Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking | 8 Question Types You Must Prepare For - Learn English Speaking with Video
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What questions will I get in the IELTS test?
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This is one of the most common things that students ask me.
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The problem is that there are hundreds of possible topics, so trying to prepare an answer for every question is almost impossible.
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But here's the good news.
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Although the topics change, the question types repeat again and again.
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Once you learn how to recognize these common question types, answering becomes much easier.
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In this lesson, I'm going to show you the eight question types you should prepare before your IELTS speaking test.
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For each one, I'll teach you vocabulary
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that you can use across a range of different topics and give you a natural model answer.
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This isn't about memorising scripts, it's about building a set of reliable tools that will help you answer unfamiliar questions confidently and naturally.
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My name is Eli and I was an IELTS examiner for many years.
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I now put all of my best tips and advice in my IELTS courses.
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My IELTS courses have already helped thousands of students achieve their desired IELTS score
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and you can start them all for free at englishprotips .com.
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Let's get started.
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Do you like?
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What's your favorite?
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Do you prefer?
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One of the most common question types in IELTS speaking is about your preferences.
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The examiner might ask, do you like cooking?
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What's your favorite season?
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Do you prefer tea or coffee?
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The good news is that all of these questions require very similar language.
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So instead of preparing answers for hundreds of different topics, learn a few useful expressions that you can use almost anywhere.
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For example, instead of simply saying I like, try saying I'd have to say.
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For example, I'd have to say Italian food is probably my favorite
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because it's delicious and there are so many different dishes to choose from.
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This expression works brilliantly whenever you're talking about your favorite things.
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You can also replace I like with I'm quite keen on.
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For example I'm quite keen on hiking because it's a great way to unwind and get some fresh air.
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This sounds much more natural than simply repeating I like again and again.
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When the examiner asks you to choose between two things like coffee or tea, don't just say coffee.
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Instead say, I personally prefer.
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For example, I personally prefer coffee because it helps me to wake up in the morning.
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Finally, a great way to explain your preference is what I like most about it is.
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For example, what I like most about hiking is that I can spend time with my friends while I'm doing it.
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Again, this expression works with almost any topic.
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Let's put it all together.
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Do you like cooking?
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I'm quite keen on cooking to be honest.
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What I like most about it is that it's a great way to switch off after work.
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I know a lot of people like eating out
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but I personally prefer home cooking because it's much healthier and much cheaper as well.
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Notice that I never said I like, I like, I like.
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Instead I use several different expressions that you can also reuse in dozens of different IELTS topics.
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If you really want to improve your IELTS answers what i suggest is
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that after this video you go to the lesson in the description do the quizzes
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and then write your own answer for this question try to
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use at least two of today's expressions in your answer you'll get feedback on your answer
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and a corrected version to help you study remember guys practice makes perfect you can get all this
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and more at englishprotips .com Another very common question type in IELTS speaking is about your habits and routines.
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The examiner might ask, how often do you cook?
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Do you usually exercise?
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Or do you often go to the cinema?
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Once again, instead of preparing answers for hundreds of different topics, learn a few useful expressions that you can use almost anywhere.
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Instead of saying every week or sometimes, try saying on a regular basis.
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For example, I go to the gym on a regular basis because it helps me to stay healthy.
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This expression works for almost any hobby or routine.
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Another useful expression is whenever I get the chance.
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For example, whenever I get the chance, I like to go hiking with my friends.
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This shows that you enjoy doing something even if you don't have the opportunity very often.
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If you don't do something very often, instead of saying not much or not often, try saying every once in a while.
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For example, I eat out every once in a while, but I usually prefer cooking at home.
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Finally, if you want to say that you do something very rarely, try using hardly ever.
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For example, I hardly ever watch television these days because I usually prefer reading or listening to podcasts.
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let's put it all together.
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How often do you go to the cinema?
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To be honest, I only get to go every once in a while because I'm usually quite busy with work.
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Having said that, whenever I get the chance, I really enjoy going with my girlfriend because I love discussing the movie afterwards with her.
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However, we hardly ever have the same opinion on films because our tastes are so different.
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Notice how many phrases I showed the examiner for describing frequency.
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Every once in a while, whenever I get the chance, and hardly ever.
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This shows the examiner that I have a wide range of vocabulary, which helps me to get a high score for lexical results.
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In the IELTS test, examiners love to ask about your past experiences.
