IELTS Speaking Predictions and Topic Clusters (2026)
IELTS Speaking predictions 2026: 65 Part 1 questions, 20 Part 2 cue cards and 60 Part 3 follow-ups with answer tips, plus a one-week drill plan.
13 min readPublished Oct 28, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026
Quick answer
This page now holds 145 original practice questions: 65 Part 1 questions, 20 Part 2 cue cards and 60 Part 3 follow-ups. They are predictions based on recurring themes in our 2023-2026 packs, not leaked questions. Practise them aloud, timed, in Speaking practice.
| Part | Official timing | Questions on this page |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | 4-5 minutes | 65 |
| Part 2 | 1 min prep + up to 2 min talk | 20 cue cards |
| Part 3 | 4-5 minutes | 60 |
Timing: IELTS.org Speaking format, checked 31 October 2026. Question counts: this page.
Method and disclaimer
These Speaking clusters summarise themes that appear repeatedly in recent candidate-recall style packs (for example accommodation, hometown, work, education, technology, environment, health, media, travel and celebrations in the 2026 set). They are not a leaked cue-card list and not a promise for your test day.
Keep answers flexible: reason + short example in Part 1, full bullet coverage in Part 2, compare and speculate language in Part 3. Confirm Speaking timing on IELTS test format (IELTS.org) and mark practice with the IELTS Speaking band descriptors (IELTS.org PDF).
Q4 2026 Part 1 clusters
Part 1 stays personal and concrete. High-frequency families from recent packs include home and neighbourhood, daily work or study routines, food and health habits, phones and apps, weather and seasons, shopping, sports, and celebrations.
| Cluster | Example angles | Drill focus |
|---|---|---|
| Home & hometown | Apartment vs house, neighbourhood change, parks | Extend every answer with why + example |
| Work / study | Daily routine, skills, breaks, future plans | Avoid one-word answers; keep 2-4 sentences |
| Tech & media | Apps, devices, news habits, social media | Opinion + limit/contrast (“usually… but…” ) |
| Lifestyle | Food, exercise, shopping, weather, travel | Natural tense shifts (past habit vs now) |
- Also rotate: friendship, celebrations, clothes, transport, languages, childhood memories
- Do not memorise full scripts; memorise flexible frames (opinion, reason, example, contrast)
Part 2 and Part 3 forecast themes
Part 2 cue cards in recent packs often ask for a person, place, object, event or skill story. Part 3 then widens the same theme into society, education, technology or culture. Train the pair together so you are not surprised by abstract follow-ups.
- Part 2 people: someone who gave advice, a helpful neighbour, a person you admire for a practical skill
- Part 2 places: a public place you enjoy, a memorable journey, a quiet place in your city
- Part 2 objects / skills: a useful app, a skill you learned, a gift that mattered
- Part 3 angles: technology at work, city planning, education equality, cultural festivals, health campaigns, media influence
Do
Strong Part 2 habit
1 minute notes covering every bullet, then speak up to 2 minutes with a clear ending.
- •Bullet checklist
- •One concrete story
- •Re-record once
Avoid
Weak Part 2 habit
Memorised speeches that ignore bullets or freeze after 40 seconds.
- •Off-topic intros
- •No example
- •No time check
Part 1 question bank: 16 themes, 65 questions
These are original practice questions written in the Part 1 theme families that recur most in our 2023-2026 Speaking packs. They are predictions based on recurring patterns, not leaked questions. Part 1 lasts 4-5 minutes, so aim for two to three sentences per answer: a direct answer, a reason and one detail.
