Speaking topics recycle through a familiar pool: examiners draw from everyday themes, and the same themes return in new wording. Prepare the themes below — with stories and vocabulary ready — and very few Part 1 questions can surprise you.
The themes that keep coming back
- Home & hometown: where you live, what you like about it, how it is changing.
- Work or study: your job or subject, why you chose it, your plans.
- Technology: phones, apps, social media, how much you use them.
- Travel: trips you have taken, places you want to visit, transport.
- Free time: hobbies, weekends, music, sport, reading.
- Food: what you eat, cooking, restaurants, healthy eating.
Sample answer — Technology
Q: How often do you use your phone?
“Honestly, more than I should. I use it for work messages, maps, and music throughout the day, so it is rarely out of reach. If I am travelling somewhere new, I rely on it completely for directions. Having said that, I try to keep it in another room in the evening, because otherwise I end up scrolling mindlessly instead of actually relaxing.”
Why it works: it is honest and specific, uses a conditional clause naturally, and the highlighted phrase is the kind of collocation examiners note down.
Sample answer — Free time
Q: What do you like to do at the weekend?
“Weekends are for recharging. If the weather is decent, I like getting outside — a long walk or a bike ride with friends. I also use Saturday mornings to catch up on reading, which is something I never have time for during the week. By Sunday evening I feel completely recharged and ready for Monday.”
Your turn: pick two themes and write one true story for each — a trip, a meal, a busy week. Stories flex across questions; scripts do not. Full lessons for all three parts are on the Speaking lessons page →