These are practice predictions: topics and questions from the BandLadder bank for the current season, chosen to match what candidates report. They are not leaked or confirmed exam questions, and no one can tell you which card you will get. Prepare across the whole range.
Taking IELTS in India in October 2026? See how to find exam dates in October 2026, the IELTS fee in India and test centres by state. Open any card for its bullet points and Part 3 questions; the full model answer, a one-minute plan and vocabulary are on the card's own page.
21 cards
Experiences
Say what happened and when, in two sentences.
Describe a bad service you received in a restaurant/shop+
You should say
- When and where it happened?
- What happened?
- How you reacted?
- And explain how you felt about the experience.
Part 3 questions
- What kind of services are bad services?
- Do you think services are better now than in the past?
- How do most people respond to bad services?
Describe a day when you thought the weather was perfect+
You should say
- Where you were on this day?
- What the weather was like on this day?
- What did you do during the day?
- And explain why you thought the weather was perfect on this day.
Part 3 questions
- What types of weather do people in your country dislike most?
- What jobs can be affected by different weather conditions?
- Are there any important festivals in your country that celebrate a season or type of weather?
Describe a difficult task that you completed at work/study that you felt proud of+
You should say
- What the task was?
- How you complete it?
- Why the task was difficult?
- Why you were proud of the completion of the task?
Part 3 questions
- What challenges do young people face today?
- How do young people handle difficult or challenging tasks?
- Do people often feel proud of themselves when they complete a difficult task?
Describe a job that you have done+
You should say
- How do you get the job?
- What did the job involve how long did the job last?
- Describe how well you did the job.
Part 3 questions
- What do you do?
- What are your responsibilities?
- How many hours do you work each day?
Describe a journey [e.g. by car, plane, boat] that you remember well]+
You should say
- Where you went
- How you travel
- Why you went on the journey
- And explain why you remember this journey well.
Part 3 questions
- Why do people need to travel every day?
- What problems can people have when they are on their daily journey, for example, to work or school?
- Some people say that daily journeys like these will not be so common in the future. Do you agree or disagree?
Describe a period of time from your studies that was the most difficult for you so far+
You should say
- When it was?
- Why was it hard?
- What you were doing at that time?
Part 3 questions
- Is higher education too expensive in your country?
- Should all students pay for their university education? Why?
- What advantages do universities bring to the society? Is it the same in your country?
Describe a review you read about a product or service+
You should say
- Where did you read the review?
- What the product or service was?
- What information did the review give about the product or service?
- And explain what you did as a result of reading this review.
Part 3 questions
- What kinds of things do people write online reviews about in your country?
- Why do some people write online reviews?
- Do you think that online reviews are good for both shoppers and companies?
Describe a service from a company or shop+
You should say
- What the service was?
- When and where you received the service?
- Whom you were with?
- Explain how you feel about it.
Part 3 questions
- What kind of service-related businesses are popular in your area?
- What changes have you noted in the way services are delivered now compared to the past?
- What role does the service industry play in the development of a community?
Describe a time when you taught a friend/relative something+
You should say
- Who you taught
- What/how you taught
- What the result was
- And explain how you felt about the experience
Part 3 questions
- What practical skills can young people teach old people?
- What skills can young people teach old people besides technology?
- How can young people teach old people skills?
Describe a time you made a mistake and learned something from it+
You should say
- What the mistake was?
- How you made the mistake?
- What you did to correct the mistake?
- And explain what you learned from this experience.
Part 3 questions
- What kind of mistakes do children make at school?
- Do you think it's okay for children to make mistakes?
- How to teach a child it's OK to make mistakes?
Describe a typical day in your life when you were a child+
You should say
- Who was/were around you?
- What you ate?
- What took care of you?
- And say what you most enjoyed doing in your childhood days.
Part 3 questions
- Is it important to have pleasant childhood memories? Why?
- Do you think that people are permanently affected by negative childhood memories? Why do you think so?
- What do you think it means to 'live in the past'?
Describe a very difficult task that you succeeded in doing as part of your work or studies+
You should say
- what task you did do?
- why this task was very difficult?
- how do you work on this task?
- and explain how you felt when you completed this task.
