Part 1 – language for everyday topics
Useful vocabulary and grammar for the most common IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics - likes and dislikes, habits, the past, preferences - with topic word banks.
Part 1 topics change several times a year, but they are always drawn from ordinary life: where you live, what you do, what you like, how you spend your time. You cannot predict the exact questions, but you can prepare the language functions that almost every question needs. This lesson gives you those, together with word banks for frequent topics.
Function 1: likes and dislikes
Do not say ‘I like’ twelve times in four minutes.
| Strong like | Like | Neutral | Dislike | Strong dislike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I’m really into… | I’m quite keen on… | I don’t mind… | I’m not that keen on… | I can’t stand… |
| I absolutely love… | I enjoy… | It’s OK, I suppose. | …isn’t really my thing. | I really dislike… |
| I’m a big fan of… | I’m fond of… | I can take it or leave it. | I’m not a great fan of… | I find … unbearable. |
Grammar: enjoy / don’t mind / can’t stand / be keen on / be into + -ing (I enjoy cooking). Like / love / hate / prefer take -ing or to + verb.
Say why, with an adjective for the thing and one for the feeling:
- I find it relaxing / satisfying / fascinating / tedious / stressful.
- It helps me unwind / switch off / stay in shape / clear my head.
- It’s a good way to meet people / to take my mind off work.
Function 2: habits and frequency
| How often | Expressions |
|---|---|
| 100% | always, every single day, without fail |
| Often | usually, most days, nearly every week, more often than not, regularly |
| Sometimes | now and then, from time to time, every so often, once in a while, occasionally |
| Rarely | hardly ever, rarely, once in a blue moon, almost never |
- I tend to get up late at weekends.
- I’ll usually have a coffee before I do anything else. (will for typical behaviour)
- I’m always losing my keys. (present continuous + always for an annoying habit)
- Whenever I get the chance, I go hiking.
Function 3: talking about the past
| Structure | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past simple | Finished events | I had piano lessons for about three years. |
| used to + verb | Past habits and states that are no longer true | I used to play outside until it got dark. |
| would + verb | Repeated past actions (not states) | Every Sunday we’d have lunch at my grandmother’s. |
| Past continuous | Background | I was living in a small town at the time. |
| Present perfect | Experience; change up to now | I’ve only been lost once. / My taste has changed a lot. |
| when I was younger / as a child / back then / in those days | Time markers | As a teenager I only listened to rock. |
Comparing then and now is a natural way to extend an answer:
‘As a teenager I only listened to whatever my friends liked, mostly rock. These days I’m more curious, and streaming makes it easy to try things I’d never have come across before.’
Function 4: preferences
- I prefer A to B. / I’d rather do A than B. / I’d go for A.
- Given the choice, I’d… / If I had to choose, I’d say…
- It depends on… / It depends whether…
- A is fine, but there’s nothing quite like B.
Function 5: describing places and people briefly
Places: lively, quiet, crowded, peaceful, modern, run-down, spacious, cramped, convenient, well-connected, in the suburbs, on the outskirts, right in the centre, a ten-minute walk from…
‘I live in a flat on the fourth floor of a fairly modern block. It’s not huge, but it’s bright and it’s close to the centre.’
People: easy-going, outgoing, reserved, patient, strict, supportive, hard-working, talkative, considerate, reliable, good company.
Function 6: wishes and plans
- I’d love to…, I’ve always wanted to…, I’m hoping to…, I’m thinking of + -ing, I’m planning to…
- I wish I had more time to… / I wish I could…
- I keep meaning to…, but I never get round to it.
- Eventually, … / At some point, … / In a few years’ time, …
Topic word banks
For each topic, a few collocations and phrases that sound natural. Learn them as chunks.
