IELTS Speaking Questions: Books and Reading
Reading questions in Part 1 focus on your own habits: what you read, how often, and whether you prefer paper or a screen. A direct answer plus one specific title or reason is enough here.
Part 3 turns the subject outward, into whether people read less than before, the role of libraries, and how technology has changed reading itself. Prepare two or three real details about your own reading life, plus one clear opinion on reading in society, 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 enjoy reading?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then name what you usually read.
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What kind of books do you usually read?
How to extend itName a genre, then say why you like it.
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Do you prefer reading paper books or e-books?
How to extend itPick one, then give a practical reason.
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Did you enjoy reading when you were a child?
How to extend itContrast childhood habits with now, briefly.
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How often do you read for pleasure?
How to extend itGive a rough frequency, then what usually gets in the way.
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What was the last book you read?
How to extend itName it, then a brief reaction to it.
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Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?
How to extend itPick one, then give a specific reason.
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Do you ever read newspapers or magazines?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then how often and what kind.
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Where do you usually like to read?
How to extend itName a place, then why it suits you.
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Did anyone encourage you to read when you were young?
How to extend itName who, then one brief memory.
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Do you talk to friends about books you have read?
How to extend itSay yes or no, then describe a recent example.
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Do you prefer borrowing books or buying them?
How to extend itPick one, then give one reason for your choice.
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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Do you think people read less than they used to?
How to structure itState a view, then one likely cause.
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How has technology changed the way people read?
How to structure itName the main change, then a concrete effect.
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Should schools do more to encourage children to read for pleasure?
How to structure itTake a position, then concede one practical limit.
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What are the advantages of reading fiction compared with non-fiction?
How to structure itCover both, then say which matters more to you.
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Do libraries still have an important role in modern society?
How to structure itGive a stance, then support it with an example.
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How might reading habits change over the next twenty years?
How to structure itPredict a trend, then explain what drives it.
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Is it important for children to see adults reading at home?
How to structure itTake a position, then give one supporting reason.
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Do you think audiobooks count as reading?
How to structure itGive a view, then weigh it against a counterpoint.
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How does reading benefit people beyond simple entertainment?
How to structure itName one benefit, then a supporting example.
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Should governments fund public libraries more than they currently do?
How to structure itState a position, then one reason it matters.
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 book you read recently Part 2 cue card, with the one-minute prep timer
- Media and entertainment 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.
Practise this with instant AI feedback
Record your answer in the app and get your grammar, vocabulary, fluency and pronunciation analysed in seconds.
More topics
Daily Routine
Commonly reported IELTS Speaking questions about daily routine for Part 1 and Part 3, with short tips for extending your answers and structuring opinions.
Family and Friends
Commonly reported IELTS Speaking questions about family and friends for Part 1 and Part 3, with short tips for extending answers and structuring opinions.
Films and television
Part 1 and Part 3 IELTS Speaking questions on films and television, from personal viewing habits to their influence on society, with a tip for every answer.