The future in IELTS Speaking

The future in IELTS Speaking

The future in IELTS Speaking Part One

Future questions on typical IELTS Speaking Part One topics

Ask each future personal questions about these topics. Any questions are okay, as long, as they are about your partner’s life and about the future.

• Accommodation
• Arts and media
• Education/ Studies
• English
• Family and friends
• Festivals and celebrations
• Food and drink
• Free time/ Hobbies/ Interests
• Future plans
• Hometown
• Music
• Technology
• Transport and travel
• Work

 

Ask any questions below which you haven’t already asked.

Accommodation

Do you want to move home in the future?

How long do you think you will continue to live in your present home?

What would your dream home be like?

 

Arts and media

Are there any books that you would like to read?

When do you think you will next go to the cinema?

Do you think how you get news will change in the future?

 

Education/ Studies

Do you need any qualifications for your career?

Is there anything you’d like to study in the future?

Are there any other languages which you’d like to study?

 

English

How long are you planning to continue learning English?

Why are you taking the IELTS test?

Do you think that you will need English more in the future?

 

Family and friends

When do you think you will next see your extended family?

Would you like to have a large family?

 

Festivals and celebrations

When is the next festival or celebration where you are living?

When do you think you will next attend a festival or celebration?

Food and drink

Do you have any plans for tonight’s dinner?

When do you think you will next cook?

 

Free time/ Hobbies/ Interests

Are there any hobbies which you’d like to take up?

Do you have any plans for the weekend?

Do you have any plans for the next public holiday?

What are your plans for this evening?

 

Hometown

What changes would you like to make to your hometown?

Would you like to live in your hometown when you retire?

 

Languages

Are there any other languages which you’d like to learn?

Which other languages do you think will be most useful for you to learn?

Would you prefer to learn a new language, or to continue studying a language which you have studied before?

 

Music

Are there any musical instruments that you would like to learn to play?

Do you think your taste in music will change as you get older?

 

Technology

Is there any technology which you’d like to buy?

How long do you think you will continue using your present phone and computer?

 

Transport and travel

Do you think you will live abroad someday?

If you could travel anywhere, where would you choose?

When do you think you will next go abroad?

 

Work

Can you tell me something about your future career?

How important is progressing in your career to you?

What would your ideal job be (like)?

Would you set up your own business if you could?

 

Future plans

Can you tell me something about your future plans?

Can you tell me something about your ambitions?

What do you think you will be doing in 2030?

What do you think you will be doing in thirty years’ time?

What do you hope to achieve in the next ten years?

 

Ask about any questions you couldn’t answer, etc.

 

Analysing future IELTS Speaking Part One questions

Are the questions in each section below the same or different? If there are more than two questions, they are all the same or all different (= different and different again).

When is the next festival or celebration where you are living?

When do you think you will next attend a festival or celebration?

 

What are you planning to do at the weekend?

What would you like to do at the weekend?

What do you think you will do at the weekend?

 

Do you want to move home in the future?

Would you like to move home in the future?

 

Are there any other languages which you’d like to study?

What other languages do you want to study?

 

Would you prefer to learn a new language, or to continue studying a language which you have studied before?

Would you rather learn a new language, or continue studying a language which you have studied before?

 

How long are you planning to continue learning English?

How long do you think you will continue learning English?

 

How long do you think you will continue living in your present home?

How long will you continue living in your current home?

 

What would your ideal job be?

What would your dream job be?

 

If you could choose, what would your ideal home be like?

What would your dream home be like?

 

Do you think you will set up your own business?

Would you set up your own business if you could?

 

What do you think you will be doing in 2029?

What do you think you will be doing in ten years?

 

What do you think you will be doing in ten years?

What do you think you will be doing in ten years’ time?

 

Can you tell me something about your ambitions?

What do you hope to achieve in the next ten years?

 

Check your answers as a class, making sure you understand the differences. Then take turns asking each other questions above, making sure you don’t ask two with the same meaning, and choosing the most common question when there are two different ones. 

Do all the answers in each section below have the same or different meaning? If there are more than two, they are all the same or all different. All are correct/ possible answers.

Verbs

Do you want to move home in the future?

• Yes, I’d like to move out of my flat and into a house.
• Yes, I’d love to move out of my flat and into a house.

 

How long do you think you will continue to live in your present home?

• Not long. I will probably move next year.
• Not long. I’m planning to move next year.
• Not long. I’m going to move next year.
• Not long. I’m moving next year.

 

Do you have any plans for tonight’s dinner?

