IELTS Speaking Practice Question Set: Food and Cuisine

This practice set covers all three parts of the IELTS Speaking test, focusing on the theme of food and cuisine.

Part 1 lasts 4-5 minutes, Part 2 takes 3-4 minutes (including 1 minute preparation time), and Part 3 continues for 4-5 minutes.

Part 1: Interview-style questions (4-5 minutes)

1. What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
2. How often do you cook at home?
3. Do you prefer eating out or having home-cooked meals?
4. What’s a traditional dish from your country?
5. Have you ever tried any unusual or exotic foods?
6. How has your diet changed over the years?
7. Do you enjoy trying new recipes?
8. What’s your go-to comfort food when you’re feeling down?

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

Part 2: Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)

Describe a memorable meal you’ve had. You should say:

• What the occasion was
• Where you ate
• Who you were with
• Why it was memorable

You have one minute to prepare your response, then you should speak for 1-2 minutes.

Part 3: Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)

1. How do you think eating habits have changed in your country over the past few decades?
2. What role does food play in cultural identity?
3. Do you think traditional cuisines are at risk of disappearing? Why or why not?
4. How might technology impact the way we prepare and consume food in the future?
5. What are some ethical considerations when it comes to food production and consumption?
6. How can governments promote healthier eating habits among their citizens?
7. In what ways does globalization affect local food cultures?

Sample answer outlines

Part 1

You can provide brief, personal responses with some elaboration. For example: “My favorite cuisine is Italian. I love the variety of pasta dishes and the use of fresh ingredients. I particularly enjoy making homemade pizza with my family on weekends.”

Part 2

You should structure your response to cover all points on the card:

Introduction: Briefly introduce the meal you’ll be describing.

Main points: You should be able to address each bullet point, providing details about the occasion, location, company, and why it was memorable.

Conclusion: Summarize why this meal stands out in your memory.

Part 3

You may offer more complex answers showing critical thinking: “Eating habits in my country have significantly changed over the past few decades. There’s been a shift towards more convenience foods due to busier lifestyles, but also a growing awareness of health and nutrition. This has led to an interesting mix of fast food culture and health-conscious eating…”

Evaluation criteria

• Fluency and Coherence
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy
• Pronunciation

We encourage readers to practice all three parts, ideally with a study partner.

Please share your responses in the comments, and we’ll provide sample high-scoring answers in a reply.

Feel free to try other speaking practices: Sociology and Technology.