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IELTS Speaking Part 1

Childhood: Part 1 questions and answers

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

Today's topicChildhood

  • 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 July 2026

Question 1: Did you enjoy your childhood?

About the pastUse the past: I used to, I remember…

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

AnswerDefinitely, I had a fairly nice childhood, Whybecause I was usually outside with my cousins after the school. ExampleWhen I look back on it now, I mostly remember the afternoons we spent kicking a ball around near our house.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. look back on it now A natural phrase for remembering an earlier time.
  2. nice childhood Nice is a vague word; happy or relaxed would be more precise.
  3. after the school An extra article: after school is correct.

About 16 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 2: Where did you grow up?

Open questionAnswer it, then add one detail.

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

AnswerI grew up in Cochabamba, a city in Bolivia, and I stayed in same neighbourhood until university. WhyIt was a pretty good place for kids and easy to get around, Exampleso I walked to school with my older sister every day. It took like fifteen minutes.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. easy to get around A common collocation that describes a place clearly.
  2. a pretty good place Good is vague; safe or friendly would be more precise.
  3. in same neighbourhood A missing article: in the same neighbourhood is correct.
  4. took like fifteen minutes Like is a casual filler; about fifteen minutes is clearer.

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

Question 3: What kinds of activities did you enjoy as a child?

About the pastUse the past: I used to, I remember…

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

AnswerI enjoyed drawing and making paper planes, but mostly I liked outdoor stuff with the kids on my street. ExampleOne Saturday we organised a small race to end of the road, and I took part in it even though I was the youngest one.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. took part in A natural phrase for joining an activity.
  2. outdoor stuff Stuff is vague; outdoor games would be more precise.
  3. race to end of the road A missing article: race to the end of the road is correct.

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

Question 4: Who did you like to play with as a child?

About the pastUse the past: I used to, I remember…

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

AnswerMostly my two cousins, Whybecause they lived in the next block. ExampleI mean, we’d hang out with each other in the shared courtyard after the lunch, and my younger cousin was always inventing some fun rule for every game.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. hang out with each other An everyday phrasal verb that sounds natural in a personal answer.
  2. some fun rule Fun is vague; a new or silly rule would be clearer.
  3. after the lunch An extra article: after lunch is correct.

About 16 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Take it further: Describe the kids you grew up around and the street or area where you all played. What was the scene?

Question 5: Did you spend more time indoors or outdoors when you were young?

About the pastUse the past: I used to, I remember…

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

AnswerDefinitely, I spent a lot more time outdoors, getting some fresh air, Whybecause our flat felt quite cramped during the school holidays. ExampleI’d ride my bicycle around the nearby streets for two hours a day, then come back to home when it got dark.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. getting some fresh air This natural phrase gives a clear reason for being outdoors.
  2. a lot more time A lot is vague; a specific number of hours would be more precise.
  3. come back to home A small preposition slip; the correct form is come back home.

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

Question 6: What are your best childhood memories?

About the pastUse the past: I used to, I remember…

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

AnswerMy best memories are the good evenings when my family ate together at the balcony, Whymainly because everyone was less busy then. ExampleOne night in December, my aunt brought a small cake, and that scene stands out in my memory more than anything else.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. stands out in my memory This phrase expresses that one memory remains especially vivid.
  2. the good evenings Good is vague; relaxed family evenings would be more precise.
  3. at the balcony A small preposition slip; the correct form is on the balcony.

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

Phrases to borrow

look back on something

/lʊk ˈbæk ɒn ˌsʌmθɪŋ/

remember an earlier time

I sometimes look back on my first year at university.

be easy to get around

/biː ˈiːzi tə ɡet əˈraʊnd/

be simple to travel around

The town is easy to get around without a car.

take part in something

/teɪk ˈpɑːt ɪn ˌsʌmθɪŋ/

join an activity or event

I took part in a local photography course.

hang out with someone

/hæŋ aʊt wɪð ˌsʌmwʌn/

spend relaxed time with someone

I usually hang out with my classmates after lectures.

get some fresh air

/ɡet səm freʃ eə/

go outside for clean outdoor air

I went outside to get some fresh air after studying.

stand out in someone's memory

/stænd aʊt ɪn ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈmeməri/

be especially memorable to someone

That concert still stands out in my memory.

Fill the gap

Which phrase fits?

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

Your turn: answer the examiner

Did you spend more time indoors or outdoors when you were young?

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.

See all 69 topics+59

How the IELTS Speaking test works