IELTS Speaking Part 1

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Baking questions and answers

IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions are short and personal: the examiner asks three to five on two or three everyday topics in the first four to five minutes. These are the 7 questions about baking in the BandLadder test bank, with Band 8 sample answers for the most frequent ones and useful vocabulary. Aim for two or three sentences each: answer, reason, one detail.
  • 7 questions
  • 6 Band 8 answers
  • 4 to 5 minutes

6 answers

Baking questions with sample answers

1

Do you like to bake?

I absolutely love spending time in the kitchen creating sweet treats. It is incredibly therapeutic for me after a long day at the office to focus on measuring ingredients and waiting for the delicious aromas to fill the house.

2

What do you like to make?

My go-to choice is usually a classic lemon drizzle cake because it is simple yet always impressive. I occasionally experiment with sourdough bread, although mastering the fermentation process takes quite a bit of patience and practice.

3

How often do you bake?

Generally, I try to dedicate my Sunday afternoons to baking a fresh batch of cookies or muffins for the week ahead. It has become a bit of a weekend ritual that helps me prepare for the busy days following.

4

What do you enjoy most about baking?

The most rewarding part is definitely sharing the final results with my friends and colleagues. Seeing their genuine appreciation when they take the first bite makes all the effort of whisking and kneading worthwhile for me.

5

Do you think baking is a healthy method of cooking?

It really depends on what you are preparing, as some recipes involve high amounts of sugar and butter. However, compared to deep-frying, baking is certainly a much lighter alternative that allows you to control the quality of ingredients.

6

Is baking popular in your country?

There has been a massive resurgence in home baking lately, largely driven by popular television cooking competitions. Many people are now keen to develop their culinary skills, and you can see this trend reflected in the well-stocked baking aisles of our local supermarkets.

Details are invented. Use the shape, not the sentences: examiners mark memorised answers down.

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1 questions

More baking questions to practise

  1. 1What types of things are baked in your country?

6 words

Useful vocabulary and tips

  • therapeutic

    having a healing or relaxing effect on the mind

  • aromas

    pleasant and distinct smells from food or cooking

  • go-to

    a reliable choice for a particular purpose or situation

  • fermentation

    the chemical breakdown of a substance by bacteria

  • resurgence

    an increase or revival after a period of decline

  • culinary

    concerning the practice or skill of cooking food

  • →Focus on describing your personal habits rather than giving general facts about baking.
  • →Use a range of adjectives to describe tastes, smells, and your personal feelings toward baking.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are in IELTS Speaking Part 1?+

Usually about ten to twelve, over four to five minutes: a few on your work, study or home, then three or four short questions on each of two everyday topics.

How long should a Part 1 answer be?+

Two or three sentences, about 15 to 20 seconds: a direct answer, a reason and one detail. One-word answers cost fluency marks, and long speeches eat into the examiner's time.

Keep practising

More Part 1 topics

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