| Theme | Practice questions | How to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Work or studies | 1. Do you work or are you a student? 2. What do you find most interesting about your job or subject? 3. Is there anything you would like to change about your workplace or school? 4. Do you plan to keep doing this in the future? | Answer directly, then add one reason and one concrete detail (a task, a class, a colleague). This opens almost every test, so rehearse it until it sounds natural, not memorised. See Part 1 fluency habits. |
| Home and accommodation | 1. Do you live in a house or an apartment? 2. What do you like most about the area where you live? 3. Which room would you like to redecorate, and why? 4. Do you think you will move in the next few years? | Describe one physical detail (light, space, noise) instead of saying 'it is good'. For future questions, switch to will, might or I'm planning to. |
| Hometown | 1. Where is your hometown, and what is it known for? 2. How has your hometown changed since you were a child? 3. Is it a good place for young people to live? 4. Would you like to live there when you are older? | Change questions test past versus present: used to + now. Name one specific change, such as a new metro line or a market that closed. |
| Daily routine | 1. What is the busiest part of your day? 2. Are you a morning person or an evening person? 3. Has your routine changed recently? 4. Do you prefer a fixed routine or more flexible days? | Use time phrases naturally (on weekdays, by 8 a.m., once a week). Contrast weekdays and weekends to extend an answer without repeating yourself. |
| Technology and phones | 1. Which app do you use most often? 2. Do you think you spend too much time on your phone? 3. What was the first electronic device you owned? 4. Is there any technology you would like to use less? | Give an honest opinion plus a limit ('it saves time, but...'). Useful words: technology topic vocabulary. |
| Social media and news | 1. How do you usually find out about the news? 2. Do you post on social media, or mostly just read? 3. Do you trust the news you see online? 4. Has the way you get news changed in recent years? | Trust questions reward hedging: 'it depends on the source', 'I tend to double-check'. Vocabulary: media topic vocabulary. |
| Weather and seasons | 1. What is the weather like in your city at this time of year? 2. Which season do you like best? 3. Does the weather affect your mood? 4. Do you check the weather forecast every day? | Go beyond hot or cold: humid, chilly, mild, a heatwave, it pours down. Link the weather to an activity you do or avoid. |
| Food and cooking | 1. Do you cook at home? 2. What food from your country would you recommend to a visitor? 3. Do you prefer eating out or eating at home? 4. Have your eating habits changed as you have got older? | Name the dish, then describe it with two adjectives (spicy, filling, light). Health angles connect to health vocabulary. |
| Sport and exercise | 1. Do you do any exercise? 2. Which sport was popular at your school? 3. Do you prefer watching sport or playing it? 4. What could encourage people to exercise more? | If you do not exercise, say so and explain why; honesty plus a reason scores better than an invented hobby. The last question is a mini Part 3: give a cause and a solution. |
| Shopping | 1. Do you enjoy shopping? 2. Do you prefer shopping online or in shops? 3. What was the last thing you bought? 4. Do you compare prices before you buy something? | 'Last thing you bought' needs the past simple and one detail about why. Preference questions: choose one side, then admit one advantage of the other. |
| Transport and travel | 1. How do you usually get to work or school? 2. Is public transport good where you live? 3. Do you enjoy long journeys? 4. Where would you like to travel next? | Use comparatives (faster than, not as reliable as) and a would/I'd love to structure for the travel-wish question. |
| Music and films | 1. What kind of music do you listen to? 2. Did you learn a musical instrument as a child? 3. Do you prefer watching films at home or in a cinema? 4. Is there a film you have watched more than once? | Give a genre plus an example and when you listen (on the commute, while studying). 'More than once' invites the present perfect. |
| Reading and learning | 1. Do you read books for pleasure? 2. Do you prefer paper books or e-books? 3. What is something new you would like to learn? 4. Do you prefer learning on your own or with other people? | These questions often lead to Part 2 cards about books or skills, so keep one real title and one real skill ready. |
| Friends and people | 1. Do you have a lot of friends or a few close ones? 2. How do you usually keep in touch with friends? 3. Do you prefer spending free time with friends or family? 4. Have you made any new friends recently? | Phrasal verbs sound natural here: keep in touch, catch up, hang out, get on well with. Avoid listing names; describe one shared activity. |
| Nature and parks | 1. Is there a park near your home? 2. Do you like spending time outdoors? 3. Did you grow any plants when you were a child? 4. Do you think cities need more green space? | The last question is opinion-based: give a view and one benefit (cleaner air, mental health). Vocabulary: environment and education vocabulary. |
| Short-topic wildcards | 1. Do you often wear a watch? 2. Do you prefer handwriting or typing? 3. Do you like taking photos? 4. Are you a patient person? 5. Do you often look at the sky at night? | Unusual mini-topics appear between familiar ones. Do not freeze: answer honestly in two or three sentences with a reason and a small example. |
Part 2 cue cards with Part 3 follow-ups: 20 cards, 60 discussion questions
Each card follows the official Part 2 shape: one minute to prepare, then speak for up to two minutes. The three Part 3 questions show how the examiner moves from your story to society. Practise the card, then answer the follow-ups with an opinion, a reason and an example. For structure, see Part 2 cue card strategy and Part 3 question types.
