IELTS Speaking Part 1: Travel and transport
Rewards transport vocabulary, comparisons (faster, more reliable) and a speculative future answer using "might" or "probably".
Questions and sample answers
1. How do you usually get around your city?
Mostly by bus, although if I’m running late I’ll take a ride-share. Walking isn’t really an option in my city because of the heat.
2. Do you enjoy long journeys?
It depends on how I’m travelling. Long train journeys are great, because I can read or look out of the window, but long bus journeys make me feel sick.
3. Is public transport good where you live?
It’s improving. The new metro line has made a huge difference, but buses are still overcrowded at rush hour.
4. How do you think people will travel fifty years from now?
I’d guess most cars will be electric and probably self-driving. I also wouldn’t be surprised if short flights were replaced by high-speed trains.
Each sample is two to four sentences: the answer, a reason or example, then stop. Use them to hear the shape, not to memorise. Examiners are trained to spot a rehearsed answer, and it costs fluency marks.
Language this topic rewards
- get around / commute: The core verbs for this topic.
- overcrowded at rush hour: A strong collocation for public transport.
- reliable / punctual: Adjectives for judging transport.
- I wouldn’t be surprised if …: Speculation with good range.
- it has made a huge difference: Describes the effect of a change.
The trap on this topic
Listing transport types ("bus, car, train, rickshaw") instead of answering how YOU get around. Answer about yourself first, then add one detail.
Answer these out loud and get marked
The Part 1 practice runs the interview the way the examiner does: your work or studies first, then two topic sets. It records you, transcribes what you said and marks it on the four official criteria.
Start Part 1 practiceMore Part 1 topics
Ready for the long turn? Browse the Part 2 cue cards.