 billion, we cannot avoid the negative elements in society. But I think the government has to rise up and take charge of at least providing for cheaper healthcare for the entire population.
On the positive side, the establishment of the Information Technology Act has brought in many giant multinational corporations to India and so there are many youths who have a secure job now. The privatisation of many government agencies has led to scaling up of business and more seats are now available for the unemployed populace. We have also noticed good funding for the public schools and so the scenario of education is also evolving across the country.

3.How successful would you say these measures have been?
See, the expectations are huge and the progress is slow. Taking initiatives and accomplishing them is an entirely different ballgame, and I think the political instability and capitalistic mindset do not allow for instant success. The gap between the rich and the poor is on an ever-increasing scale. Unless we do not deal with our internal problems, we cannot call the initiatives to be highly successful. As individuals, we have learnt to live a happy life given all the adversities, but as citizens, we are still troubled with our growth.

4.Do you think things are likely to get better or worse in the future?
Oh, I think things are going to get better only. We have come a long way since independence. Our progress as a developed state has been slow as compared to other countries like Singapore, Thailand, Canada etc. But, this does not mean, that we haven’t grown. Our cities now have 24 hours of electricity and the government claims to have done the same for many villages also. This is a sign of growth. The way I see, I see a prosperous nation in the making. Also, the World Economic Forum says that by 2030, 70% of Indians will be a part of the middle-class income group. So yes, things will be better in the future.

5.Should countries try to solve climate change problems together or individually? Why?
I believe that climate change is a pressing issue and can only be solved by all the world countries working together on this. The concerns have been raised and world leaders realise the harm that we have done to our environment. But, you know, the capitalistic thought process will do no good. The recent withdrawal of the USA from the Paris Climate Summit is a firm indication that the USA does not want to work to solve the problems of climate change. If we really want to leave the earth habitable for our coming generations, all the nations will have to work closely and together to solve this crisis.

IELTS Speaking

Mock Test 2 – Theme – Advertising

1.Are there many advertisements in your country?Yes, there are innumerous platforms advertising their products and services in my country. Mass media, as well as social media, are filled with sponsored ads.

2. Why do you think there are so many advertisements now?I think advertisements have been a part of the civil society for centuries. For any seller or marketer, the best way to sell their items is through advertisement. However, off late, after the advent of social media, the mediums of advertising have also increased. Because of which we see so many advertisements around. Another reason of advertisements overload is the domination of certain search engines and video-hosting platforms that serve advertisements via notifications on our phones.

3. What are the various places where we see advertisements?Well, I can say that I see advertisements predominantly everywhere. Initially, we used to see ads on TV, Newspapers, billboards and radio, but after the social media boom and tremendous growth in technology, we are made to view ads on all the applications that we use on our phones. For instance, I was scrolling an application to prepare for my IELTS exam and an advertisement for a local IELTS coaching centre popped up on my screen.

4. How do you feel about advertisements?Sometimes, I feel agitated when a commercial ad comes over when I am viewing an interesting movie or a cricket match. But, that’s fine by me. I feel that advertisements also serve as the prime source of information. If I have to buy an electronic product, for example, and I get to see an informative advertisement about one, I would prefer buying the product.

5. Do you like advertisements?I cannot say No to this. This is because I do like funny advertisements. On most occasions, when I am not in the mood, a funny ad lightens up my mood. But, as I said earlier when some insidious ads are shown which force us to buy a product or subscribe to a bulletin, I feel irritated and many times I prefer changing the tab or the channel.

6. What kinds of advertisements do you like the most?

I like the video infomercials more as they are educative in nature as compared to a random video ad that tries to sell something. Also, since I appreciate creativity, so I do appreciate creative static ads in magazines or newspapers that attract my attention. If the display or ad is funny, catchy and grabs my attention, I try and visualize the thought behind the advert. For instance, P&G is an FMCG company and their ads are very candid and educative. But the ads run on government-run channels are boring and do not catch my interest.

7. Do advertisements influence your choice about what to buy?No. I don’t think so. I am a choosy buyer and I tend to research a lot before purchasing an item of my liking. From clothes to gadgets, I always do a market scan once so that I am aware of the specifications and price range of similar products.

8. What do you think about the developments in advertising in your country today?Oh, we have come a long way. I do acknowledge that we have moved on from jingle based ads to more informative ads now. In fact, the marketers, these days, are more focused in addressing to the sentiments of the common man. I recently saw an ad by Samsung, a leading tech company that did not sell the mobile phone directly but caught more of my emotional senses. For me, the world of marketing and publicity has evolved in a tremendous fashion.

Part 2 – Cue Card
Topic:Describe an advert you once saw that was very effective. 

You should say:
-where this advert appeared
-when you saw it
-what it was advertising
-and say why you thought it was so effective.