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Did you enjoy reading as a child?
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Have you ever been to a live concert?
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Or when was the last time you travelled by taxi?
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Let's learn some useful phrases that you can use for talking about the past.
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One of the most useful expressions is I used to.
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For example, I used to play football every weekend but I don't really have time these days.
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This is a great way to talk about habits that have changed over time.
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Another useful expression is the last time I.
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For example, the last time I went to the cinema was a few weeks ago
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when some friends invited me to watch the latest Mission Impossible film.
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Now if the examiner asks have you ever a great expression is I've only once.
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For example I've only been scuba diving once but I definitely love to do it again.
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Finally if something has never happened instead of just saying no try saying I've never really.
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For example I've never really enjoyed running
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because I've always preferred team sports let's put it all together did you play any team sports
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when you were younger yeah i used to play for my
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school football team however the last time i played was probably
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around five years ago at a friend's birthday to be honest
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since then i've only really been into individual sports like climbing
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because i can fit them around my schedule notice
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that i didn't just answer yes i did instead i talked about the past using used to
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and then i compared it to the present and how nowadays I do more climbing.
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Comparing the past and present is a great way to extend your answers when you get asked questions about the past.
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If you want to practice this then go to the lesson below where you can download the PDF, do quizzes and even get AI feedback on your writing.
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What I'd recommend is to first watch the video until the end, then do the quizzes one by one and then write your own answers
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and get ai feedback finally the next day review the pdf
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and write your answers to these questions again this spaced repetition
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is what really helps you to learn remember you can start
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all of my ielts courses for free at englishprotips .com another
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very common question type in ielts speaking is about the future the examiner might ask would you like to learn another language.
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Do you think you'll move house one day?
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Are you planning to travel anywhere soon?
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Instead of always saying I want to, try saying I'd love to.
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For example, I'd love to visit Japan one day because I've always been fascinated by the culture.
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This sounds much more natural and enthusiastic.
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Another useful expression is I'm hoping to.
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For example, I'm hoping to learn Spanish over the next couple of years because I travel there quite a lot.
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This is a great way to talk about something you'd like to achieve in the future.
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If you're already thinking seriously about doing something, try saying I'm planning to.
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For example, I'm planning to buy my first house in the next few years.
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Also, if you want to say that you don't expect something to change anytime soon, you can use the expression for the foreseeable future.
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For example, for the foreseeable future, I think I'll continue working from home.
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Finally, if you're thinking about something that isn't a definite plan, you can say at some point.
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For example, at some point, I'd like to start my own business.
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This sounds much more natural than simply saying one day.
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Let's put it all together.
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Would you like to learn another language?
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Yeah, I'd love to actually.
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I'm hoping to learn Spanish because I travel there quite a lot.
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I'm planning to take some online lessons after this year for the foreseeable future though, I think I'll probably keep learning online because it fits around my work.
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At some point, I'd also like to spend a few months living in Spain so I can become more fluent.
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Notice how my answer moves through different levels of certainty.
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I'd love to expresses a wish.
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I'm hoping to expresses an intention.
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I'm planning to describes a concrete plan for this foreseeable future explains why to happen over the next few months or years.
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Finally, at some point introduces my long -term goal.
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Learning to express these different levels of certainty will help you give much more natural answers in your IELTS test.
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When you're writing your own answer to this question, see if you can follow the structures of my answer.
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Practice using I'd love to, I'm hoping to, I'm planning to, foreseeable future and at some point.
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Remember, the more time that you spend practicing these phrases now in your preparation time,
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the more natural you'll be able to use these phrases in your real IELTS test.
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Within the IELTS test, you are guaranteed to get a question asking you to describe something.
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The examiner might ask, what's your hometown like?
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Can you describe the area where you live how would you
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describe your favorite teacher instead of relying on simple adjectives like nice good
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or interesting try learning a few expressions
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that help you give fuller more natural descriptions a really really useful pattern is it's the kind of for example
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if you're describing a place you can say it's the kind of place where everybody knows each other
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if you're describing a person you can say she's the kind of person who always puts other people first.
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If you're describing a hobby you can say it's the kind of hobby that helps you switch off after a busy day.
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Rather than memorizing a different phrase for every topic simply change the noun place,
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person, hobby, school, film or tradition and then choose where, who or that depending on what you're describing.
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Another useful expression is what I like most about it is.
