IELTS Speaking Part 1

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Hairstyles 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 hairstyles 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

Hairstyles questions with sample answers

1

How often do you get your hair cut?

I usually go to a local barbershop every six weeks or so. If I leave it any longer, it starts to look quite scruffy and gets difficult to manage in the mornings. So, getting a regular trim just keeps things neat and presentable.

2

What kind of hairstyle do you usually have?

To be honest, I keep it fairly simple. I usually ask for short back and sides with a bit of texture on top so I can style it quickly. It is very low-maintenance, which suits my morning routine down to the ground.

3

Have you ever changed your hairstyle completely?

Yes, back when I was at university, I decided on a whim to grow it down past my shoulders. It looked quite untidy, to be fair, and after about a year, I got fed up with the hassle of drying it and chopped it all off.

4

Do you prefer going to the same hairdresser or trying different ones?

I definitely stick to the same stylist. Once someone knows how your hair naturally falls, you do not have to explain everything from scratch every visit. It just takes the stress out of the whole experience.

5

Would you ever dye your hair a bright colour?

Probably not, to be honest. I work in a fairly traditional office, so turning up with neon pink or green hair might raise a few eyebrows. I am much happier sticking with my natural dark brown shade.

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

Answer out loud and get a band

The AI examiner asks Part 1 questions like these, listens, and scores fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, with the words that cost you.

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7 words

Useful vocabulary and tips

  • regular trim

    a small, routine haircut to maintain its shape

  • low-maintenance

    requiring very little effort or time to look good

  • suits someone down to the ground

    is completely convenient or appropriate for a person

  • on a whim

    done suddenly based on a spontaneous impulse

  • got fed up with

    became annoyed or tired of a particular situation

  • from scratch

    from the very beginning without any preparation

  • raise a few eyebrows

    cause mild surprise, curiosity, or disapproval in others

  • →Use common hair-related vocabulary like 'trim', 'texture', or 'low-maintenance' to sound natural without forcing complex idioms.
  • →Connect your hairstyle preferences to practical everyday factors like your work dress code or morning routine.
  • →If you have never drastically changed your hair, simply explain why you prefer keeping your look consistent.

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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