IELTS Speaking · Part 1

    Home & where you live: IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions

    Last updated 2 September 2026

    In short

    Home & where you live is one of the familiar-topic areas the examiner draws on in the first four to five minutes of IELTS Speaking. This page collects 18 real Part 1 questions across 4 topics in this area (your home, your hometown, homes and accommodation, your neighbourhood), each with the opener the examiner typically starts from.

    Your home

    The examiner usually opens with something like: "Let's talk about where you live. Do you live in a house or a flat?"

    • Who do you live with there?

    • Which is your favourite room in your home?

    • Is there anything you would like to change about it?

    • What do you like about the area you live in?

    • Do you think you will stay there for a long time?

    Your hometown

    The examiner usually opens with something like: "I'd like to ask about your hometown. Where is it?"

    • What is it like as a place to live?

    • What do people usually do there in their free time?

    • Has it changed much in recent years?

    • Is it a good place for young people?

    • Would you recommend it to a visitor?

    Homes and accommodation

    The examiner usually opens with something like: "What kind of homes are most common where you live?"

    • Do most people you know live in houses or apartments?

    • What do you think makes a home comfortable?

    • Would you prefer to live in a modern home or an older one?

    • Is it better to live in the city centre or on the edge of a town?

    Your neighbourhood

    The examiner usually opens with something like: "Tell me a little about the neighbourhood you live in."

    • Do you know your neighbours well?

    • What facilities are there nearby?

    • Is it a quiet area or a busy one?

    • What could be done to improve it?

    Phrases for home & where you live answers

    • I've lived here for as long as I can remember, so ...

      Anchoring an answer about your home or hometown

    • What I like most about the area is that ...

      Highlighting a favourite feature of where you live

    • It's not the fanciest place, but ...

      Giving a balanced, honest description

    • If I could change one thing, it would be ...

      Adding a hypothetical to extend your answer

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