Part 3 questions
- What are the most difficult jobs that people do?
- Why do you think some people choose to do difficult jobs?
- Do you agree or disagree that all jobs are difficult sometimes?
Describe an idea you had for improving something at work or college+
You should say
- When and where did you have your idea what was your idea?
- Who did you tell about your idea?
- And explain why you thought your idea would improve.
Part 3 questions
- Some people think that education should be about memorizing the important ideas of the past.
- Should education encourage students to have new ideas?
- How do you think teachers could help students to develop and share their ideas?
Describe an important choice you had to make in your life+
You should say
- When do you have to make this choice?
- what do you have to choose between?
- Whether you make a good choice?
- And explain how you felt when you were making this choice.
Part 3 questions
- What are the typical choices people make at different stages of their lives?
- Should important choices be made by parents rather than by young adults?
- Why do some people like to discuss choices with other people?
Describe an important text message you received+
You should say
- Who sent it to you?
- Why still remember it?
- And explain how you felt after you received it.
Part 3 questions
- Do you think a traditional letter is a good way to send messages?
- What are the positive and negative effects of using technology to communicate?
- What kind of services do people mostly like to use to send important messages?
Describe an interesting discussion you had as part of your work or studies+
You should say
- What the subject of the discussion was?
- Who do you discuss the subject with?
- What opinions were expressed?
- Explain why you found the discussion interesting.
Part 3 questions
- Is it always a good idea to tell lots of people about a problem?
- Do you think that it's better to talk to friends and not family about problems?
- Why is it good to discuss problems with other people?
Describe an interesting journey you have been on+
You should say
- Where are you going?
- How do you travel there?
- Who do you go with?
- And explain what was so memorable about the journey.
Part 3 questions
- How easy is it to travel around your country?
- Which method of travel do you consider safest?
- Has travel become safer in recent years?
Describe an occasion you forgot an important thing+
You should say
- When did it happen?
- What you forgot?
- Why did you forget it?
- And how do you feel about it.?
Part 3 questions
- Do you think memory is important?
- Do you think it's important to have a good memory?
- What are some of the benefits of having a good memory?
Describe an unusual experience of traveling. Describe a place you visited with your friends and you had a good time+
You should say
- Where you go?
- When you go there?
- Who you were with?
- What you did do there?
- Explain why it is unusual.
Part 3 questions
- Do you think the growth of international tourism is a good thing? Why (not)?
- What do you think people can learn from travelling to other countries? Why?
- Do people in your country travel more these days than in the past for holidays?
Describe an unusual meal you had+
You should say
- When you had it
- Where you had it
- Whom you had it with
- And explain why it was unusual.
Part 3 questions
- What do you think a healthy diet consists of?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of eating in restaurants?
- Why do some people choose to eat out instead of ordering takeout?
Describe the life-changing experience you have had+
You should say
- Where does it take place?
- Who was with you?
- What happened & how do you feel about it?
- And explain how it changed your life.
Part 3 questions
- In what ways is life becoming safer, and in what ways is it becoming more dangerous?
- What risks should people try to avoid?
- Should people always avoid danger, or is it a good idea sometimes to take risks?
19 cards
People
Name them and say how you know them in one sentence, then move on.
Describe a famous business person that you know about+
You should say
- Who this person is?
- What kind of business this person is involved in?
- What you know about this business person?
- And explain what you think of this business person.
Part 3 questions
- What kinds of people are most famous in your country today?
- Why are there so many stories about famous people in the news?
- Do you agree or disagree that many young people today want to be famous?
Describe a film/movie actor from your country who is very popular+
You should say
- Who this actor is?
- What kinds of films/movies does he/she act in?
- What you know about this actor's life?
- And explain why this actor is so popular.
Part 3 questions
- What are the most popular types of films in your country?
- What is the difference between watching a film in the cinema and watching a film at home?
- Do you think cinemas will close in the future?
Describe a friend from your childhood+
You should say
- Who he/she is?
- Where and how you met each other?
- What you often do together?
- And explain what made you like him/her.
Part 3 questions
- How important is childhood friendship to children?
- Do you still keep in touch with your friends from childhood?