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For example, what I like most about it is how peaceful it is.
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This helps you explain the best feature of something rather than simply listing adjectives.
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You can also use one thing that stands out is.
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For example, one thing that stands out is the incredible architecture.
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This is a natural way to highlight the most memorable aspects of a place or a person.
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Finally, if you want to add a little balance to your answer, try saying having said that.
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For example, having said that it can get quite crowded during the summertime.
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This shows that you're able to describe both the positive and negative aspects of something.
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Let's put it all together.
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Tell me about your best friend.
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Well actually I've got lots of very close friends rather than one specific best friend
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but I consider my friend Kat to be one of my best friends.
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We've known each other for years and we got on very well.
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She's the type of person who always puts other people first
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and what I've always liked most about her is how she looks out for those around her.
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One thing that stands out is how many of our mutual friends go to her when they're having a difficult time.
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Having said that she can be a little bit stubborn at times but I think that's just part of her personality.
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Notice how my answer becomes more detailed one idea at a time.
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I started by naturally qualifying in the question instead of pretending
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i only have one best friend then i used she's the
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type of person who to give a general description a pattern
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you can easily adapt for other ielts topics by changing the
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noun next what i like about her is highlights my favorite quality
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while one thing that stands out draws attention to her most distinctive characteristic finally having said that adds a contrasting idea,
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making the description sound more developed and balanced.
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IELTS examiners love you to compare things.
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They'll often ask questions like, is your hometown the same now as it was when you were growing up?
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Do you prefer living in the city or the countryside?
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Are paper books better than e -books?
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Instead of simply saying A is better than B, try learning a few expressions that help you make more balanced comparisons.
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A really useful one is compared to.
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For example, compared to London, Edinburgh feels much more relaxed.
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This is a natural way to introduce a comparison.
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Another useful expression is while.
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For example, I enjoy going to the cinema while my brother prefers watching films at home.
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This helps you compare two people or ideas in the same sentence.
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You can also use on the other hand.
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For example, living in the countryside is much quieter.
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On the other hand, there aren't as many job opportunities.
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This is a great way to acknowledge both sides of an argument.
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Finally, if there isn't one clear answer, try saying it comes down to.
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For example, I think it comes down to personal preference.
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This shows that you're considering different perspectives rather than giving an overly simple answer.
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Let's put it all together.
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Do you prefer living in the city or the countryside?
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I'd probably say the city.
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Compared to the countryside, there's a lot more to do, especially in the evenings.
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While the countryside is definitely quieter and more peaceful, I enjoy having restaurants, cafes and public transport right on my doorstep.
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On the other hand, if I wanted a slower pace of life, the countryside would probably be the better choice.
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So I think it really comes down to what stage of life you're in and what you're looking for.
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Notice how I didn't simply say I prefer the city.
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Instead, I compared the two options from several different angles, compared to, introduced the comparison while highlighted the main differences,
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and on the other hand, showed that I could also recognize the advantages of the opposite position.
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Finally, it comes down to, explains that there isn't one objectively correct answer.
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It depends on the situation.
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This kind of balanced comparison sounds much more thoughtful and natural than simply saying one thing is better than another.
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In general, part one questions are usually about your experiences and part three is more about your opinions.
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However, sometimes you still get asked part one questions that ask for your opinion.
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The examiner might ask, do you think children should have homework?
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Do you think your hometown is a good place for younger people?
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Do you think it's important to learn history.
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Instead of simply saying I think over and over again try learning a few more natural ways to express your opinion.
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A really useful expression is I'd say.
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For example I'd say reading is one of the best ways to relax.
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This sounds much more conversational than simply saying I think.
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Another useful expression is personally I think.
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For example personally I think public transport should be cheaper.
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This makes it clear that you're giving your own view rather than stating a fact.
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Finally, if your opinion isn't completely certain, try saying I guess.
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For example, I guess it depends on the individual.
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This shows that you're willing to acknowledge some uncertainty rather than giving an overly confident answer.
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Let's put it all together.
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Do you think it's important to learn history?
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I'd say it is.
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Personally, I think learning about the past helps us to understand why the world is the way it is today.
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History teaches us valuable lessons that can help us avoid making the same mistakes again.
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Having said that I guess it also depends on how it's taught
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because it can be quite boring if students are only expected to memorize dates.
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Notice how I expressed my opinion in several different ways instead of repeatedly saying I think.
