IELTS Speaking Part 1: Hometown

Check out the 10 IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions at the end.

Grafton Street, shopping district in downtown Dublin, Ireland

​In this lesson, you will find sample answers to three questions with regard to hometowns and cities. 
These will be incredibly helpful for students preparing for an English-speaking exam. 

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Here are the questions we are going to focus on: 
(At the end of this post, you will find a list of 10 additional questions you can use for more speaking practice.) 
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1. Is your hometown a nice place to live? 
2. Is your city suitable for young people? 
3. Is it easy to find a job in your city? 

Is your hometown a nice place to live? 

In IELTS Speaking, you might be asked about the city where you live. 
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If the examiner asks, 'Is your hometown a nice place to live?', you need to think of reasons why it is or isn't. 
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In that case, you can mention: 
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• how friendly the people are 
• how safe the city is 
• how affordable the city is 
• how convenient it is to live in this city in terms of transport, grocery stores, entertainment and other amenities 
• whether or not you have access to green spaces 

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EXAMPLES

1. There's a strong sense of community in my hometown, and everyone knows everyone. 
2. It's a very diverse city and the people are extremely welcoming. I feel truly safe here/there. 
3. The cost of living in my hometown is very reasonable, and it's a pretty safe place to live, too. 
4. There is a wide variety of affordable food options, including street food and drinks. 
5. In my city, you will find a wide selection of coffee shops and restaurants. There are also plenty of entertainment options to choose from. 
6. Living in my city is quite convenient because there are lots of shops and services just around the corner. 
7. It's a compact city. You can access everything you need within walking distance and easily get around without a car. 
8. My hometown has a lot of space and it's very scenic. There are a lot of places where people can enjoy outdoor activities pretty much all year round. 
9. There's a river running through the heart of the city where people can do water activities such as paddle boarding and kayaking. 
10. In my city, you will find a lot of parks close by. There are plenty of outdoor spaces to enjoy. 

VOCABULARY 

• a (strong) sense of community (phrase) (B1) - the feeling of sharing things and belonging to a group in the place where you live | SYNONYM: a strong community spirit 
• a (culturally) diverse city (collocations) (B2) - including many different types of people and cultures 
• the cost of living (phrase) - the amount you need to pay for food, clothes, etc. 
• extremely/very reasonable (collocations) (B2) - fair and not too expensive 
• a wide range/choice/variety/selection of something 
• entertainment options - e.g. theme parks, cinemas, museums, art galleries, nightclubs, etc. 
• (just) around/round the corner (idiom) - not far away; very near 
• a compact city = a small city 
• within (easy) walking distance (phrase) - near enough to walk to easily 
• scenic /ˈsiːnɪk/ (adjective) - having beautiful natural scenery 
• in the heart of a city (phrase) - the city centre (BrE), the city center (AmE) 

​Is your city suitable for young people? 
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Some cities are far more attractive to a young demographic than others. Why is that? What makes them so appealing to young adults? An obvious reason is that they offer a lot more job opportunities. OK, that's fair enough. What about some other reasons? 
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If you were taking an English-speaking test and the examiner asked, 'Is your city suitable for young people?', what would you say? 
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In your answer, you could consider mentioning: 
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• the access to educational institutions 
• some industries and employment opportunities for young professionals 
• the easy access to cultural and sporting events throughout the year 
• the cost of living in the city 
• how affordable it is to buy your own home 

EXAMPLES 

1. My city is home to plenty of universities, which makes it attractive to a young demographic. 
2. It's a great place to raise kids mainly because of the wide range of educational institutions the city has to offer. 
3. The city has a large economy. There are plenty of job opportunities for young professionals of all kinds. 
4. The city has a vibrant atmosphere. It's been growing a lot in recent years, and there are plenty of job opportunities in various areas, including the industrial sector, small businesses, and big retail stores. It's an exciting place to be, especially for working people. 
5. Throughout the year, there are a lot of open-to-the-public events and festivals around the city. 
6. It is especially popular with young professionals looking for a more active social life. 
7. The city has a vibrant nightlife as many people often gather after work or school to unwind and socialize in bars and clubs. 
8. However, I believe the city is not entirely affordable, as the cost of living is quite high for young workers trying to cover their living expenses. 
9. Rental prices in my city tend to be quite high. It can be challenging to find an affordable place to live, especially for university students or young professionals. 
10. My city draws a lot of young adults in because of its low cost of living and affordable housing. 

VOCABULARY 

• home to someone/something - the place where somebody/something can be found 
• attractive to someone - having features or qualities that make something seem interesting and worth having | SYNONYM: appealing 
• a young demographic - young people 
• a large economy | OPPOSITE: a small economy (collocations) 
• popular with someone | popular among someone (prepositions) 
• entirely affordable (collocation) (B2) 
• the high/low cost of living/housing 
• cover something (B2) -  to provide enough money for something 
• living expenses (collocation) (B2) - money that you spend on rent, food, and things such as electricity, gas etc. 
• draw someone ↔ in (phrasal verb) - to get someone involved in something 
• affordable housing = housing affordability 

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​Is it easy to find a job in your city? 