• Yes, I’m going out for Italian with my mother.
• Yes, I’ve arranged to go out for Italian with my mother.

 

How long do you think you will continue to live in your present home?

• Well, I don’t have any plans to move, but I will almost certainly need to move nearer to my parents in the near future.
• Well, I don’t have any plans to move, but I will probably need to move nearer to my parents in the near future.
• Well, I don’t have any plans to move, but I may well need to move nearer to my parents in the near future.
• Well, I don’t have any plans to move, but I may need to move nearer to my parents in the near future.
• Well, I don’t have any plans to move, but I could possibly need to move nearer to my parents in the near future.

 

Do you think that you will need English more in the future?

• Well, I may get a promotion, in which case I’d definitely need to speak English more often.
• Well, I might get a promotion, in which case I’d certainly need to speak English more often.

 

What would your dream home be like?

• The place where I’m living is almost perfect, but I’d love to live somewhere with a rooftop terrace or a huge balcony.
• The place where I’m living is almost perfect, but I love living somewhere with a rooftop terrace or a huge balcony.

 

Is there anything you’d like to study in the future?

• Well, I don’t really want to, but I need to take the CPA exam.
• Well, I don’t really want to, but I have to take the CPA exam.

 

What do you think you will be doing in ten years’ time?

• I hope that I will be writing my book by then.
• I hope that I will have written my book by then.

 

How long are you planning to continue learning English?

• To be honest, I want to just get IELTS 6.5 and then study something else!
• To be honest, I hope to just get IELTS 6.5 and then study something else!
• To be honest, I wish I could just get IELTS 6.5 and then study something else!

 

Would you like to live in your hometown when you retire?

• Not really, but I will if…
• Not really, but I would if…

 

Times

Can you tell me something about your future plans?

• I’m planning to quit my job next year and become a freelancer in five years.
• I’m planning to quit my job next year and become a freelancer within five years.
• I’m planning to quit my job next year and then become a freelancer five years later.

 

When do you think you will next go to the cinema?

• I’m thinking about seeing the latest superhero movie in two days.
• I’m thinking about seeing the latest superhero movie in two days’ time.
• I’m thinking about seeing the latest superhero movie the day after tomorrow.
• I’m thinking about seeing the latest superhero movie two days from now.

 

When will you next attend a festival or celebration?

• Well, it’s the summer, so I may well attend one in the next week.
• Well, it’s the summer, so I may well attend one in the next seven days.
• Well, it’s the summer, so I may well attend one within the next seven days.

 

When do you think you will next see your extended family?

• Actually, it’s my birthday in a week, so I’m meeting them then.
• Actually, it’s my birthday this time next week, so I’m meeting them then.
• Actually, it’s my birthday at this time next week, so I’m meeting them then.

 

When do you think you will next cook?

• I’m not sure if it will be the next time or not, but I need to cook Xmas dinner, so I need to go shopping for it by then.
• I’m not sure if it will be the next time or not, but I need to cook Xmas dinner, so I need to go shopping for it until then.

 

When do you think you will next go abroad?

• Not in the near future, but I’m sure I will one day.
• Not in the near future, but I’m sure I will someday.
• Not in the near future, but I’m sure I will sometime.

 

Check the differences as a class, then take turns asking each other questions from above.

Without looking above, try to think of another way of saying each thing below with exactly the same meaning. Try to make the wording as different as you can, but any changes are fine, as long as the meaning is the same.

Do you want to move home in the future?

 

 

 

Would you prefer to learn a new language, or to continue studying a language which you have studied before?

 

 

 

What would your ideal home be like?

 

 

 

What do you think you will be doing in 2028?

 

 

 

Well, I may get a promotion, in which case I’d definitely need to speak English more often.

 

 

 

I’m thinking about seeing the latest superhero movie two days from now.

 

 

 

Well, it’s the summer, so I may well attend one within the next seven days.

 

 

 

Actually, it’s my birthday this time next week, so I’m meeting them then.

 

 

 

Not in the near future, but I’m sure I will one day.

 

 

 

Check as a class or above. Many other ways of rephrasing are possible, so please check if you wrote something different

Complete the answers below with at least one correct future form.

How long do you think you will continue to live in your present home?

I _____________________________________ (probably stay) there for the next or two years, and then move back to my family home in Osaka.

 

How long do you think you will continue to live in your present home?

Actually, I’ve decided to move house. I __________________________ (start) looking for a new flat next weekend.

 

Do you want to move home in the future?

No, I don’t really want to, but ________________________________ (have to) because the building is quite old and so will need to be demolished in the next decade or two.

