IELTS Speaking Practice: Festivals and Celebrations

Welcome to this comprehensive IELTS Speaking practice set focused on Festivals and Celebrations.

This resource is designed to help you prepare for all three parts of the IELTS Speaking test.

The approximate timing for each part is as follows:

• Part 1: 4-5 minutes (introduction and general questions)
• Part 2: 3-4 minutes (includes 1 minute preparation and 1-2 minutes speaking)
• Part 3: 4-5 minutes (more abstract discussion questions)

Let’s begin with your practice questions!

PART 1: Introduction and Interview

In this section, the examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and familiar topics. For this practice set, we’ll focus on questions related to festivals and celebrations.

Questions:

1. Do you enjoy attending festivals and celebrations? Why or why not?
2. What is the most important festival or celebration in your country?
3. How do you usually celebrate your birthday?
4. Are there any traditional festivals that you participated in as a child?
5. Do you prefer large celebrations with many people or smaller gatherings with close friends and family?
6. Has the way people celebrate festivals changed in recent years in your country?
7. Do you think festivals bring communities together? In what ways?
8. Are there any celebrations from other cultures that you find interesting?

Note: The examiner may ask follow-up questions based on your responses.

PART 2: Individual Long Turn

In this section, you will be given a topic card with prompts. You’ll have 1 minute to prepare your thoughts, then you’ll need to speak for 1-2 minutes on the topic.

Topic Card:

Describe a festival or celebration that is important to you.

You should say:
- What the festival or celebration is
- When and how it is celebrated
- Who you usually celebrate it with
- Why this particular celebration is important to you

You have one minute to prepare. You can make notes if you wish.

After your preparation time, you should speak for 1-2 minutes.

PART 3: Two-way Discussion

In this section, the examiner will ask more abstract questions related to the topic from Part 2, encouraging deeper thinking and discussion.

Questions:

1. How do you think the commercialization of festivals affects their cultural significance?
2. What role do traditional celebrations play in preserving cultural heritage?
3. Do you think younger generations are less interested in traditional festivals compared to older generations? Why might this be?
4. How are festivals and celebrations portrayed in the media in your country?
5. In what ways might international festivals contribute to cultural understanding between different countries?
6. Some people think public money shouldn’t be spent on festivals and celebrations. What’s your opinion on this?
7. How might festivals and celebrations evolve in the future with increasing globalization?
8. What can we learn about a society by looking at their traditional celebrations?

Sample Answers

Part 1 Sample Answers

Q: Do you enjoy attending festivals and celebrations? Why or why not?

Sample Answer: “Yes, I absolutely love attending festivals and celebrations. There’s something magical about the atmosphere when everyone comes together for a shared experience. I particularly enjoy the vibrant colors, the special foods, and the sense of community spirit that these events create. Festivals also give me a welcome break from my regular routine and provide opportunities to catch up with friends and family members I might not see frequently.”

Q: What is the most important festival or celebration in your country?

Sample Answer: “In my country, Diwali is probably the most significant festival. It’s often called the Festival of Lights and usually takes place in October or November. It’s celebrated across the nation regardless of regional differences. During Diwali, people clean and decorate their homes, light oil lamps called diyas, set off fireworks, exchange gifts, and prepare special sweets and meals. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, which I think is why it resonates so deeply with people.”

Part 2 Sample Answer

Describe a festival or celebration that is important to you.

Sample Answer: “I’d like to talk about Lunar New Year, which is the most significant celebration in my culture. It usually falls in late January or early February according to the lunar calendar, and the festivities typically last for about fifteen days.

The celebration begins with a thorough house cleaning, which symbolically sweeps away any bad luck from the previous year. Then we decorate our homes with red paper cutouts and couplets with auspicious messages. Red is everywhere because it’s considered a lucky color that wards off evil spirits.

On New Year’s Eve, my extended family gathers for a reunion dinner, which is perhaps the most important meal of the year. The table is filled with symbolic dishes: fish for prosperity, dumplings shaped like ancient Chinese gold ingots for wealth, and long noodles for longevity. After dinner, adults give children red envelopes containing money for good luck.

I usually celebrate with my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In recent years, some of my relatives have moved abroad, but they always make an effort to return home for this special occasion.

This celebration is particularly important to me for several reasons. First, it’s one of the rare occasions when our entire family comes together. Second, it connects me to my cultural heritage and reminds me of the values I was raised with—respect for elders, the importance of family bonds, and gratitude for what we have. The traditions have been passed down through generations, and participating in them gives me a sense of continuity and belonging.

Moreover, the festival symbolizes new beginnings and hope for the future, which I find deeply meaningful. No matter what happened in the previous year, Lunar New Year offers a fresh start and the promise of good fortune ahead.”

Part 3 Sample Answers

Q: How do you think the commercialization of festivals affects their cultural significance?

Sample Answer: “This is quite a complex issue. On one hand, commercialization has certainly changed the nature of many celebrations. Festivals that once centered around religious or cultural traditions now often revolve around shopping, gift-giving, and consumer spending. Take Christmas, for example—the emphasis on purchasing presents sometimes overshadows the celebration’s original meaning.

However, I think we need to consider both sides of the coin. Commercialization helps keep festivals relevant in modern society and can actually increase participation. When businesses promote seasonal products or events, they’re also indirectly promoting awareness of the celebration itself.

That said, I believe the impact varies depending on how commercialization is managed. When commercial aspects completely dominate, the cultural significance can be diluted. But when commercialization works alongside traditional practices—perhaps helping to fund cultural performances or artisan markets—it can actually support cultural preservation.

Ultimately, I think the responsibility lies with both individuals and communities to maintain a balance, ensuring that the profit-driven aspects don’t eclipse the cultural essence of these celebrations. Families can do this by emphasizing the meaningful traditions alongside the commercial aspects.”

We encourage you to practice these questions with a study partner who can give you feedback or record yourself and evaluate your performance.

Good luck with your IELTS preparation!

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