Welcome to this comprehensive IELTS Speaking practice question set focused on housing and accommodation.
This practice session covers all three parts of the IELTS Speaking test, helping you prepare for the full range of question types and difficulty levels you’ll encounter on exam day.
Test Structure and Timing:
- Part 1 (Introduction and Interview): 4-5 minutes
- General questions about yourself and familiar topics
- Part 2 (Individual Long Turn): 3-4 minutes
- 1 minute preparation time
- 1-2 minutes speaking time on a given topic
- Possible follow-up questions
- Part 3 (Two-way Discussion): 4-5 minutes
- Abstract and analytical questions
- Discussion of broader issues
Total Speaking Test Duration: Approximately 11-14 minutes
The Speaking test is conducted as a face-to-face interview with a certified examiner. Remember, this is a test of your English communication skills, not your knowledge, so there are no right or wrong answers—focus on expressing yourself clearly and naturally.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4-5 minutes)
In Part 1, the examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and familiar topics. Questions are straightforward and personal. Answer naturally and aim to extend your responses beyond simple yes/no answers.
Questions About Housing and Accommodation
- What type of home do you live in currently?
- How long have you been living there?
- What do you like most about your current accommodation?
- Is there anything you would like to change about where you live?
- Do you prefer living in a house or an apartment? Why?
- What is your favorite room in your home? Why?
- How important is it for you to have your own private space at home?
- Do you think you will move to a different place in the future?
- What kind of neighborhood do you prefer to live in?
Note: The examiner may ask follow-up questions based on your responses, such as “Why is that?” or “Can you tell me more about that?”
Part 1: Sample High-Scoring Answers
Question: What type of home do you live in currently?
❌ Weak Answer (Band 5-6): “I live in an apartment. It’s small.”
✅ Strong Answer (Band 7-8): “I currently live in a two-bedroom apartment on the fifth floor of a modern building. It’s located in a fairly quiet residential area, which I really appreciate because I need a peaceful environment for studying. The apartment itself is quite compact, but it’s well-designed with good natural lighting.”
Why this is better:
- Specific details (two-bedroom, fifth floor, modern building)
- Relevant vocabulary (residential area, compact, well-designed)
- Extended response with reasoning
- Natural flow and coherence
Question: What do you like most about your current accommodation?
❌ Weak Answer (Band 5-6): “I like it because it’s good. The location is nice.”
✅ Strong Answer (Band 7-8): “What I appreciate most is definitely the location. I’m just a ten-minute walk from the subway station, which makes my daily commute incredibly convenient. Plus, there’s a supermarket and several cafes nearby, so I don’t have to travel far for everyday necessities. The building also has excellent security, which gives me peace of mind, especially when I’m traveling.”
Why this is better:
- Specific reasons with examples
- Topic-relevant vocabulary (commute, convenient, necessities, security)
- Personal perspective (“gives me peace of mind”)
- Uses discourse markers (definitely, plus, also)
Part 2: Individual Long Turn (3-4 minutes)
In Part 2, you will receive a topic card and have exactly 1 minute to prepare notes. You must speak for 1-2 minutes on the topic, covering all the points mentioned on the card. The examiner will then ask one or two follow-up questions.
Topic Card
Describe a place you would like to live in the future.
You should say:
- Where this place is
- What type of accommodation it would be
- What features or facilities it would have
- And explain why you would like to live there
Preparation time: 1 minute
Speaking time: 1-2 minutes
Part 2: Sample High-Scoring Response (Band 8-9)
“I’d like to talk about a place I dream of living in someday, which is a coastal town in the south of Spain, specifically around the Costa Brava region. I’ve been fascinated by this area ever since I visited it a few years ago.
Ideally, I would love to live in a traditional Mediterranean-style villa—something with white-washed walls, terracotta roof tiles, and that classic Spanish architectural charm. It wouldn’t need to be enormous, but I’d want it to have at least three bedrooms, an open-plan living area, and most importantly, a spacious terrace or balcony with ocean views.
In terms of features and facilities, having a small garden would be wonderful—somewhere I could grow herbs and vegetables, maybe even have a few fruit trees. I’d also appreciate being within walking distance of the beach, as well as having local shops and restaurants nearby. Good internet connectivity would be essential too, since I’d likely need to work remotely.
The reason this appeals to me so much is multifaceted. First and foremost, I’m drawn to the Mediterranean lifestyle—the slower pace, the emphasis on outdoor living, and the wonderful climate. I can imagine starting my day with a swim in the sea, working with a view of the coastline, and spending evenings enjoying fresh seafood at local restaurants. Additionally, this region has a strong expat community, which would make the transition easier while still allowing me to immerse myself in Spanish culture and improve my language skills.
Beyond the lifestyle benefits, I believe living in such an environment would significantly enhance my overall wellbeing. The combination of natural beauty, year-round sunshine, and a more relaxed atmosphere would provide the perfect balance between productivity and quality of life that I’m seeking.”
Word count: Approximately 290 words (1 minute 50 seconds at natural speaking pace)
Part 2: Follow-Up Questions
After your long turn, the examiner may ask one or two brief follow-up questions, such as:
- “Do you think you will actually move there one day?”
- “Would it be easy to adapt to living in a different country?”