Why do people relocate to a new city? Well, one of the top reasons why many professionals move to a different city is to find better employment opportunities. 
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If you were taking an English-speaking test and the examiner asked, 'Is it easy to find a job in your city?', what would you say? 
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In your answer, you could consider mentioning: 
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• the top industries in the city that provide employment 
• whether the city is business-oriented or more focused on tourism 
• different types of employment opportunities that are available in the city 
• challenges that young professionals may face when applying for jobs 
• how easy it is for young professionals to enter the job market without prior work experience 

EXAMPLES 

1. ​There's a booming job market, especially in the tech industry, where both tech giants and startups are constantly looking out for new talent for various roles. 
2. The city is home to major pharmaceutical companies and is a leader in healthcare innovation. 
3. The city's economy thrives on three key sectors: tourism, agriculture, and film production. 
4. My city provides a very friendly environment for career growth and business opportunities. Many multinational companies have established their headquarters in this city, making it a magnet for talent. 
5. It's a business-friendly city that has a lot to offer. It's a place where your career can really take off. 
6. Seasonal jobs in my city are much easier to secure due to the high demand for workers during the summer and holiday seasons. 
7. The city has a diverse economy with plenty of job opportunities in finance, technology, and healthcare. Overall, it's easy for recent graduates to gain work experience. 
8. Finding a job in this city can be challenging due to high demand, but young professionals can sharpen their skills through volunteer work and internships. 
9. Despite the competitive job market, fresh graduates can still find entry-level positions and internships to gain valuable hands-on experience. 
10. The job market in this city is highly competitive due to the large number of applicants. As a result, fresh graduates often find it difficult to land their first job without previous experience. 

VOCABULARY 

• a booming/thriving market (collocations) (C1) - extremely strong and successful 
• a job market (BrE) / a labor market (AmE) (collocations) - the number and type of jobs that are available in a particular place 
• in the tech industry (collocation) 
• look out for someone/something (phrasal verb) (B2) - to keep trying to meet someone or find something 
• fresh/new talent (collocations) (B1) 
• a leader in something (B1) - the product or company that is the best or most successful 
• thrive on something (phrasal verb) (formal) (C1) - to grow, develop, or be successful 
• multinational companies/corporations (collocations) (B2) - a corporation that operates in many different countries 
• establish/set up a company (collocations) (B2) - to start a company or an organization 
• headquarters (B2) - the main offices of a business company 
• a magnet for someone/something (collocation) (C1) - a person, place or thing that someone/ something is attracted to 
• take off (phrasal verb) (B2) - to suddenly start to be successful or popular 
• secure a job (collocation) (formal) (B2) - to get something, sometimes with difficulty 
• high demand (collocation) (B2) - a lot of people want something 
• demand for something (B2) - the need or desire that people have for particular goods and services 
• a diverse economy - based on a broad range of economic activities in a region or country 
• a fresh/new/recent graduate (collocations) 
• get/gain experience (collocations) (B1) 
• sharpen/master/improve a skill (collocations) (B1-B2) - to learn it so that your skill is very good 
• a competitive job market (collocation) (B2) - a market in which the number of individuals looking for employment exceeds the number of available positions 
• an entry-level job/position/worker (collocations) - a job, etc. at the lowest level in a company, profession, trade, etc. 
• useful/valuable experience (collocations) 
• first-hand/hands-on experience (collocations) - experience gained by doing something yourself 
• extremely/highly/very competitive (collocations) (B1) 
• a large/great number of someone/something (collocations) 
• find something + adjective - find it hard, find it more difficult, etc. 
• land a job (collocation) (informal) (C2) - to succeed in getting a job, especially one that a lot of other people want 

Here is a list of some IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions to help you practise and prepare for the test: 

1. Let's talk about your hometown. What kind of place is it? 
2. Have you always lived there? 
3. How long have you lived there? 
4. Is the city where you live crowded? 
5. What do you like most about your hometown? 
6. Is your hometown a popular place for tourists to visit? 
7. Is your hometown suitable for young people? 
8. What kind of jobs do people in your hometown do? 
9. Has your hometown changed much in recent years? 
10. Are you planning to live in your city for a long time? [Why? / Why not?] 

Leave a comment with your answers! 



IELTS-related blog posts: 
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a city you have visited 
IELTS Speaking Test: Home and Living in the City 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 


​Other blog posts: 
City Life - Going out 
Cities - Talk about your area 
Cities - Advantages and Disadvantages of Urban Life 
Collocations for Urban Life 
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