IELTS Life Skills B1 practice test 1
Talk about a shop you like and a meal you enjoyed, listen to two appointment messages, and plan a birthday party.
How to use this test. The real test is taken with an examiner and one other candidate, and it lasts up to 22 minutes. Practise with a friend if you can: one of you is the partner. If you are alone, speak your answers out loud and use the buttons to hear the examiner and your partner. The listening task is marked for you. The speaking tasks are not marked, so compare yourself with the example answers.
Questions with your partner
3 minutesThe examiner first asks each of you your name, where you come from and how long you have lived here. Then you and your partner ask each other questions for two minutes.
The examiner says
Find out from each other about a shop or market you like and why you go there.
If you stop talking, the examiner may ask
- What do you usually buy there?
- How often do you go there?
- Is it better than other shops near you? Why?
- Would you like to work in a shop like that?
See an example conversation
- YouIs there a shop or market you really like?
- PartnerYes, there is a market near my flat. I go every Saturday because the vegetables are fresh and cheaper than in the supermarket. What about you?
- YouI like a small bakery on my street. The bread is still warm in the morning, and the owner always remembers what I buy.
- PartnerThat sounds nice. Is it expensive?
- YouA little, but I think it is worth it. I only go twice a week.
Talk for one and a half minutes
7 minutesYou get a topic and one minute to prepare. You then talk for about a minute and a half while your partner listens, and your partner asks you three questions. After that you swap: you listen to your partner and ask three questions.
Your topic
Tell your partner about a meal you really enjoyed and why it was special.
You could talk about: what you ate, where you were and who was with you, who cooked it, why you still remember it.
Then your partner asks you three questions
A real partner asks about what you said. These are the kind of questions to expect. Answer each one out loud.
- How long did it take you to cook the meal?
- Had you cooked for so many people before?
- What will you do for her next birthday?
See an example answer for your topic
I'm going to tell you about a meal I had last summer for my mother's sixtieth birthday. My brother and I decided to cook for her, because she usually cooks for everybody. We made lamb with rice and a big salad, and my sister-in-law baked a chocolate cake. We ate in the garden because the weather was warm. About twelve people came, including two cousins I had not seen for a long time. The food was not perfect, because the rice was a little dry, but nobody minded. It was special because my mother could sit and talk for the whole evening, and she said it was the best present we could give her. I remember it because the whole family was together, which does not happen very often now.
Now you listen and ask three questions
Your partner tells you about a place they like to go at the weekend. Listen without reading, then ask three questions about what you heard.
See what your partner said and three example questions
I'd like to tell you about a park I often go to at the weekend. It is about twenty minutes from my house by bus. There is a lake in the middle and a small cafe next to it. I usually go on Sunday morning with my two children, because it is quiet then. They ride their bicycles and I walk round the lake. Sometimes we take sandwiches and stay until the afternoon. I like it because it is free, and because I can relax after a busy week at work.
- How did you first find out about the park?
- What do you do there when the weather is bad?
- Would you like to live nearer to it?
Listen to two messages
5 minutesYou hear two short recordings. First you say what each one is about, choosing from three options. Then you hear both again and answer two questions about one of them. Here you answer the questions on both.
You hear two messages about appointments.
Listen to both recordings. Who is each message from? A dentist, a hairdresser or a bank?
Plan together, then discuss
7 minutesFirst you and your partner plan something together for two minutes. Then you talk together about a related topic for about four minutes. The examiner only joins in if the conversation stops.
The planning task
A neighbour is going to be 70 next month, and you want to organise a small birthday party for her.
Where to have the party?
- at her home
- in a park
- in a restaurant
Plan and decide
- who to invite
- what food to have
- what present to give her
See an example conversation
- YouWhere do you think we should have the party? I think a restaurant would be easiest, because nobody has to cook.
- PartnerThat's true, but it could be expensive for everyone. What about her home? She would feel comfortable there.
- YouGood point. If we do it at her home, we could each bring one dish. Shall we invite all the neighbours?
- PartnerYes, and her daughter's family too. For the present, how about some flowers and a photo of the whole street?
- YouI like that idea. So we agree: her home, everyone brings food, and we give her flowers and a photo.
Then talk together
Talk to each other about the celebrations you enjoy and how you celebrate them.
If you stop talking, the examiner may ask
- What is the most important celebration in your family?
- Do you prefer big parties or small ones? Why?
- How are celebrations here different from those in your country?
- What was the best present you have ever received?
Check yourself
You get a pass or a fail, not a band. Ask yourself whether you did these things:
- I asked my partner questions, and did not only answer.
- I kept talking for the full minute and a half on my topic.
- I gave reasons for my opinions, with words like because and so.
- I talked about the past and the future, not only the present.
- I listened to my partner and replied to what they said.
- I understood the main point and the details of both messages.