There has been an amazing number of ads that have left a strong impression on my mind. If I have to choose one, then I would talk about the advert of my favourite chocolate Dairy Milk. So, this is the time before we had Facebook and Snapchat when I had seen the advertisement for the launch of new chocolate on a state-run channel. My entire family was watching a cricket match in the evening hours and then came a commercial break and this ad came on the TV.

The ad was about the latest addition to the range of chocolates that Cadbury manufactures. In fact, Nestle, the company that promotes Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate has always been on the top of charts for its creative ads.

For the entire duration, the advertisement did not talk about the ingredients or why we should purchase the chocolate. Only in the end, was it revealed that it was an ad of a chocolate. What caught my attention was the amusing storyline that was shown. Rather than only selling the chocolate, the advertisement focused on one-small moment when we exchange sweets and chocolates with our loved ones. The narration in the background was all about the love that we share in our relationships and that it is very important for us to keep our relationships sweet and not sour. With a meaningful message, the ad closed by asking the viewers to exchange sweets like this particular chocolate on special occasions of our lives and spread love.

Since it was an old classic ad, I am not sure if any one remembers it. But yes, all the reasons I said before made this a very effective advertisement for me.

Part 3 –

1. Do you think advertising influences what people buy?

Although I am not the person that gets influenced easily, I can confirm that yes it does influence what people buy. Isn’t it the reason why we live in a world dominated by paid and sponsored ads!According to me, every individual on this planet earth who sees an ad gets moved by the content of it. If there were no channels or portals running advertisements, many of us would have no clue about our buying choices. Additionally, advertisements influence not only our buying preferences, but they also create brand followers. We cannot escape from the ads as they are fed to us continuously, and for this reason, I believe that advertising influences all sections of society

.2. Do advertisements give correct information, or do they encourage people to buy things that they may not need?

Well, according to me, some ads do give correct information, but there are many which don’t. Especially the cosmetic industry, per se, has been serving ads which make no sense to me and have been fooling people. Since the way they present incorrect information is so passionate, I have seen a huge number of females falling for these racially-discriminating ads, just to find a place in society. For decades, the skin whitening creams and products have been supplying false information and exaggerating their product value with nonsensical ads.On the contrary, there are guidelines for the running of adverts, and many agencies do supply correct information to their audience successfully. To stop the advertisers from selling products and services based on incorrect information, the government has to put many more checks and policies in place.

3. Is advertising really necessary in modern society?

From the viewpoint of an uneducated layman, yes it is! However, if we were living in a society where every person would have had a strong education and intellectually-sound mind, then it wouldn’t be necessary.But, keeping the philosophy aside, I’m clear that given the growth in consumerism, it is important for us to be fed with ads that can help us still choose between the items we purchase. If there were no ads, then the sharks of any industry would occupy all the alleys in the super-marts and local stores, and we would be left with no choice at all. The advertising industry has given us a chance to diversify our buying options and also be notified about what’s right and what’s wrong. So, I do somehow agree that advertising is necessary for modern society.

4. Do you think that advertisements should be strictly regulated?

Yes, of course. I think they are regulated to some extent, but there are loopholes in the policies and guidelines because of which we see unwanted and falsified ads. Strict regulations would pave the way for us to watch healthy and informative ads on screen and on print. Though this is a utopian thought, I really crave to see that happening in the future.

IELTS Speaking
Mock Test 3 – Theme – Academic Study

Part 1 

1. So, where are you from?
I am from Delhi, the capital of India. I was born and brought up in the southern part of Delhi, but for my education, I moved to Gurgaon. It’s in the northern capital region itself and currently, I stay here.

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living here?
The place where I live in is a residential area and quite busy.
The chief advantages of living here are many. Among the top of my list, I would say:
-People are homely and amiable. We share our festivals and life moments together as a community.
-All the modern facilities that we can think of like 24*7 electricity, wifi, cafeterias etc area all available here.
-The transport facility is just and helpful.
-Finally, there are no commercial buildings around and so and the air is pollution-free, unlike the other areas of the city.
Overall, I like this area and it is better than my other previous residences.
Now, speaking of the disadvantages:
-The area is expensive and the price of the apartments are way too high.
-The roads get busy during the rush hours, especially during the evening hours.
-Moreover, since it is a fully residential area, the marketplaces are far away and so we have to always take our car out whenever we go shopping.

3. I’m new here. Could you recommend a good restaurant?
Oh. That’s a tricky one as it totally depends on your tastebuds. Gurgaon offers a variety of hotels, pubs and all of them serve mouth-watering food. I would recommend you 7 Barrels. It is in located on DLF road and in the heart of the city. Though it is famous for its freshly brewed beer, I particularly visit the place to taste its Italian cuisine. The options are many here like, Thai, India, Chinese. But they offer a range of deliciously served Italian food.

