IELTS Speaking Part 1

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Cheese questions and answers

IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions are short and personal: the examiner asks three to five on two or three everyday topics in the first four to five minutes. Here are 5 questions about cheese written by BandLadder in the examiner's style, each with a Band 8 sample answer and useful vocabulary. Aim for two or three sentences each: answer, reason, one detail.
  • 5 questions
  • 5 Band 8 answers
  • 4 to 5 minutes

5 answers

Cheese questions with sample answers

1

Do you like eating cheese?

Yes, absolutely. I’m quite fond of dairy products, so I tend to add it to lots of dishes. Just yesterday, I grated some mature cheddar over a bowl of pasta, which really gave the whole meal a lovely, creamy texture.

2

What kinds of cheese are popular in your country?

Well, hard yellow cheeses are definitely the most common, especially for making toasted sandwiches. Cottage cheese is also quite widespread because people consider it a healthy snack. A local bakery near my flat even sells a savoury pastry filled with it.

3

Did you eat much cheese when you were a child?

Not really, to be honest. I used to be quite a fussy eater, and I couldn't stand strong flavours or pungent smells. My parents would occasionally put processed cheese slices in my school packed lunch, but I usually traded them with my classmates.

4

Have you ever tried making a dish with cheese?

Yes, all the time. I love baking homemade pizza from scratch on weekends, so mozzarella is a regular staple in my fridge. Melting it over a fresh tomato base creates that classic stringy finish, which tastes far better than any takeaway.

5

Would you like to try making your own cheese in the future?

I’d love to give it a go, though I imagine it takes quite a bit of patience and precision. Visiting a traditional dairy farm during a holiday in France made me appreciate the craft, and learning to produce a regional speciality would be a fun challenge.

Details are invented. Use the shape, not the sentences: examiners mark memorised answers down.

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6 words

Useful vocabulary and tips

  • fond of

    having a liking or affection for something

  • creamy texture

    a smooth and rich feel in the mouth

  • fussy eater

    someone who is very particular about what they eat

  • pungent

    having a very strong, sharp smell or taste

  • staple

    a basic food item used regularly

  • regional speciality

    a distinctive food item typical of a specific area

  • →Use descriptive sensory vocabulary, like creamy or pungent, to describe flavours and textures accurately.
  • →If you do not eat cheese, explain your dietary preferences or cultural reasons clearly.
  • →Keep your answers conversational and concise, avoiding overcomplicated food lectures.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are in IELTS Speaking Part 1?+

Usually about ten to twelve, over four to five minutes: a few on your work, study or home, then three or four short questions on each of two everyday topics.

How long should a Part 1 answer be?+

Two or three sentences, about 15 to 20 seconds: a direct answer, a reason and one detail. One-word answers cost fluency marks, and long speeches eat into the examiner's time.

Keep practising

More Part 1 topics

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