IELTS Speaking Part 1: Old buildings
5 common Part 1 questions on old buildings, each with a sample answer at the length Part 1 actually wants.
Do you prefer living in an old building or a modern house?
Personally, I'd prefer to live in a modern house, mainly for the comfort and convenience. Modern homes tend to have better facilities, insulation and energy efficiency, which makes daily life much easier. That said, I do appreciate the charm and character that old buildings possess.
Should old buildings be preserved?
Yes, I strongly believe old buildings should be preserved wherever possible. They are an important part of a country's history and cultural heritage, and once they're gone, they can never be replaced. Preserving them also attracts tourism and gives cities a real sense of character and identity.
Are there any old buildings you want to see in the future?
Yes, there are many historical buildings around the world I'd love to visit someday, such as ancient castles and famous cathedrals in Europe. I'm fascinated by their architecture and the history behind them. Seeing these magnificent structures in person is definitely on my bucket list.
What aspect of culture do old buildings reflect?
Old buildings reflect a great deal about a culture's history, values and artistic achievements. Their architecture, materials and design reveal the beliefs, lifestyle and craftsmanship of the people who built them. In a way, they act as a physical record of a society's heritage and identity.
How do old buildings affect the appearance of a place?
Old buildings give a place a great deal of character, charm and a distinctive sense of identity. They create a beautiful contrast with modern structures and often become iconic landmarks that people associate with a city. Without them, many places would look far more uniform and lack their unique atmosphere.
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.