| Part 2 cue card | Part 3 follow-ups | How to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Describe a person who taught you a practical skill. Say who they are, what the skill was and how they taught you, and explain why it was useful. | 1. Is it better to learn practical skills from family or from professionals? 2. Should schools teach more life skills such as cooking or budgeting? 3. How has the internet changed the way people learn skills? | Pick a small, real skill (fixing a bike, one family recipe). One step-by-step moment makes the story vivid. Part 3: compare traditional and online learning. |
| Describe someone you know who is very well organised. Say who they are, how you know them and what they do to stay organised, and explain how you feel about this. | 1. Why are some people better at managing their time than others? 2. Do employers value organisation more than creativity? 3. Can technology make people less organised? | Show habits with concrete examples (a paper planner, packing the night before). Part 3 needs balance: 'on the one hand... but...'. |
| Describe an older person you admire. Say who this person is, how you know them and what they have done, and explain why you admire them. | 1. What can young people learn from older generations? 2. How are elderly people usually cared for in your country? 3. Should people be required to work until a later age? | Admiration needs evidence: one decision or achievement, told in the past tense. Part 3 shifts to society, so talk about people in general, not only your relative. |
| Describe a person who made a good decision recently. Say who the person is, what the decision was and how they made it, and explain why you think it was a good decision. | 1. Do people make better decisions alone or after asking for advice? 2. Why do some people avoid making decisions? 3. Should children be allowed to make important decisions? | Structure the story as situation, options, choice, result. Part 3 rewards conditionals: 'if children are given small choices early, they...'. |
| Describe a quiet place you like to go to. Say where it is, when you go there and what you do there, and explain why you like it. | 1. Why do people in cities need quiet places? 2. Are public libraries still important today? 3. How could noise in cities be reduced? | Use the senses: what you hear (or do not hear), the light, the smell. Part 3 solution questions: name who acts (councils, residents) and how. |
| Describe a building in your town or city that you think is attractive. Say where it is, what it looks like and what it is used for, and explain why you find it attractive. | 1. Should old buildings be preserved or replaced with modern ones? 2. Who should decide how a city looks: planners or residents? 3. What makes a building a pleasant place to work in? | Prepare five description words (glass facade, high ceilings, symmetrical, restored, landmark). Part 3: weigh heritage against housing needs. |
| Describe a place you visited that was very crowded. Say where it was, when you went and why it was crowded, and explain how you felt about being there. | 1. Why do some tourist destinations become overcrowded? 2. Should popular attractions limit the number of visitors? 3. How does mass tourism affect local residents? | Feelings can be mixed: 'exciting at first, exhausting after an hour'. Part 3: give one economic benefit and one social cost of tourism. |
| Describe a cafe or restaurant you would recommend to a friend. Say where it is, what it serves and how often you go there, and explain why you would recommend it. | 1. Why do people eat out more often than in the past? 2. Is fast food a problem in your country? 3. Should restaurants be required to show calorie information? | Recommend with reasons: atmosphere, value, one signature dish. Part 3 policy questions: state a view, then a practical limitation. |
| Describe a piece of technology you could not live without. Say what it is, when you got it and how you use it, and explain why it is so important to you. | 1. Has technology made people's lives easier or just busier? 2. At what age should children have their own smartphone? 3. What jobs might disappear because of technology? | Avoid a generic 'my phone is useful'; describe two specific uses. Part 3 prediction questions: use will probably, is likely to, might. |
| Describe something you bought that you were very happy with. Say what it was, where you bought it and how much it cost, and explain why you were happy with it. | 1. Why do people buy things they do not really need? 2. How does advertising influence young people? 3. Is shopping online better than shopping in stores? | Tell a mini story: why you needed it, how you chose, and the result. Part 3 links well to media vocabulary for advertising. |
| Describe a book or article that changed your opinion about something. Say what it was, when you read it and what it was about, and explain how it changed your opinion. | 1. Do people read less than they did in the past? 2. Should schools choose what students read? 3. How can people judge whether information online is reliable? | Contrast before and after: 'I used to think..., but now I realise...'. Part 3 on reliability: mention checking sources and authors. |
| Describe a gift you gave to someone. Say what the gift was, who you gave it to and why you chose it, and explain how the person reacted. | 1. Are expensive gifts better than handmade ones? 2. Why do people give gifts on special occasions? 3. Has gift-giving become too commercial? | The reaction is the payoff: describe the moment they opened it. Part 3: discuss value versus thought, with an example from your culture. |
