IELTS Speaking Part 1: Parks
4 common Part 1 questions on parks, each with a sample answer at the length Part 1 actually wants.
Do you like to go to parks?
Yes, I really enjoy visiting parks whenever I get the chance. They offer a wonderful escape from the noise and stress of city life, and I love being surrounded by greenery and fresh air. It's the perfect place to relax, go for a walk or simply clear my head.
When was the last time you went to the park?
I went to a nearby park just last weekend, actually. The weather was lovely, so I took the opportunity to go for a long walk and have a picnic with a couple of friends. It was a really refreshing break from sitting indoors all week.
Do people in your country often go to parks?
Yes, parks are quite popular in my country, especially during the warmer months and at weekends. Families go there for picnics and to let their children play, while others go to exercise, walk their dogs or simply socialise. They're a genuinely important part of community life.
What do people usually do in parks?
People do all sorts of things in parks depending on their interests. Many go there to exercise, whether that's jogging, cycling or playing sports, while others prefer to relax by reading or having a picnic. Parks are also popular with families, as children love the playgrounds and the open space to run around.
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.