- What's the difference between having younger friends and older friends?
Describe a friend of your family you remember from your childhood+
You should say
- Who the person was?
- How your family knew this person?
- How often this person visited your family?
- And explain why you remember this person.
Part 3 questions
- What do you think makes someone a good friend to a whole family?
- Do you think we meet different kinds of friends at different stages of our lives?
- In what ways are these types of friends different?
Describe a person in the news that you want to meet+
You should say
- Who he or she is?
- What did this person show up on TV for?
- How do you know what this person is?
- Why do you want to meet him?
Part 3 questions
- What type of people can be seen on TV? What are the kind of people do the news usually report about?
- Are news reports on TV in India divided into domestic and international ones?
- What is usually in the news in India?
Describe a person who has done a lot of work to help people+
You should say
- Who this person is/was?
- Where does this person live?
- What he/she has done to help people?
- And explain how you know about this person.
Part 3 questions
- What are some of the ways people can help others in the community?
- Why do you think some people like to help other people?
- Some people say that people help others in the community more now than they did in the past.
Describe a person you like to work or study with+
You should say
- Who this person is?
- How long have you known this person?
- How you met?
- Why you want to work or study with this person?
Part 3 questions
- What are the characteristics that good co-workers need?
- What benefits if you are surrounded by good co-workers?
- What would happen if the co-workers are not good?
Describe a person you met at a party who you enjoyed talking with+
You should say
- What party it was?
- How you meet this person?
- What you talked about?
- And explain why you enjoyed talking with him or her.
Part 3 questions
- On what occasions would people be willing to get to know new people?
- Where would people get to know new people?
- How do people start a conversation?
Describe a person you really enjoy studying/working with+
You should say
- Who this person is
- When you often study/work together
- What you study/Work together
- And explain why you enjoy Studying/working with him/her
Part 3 questions
- Should children be encouraged to learn from their peers?
- What difficulties or problems would introverted people face in work or study?
- What makes a good employee?
Describe a successful sports person you admire+
You should say
- Who he/she is
- What you know about him/her
- What he/she is like in real life
- What achievement he/she has made
- And explain why you admire him/her.
Part 3 questions
- Should students have physical education and do sports at school?
- What is the most popular sport in your country?
- What qualities should an athlete have?
Describe a teacher who has influenced you in your education+
You should say
- Who this teacher was?
- What subject he/she taught?
- What was so special about him/her?
- And explain why this person influenced you so much in your education.
Part 3 questions
- What makes a good student?
- What role should the teacher have in the classroom?
- Do you think computers will one day replace teachers in the classroom?
Describe a writer you would like to meet+
You should say
- Who the writer is?
- What did you know about this writer already?
- What you would like to find out about him/her?
- And explain why you would like to meet this writer.
Part 3 questions
- What kinds of books are most popular with children in your country? Why do you think that is?
- Why do you think some children do not read books very often?
- How do you think children can be encouraged to read more?
Describe an old person you admire+
You should say
- Who this person is?
- Where did you meet with him?
- What characteristics do you most like about him?
- Why do you admire this person?
Part 3 questions
- What average age is normal for retirement in your opinion?
- What are the good things about being retired?
- What are the pros and cons of being retired?
Describe someone in your family who you like+
You should say
- How is this person related to you?
- What does this person look like?
- What kind of person he/she is?
- And explain why you like this person.
Part 3 questions
- In what ways can people in a family be similar to each other?
- Do you think that daughters are always more similar to mothers than to male relatives?
- What about sons and fathers?
Describe someone or something that made a lot of noise+
You should say
- Who made the noise?
- What the noise was like?
- What do you do when you hear the noise?
- And how do you feel about it?
Part 3 questions
- What are the biggest causes of noise pollution?
- Why is noise pollution harmful to us?
- Do you think people pay more attention to water pollution than noise pollution?
Describe someone who had a big influence (good or bad) on you when you were a young child growing up+
You should say
- Who the person was?
- What kind of person they were?
- What your relationship with them was like?
- And explain the way in which they influenced you.
Part 3 questions
- Do parents pay enough attention to their children?
- Why do some parents find it difficult to find time to spend with their children?
