IELTS Speaking Part 1: Days off
4 common Part 1 questions on days off, each with a sample answer at the length Part 1 actually wants.
When was the last time you had a few days off?
Just last month, I took a long weekend to visit my grandparents in the countryside. It was a refreshing break from lectures and assignments. Three days felt like a full reset button.
What do you do when you have days off?
I usually sleep in a bit, then spend time on hobbies like reading or hiking. I also love catching up with friends over a leisurely lunch. Sometimes I do absolutely nothing – just lie in the park and watch the clouds.
What would you like to do if you had a day off tomorrow?
I would love to take a spontaneous road trip to a nearby lake I’ve never visited. I’d pack a picnic, a good book, and my camera. Unplanned adventures always feel more memorable than strictly scheduled ones.
Do you usually spend your days off with your parents or with your friends?
It depends on the occasion. For relaxing days, I prefer friends – we have similar energy levels and enjoy exploring new cafes. For holidays or family events, I spend time with my parents. Both are valuable, just different.
Reading a model answer is not the same as saying one. The sample above shows what a strong Part 1 answer sounds like. What it cannot tell you is how yours sounds — whether you hesitate, repeat the question back, or run out of things to say at forty seconds.
You can record an answer to this exact question and get it marked on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and pronunciation — the same four criteria the examiner uses.
Common questions
How long should Part 1 answers be?
Two or three sentences. Part 1 is a warm-up and one-word answers stall the conversation, but a ninety-second speech on your home town is the wrong length too — the examiner has a list of questions to get through.
How long does Part 1 last?
Four to five minutes, covering three familiar topics. Your identity is checked first, then the questions start.
Can I ask the examiner to repeat a question?
Yes, and it costs you nothing. Asking for a repeat is normal conversational English; guessing at a question you misheard and answering the wrong one is far more damaging.
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.