| Describe a time you helped someone. Say who you helped, what the situation was and what you did, and explain how you felt afterwards. | 1. Should volunteering be compulsory for students? 2. Why are some people reluctant to help strangers? 3. Do companies have a responsibility to help their local communities? | Keep the help modest and believable. Use past continuous for background ('I was waiting for a bus when...'). Part 3: balance duty and free choice. |
| Describe a time you had to wait a long time for something. Say what you were waiting for, where you were and how long you waited, and explain how you felt. | 1. Are people less patient than they used to be? 2. In what situations is waiting actually useful? 3. How could public services reduce waiting times? | Show how you passed the time; it adds natural detail. Part 3 comparison questions: contrast past and present with specific technology examples. |
| Describe a celebration or festival you enjoyed. Say what it was, where it took place and who you were with, and explain why you enjoyed it. | 1. Are traditional festivals becoming less important? 2. Should festivals be supported with public money? 3. How do celebrations bring communities together? | Explain one custom briefly for a listener who does not know it. Part 3: give a reason for change (urbanisation, social media) and an example. |
| Describe a time you had to change your plans. Say what you had planned, why you changed it and what you did instead, and explain how you felt about the change. | 1. Is it important to plan your life carefully? 2. Why do young people change jobs more often than older people? 3. Can too much planning be a bad thing? | Use past perfect for the original plan ('I had booked...'). Part 3: show both sides of planning versus flexibility. |
| Describe a journey that took longer than you expected. Say where you were going, how you travelled and what caused the delay, and explain how you felt. | 1. How could public transport in cities be improved? 2. Should private cars be banned from city centres? 3. Will people travel less in the future? | Sequence words carry the story: at first, then, eventually. Part 3 policy questions: who pays and who benefits. |
| Describe a time you learned something useful from the internet. Say what you learned, where you found it and how you used it, and explain why it was useful. | 1. Can online courses replace classroom teaching? 2. What kinds of skills are hard to learn online? 3. Should older people be taught digital skills? | Name the platform type (a video tutorial, a forum) and one result. Part 3: contrast skills that need feedback in person with skills you can self-study. |
| Describe an outdoor activity you enjoyed. Say what the activity was, where you did it and who you did it with, and explain why you enjoyed it. | 1. Do children spend enough time outdoors nowadays? 2. How can cities encourage people to do outdoor activities? 3. Is nature tourism good for the environment? | Hiking, cycling or even a picnic all work; detail beats drama. Part 3 environmental questions connect to environment vocabulary. |
| Describe a natural place you would like to visit. Say where it is, how you learned about it and what you would do there, and explain why you want to go. | 1. Why should natural areas be protected? 2. Who is more responsible for protecting the environment: individuals or governments? 3. Will climate change affect where people go on holiday? | This is a future card: would, I'd like to, I'm hoping to. Part 3 'who is responsible' questions: argue both, then choose. |
One-week Speaking drill plan
Link every drill back to the yearly pack so language stays fresh. Older years (2025 Speaking) are useful for extra volume after you finish priority 2026 themes.
- 1Days 1-2 - Part 1 staminaAnswer 12 Part 1 questions aloud from two clusters (for example home + technology). No memorised speeches.
- 2Days 3-5 - Part 2 long turnsOne cue card per day from the 2026 pack. Notes for 1 minute, speak up to 2 minutes, re-record after checking bullets.
- 3Days 6-7 - Part 3 discussionFour abstract follow-ups linked to your Part 2 topics. Focus on compare, cause, effect and future speculation.
Prep checklist before test week
- Two recent Part 2 cards spoken without notes after the first attempt
- Part 1 answers stay under ~20 seconds unless the examiner asks more
- Part 3 uses at least one compare or speculate structure per answer
- Pronunciation work targets word stress and chunking, not accent imitation
- You have opened the latest Updated date on the 2026 Speaking pack
Frequently asked questions
Can I rely on a predicted cue-card list alone?+
No. Use predictions to choose themes, then practise multiple concrete cards from the recent pack so you can handle unfamiliar wording.
Do Academic and General Training have different Speaking tests?+
The Speaking test format is the same. Your preparation difference is mainly elsewhere (Reading/Writing modules).
Should I memorise sample answers?+
Use samples for structure and vocabulary only after you attempt the question yourself. Memorised speeches are easy to spot and hard to adapt.
What if my Part 2 topic is completely new?+
Fall back to a simple story frame: context, what happened, why it mattered, what you learned. Predictions train the frame, not a script.
Where are model answers?+
Attempt first on the 2026 Speaking pack, then unlock samples if you use Pro. Free guides keep question lists and drill plans open.