Sample Answer: “Honestly, it’s a long-term goal rather than an immediate plan. I’d need to establish my career first and probably save considerably more money. However, with the increasing possibilities for remote work, I think it’s becoming more achievable than it might have been a decade ago. So yes, I’m optimistic that I could make it happen within the next five to ten years.”
Part 3: Two-Way Discussion (4-5 minutes)
In Part 3, the examiner will ask more abstract questions related to the topic from Part 2. These questions require you to analyze, evaluate, and discuss broader social issues. This is your opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking and sophisticated language use.
Discussion Questions About Housing and Urban Development
- How have housing needs changed in your country over the past few decades?
- What do you think are the biggest challenges facing people trying to buy their first home today?
- Should governments be responsible for providing affordable housing for all citizens? Why or why not?
- How do you think technology will change the way we live in our homes in the future?
- Some people believe that everyone should own their home rather than rent. What is your opinion on this?
- What impact does poor housing have on society?
- Do you think traditional houses are better than modern apartments? In what ways?
- How can cities balance the need for new housing with the preservation of historic buildings?
Part 3: Sample High-Scoring Answers
Question: How have housing needs changed in your country over the past few decades?
❌ Weak Answer (Band 5-6): “Housing needs have changed a lot. Before, people wanted big houses, but now they want small apartments because they are cheaper. Also, young people can’t buy houses easily now.”
✅ Strong Answer (Band 8-9): “There’s been quite a dramatic transformation in housing needs and preferences over recent decades. Perhaps the most significant shift has been the trend toward urbanization—millions of people have migrated from rural areas to cities seeking better employment opportunities, which has created unprecedented demand for urban housing.
Another major change relates to household composition. Traditional multi-generational homes are becoming less common as nuclear families and single-person households become the norm. This has increased demand for smaller living spaces, particularly studios and one-bedroom apartments.
Furthermore, there’s been a notable evolution in what people prioritize when choosing accommodation. Whereas previous generations might have focused primarily on property size and ownership, today’s buyers and renters often prioritize location, particularly proximity to public transportation and workplaces. There’s also growing emphasis on sustainability features—energy-efficient systems, green spaces, and environmentally friendly construction materials are increasingly important.
However, these changing needs have unfortunately coincided with stagnating wages and escalating property prices, creating what many consider a housing affordability crisis. This has forced many young people to delay home ownership or remain in the rental market far longer than their parents’ generation did.”
Question: Should governments be responsible for providing affordable housing for all citizens? Why or why not?
❌ Weak Answer (Band 5-6): “Yes, I think so. Because housing is important and some people are poor. The government has money so they should help people get houses.”
✅ Strong Answer (Band 8-9): “This is quite a contentious issue with valid arguments on both sides. Personally, I believe governments do have a fundamental responsibility to ensure access to affordable housing, though perhaps not to provide housing directly for everyone.
The primary justification for government intervention is that housing is a basic human need—without adequate shelter, people struggle to maintain employment, education, and health. Market forces alone often fail to provide affordable options for low-income families, which can perpetuate cycles of poverty and social inequality. We’ve seen this play out in many major cities where property speculation has driven prices far beyond the reach of ordinary workers.
However, I don’t necessarily advocate for complete government provision of housing, as this approach has sometimes resulted in poorly maintained properties and created welfare dependency. Instead, I think governments should focus on regulation and incentivization—for instance, requiring developers to include affordable units in new projects, offering tax incentives for companies building social housing, or providing subsidized mortgages for first-time buyers.
The Singapore model offers an interesting example here. The government heavily invested in public housing while still encouraging home ownership through subsidized schemes. This approach has resulted in one of the world’s highest home ownership rates while maintaining affordability.
Ultimately, I think the question isn’t whether governments should be involved, but rather how they can most effectively partner with the private sector to ensure everyone has access to decent, affordable accommodation.”
Question: How do you think technology will change the way we live in our homes in the future?
✅ Strong Answer (Band 8-9): “I anticipate technology will revolutionize domestic life in several profound ways. We’re already seeing the emergence of smart home systems that integrate lighting, heating, security, and entertainment through centralized controls or voice commands. I expect these technologies will become increasingly sophisticated and mainstream over the next decade.
One particularly exciting development is the Internet of Things—essentially, everyday appliances communicating with each other. Imagine refrigerators that monitor food inventory and automatically order groceries, or washing machines that run during off-peak electricity hours to reduce costs. These conveniences could significantly streamline household management.
Energy efficiency is another area where technology will make a substantial impact. Solar panels are becoming more affordable and efficient, while battery storage technology is improving rapidly. I think we’ll see more homes becoming partially or even completely energy-independent, which would have huge environmental and economic benefits.
However, I do have some concerns about privacy and security. As our homes become more connected, they potentially become more vulnerable to hacking or surveillance. There’s also the question of digital divides—will advanced smart home technology become a luxury that only wealthy households can afford, or will it be accessible to everyone?
Despite these concerns, I’m generally optimistic. Technology has the potential to make homes more comfortable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable—we just need to ensure its development and deployment is thoughtful and inclusive.”
Useful Phrases:
- “That’s an interesting question…”
- “I think there are several factors to consider…”
- “On one hand… but on the other hand…”
- “From my perspective…”
- “It’s difficult to say for certain, but…”
- “To some extent… however…”
For more IELTS Speaking practice tests, you can also visit History Topic.
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