- Is it important for parents to make time to spend with their children? Why?
Describe someone you know who has started a business+
You should say
- who this person is?
- what work does this person do?
- why did this person decide to start a business?
- and explain whether you would like to do the same kind of work as this person.
Part 3 questions
- Is money always the most important thing when choosing a job?
- Who is best at advising young people about choosing a job teachers or parents?
- What kinds of jobs do young people not want to do in your country?
Describe the person in your family who you most admire+
You should say
- What their relationship is to you?
- What they have done in their life?
- What do they do now?
- And explain why you admire them so much.
Part 3 questions
- Is family important in your country?
- How has the size of the family changed in the last few decades in your country?
- Why is the number of joint families decreasing in modern times?
Describe your favorite teacher+
You should say
- Who this teacher was?
- What this teacher taught?
- How long you had this teacher?
- And explain why you liked this teacher so much.
Part 3 questions
- We've been talking about teaching and I'd like to ask you a few questions about teaching and education.
- What are the qualities of a good teacher?
- Did other students also like this teacher?
13 cards
Places
Locate it and say when you went or go there.
Describe a beautiful place to visit in your country+
You should say
- Where it is?
- How to get there?
- What there is to do?
- When you are there?
- Explain why you recommend this place.
Part 3 questions
- Do people in your country travel more these days than in the past for holidays?
- What kind of places are popular for holidays amongst the youth of your country?
- Do you think the preference of destination for holidays changes with age?
Describe a big city you would like to visit+
You should say
- Which big city you would like to visit?
- How you would travel there?
- What do you do there?
- And explain why you would like to visit this big city.
Part 3 questions
- What are the most interesting things to do while visiting cities on holiday?
- Why can it be expensive to visit cities on holiday?
- Do you think it is better to visit cities alone or in a group with friends?
Describe a foreign country you would like to learn about+
You should say
- What is it?
- Where is it?
- How did you know it?
- Why do you want to learn more about this country?
Part 3 questions
- How can we learn about other countries?
- What do you think is the best way to learn foreign culture?
- Do you think that reading is the best way to know about a culture? Why?
Describe a historical place that you know about+
You should say
- What the place is?
- Where it is located?
- What is the historical significance of the place?
Part 3 questions
- How do people in your country feel about protecting historic buildings?
- Do you think an area can benefit from having an interesting historic place locally?
- What do you think will happen to historic places or buildings in the future?
Describe a hotel that you know+
You should say
- Where this hotel is?
- What does this hotel look like?
- What facilities does this hotel have?
- And explain whether you think this is a nice hotel to stay in.
Part 3 questions
- Do you think staying in a luxury hotel is a waste of money?
- Why do some people not like staying in hotels?
- What things are important when people are choosing a hotel?
Describe a new public place/building you would like to visit+
You should say
- Where is it?
- What it is like?
- How do you know this place?
- And explain why you would like to visit it.
Part 3 questions
- Do you think a public building is important? Why?
- Why do people need public buildings in their community?
- In your country, what kinds of public buildings do people like to visit?
Describe a place in your country or part of your country that you would like to recommend to visitors/travelers+
You should say
- What it is?
- Where it is?
- What people can do there?
- And explain why you would like to recommend it to visitors/travelers.
Part 3 questions
- Is it important to take photos while traveling?
- Will you go to a foreign country to travel because of the distinct landscape?
- What factors affect how people feel about traveling?
Describe a place you visited that has been affected by pollution+
You should say
- Where it is?
- What kind of pollution it has?
- What causes pollution?
- And explain how you feel about that place.
Part 3 questions
- What are the main sources of noise pollution?
- Why is noise pollution harmful to us?
- Do you think people pay more attention to water pollution than noise pollution?
Describe a restaurant that you enjoyed going to+
You should say
- Where the restaurant was?
- Why did you choose this restaurant?
- What type of food did you eat in this restaurant?
- And explain why you enjoyed eating in this restaurant.
Part 3 questions
- Why do you think people go to restaurants when they want to celebrate something?
- Which are more popular in your country fast food restaurants or traditional restaurants?
- Some people say that food in an expensive restaurant is always better than food in a cheap restaurant.
