IELTS Speaking Questions: Names
Names questions in Part 1 are warm and personal: what your name means, who chose it, whether you have a nickname, and whether people say it correctly. Give a direct answer and one small story, since a real detail about your own name is easy to say and hard to forget.
Part 3 moves from your own name to naming customs across cultures, the way names can shape first impressions, and whether traditions will last. Prepare one clear opinion on how much a name matters, with an example from your own country, rather than a memorised answer.
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 your name?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then give one reason.
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Does your name have a meaning?
How to extend itSay what it means, or why you do not know.
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Who chose your name?
How to extend itName a person, then say why they chose it.
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Are names in your country usually chosen for their meaning?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then give one example.
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Do you have a nickname?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then explain where it came from.
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Do people often mispronounce or misspell your name?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then describe one occasion.
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Is it easy for you to remember people's names?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then mention a trick you use.
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How do you prefer people to address you?
How to extend itDescribe your preference, then say when it changes.
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Did you give names to toys or pets as a child?
How to extend itDescribe one, then explain why you chose it.
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Do you know the story behind your family name?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then share one detail.
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Have you ever wanted to change your name?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then give one reason.
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Is there a name you might give to your own child?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then explain what appeals to you.
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 are names important to people?
How to structure itGive one reason, then support it with an example.
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How do naming traditions differ between cultures?
How to structure itName one difference, then explain what lies behind it.
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Is it right for parents to choose unusual names for their children?
How to structure itTake a position, then concede one practical concern.
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Do people judge others by their names?
How to structure itState a view, then give one plausible example.
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Should people be allowed to change their names freely?
How to structure itTake a position, then name one possible risk.
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How have fashions in naming children changed in your country?
How to structure itName one change, then a likely cause.
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Why do companies take so much care over the names of their products?
How to structure itGive one reason, then a brief example.
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Are family names more important in some cultures than others?
How to structure itCompare two cultures, then suggest a reason.
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What problems can arise when names are hard to pronounce abroad?
How to structure itName one problem, then suggest how people cope.
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Will naming traditions disappear in the future?
How to structure itPredict an outcome, 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 person you met only once and would like to know more about Part 2 cue card, with the one-minute prep timer
- Family and relationships 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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