 

What would your dream home be like?

I __________________________________ (live) somewhere with a swimming pool, but it ______________________________ (almost certainly never happen), unfortunately.

 

Are there any books that you would like to read?

Yes, I _____________________________________ (read) the latest book from Stephen King. I’m a huge horror fan.

 

Do you think how you get news will change in the future?

I think it probably won’t change, because I already get most of my news from the internet. However, I _________________________ (have to) start paying if all the good newspapers charge for their websites.

 

When do you think you will next go abroad?

Actually, I already have a ticket! I ___________________(fly) to New York on Sunday.

 

What are your plans for the weekend?

I don’t have any plans. I _______________________________________ (probably just watch) the new series of House of Cards on Netflix.

 

When do you think you will next go abroad?

I’m not sure. I _______________________________ (go) to Hawaii for my honeymoon next year, but I will probably be too busy, in which case it might be five years or more.

 

What do you think you will be doing in 2030?

I __________________ (almost certainly still live) in Tokyo, but probably not in the same house and perhaps somewhere quieter in the suburbs.

 

What do you think you will be doing in thirty years’ time?

By then I ____________________ (already retire), so I will probably be living back in my hometown with my family.

Fill the gaps below with any suitable sentence, but using a different future form from the question and/ or a different future time from the question each time. Try to make true sentences if you can, but imaginary sentences are also okay.

Is there any technology which you’d like to buy?

Actually,…

 

Do you think you will live abroad someday?

Yes,…

 

Are there any hobbies which you’d like to take up?

Not really, but…

 

What are your plans for this evening?

I don’t have any actual plans, but…

 

Would you like to live in your hometown when you retire?

I’d love to, but…

 

Do you think your taste in music will change as you get older?

Probably, because…

 

Is there any technology which you’d like to buy?

Nothing really, because…

 

Do you think you will live abroad someday?

It’s possible…

 

When do you think you will next go abroad?

I’m not sure, but…

 

What would your ideal job be (like)?

If I could,…

 

Can you tell me something about your future plans?

Well, I’m planning to study abroad within…

 

Can you tell me something about your ambitions?

I hope to have…

 

IELTS Speaking Part Two on the future

Do at least one task from below in exam format (exactly one minute for preparation, one to two minutes speaking, then a short follow-up question from your partner).

Describe a job you would like to do in the future. You should say: - What a typical work day for people in that job is like - What qualifications and experience you will need in order to do that job - What your next step will have to be in order to get that job And say if you think you will be able to get that job in the near future or not, and why

 

Talk about a subject you would like to study in the future You should say: - How you first became interested in that subject - What things about that subject you find particularly interesting - Where and how it is possible to study that subject And say if you think you will start studying that in the near future or not, and why

 

Talk about a goal or ambition you have. You should say: - When and why you first got that goal or ambition - What you need to do to make it come true - What your next step needs to be And say if you think you will achieve that goal or ambition or not, and why

 

Talk about a foreign country you have never been to and would like to visit: You should mention: - How that place is similar and different to your country and other countries you have visited - Why you are interested in going there - What you would like to do there And say if you think you will go to that country in the near future or not, and why

 

Talk about your plans for your next long holiday. You should say: - Where you are thinking of going - Who you would like to go there with - What you would like to do there And say if you think you will do what you are planning or not, and why

 

Talk about a job you would like to do in the future. You should say: - What people have to do in that job - Why you are interested in that job - If there are any disadvantages or difficulties to doing that job And say if you think you will be good at that job or not, and why

 

Talk about a subject you would like to study in the future. You should say: - What you need to study as part of that subject - Where you can study it - What you think the most difficult things about that subject would be And say if you think studying subject will be useful in your future life or not, and why

 

Talk about a new hobby you would like to take up. You should mention: - What the advantages of the hobby are - What the difficulties of doing that hobby would be - How you first became interested in that hobby And say if you think you will do that hobby in the near future or not, and why

 

Talk about the next festival or celebration in your family or your country. You should say: - What is being celebrated - What most people will do on that day - What you are planning to do on that day And say if you think you will enjoy that day or not, and why

 

Talk about something you would like to buy. You should mention: - What it looks like - What it is used for - Why you want to buy it And say if you think you will buy it or not, and why

 

Talk about another language you are interested in learning. You should say: - Where it is spoken - How it is different from your language and from English - Why you are interested in that language And say if it is popular to learn that language in your country or not, and why

 

Talk about one thing you are planning to do after you pass the IELTS test. You should mention: - When you think you will do it - Why you want to do it - How long you have had that plan And say whether there are other options that you could also do which are just as good

