IELTS Speaking · Part 1

    Technology & media: IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions

    Last updated 2 September 2026

    In short

    Technology & media is one of the familiar-topic areas the examiner draws on in the first four to five minutes of IELTS Speaking. This page collects 28 real Part 1 questions across 7 topics in this area (technology, mobile phones, the internet, social media, television, films, news), each with the opener the examiner typically starts from.

    Technology

    The examiner usually opens with something like: "How much do you use technology in your daily life?"

    • What device do you use the most?

    • What do you mainly use it for?

    • Is there any technology you would find hard to live without?

    • Do you think you spend too long looking at screens?

    Mobile phones

    The examiner usually opens with something like: "How often do you use your mobile phone each day?"

    • What do you use it for most?

    • Could you manage a day without your phone?

    • Do you prefer calling or messaging people?

    • Was your first phone very different from the one you have now?

    The internet

    The examiner usually opens with something like: "What do you mainly use the internet for?"

    • How many hours a day are you online, would you say?

    • How did people manage before the internet, do you think?

    • Do you use the internet more for work or for fun?

    • Is there anything about the internet you find frustrating?

    Social media

    The examiner usually opens with something like: "Do you use social media much?"

    • Which platforms do you use most?

    • What do you usually do on them?

    • Do you think you spend too much time on social media?

    • How has social media changed the way you keep in touch?

    Television

    The examiner usually opens with something like: "Do you watch much television?"

    • What kinds of programmes do you enjoy?

    • Do you watch TV alone or with other people?

    • Do you prefer watching on a television or on other devices?

    • Have your viewing habits changed in recent years?

    Films

    The examiner usually opens with something like: "Do you enjoy watching films?"

    • What kinds of films do you like?

    • Do you prefer watching films at the cinema or at home?

    • Who do you usually watch films with?

    • Is there a film you could watch again and again?

    News

    The examiner usually opens with something like: "How do you usually keep up with the news?"

    • Are you more interested in local news or international news?

    • Do you follow the news every day?

    • Do you talk about the news with friends or family?

    • Do you think the news is always reliable?

    Phrases for technology & media answers

    • I'm pretty much glued to my phone for ...

      Describing heavy device use honestly

    • I mainly use it to ...

      Explaining what you use technology for

    • I'd say it's completely changed the way I ...

      Discussing technology's impact on you

    • That said, I do try to ...

      Adding a balancing point about limits

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