IELTS Speaking Part 1: Where you live
An evergreen set about accommodation. It rewards specific vocabulary for rooms and housing and a clear preference with a reason.
Questions and sample answers
1. Do you live in a house or an apartment?
I live in a flat on the fifth floor of an apartment block, with my parents and my younger sister.
2. Which is your favourite room, and why?
My bedroom, without a doubt. It’s small, but it gets the morning sun and it’s the only place in the flat where I can study in peace.
3. Is there anything you would like to change about your home?
I’d love a balcony. We don’t have any outdoor space at all, so somewhere to sit outside in the evening would make a big difference.
4. Would you prefer to live somewhere else in the future?
Eventually, yes. I’d like to live somewhere quieter, maybe on the edge of the city, although I’d still want to be close to work.
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
- a flat / an apartment block / a detached house: Accurate housing words instead of "a home".
- it gets a lot of natural light: A natural reason to like a room.
- cramped / spacious: A pair that describes size precisely.
- on the outskirts of the city: Location vocabulary for future plans.
- it would make a big difference: Supports a wish with a reason.
The trap on this topic
Describing every room in turn. One room and one reason is a complete Part 1 answer; a tour of the house is a Part 2 answer in the wrong part.
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.