 

Talk about your next trip abroad. You should say: - Where you are going or would like to go - What you want to do there - What souvenirs you would like to bring back And say whether you think your next trip overseas will be as you would like it to be or not, and why

 

Talk about a musical instrument you would like to be able to play but have never tried. You should say: - What the instrument looks like - How you play it - What kinds of music are played on it And say if you think you will learn to play that instrument or not, and why

 

Talk about a sport you think is interesting but have never played. You should say: - What equipment is needed - What some of the rules are - What kinds of people this sport is popular with And say if you think you will do this sport in the near future or not, and why

 

Describe your dream job You should say: - What you would do in that job - What the pay and conditions would be like - What kind of place you would work in And say if you think people who really have a job like that are happy in their work or not, and why

 

Talk about your dream holiday. You should say: - Where you would like to go - What kind of accommodation you would like to stay in - What activities you would like to do And say if you ever think you will go on a holiday like that or not, and why

 

Describe your dream workplace. You should say: - What the place would be like - What your colleagues would be like - What the local area would be like And say if you think such a workplace really exists or not, and why

 

Give a short presentation about a film that you have never seen but would like to. You should say: - If any famous people are connected with this film - What kind of film it is - What other films it is similar to And say if you think you will see that movie soon or not, and why

 

Talk about a book you have never read but would like to. You should mention: - If it is famous it is - Why that book interests you - Why you haven’t read it before And say if you think it will become one of your favourite books or not, and why

 

Talk about an instrument you would like to be able to play but cannot play. You should say: - Why that instrument interests you - When you have seen or heard other people playing that instrument - Why you haven’t learnt how to play it before And say if you think it is a difficult instrument to learn or not, and why

 

Talk about a pet you have never had but would like. You should mention: -Where and how you can buy it - Where you would keep it -How it would need looking after And say if you think you will have a similar pet in the near future or not, and why

 

Describe your dream home You should say: - How you would look like the outside to look - How you would like the inside to look - What area you would like to live in And say if you have really seen a house that is similar or not, and if so how it was similar

 

Talk about one thing you are going to do next weekend. You should mention: - Where you are going to do it - Who you are going to do it with - Any equipment you need to do it And say whether you are looking forward to it or not, and why

 

Talk about a part of your country you have never been to but would like to visit You should say: - Why you have never been there before - If or when you think you might go - Why you would like to go And say how you first became interested in going to that place

 

Talk about your plans for your next long vacation. You should say: - Where you want to go - Who you want to go there with - What you want to do when you get there And say how likely you are to do what you have planned, and why

 

Analysis

What different future forms could you use to answer the questions above?

Which of those forms are the most likely/ most common/ most useful for these Speaking Part Two questions?

 

The future in IELTS Speaking Part Three

Take turns asking questions from below on two or three topics for four minutes. 

Arts and media

• Will internet news ever replace newspapers?
• Do you think that there will be more jobs in the arts sector or in the technical sector in the future?

Demographics

• Can you think of any bad effects of a shrinking population?
• Do you think it is possible for ten billion people to live on the earth?
• Do you think the government should subsidise families with more kids?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of governments paying people to stay in shrinking towns and villages?
• What can be done to stop people moving to the capital city, do you think?

Economics

• Do you believe a minimum basic income for everyone in the country would be good?
• Do you think that economic growth is always a good thing?
• Do you think it’s OK for people who’ve been bankrupt to then set up businesses?

Globalisation

• Are people in your country generally interested in studying abroad?
• Do you think people’s feelings about more globalisation are changing?
• Why do some people think globalisation should be reversed?

Health

• Can you explain why some people support voluntary euthanasia?
• Do you think it would be good for governments to make smoking more and more difficult and expensive?

Nature and the environment

• Are people in your country worried about natural disasters?
• Do you think your government is doing enough to cut carbon emissions?
• What could the bad effects of further global warming be?
• What is the biggest environmental problem facing your country?

Retirement

• How do people in your country prepare for their retirement?
• Do you believe people your age will be able to retire in their sixties?
• Do you think that the retirement age is about right?
• What do you think old people’s lives will be like in 50 years’ time?

Technology

• How much do you think the government should get involved in helping companies research future technologies?
• Do you think there is a danger that robots will take over from humans?
• What are your predictions for public transport in the next few years?
• What could be the effects of AI becoming as intelligent as humans?

 

What future forms could you use to the answer the questions above and Writing Task 2 questions?  

What future forms could you use to answer Writing Task 1 line graph tasks?