IELTS Speaking Questions: Animals and pets
Animals and pets questions in Part 1 are about your own life: whether you like animals, whether you have or have had a pet, which animals you prefer and whether you have visited a zoo. A direct answer and one concrete detail, such as the pet’s name or what it did, is better than a general statement about animals.
Part 3 asks about responsibility, rights and conservation, such as why people keep pets, whether zoos are acceptable and how endangered species can be protected. Prepare one clear view on how people should treat animals and one practical example of conservation, and practise giving a position followed by a fair concession.
Part 1 questions
Short, personal, present-tense. Answer the question directly first, then add the one detail the tip suggests — the extension is what separates a one-line answer from a Band 7 one.
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Do you like animals?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then name one you like.
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Do you have a pet, or have you ever had one?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then describe the animal briefly.
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What is your favourite animal?
How to extend itName it, then give one reason.
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Are pets popular in your country?
How to extend itGive a short view, then name a common pet.
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Did you have a pet when you were a child?
How to extend itContrast then with now in one extra sentence.
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What kind of pet would you like to have in the future?
How to extend itName one, then give a practical reason.
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Do you prefer cats, dogs or other animals?
How to extend itPick one, then say what you like about it.
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Do you spend time looking after animals?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then describe one routine.
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Have you ever visited a zoo or a wildlife park?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then describe what you saw.
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Are there many animals in the area where you live?
How to extend itName one kind, then say where you see it.
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Do you think animals can be good company for people?
How to extend itTake a side, then give one example.
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Is there an animal you are afraid of or do not like?
How to extend itName the animal, then give one short reason.
Part 3 questions
The same topic, pitched at the abstract level the examiner moves to after your cue card. These want reasoning — a position, a cause, an example, a concession — not a description of your own life.
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Why do so many people keep animals as pets?
How to structure itGive one reason, then link it to everyday life.
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What responsibilities do pet owners have?
How to structure itName one responsibility, then explain why it matters.
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Should wild animals be kept in zoos?
How to structure itTake a position, then concede one counterpoint.
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How can people help to protect endangered animals?
How to structure itSuggest one action, then say who should take it.
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Do you think animals have rights in the same way as people?
How to structure itState a view, then support it with a reason.
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Is it acceptable to use animals for work or entertainment?
How to structure itTake a stance, then name one limit.
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How does keeping a pet affect children's development?
How to structure itName one effect, then give a short example.
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Why are attitudes towards animals different in different cultures?
How to structure itGive one cause, then compare two examples.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a city with many pets?
How to structure itCover both sides, then say which matters more.
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How might the relationship between people and animals change in the future?
How to structure itPredict a trend, then explain what drives it.
Say the answers out loud, then sit the whole test
Reading a question and answering it are different skills. Work through the list above aloud, then put the topic inside a full timed test where you cannot stop to think.
- Describe an animal you find interesting Part 2 cue card, with the one-minute prep timer
- The environment vocabulary 30 band-graded phrases and a self-test
Part 1, a cue card, then Part 3 — timed, in your browser, about 13 minutes.
One cue card a day on Telegram
A new Part 2 card every morning, a vocabulary topic on Sundays.
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