4. Why do you like it?
I like the place, as I said, because of the tasty food. Another reason is the open terrace seating arrangement that this place offers. During the evening hours, light Indian music is played, and it’s very peaceful and serene sometimes to enjoy your time with your loved ones at this place. Whenever my friends want to party, we hang out together at this place.

5. What do you suggest I order?
I would suggest you order peri-peri fries, Californian Pizza and one glass of Fresh Lime Soda. That’s my favourite. I am not quite sure if you like pizza though.

6. Is it expensive?
Not at all. A table for two would generally cost you a few dollars. The other restaurants in the same place are quite expensive than this.

7. How do I get there?
The City Mall is well known and any auto-rickshaw or taxi can drop you there. You have to take a U-turn from DLF Phase 1 metro station and the venue is on the left, facing the main road itself.

Part 2 – Cue Card Topic:

Describe a course you took in your college or university.You should say:-what it was
-when you took it
-what you learned from this course
-And explain why you took this course.
Organisation Behavior was one of the most exciting courses I took during my undergraduate studies. This was a part of the regular course, but since we were engineering students, we only got to study this course for a semester. In fact, I learned a lot of new theories and concepts that helped me a lot when I was establishing my own organisation. Since this was a mandatory course during our 5th semester, no one was at the liberty of skipping it.
At first, I was apprehensive but slowly I started liking the course content. We were taught the basic tenets of starting an organisation, and how is it that people’s behaviour changed the working, growth and success of an organisation. This subject helped me freshen up my perspective about entrepreneurship; and, as time passed, I started to venture into implementing all my knowledge practically. That’s when my love for the subject began.
As I said, it was a compulsory course for us so no one could miss it. On the other hand, management subjects are always of my liking so I enjoyed it more. Moreover, our Vice-chancellor had just been transferred from the Saudi branch of our college. He was instrumental in letting engineers study management courses at least once a semester. I really appreciated this decision of his and so as to say, I enjoyed studying the subject a lot.

Part 3

1. How do you think studying overseas will be different from studying in your own country?
Well, studying in a foreign country is far different than studying in your own country. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, studying at a college in home country lets you be close to your friends, family, and relatives; and you can rely on anyone for help or assistance at times of emergency. But a student is far away from the shelters of his/her own people when in a foreign country. Secondly, when a student lives abroad, he/she becomes home-sick often and that relays several pangs of anxiety and other softer mental troubles. Instead of focussing on studies, they become emotional and tend to look for partners or friends among strangers.
On the other hand, if I compare the advantages, then the universities in many western countries are modernised, with a well-stocked library and research facilities. They offer a range of study options, state-of-the-art-infrastructure and every amenity that a scholar would require. This is somehow lacking in many second and third world countries.

2. So what problems do you think you will have to face while studying abroad?
Oh. I will miss my mom a lot and that would be my biggest problem. All my life, I have lived with her and living overseas would mean that I would only be able to connect with her on-call or via video conferencing, but wouldn’t be able to spend time in person.
The other problem would be making my own food without help. Since I am aware that many students live in rented accommodation and hiring domestic help is too costly, I think I will have to cook by myself and that would take half of my energies. Though I can adjust and adapt with people of different cultures, I am a terrible cook.

3. Do you think you will have many difficulties adapting to a new culture?
Not at all. Because of my father’s job, I have always been moving within my country and we have lived in many different cities and towns. I have also been an active scout. This made me live for several days in camps with individuals from different backgrounds. I believe I am quite adaptable and I easily make acquaintances. I am already exposed to different customs and traditions and my outgoing personality makes me adjust easily with anyone.

4. Do you think that there will be any major changes in your field of study over the next few years?
Yes. With the amalgamation of technology and fast computing devices in it, chemical engineering is evolving by leaps and bounds. Now it is less about mixing of chemicals in laboratories and more of studying data via computer algorithms. I do not rule out laboratory work completely, but what I mean is that we are now more dependent on identifying the end results with soft data as compared to hit-and-trial reactions. The core nature of the subject is still intact but with tools such as MatLab and Simulink, our approach to calculations has changed significantly.

4. What do you intend to do once you have finished your studies?
I have always dreamt of working with NASA’s space research program. I have a deep interest in fuel technology. My thesis is also in the same subject. Post completion of my masters, I wish to apply for the intern’s program at NASA. If I am lucky, I might find a way to get in there.

5. What do you see yourself doing professionally in 10 years’ time?
I wish to have my own consulting company. After my PhD, I plan to start my own organisation. I haven’t made specific plans around them, but I think I will be back in India and working closely with the scientists who are now pioneering the research in biofuels and pollution-free diesel.

