IELTS Speaking Questions: Headphones
Headphones questions in Part 1 are about habit: how often you use them, where, what you listen to and when you would rather not. Keep each answer to a direct reply and one detail, such as a journey or a study session, rather than describing the equipment.
Part 3 uses headphones to talk about public behaviour, hearing, concentration and how people connect with each other. Prepare one clear opinion on whether personal audio helps or isolates people, with an example from buses, offices or classrooms, and practise showing both sides before choosing one.
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 often use headphones?
How to extend itSay how often, then name the main situation.
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What do you usually listen to through headphones?
How to extend itName one thing, then say why you choose it.
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In what places do you like using headphones?
How to extend itName a place, then say what it is like there.
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Are there times when you prefer not to use headphones?
How to extend itGive one situation, then a short reason.
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What kind of headphones do you like to use?
How to extend itDescribe the type, then one feature you value.
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Do you ever use headphones when you study or work?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then explain the effect.
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Did you use headphones when you were younger?
How to extend itContrast childhood habits with now, briefly.
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Do you think headphones are comfortable to wear for a long time?
How to extend itGive a view, then a personal example.
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Do you share headphones with friends or family?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then describe one occasion.
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Have you ever lost or damaged a pair of headphones?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then tell a short story.
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Do you notice what other people are doing with their headphones?
How to extend itState a view, then give an example you have seen.
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Would you like to try a different kind of headphones in the future?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then name the kind and why.
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 wear headphones in public places?
How to structure itOffer a reason, then give an everyday example.
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Is it a problem if people ignore each other because of headphones?
How to structure itTake a position, then concede one fair point.
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How might listening at high volume affect people's health?
How to structure itName one effect, then suggest how to prevent it.
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Do headphones make it easier or harder to concentrate?
How to structure itPick a side, then support it with a situation.
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Should headphones be allowed in schools or workplaces?
How to structure itTake a stance, then name one rule that would help.
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How has the way people listen to audio changed over the years?
How to structure itCompare past and present, then name the main driver.
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Do you think noise-cancelling headphones are a good idea in busy cities?
How to structure itGive a view, then weigh one benefit against a risk.
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Are headphones changing the way young people socialise?
How to structure itState a view, then give one concrete effect.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of listening to audio privately?
How to structure itCover both sides, then say which matters more.
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How might personal audio devices develop 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 a piece of technology you find useful Part 2 cue card, with the one-minute prep timer
- Technology 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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