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I'd say introduced my overall point of view personally I think made it clear I was giving my own opinion
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and I guess softened my final point to show that my opinion wasn't absolute.
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Varying the way you express your opinions will make your answer sound much more natural and engaging.
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The final question type you need to prepare for is the follow -up question.
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In part one almost any question can be followed by a simple why.
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For example the examiner might ask do you enjoy reading?
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You answer and then the examiner asks why.
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Examiners often use these short follow -up questions to encourage you to develop your answer
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and to make sure part one lasts for the correct amount of time.
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So even if your first answer feels complete, always be prepared to explain it further.
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A really useful expression is the main reason is that.
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For example, the main reason is
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that reading helps me switch off after work this gives a clear
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and direct explanation and another useful phrase is i think it's mainly
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because for example i think it's mainly
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because reading forces you to focus on the story this sounds natural
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and less formal you can also say it's probably down to for example it probably comes down to the fact
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that i've always had a vivid imagination.
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This is useful when there isn't one simple reason.
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Let's watch.
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Do you enjoy reading?
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Yeah, I do.
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I tend to read most evenings before I go to bed.
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Why?
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I think it's mainly because reading helps me switch off and forget about work for a while.
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It probably also comes down to habit because I've been reading before bed for many years.
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Notice
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that the follow -up question was only one word why however
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it gave me an opportunity to extend my answer naturally i think it's mainly
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because introduced my main explanation
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while it probably also comes down to allowed me to add
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a second reason you don't need to prepare a separate answer
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for every possible why question instead practice giving a clear reason and when possible adding a second explanation or a brief example.
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Most importantly, don't panic when the examiner asks another question.
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It doesn't mean your first answer was wrong.
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They may simply want you to say a little more
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or need to keep part one running for the required amount of time.
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At this stage, what I would recommend is to go to the lesson, do all the quizzes and write your own answer for these questions.
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Then download the PDF and review the vocabulary again tomorrow.
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If you have time, it's a good idea to write your answers again.
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Remember, you can return to this lesson again and again.
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Spaced repetition is the best way to learn new vocabulary.
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The more time you take to practice this language now, the more naturally it will come to you in your exam.
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Thank you so much for being in this lesson with me.
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Best of luck with all of your studies and I'll see you in the next lesson.
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Bye then.
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Why This Video Is a Goldmine for IELTS Speaking Practice
If you’re prepping for the IELTS speaking test, this video is a game-changer. It cuts through the overwhelm of endless topics by focusing on repeating question types—the key to confident answers. What makes it perfect for practice? It’s packed with natural, reusable phrases that sound like real speech, not memorized scripts. Plus, the former examiner’s insights mean you’re learning what actually impresses graders. Whether you’re using the shadowing technique to mimic pronunciation or practicing responses, this clip gives you the tools to turn "I like" into "I’m quite keen on"—and boost your score.
Breaking Down the Natural Dialogue
Let’s look at why the model answers work. Take "I’d have to say Italian food is probably my favorite because it's delicious and there are so many different dishes to choose from." The phrase "I’d have to say" softens the response, making it sound thoughtful, not robotic. Then there’s "What I like most about it is that it's a great way to switch off after work"—"switch off" is a casual, native term for relaxing, which beats "relax" every time. Finally, "I personally prefer home cooking because it's much healthier and much cheaper as well" uses "personally" to add authenticity, and linking two reasons with "and" keeps the flow natural. These small tweaks turn basic answers into standout ones.
Your 5-Minute Daily Practice Routine
Ready to apply this? Try a shadowing speech loop: Watch a 30-second clip of the video, pause, and repeat it out loud, mimicking the tone and rhythm. Focus on phrases like "I’m quite keen on" or "what I like most about it is"—these are your secret weapons. Then, record yourself answering the same question (e.g., "Do you like cooking?") using those phrases. Compare your recording to the video—are you pausing naturally? Are you using varied vocabulary? For extra help, use a shadowing app to slow down the audio if needed. Do this daily, and you’ll notice your answers sound more fluent and confident in no time. Remember: It’s not about memorizing—it’s about building habits that stick. With tools like shadowspeaks techniques, you’ll turn "I can’t" into "I can" before your test day.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to play |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have already helped · have changed · I've only been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | been fascinated · are guaranteed · is compared |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | person who always · person who to |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.