Home and neighbourhood
a two-bedroom flat · a detached house · share a flat with · the rent is reasonable · a residential area · within walking distance of · there’s a real sense of community · it gets a lot of natural light · I’d like somewhere with outdoor space
Work
I work as a… · I’m in charge of… · I deal with customers · a nine-to-five job · work shifts · the workload · a heavy schedule · meet deadlines · get on with my colleagues · it’s rewarding / demanding / repetitive · career prospects · work from home
Study
I’m doing a degree in… · I’m in my final year · my major is… · attend lectures · hand in assignments · revise for exams · a heavy timetable · graduate · do a master’s · a scholarship
Free time
unwind · have a lie-in · catch up with friends · binge-watch a series · go for a stroll · work out at the gym · take up a hobby · I’m a bit of a couch potato · keep myself busy
Food and cooking
a home-cooked meal · eat out · grab a takeaway · a sweet tooth · I’m not a fussy eater · follow a recipe · from scratch · ready meals · a balanced diet · my signature dish
Music, films and reading
my taste is quite mixed · I’m into… · a catchy tune · live music · go to a gig · a film buff · a gripping plot · I couldn’t put it down · read for pleasure · a page-turner · on a streaming service
Travel and transport
commute · rush hour · stuck in traffic · public transport is reliable / unreliable · get around by bike · a short hop · go abroad · off the beaten track · a package holiday · travel light
Weather and seasons
changeable · mild · chilly · freezing · boiling · humid · a heatwave · it’s pouring · a clear, crisp day · it puts me in a good mood · I feel sluggish in the heat
Technology
I’m on my phone constantly · scroll through social media · keep in touch · I couldn’t live without… · it’s a time-saver · addictive · switch off notifications · screen time
Shopping and clothes
go window-shopping · shop around for a bargain · an impulse buy · it was a waste of money · good value · try things on · dress casually · smart clothes · comfortable rather than fashionable
Health and sport
keep fit · stay in shape · go for a run · I’m not very sporty · a team sport · take part in · cut down on sugar · get enough sleep · it clears my head
Friends and family
a close-knit family · I take after my father · get on well with · have a lot in common · keep in touch · drift apart · we go back a long way · I can rely on her
Putting it together: model answers
Topic: neighbours
How well do you know your neighbours? ‘Not as well as I should. I know the couple opposite quite well, because we sometimes take in each other’s parcels, but with most of the others it’s just a nod and a hello on the stairs.’
What makes someone a good neighbour? ‘Being considerate, above all. Keeping the noise down late at night, not leaving rubbish in the hallway, that kind of thing. And being willing to help in small ways, like watering plants when someone’s away.’
Topic: shoes
Do you prefer comfortable shoes or fashionable ones? ‘Comfortable, without question. I walk a lot, and I learned the hard way that a pair of shoes that looks great but hurts is a complete waste of money.’
Topic: music
Did you learn to play an instrument as a child? ‘I had piano lessons for about three years. I wasn’t very dedicated and I stopped when I was eleven, which I regret now. I can still read music, though, so it wasn’t entirely wasted.’
Notice in each: a direct answer first; one or two extensions; a natural phrase (above all, without question, I learned the hard way, which I regret now, though).
A warning about ‘idioms’
The Band 7 descriptor mentions ‘idiomatic vocabulary’. That does not mean colourful sayings such as ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’, which almost nobody uses. It means the ordinary natural expressions that fluent speakers use all the time:
to be honest · I must admit · get into (a hobby) · switch off · take up · get round to · not my thing · it depends · on the whole · more or less · that kind of thing · I learned the hard way · I can’t be bothered · I’ve no idea
Phrasal verbs and collocations like these, used correctly, are exactly what the descriptor is looking for.
Practice routine
- Choose three topics from the word banks. For each, write five possible Part 1 questions (Do you…? What…? Did you… as a child? Do you prefer…? Would you like…?).
- Answer them aloud, recording yourself, using at least one expression from the bank in each topic.
- Listen back. Count how many times you said ‘I like’, ‘very’ and ‘good’. Replace them next time.
- Repeat with three new topics every day for two weeks. By then you will have practised more than two hundred Part 1 answers.
Key points
- Topics change, functions do not: likes, habits, past, preferences, plans.
- Vary how you express likes and frequency.
- Use used to, would and ‘these days’ to compare past and present.
- Learn topic vocabulary as collocations and short phrases.
- ‘Idiomatic’ means natural everyday expressions, not proverbs.
Now try it in a real section
A complete IELTS speaking section in the official format — every answer explained.
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