Describe a school you went to in your childhood+
You should say
- Where was it?
- What was it like?
- What did you learn there?
- How did you feel about it?
Part 3 questions
- What role do you think schools play in the development of a child?
- What changes have you noted in the teaching-learning process at schools in recent times?
- How important is it for schools to have computers for their students?
Describe a tourist attraction you enjoyed visiting+
You should say
- What this tourist attraction is?
- When and why did you visit it?
- What you did do there?
- And explain why you enjoyed visiting this tourist attraction.
Part 3 questions
- What are the most popular tourist attractions in your country?
- How do the types of tourist attractions that younger people like to visit compare with?
- Do you agree that some tourist attractions (e.g. national museums/galleries) should be free to visit?
Describe an interesting historic place+
You should say
- What it is?
- Where it is located?
- What you can see there now?
- And explain why this place is interesting.
Part 3 questions
- Are there other ways people can learn about history, apart from at school? How?
- How were you taught history when you were at school?
- How do people in your country feel about protecting historic buildings?
Describe an open-air or street market that you enjoyed visiting+
You should say
- Where the market is?
- What does the market sell?
- How big the market is?
- And explain why you enjoyed visiting this market.
Part 3 questions
- Do people in your country enjoy going to open-air markets that sell things like food or clothes or old objects? Which type of market is more popular? Why?
- Do you think markets are more suitable places for selling certain types of things?
- Do you think young people feel the same about shopping at markets as older people?
10 cards
Films, books, TV and websites
Name it and say how you came across it.
Describe a book that you enjoyed reading because you had to think a lot+
You should say
- What this book was?
- Why you decided to read it?
- What reading this book made you think about?
- And explain why you enjoyed reading this book.
Part 3 questions
- What are the most popular types of children's books in your country?
- What are the benefits of parents reading books to their children?
- Should parents always let children choose the books they read?
Describe a book you read that you found useful+
You should say
- What it is?
- When you read it?
- Why do you think it is useful?
- And explain how you felt about it.
Part 3 questions
- Do you prefer e-books or paper books?
- What are the benefits of reading paper books than electronic books?
- What is the difference between the reading habits of old people and young people?
Describe a film you enjoyed+
You should say
- The name of the film and where it was made?
- What kind of film it was?
- What the film was about?
- And explain why you enjoyed it.
Part 3 questions
- Is going to the cinema a popular activity among people your age?
- What are the most popular types of films among people you know?
- Do you think it is more or less popular than it used to be?
Describe a good advertisement that you think is useful+
You should say
- Where you can see it
- What it shows
- Why you think it is useful
- And explain how you feel about it.
Part 3 questions
- What do you think of online advertising?
- Do you think there is too much advertising in our daily lives?
- Do people watch useless advertisements in this day and age?
Describe a movie you watched recently and would like to watch again+
You should say
- What type of movie it was?
- What it was about?
- Where you watch it?
- And explain why you would like to watch it again.
Part 3 questions
- Where do people normally watch movies?
- What are the differences between watching movies at home and in a cinema?
- Why are there fewer people going to the cinema to watch movies nowadays?
Describe a newspaper or a magazine that you like to read+
You should say
- What the publication is?
- What kind of information it contains?
- How often do you read it?
- And explain why you read it.
Part 3 questions
- Why is it important to read the news?
- Do you prefer to receive your by reading it, or to listen to the news on the radio, TV, or the internet?
- Which news medium, TV, the internet, or mobile devices, do you think is best for broadcasting the news?
Describe a TV documentary you watched that was particularly interesting+
You should say
- What the documentary was about why did you decide to watch it?
- What did you learn during the documentary?
- And explain why the TV documentary was particularly interesting.
Part 3 questions
- What are the most popular kinds of TV programs in your country?
- Do you think there are too many game shows on TV nowadays?
- Do you think TV is the main way for people to get the news in your country?
Describe a website that you bought something from+
You should say
- What the website is?
- What do you buy from this website?
- How satisfied you were with what you bought?
- Explain what you liked or disliked about using this website.
Part 3 questions
- What kinds of things do people in your country often buy from online shops?
- Why do you think online shopping has become so popular nowadays?
