IELTS Speaking Part 1

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Winter 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 winter 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

Winter questions with sample answers

1

Do you like winter weather?

Not particularly, to be honest. I really struggle with the freezing temperatures and the short, gloomy days. I much prefer warmer seasons because I can spend time outdoors without wrapping up in three thick jumpers and a heavy winter coat.

2

What is the winter like in your hometown?

Well, where I grew up, it's fairly mild compared to other regions. We rarely get heavy snowfall, but it tends to be quite damp, grey, and breezy. Occasionally, temperatures drop below zero overnight, leaving a thin layer of frost on the car windscreens.

3

What do you usually do on cold winter days?

I usually prefer staying indoors and keeping cosy. I'll stick the kettle on, make a hot mug of tea, and curl up on the sofa with a good book or a film. If I really have to go outside, I try to make it quick.

4

Did you enjoy winter more when you were a child?

Oh, definitely. When I was younger, winter felt magical, especially when it snowed. My friends and I would spend hours building snowmen or having snowball fights at the local park until our gloves were soaked, whereas nowadays the cold just feels like an inconvenience.

5

Would you like to live somewhere with snowy winters in the future?

I think it would be lovely for a short holiday, but probably not permanently. Dealing with icy roads and shovelling snow every morning sounds exhausting. I reckon I'd get fed up with it after a couple of weeks.

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

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7 words

Useful vocabulary and tips

  • gloomy

    dark, grey, and depressing

  • wrap up

    to put on warm layers of clothing

  • mild

    not very cold or severe weather

  • drop below zero

    to fall below freezing point

  • keeping cosy

    staying warm, comfortable, and relaxed indoors

  • inconvenience

    something that causes mild trouble or annoyance

  • fed up with

    annoyed or bored with something after a while

  • →Use precise sensory vocabulary like 'gloomy', 'damp', or 'frosty' rather than relying only on 'cold'.
  • →Contrast your childhood memories with your adult routine to show a wider range of tenses naturally.
  • →Include natural phrasal verbs such as 'wrap up' or 'curl up' to sound more conversational.

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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