IELTS Speaking Part 1

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Concerts 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. Here are 5 questions about concerts written by BandLadder in the examiner's style, each with a Band 8 sample answer and useful vocabulary. Aim for two or three sentences each: answer, reason, one detail.
  • 5 questions
  • 5 Band 8 answers
  • 4 to 5 minutes

5 answers

Concerts questions with sample answers

1

Do you often go to concerts?

Not as much as I'd like to, honestly. Tickets have become quite pricey lately, so I only manage to go two or three times a year. The last one I went to was an acoustic gig at a local theatre in Bristol, which was brilliant.

2

What kind of live music do you enjoy most?

I'm a massive fan of indie rock. There's just something about the raw energy of electric guitars and live drums that you don't really get through headphones. Whenever my favourite local band plays nearby, I always try to grab tickets.

3

Do you prefer watching concerts in large stadiums or smaller venues?

Definitely smaller venues. Stadiums can feel a bit overwhelming, and you're usually stuck miles away from the stage. In an intimate club or hall, you feel much closer to the performers, and the atmosphere is far more electric.

4

Did you go to any concerts when you were younger?

I did, though mostly with my parents. When I was about ten, my dad took me to an open-air classical music concert in a park. I remember eating ice cream on a blanket on the grass while the orchestra played, which was lovely.

5

Would you like to go to a music festival in the future?

I'd love to, provided the weather stays dry! A couple of my friends went to a weekend festival in the countryside last summer, and it sounded fantastic, with dozens of stages and food stalls, even if camping in the mud sounds dreadful.

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

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7 words

Useful vocabulary and tips

  • acoustic gig

    a live performance using non-electric instruments

  • raw energy

    powerful, natural, and unrestrained excitement

  • intimate

    small and having a warm, close atmosphere

  • electric

    full of intense excitement and energy

  • open-air

    taking place outside rather than inside a building

  • orchestra

    a large group of musicians playing classical instruments together

  • provided that

    only on the condition that

  • →Contrast live performances with listening through headphones to showcase descriptive vocabulary.
  • →Use strong adjectives like 'electric', 'acoustic', or 'overwhelming' to convey the atmosphere.
  • →Give a brief personal memory or anecdote rather than simply listing music genres.

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.

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More Part 1 topics

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