- What are some possible disadvantages of buying things from online shops?
Describe a website you use that helps you a lot in your work or studies+
You should say
- What is the website?
- How often do you use the website?
- What information does the website give you?
- Explain how your work or studies would change if this website didn't exist.
Part 3 questions
- Why do some people find the Internet addictive?
- What would the world be like without the Internet?
- Do you think that the way people use the Internet may change in the future?
Describe an interesting TV programme you watched about a science topic+
You should say
- What science topic this TV programme was about?
- When you saw this TV programme?
- What you learn from this TV programme about a science topic?
- And explain why you found this TV programme interesting.
Part 3 questions
- How interested are most people in your country in science?
- Why do you think children today might be better at science than their parents?
- How do you suggest the public can learn more about scientific developments?
8 cards
Objects
Say what it is and how you got it, with a date or an occasion.
Describe a gift you have received that was important to you+
You should say
- Who gave it to you and for what occasion?
- What it looks like and how you use it?
- Why it is important to you?
Part 3 questions
- Do you enjoy giving and receiving gifts?
- Who usually gives you gifts?
- Who do you give gifts to?
Describe a luxury item you would like to own in the future+
You should say
- What item you would like to own?
- What does this item look like?
- Why you would like to own this item?
- And explain whether you think you will ever own this item.
Part 3 questions
- Which expensive items would many young people (in your country) like to buy?
- How do the expensive items that younger people want to buy differ from those that older people want to buy?
- Do you think that people are more likely to buy expensive items for their friends or themselves?
Describe a piece of electronic equipment that you find useful+
You should say
- What is it?
- How did you learn to use it?
- How long have you had it?
- And explain why you find this piece of electronic equipment useful.
Part 3 questions
- What kinds of machines are used for housework in modern homes in your country?
- How have these machines benefited people?
- Are there any negative effects of using them?
Describe a piece of technology that you feel is difficult to use+
You should say
- What it is
- What you got it for
- How often do you use it
- How you feel about it
Part 3 questions
- What technology do people currently use?
- Why do big companies introduce new products frequently?
- Why do technology companies keep upgrading their products?
Describe a time when you started using a new technological device (e.g. a new computer or phone)+
You should say
- What device did you start using?
- Why did you start using it?
- This device how easy or difficult it was to use?
- And explain how helpful this device was to you.
Part 3 questions
- Do you agree or disagree that computers will replace teachers one day?
- Do you think that schools should use more technology to help children learn?
- What is the best age for children to start computer lessons?
Describe a time you spent a lot of money on something+
You should say
- What did you buy?
- When did you buy it?
- Where did you buy it?
- Explain why you spent a lot of money to buy it.
Part 3 questions
- What do people spend most of their money on in your country?
- Why do you think some people spend an excessive amount of money on luxury cars and products?
- Do the young people in your country have the habit of spending a lot of money or are they conscious?
Describe some technology (e.g. an app, phone, software program) that you decided to stop using+
You should say
- When and where did you get this technology?
- Why did you start using this technology?
- Why did you decide to stop using it?
- And explain how you feel about the decision you made.
Part 3 questions
- What kinds of computer games do people play in your country?
- Why do people enjoy playing computer games?
- Do you think that all computer games should have a minimum age for players?
Describe something you liked very much that you bought for your home+
You should say
- What you bought?
- When and where you bought it?
- Why did you choose this particular thing?
- And explain why you liked it so much.
Part 3 questions
- Why don't some people care about how their home looks?
- Do you think it is very expensive to make a home look nice?
- Why do some people buy lots of things for their home?
7 cards
Events
Set the scene: when, where, who was there.
Describe a competition (e.g. TV, college/work or sports competition) that you took part in+
You should say
- What kind of competition it was and how you found out about it?
- What you had to do?
- What the prizes were?
- And explain why you chose to take part in this competition.
Part 3 questions
- Why do you think some school teachers use competitions as class activities?
- Do you think it is a good thing to give prizes to children who do well at school?
- Would you say that schools for young children have become more or less competitive since you were that age?
Describe a meeting you remember going to at work, college, or school+
You should say
- When and where the meeting was held?