IELTS Speaking Mock Test 4

PART 1 – Introduction – History

1. Are your friends mostly your age or different ages? Why?
   Well. I have a mixed group of friends. In fact, one of my best friends is two years younger than me. Professionally, my colleagues who have now become a part of my close-knit circle are of different ages. The VP of my company is kind of a mentor to me and a very close aide, but in age is double my age. You’d be surprised to hear that some people who I hang around with on a regular basis aren’t exactly my age. So, as I said, I have friends of varied age-groups.
2. Do you usually see your friends during the week or at weekends? Why?
   Usually, I see my friends who live in the same city as mine. Many of them have been with me since my college days. I see them at regular intervals, especially on weekdays; so as to say, in my case, it is generally Tuesdays. You know, the company I work for, observes a weekly off on Wednesdays and so my weekend is primarily the Tuesday of the week.
3. The last time you saw your friends, what did you do together?
   The last time I was with my friends at other friends wedding ceremony. We were in Lucknow, which is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. This was mid-February as far as I can recall, and we were a group of eight friends, including four of our females girl-friends. We were there in the city for a days time only, and since the reception was in the evening hours, we spent the entire day visiting the tourist hot-spots of the city. We spent approx 6 hours in the market place, exploring various local shops and shopping for ourselves. It was a very tiring day for all of us, as we had to then, spend the entire night awake for the wedding celebrations.
4. In what ways are your friends important to you?
   Ah. In many ways. My friends are like brothers to me. My best buddies are now in Seattle and Pune respectively. They both have done so much for me that I couldn’t expect the same from own brothers. It’s another fact that I don’t have any.
   They have been with me at all my good and bad times. Our friendship started when we were all pursuing our undergraduate degree courses, and we shared the same hostel building. They have helped in during examinations by teaching me. They have taken care of me when I was ill, and not to mention, they have always protected me and kept me at an arms distance from any mishap. I would say they are the ones with whom I share my personal feelings and life aspirations. Whenever we are on video calls, we spend approx 2 hours gossiping and sharing all our regular life stories to ease out a bit on life and lighten up the burden of our hearts. So you see, they mean a lot to me.

PART 2 – Cue Card

Topic:

Describe an interesting historic place.

You should say: –
– what it is
– where it is located
– what you can see there now
– explain why this place is interesting.

Well. Becasue of my father’s job, I was fortunate enough to travel to many cities and towns in India. Diuring our travels , we visited many tourist attractions of our country. Some of them are Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Rajasthan Palaces, Temples of northern India and the beaches of sothern India. Of all that I can remember, the fort of Bhangarh based in ALwar ditrict of Rajasthan was on of the most interesting historic places that I have ever been to.

The fort is world-famous, not for its heritage design or architecture, but because of the fact that it is counted amongst the world’s most haunted places. Yeah, you heard me right. The fort was built around 17th century by the ruler of the area Bhagwant Das for his son. The precincts of the fort are still well preserved and are very much in shape.

From what I can recall, the drive to Bhangarh fort was eerie. We passed through a village that was ostensibly inhabited. The main road was lined with the ruins of once-beautiful Havelis. Children were seated in front of intricately carved wooden doors that had large rusted locks.

There were once the Jauhari bazaars and the house of dancing girls. There are also some magnificent banyan trees. Even though the fort is in ruins, it had three grand storeys. The Someshwara temple at the side, with its beautiful stepwell, is very serene. The steps and the top of the fort are littered with broken columns, stones, and a forlorn-looking carved niche. The walls inside the temple are intact.

It is one of the most interesting places for me because the entry into Bhangarh is prohibited between sunset and sunrise. It is ranked the most haunted fort in India. However, the local guards denied having ever seen any paranormal activity there.

PART 3 – Follow-up Questions

Discussion topics: Looking after historic places……

1. How do people in your country feel about protecting historic buildings
2. Do you think an area can benefit from having an interesting historic place locally? In what way?
3. What do you think will happen to historic places or buildings in the future? Why?
4. How were you taught history when you were at school?
5. Are there other ways people can learn about history, apart from at school? How?
6. Do you think history will still be a school subject in the future? Why?

IELTS Speaking Mock Test 5

Part 1:

1. Do you have a large family or a small family?
2. Can you tell me something about them?
3. How much time do you manage to spend with members of your family?
4. What sorts of things do you like to do together?
5. Did/ Do you get on well with your family? Why?

PART 2 – Cue Card

Topic:

Describe a teacher who has influenced you in your education.

You should say:
-where you met him/her.
-what subject he/she taught.
-what was special about him/her.
-and explain why this person influenced you so much.

PART 3 – Follow-up Questions

Discussion topics: Developments in education…

1. How has education changed in your country in the last 10 years?
2. What changes do you foresee in the next 50 years?
3. How do the expectations of today’s school leavers compare with those of the previous generation?
4. What role do you think extracurricular activities play in education?
5. What method of learning works best for you?
6. How beneficial do you think it is to group students according to their level of ability?