IELTS Speaking Part 1: Your hometown

Questions and sample answers

1. 1. Where is your hometown, and what is it like?

   I’m from Sylhet, a city in the north-east of Bangladesh. It’s quite green and hilly, and it’s famous for its tea gardens.

2. 2. What do you like most about living there?

   I like how close everything is to nature. Within half an hour you can be out of the city among the tea estates, which is lovely at the weekend.

3. 3. Has your hometown changed much since you were a child?

   Quite a lot. When I was a child the roads were narrow and quiet, but now there are shopping malls everywhere and the traffic has become a real problem.

4. 4. Would you recommend it to someone visiting your country? Why?

   Definitely, especially for anyone who likes the outdoors. I’d tell them to come in the monsoon, when the hills are at their greenest.

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

• it’s known for / famous for …: Says what makes the place distinctive.
• a laid-back / bustling city: Precise adjectives that replace "nice".
• it has changed beyond recognition: A strong idiom for the "has it changed" question.
• when I was growing up, …: Sets up a past-present contrast.
• it’s well worth a visit: A natural recommendation.