- Who was at the meeting?
- What the people at the meeting talked about?
- And explain why you remember going to this meeting.
Part 3 questions
- What are the different types of meetings that people often go to?
- Some people say that no-one likes to go to meetings?
- Why can it sometimes be important to go to meetings?
Describe a party that you enjoyed+
You should say
- Whose party was it and what was it celebrating?
- Where was the party held and who went to it?
- What did people do during the party?
- And explain what you enjoyed about this party.
Part 3 questions
- What are the main reasons why people organize family parties in your country?
- In some places, people spend a lot of money on parties that celebrate special family events. Is this ever true in your country?
- Do you think this is a good trend or a bad trend?
Describe a wedding ceremony you attended+
You should say
- When and where it was?
- Who was getting married?
- What happened at the wedding?
- And explain what type of wedding ceremony it was.
Part 3 questions
- How important are ceremonies in our lives?
- Do you see the role of private and public ceremonies changing in the future?
- Have attitudes towards marriage changed in recent years?
Describe an environmental problem or event+
You should say
- What is it?
- Where is it happening?
- What problems does it cause?
Part 3 questions
- What are the main environmental problems in your country?
- Why should people be concerned about the environment?
- How can people protect the environment?
Describe an important event in your life+
You should say
- When it happened?
- Who you were with?
- What happened?
- And explain why you feel it was important.
Part 3 questions
- What days are important in your country?
- Why it is important to have national celebrations?
- How is the way your national celebrations are celebrated now different from the way they were celebrated in the past?
Describe an important piece of news that you received via text message+
You should say
- Who shared the message with you?
- What the news was about?
- How was it written?
- Explain why the news was important?
Part 3 questions
- What kinds of news are popular in India?
- Why do people like negative news?
- How do people in India deliver important information?
6 cards
Activities and habits
Say what it is and how often you do it.
Describe a game or sport that you enjoy playing+
You should say
- What kind of sport is that?
- Who do you play it with?
- Where do you play it?
- And explain why you enjoy playing it.
Part 3 questions
- What types of sports are popular in your country?
- What are the benefits of playing a sport?
- Do you often play a sport?
Describe a leisure activity you like doing in your free time+
You should say
- What kind of activity it is?
- How often do you do it?
- What equipment do you need to do it?
- And explain why you enjoy doing it.
Part 3 questions
- What types of leisure activities are popular in your country?
- Why it is important for people to have leisure activities?
- Why are some leisure activities more popular than others?
Describe a practical skill(driving, swimming...) you learned recently+
You should say
- When you learn it?
- How you learned it?
- And explain why you think it was important.
Part 3 questions
- Is it important to learn new skills?
- What is the most important practical skill in modern society?
- What's the difference between the skills required in the past and the skills required nowadays?
Describe a Subject that you would like to learn in the future+
You should say
- What it is?
- Where and how you want to learn it?
- Why do you want to learn it?
- And explain if it will be difficult to learn it.
Part 3 questions
- What are the differences between online learning and offline learning?
- What do you think about face-to-face learning with teachers?
- Do you prefer to study alone or with a group of people?
Describe something that you did with someone/a group of people+
You should say
- What it was?
- Who you do it with?
- How long it took you to do this?
- And explain why you did it together.
Part 3 questions
- How do you get a long with your neighbors?
- How do neighbors help each other?
- Do you think neighbors help each other more often in the countryside than in the city?
Describe a sport or exercise that you do for fitness+
You should say
- What it is?
- How often do you do it?
- Why do you do it?
- and explain how this activity or sport helps your fitness.
Part 3 questions
- What are the best ways to keep fit?
- What do you do to keep fit?
- What daily physical activities are popular in your country as a form of exercise?
1 cards
Other topics
Answer the first bullet in one sentence so you are speaking within ten seconds.
Describe a problem that affects the environment in the area where you live+
You should say
- What the problem is?
- What causes it?
- And explain what you think could be done to solve it.
Part 3 questions
- Tell me, what do you think are the greatest environmental problems facing your country at present?
- And what has been done so far to solve these problems?
- How successful would you say these measures have been?
