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IELTS Speaking Part 1

Advertisements: Part 1 questions and answers

Real Part 1 questions about advertisements, as candidates reported them. Play each one, answer it out loud, then open a short Band 7 reply to compare.

Today's topicAdvertisements

  • 4–5 minthe whole part
  • ~12questions
  • ~20 seach answer

Answer, add a reason or an example, then stop. The examiner moves on fast, so short and real wins.

Reported in September 2026

Question 1: Do you see a lot of advertisements in your daily life?

Yes/no questionDon't stop at yes or no. Say why.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerYes, definitely. WhyI see adverts on my phone and on the bus, and I notice the same advert when I’m going to work. ExampleThey’re fairly hard to tune out, so I notice those things three or four times, and they can get repetitive.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. They’re fairly hard to tune out This useful phrase naturally describes ignoring advertisements.
  2. phone and on the bus, and I notice The simple linker and is used more than once in a spoken way.
  3. I notice those things Things is vague here; advertisements would be more precise.

About 17 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 2: Where do you notice advertisements the most?

Open questionAnswer it, then add one detail.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerMostly on my phone. WhyI come across sponsored posts while checking messages, but I also notice posters near lift in my office building, posters that are hard to miss. ExampleLast Tuesday, there were several adverts by the entrance, so I read one without meaning to.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. come across sponsored posts This phrasal verb gives a precise description of seeing online adverts.
  2. notice posters near lift in my office building, posters The word posters is repeated, which sounds slightly less polished.
  3. posters near lift A missing article: near the lift is correct.

About 18 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 3: What kind of advertisements do you usually notice?

Open questionAnswer it, then add one detail.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerUsually, I notice adverts for courses or local restaurants. WhyThey catch my eye when picture looks good, even if the wording is a bit ordinary, and I sometimes save them to check later. ExampleI mean, one cooking class advert stayed in my head all afternoon.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. catch my eye This idiom naturally explains why an advertisement attracts attention.
  2. picture looks good Good is general; appealing would describe the picture more precisely.
  3. I mean, one cooking class advert I mean is a natural filler that makes the answer sound spontaneous.
  4. stayed in my head Understandable, but stuck in my head is the usual phrase.
  5. when picture looks good A missing article: when the picture looks good is correct.

About 18 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 4: Have you ever bought something because of an advertisement?

Yes/no questionDon't stop at yes or no. Say why.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerYes, I have. WhyI bought a desk lamp after seeing short video online, because it looked simple and useful, and I ordered it that evening. ExampleI gave in to the temptation although I hadn’t planned to buy anything, and it arrived three days later.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. gave in to the temptation This everyday idiom gives a natural, precise reason for the purchase.
  2. simple and useful, and I ordered it The simple linker and is repeated in one sentence.
  3. after seeing short video online A missing article: after seeing a short video is correct.

About 18 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Take it further: Has an advert ever actually convinced you to buy something?

Question 5: Do you watch advertisements from beginning to end?

Yes/no questionDon't stop at yes or no. Say why.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerUsually not. WhyI watch the first few seconds if the opening looks interesting, but then I skip it when I can. ExampleLet me think, during football match last month, I let one play through because I was making tea, and I barely remembered what it was about.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. let one play through This phrasal verb precisely describes allowing an advert to continue.
  2. the opening looks interesting Interesting is general; attention-grabbing would be more precise.
  3. Let me think, during football Let me think is a natural filler showing spontaneous speech.
  4. during football match A missing article: during a football match is correct.

About 19 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Phrases to borrow

tune something out

/tjuːn ˌsʌmθɪŋ ˈaʊt/

stop paying attention to something

I tune out background music when I’m studying.

come across something

/kʌm əˈkrɒs ˌsʌmθɪŋ/

find or see something unexpectedly

I came across an interesting article yesterday.

catch someone’s eye

/kætʃ ˌsʌmwʌnz ˈaɪ/

attract someone’s attention

The bright sign caught my eye immediately.

give in to temptation

/ɡɪv ɪn tə tem(p)ˈteɪʃən/

stop resisting something attractive

I gave in to temptation and ordered dessert.

play through

/pleɪ θruː/

continue showing without being stopped

The video played through while I was cooking.

Fill the gap

Which phrase fits?

Phrases from the answers above. Pick the one that belongs in the gap.

Your turn: answer the examiner

Do you watch advertisements from beginning to end?

Answer, add a reason or an example, then stop: about 20 seconds. Nothing is uploaded.

Want a band score?Sign in free, answer the examiner's Part 1 questions out loud and get one thing to fix.

Practise Part 1

More Part 1 topics

Each question with a short Band 7 reply.

How the IELTS Speaking test works