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IELTS Speaking Part 1

Mirrors: Part 1 questions and answers

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

Today's topicMirrors

  • 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: Do you have a mirror in your room?

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’ve got a full-length mirror beside of my wardrobe. WhyI use it to check my clothes before I leave, mainly because I work in an office and I want to look okay. ExampleThe frame is a bit scratched at the bottom, which happened when I moved in, I think last year.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. full-length mirror A precise name for a tall mirror you can see your whole body in.
  2. look okay Okay is vague; look smart would be more precise.
  3. beside of my wardrobe A preposition slip: beside my wardrobe is correct.
  4. when I moved in, I think last year The speaker adds the time as an afterthought, a natural restart.

About 21 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 2: How often do you use a mirror in your daily life?

How often, how muchGive a real number, then a reason.

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

AnswerUsually twice a day, Whymainly because I need to get ready for work without wasting time. I check my hair in morning and again before lunch if I’ve been outside, so I don’t look too untidy. ExampleLast Monday, I noticed some stuff on my cheek during that second check.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. twice a day This gives a clear and natural frequency.
  2. I check my hair in morning A common spoken slip. The correct form is in the morning.
  3. second check Check is repeated, which sounds natural but less polished.
  4. some stuff on my cheek Stuff is vague; a smudge would be more precise.

About 20 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 3: Do you like looking at yourself in the mirror?

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

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

AnswerNot really. WhyI mean, I like to look presentable, but staring to my own face for long makes me a bit self-conscious. ExampleSo I usually just give myself one quick look before I go out, and that’s it.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. look presentable A useful phrase for looking tidy and suitable.
  2. I mean This small filler makes the answer sound spontaneous.
  3. one quick look before I go out, and that’s it And that's it is a casual ending rather than a precise one.
  4. staring to my own face A preposition slip: staring at my own face is correct.

About 15 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 4: Have you ever bought a mirror?

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 bought one for my bedroom when I moved into this flat. WhyI wanted something simple, so I picked up a round mirror from a small homeware shop near bus station. ExampleIt cost about 18 pounds, and I carried it home carefully on a rainy Saturday.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. picked up a round mirror This phrasal verb shows relaxed, everyday language.
  2. something simple Something is general here. A plain round mirror would be more precise.
  3. near bus station A common spoken slip. The correct form is near the bus station.

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

Question 5: Would you use mirrors to decorate your room?

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

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

AnswerYes, but only in a small way. WhyI’d use two narrow mirrors to brighten the wall up, because that corner is quite dark in the afternoon. ExampleI tried something similar once with cheap mirror, and it looked nice.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. brighten the wall up A natural phrase for making a place look lighter.
  2. it looked nice Nice is vague; it made the room feel bigger would be more precise.
  3. with cheap mirror A missing article: with a cheap mirror is correct.

About 15 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 6: Do you usually carry a mirror with you?

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

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

AnswerNo, not really. WhyMy phone camera is enough, and a mirror would just take up space in my bag. ExampleI mean, once before a job interview I borrowed small one from my flatmate, and it came in handy because my collar was a bit messy.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. came in handy A useful idiom for something that helps at the right moment.
  2. borrowed small one A missing article: borrowed a small one is correct.
  3. a bit messy Messy is general; crooked would be more precise.

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

Phrases to borrow

get ready for something

/ˌɡet ˈredi fə ˌsʌmθɪŋ/

prepare yourself for something

I need to get ready for my interview.

look presentable

/ˌlʊk prɪˈzentəbəl/

look tidy and suitable for an occasion

He changed his shirt to look presentable.

pick something up

/ˌpɪk ˌsʌmθɪŋ ˈʌp/

buy or obtain something casually

I picked up a lamp at the market.

brighten something up

/ˌbraɪtən ðə ˈwɔːl ʌp/

make a place look lighter or happier

Some plants would brighten the hallway up.

come in handy

/ˌkʌm ɪn ˈhændi/

be useful at a particular time

That small torch came in handy during the power cut.

Fill the gap

Which phrase fits?

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

Your turn: answer the examiner

Would you use mirrors to decorate your room?

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