24 topics
Part 1 topics for October 2026
These come from the same tests as the cards above. Part 1 lasts four to five minutes: answer each question in two or three sentences, with a reason and an example. Your hometown, work or study are asked first in most tests.
- Sports
- Do you play any sports? · Do you like sport? · How do people in your country keep fit?
- Family
- Do you have a small or large family? · How much time do you spend with them? · What things do you do together?
- Chocolate
- Do you like eating chocolate · Did you like chocolate when you were a child? · Did you often eat chocolate when you were a kid?
- Cooking
- Who normally does the cooking in your home? · Does anyone in your family like to cook? · Do you want to learn how to cook well?
- Health
- Do you care about your health? · In what ways do you try to stay healthy? · How do you keep fit?
- Emails
- When would you send emails to others? · Do you think emails are useful? · Do you think email can replace handwriting?
- Trees
- Do you like trees? · Do you think more people should plant trees? · Do you think we should plant more trees?
- Weather
- What's the weather like where you live? · Do you prefer cold or hot weather? · Do you prefer dry or wet weather?
- Clothes
- What is your favourite item of clothing? · Do you prefer to wear comfortable and casual clothes or smart clothes? · Do you wear the same clothes at school and home?
- Job
- What do you do? · Can you tell me about your job? · What's your job? Why did you choose that kind of work?
- History
- What did you study in history lessons when you were at school? · Do you like to learn about history? · What historical event do you find most interesting?
- Public Holiday
- Do you like public holidays? · What public holidays do you have in your country? · Do people in your country celebrate Christmas?
- Art
- Did you enjoy doing art lessons when you were a child? · Do you like art? · Are you good at art?
- Home
- Where is your home? · What kind of housing · Who do you live with?
- Dream
- Do you dream much at night? · Do you like your dreams at night? · Do you remember your dream when you wake up?
- Transport
- How did you come here today? · How do people get around where you live? · What's the public transport like where you live?
- Birthday
- What do you usually do on your birthday? · Do you think it is important for you to celebrate your birthday? · What did you do on your birthday when you were young?
- Music
- What types of music do you like to listen to? · What kinds of music do you like to listen to? · What's your favorite kind of music?
- Name
- Who gave you your name? · Did your parents choose your name(s)? · How did your parents choose your name(s)?
- Places
- Do you like quiet places, noisy places, or crowded places? · Do you like to go to crowded places? · Why do some people like to go to crowded places?
- Bake
- Do you like to bake? · What do you like to make? · How often do you bake?
- Laugh
- What kinds of thing make you laugh? · Do you like making other people laugh? · Do you think it's important for people to laugh?
- Job or Business
- Which do you prefer physical work or work involving thinking? · Do you think today we have less physical labour than we did in the past? · Do you think those boring jobs will be done by machines in the future?
- Happiness and Well-Being
- What do you have to do to achieve long-term happiness? · Do you think artistic activities can make people happy? · Do you believe that old people can be happier than young people?
Say it out loud and get a band
Record any card with the AI examiner: one minute to prepare, two to speak, then a band with feedback. Free account needed to record and score.
Say a cue card, get a band free →Prefer to watch?
BandLadder posts IELTS speaking and writing lessons on YouTube.
Watch on YouTube →Frequently asked questions
What are the IELTS cue cards for October 2026?+
October 2026 falls in the September–December 2026 Speaking season. This page lists the 85 Part 2 cue cards in BandLadder's bank for that season, grouped by type, each with its bullet points, Part 3 questions and a Band 8 model answer.
Are these the real IELTS cue cards for October 2026 in India?+
No. They are practice cards that match what candidates report for the season. IELTS does not publish its cards, and nobody can tell you which one you will get, so practise across people, places, objects, events and experiences.
Will the cue cards change after October 2026?+
Speaking topics rotate roughly every four months. The current season runs to the end of December 2026, so most of these cards stay relevant until then; this page is refreshed when the bank changes.
Is the Speaking test different in India?+
No. The cards, timing and scoring are the same worldwide. In India, IELTS on Computer candidates take Speaking by video call with an IELTS examiner, and IELTS Writing on Paper candidates can choose their own Speaking slot online.
Related
More for October 2026
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy