Sample IELTS Speaking Part 1 Fishing

Fishing - one of the commonly encountered IELTS Speaking topics nowadays. So if you face the IELTS Speaking Part 1 topic of Fishing in the real exam, how would you tackle it to achieve your target band score? Refer to the sample responses at band 7.5+ and key vocabulary on this topic, compiled by top-level teachers at PREP, in the article below!

I. IELTS Speaking Part 1 cue card: Fishing

Here are some sample IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions on the topic of Fishing that examiners may use to test candidates in the actual exam:

• Is fishing popular in your country?

• Do you like eating fish?

• Have you ever been to a place where there are lots of fish around you?

• Have you watched the TV program about fish?

• Is fishing a good hobby?

• Why do people like keeping fish as pets?

• Where can you see fish?

II. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 1 Fishing

Please refer to the sample IELTS Speaking Part 1 answers on the topic of Fishing at band 7.5+, compiled by top-level teachers at PREP, to effectively practice for the IELTS Speaking exam at home.

1. Is fishing popular in your country?

To be honest, I can’t say for certain if many people in my country enjoy it since I’m indifferent towards fishing. However, this hobby can be a relaxing recreational activity for individuals who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. I assume that spending time in a serene environment can provide a sense of peace and tranquility.

• Indifferent (adj): not caring about or interested in something

• Escape (verb): to get away from a place or situation, especially with difficulty

• Hustle and bustle of the city: the busy and noisy activity of a city

• Serene (adj): calm, peaceful, and untroubled

• Tranquility (noun): a state of peace and calm

2. Do you like eating fish?

Not really. First of all, the fishy odor puts me off, so I’m rather reluctant whenever somebody offers me a fish dish. Furthermore, I'm not fond of fish bones either. They could get stuck in the throat if one's not careful. In addition, fishes are usually very slimy, and their textures are extremely off-putting. Personally speaking, I find eating beef or other types of proteins much more appealing.

• Odor (noun): a smell, especially an unpleasant one

• Put sb off something: to make someone feel dislike or lack of interest in something

• Slimy (adj): covered in a thick, slippery substance

• Off-putting (adj): unpleasant or unattractive in a way that discourages further interest or involvement

• Appealing (adj): attractive and interesting

3. Have you ever been to a place where there are lots of fish around you?

Yes, once, my mom took me to a park in China where thousands of Koi fish are hand-fed every day. Lied in the park’s heart was this massive turquoise body of water with hundreds of thousands of colorful Koi fish swimming around. Even though many years have passed, the memory stays vivid as it was the first time I saw so many fish.

• Hand-fed: fed by hand, not automatically

• Heart (noun): the central and most important part of something

• Body of water: a sea, lake, river, etc.

• Vivid (adj): producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind

4. Have you seen any movies with lots of fish?

Yes, once. Unfortunately, I can’t recall the movie’s name because it has been so long, but it’s about a group of people fighting against the invasion of piranhas. It’s quite a gory horror film, most ideal for Halloween, and probably unsuitable for children under 16. 

• Recall (verb): to remember something from the past

• Invasion: an instance of invading a country or region with an armed force

• Piranha (noun): a small freshwater fish with sharp teeth, found in South American rivers

• Gory (adj): involving a lot of violence and bloodshed

III. Conclusion

To improve your Speaking skills, please refer to the solutions suggested by PREP below:

• First, you need to solidify the foundation of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. These are the 3 key elements of any language. Specifically for IELTS Speaking, you must learn vocabulary to have the words to speak, learn grammar to construct correct sentences, and learn pronunciation to speak clearly so the examiner can understand.

• Next, you need to eliminate the Vietnamese-English translation mindset by learning vocabulary closely tied to the context. Get into the habit of learning vocabulary in chunks from native materials like English news articles, TED Talks, etc. After extracting useful phrases, practice making sentences about yourself using those phrases to deeply understand and be able to flexibly apply them.

• Get detailed feedback to address all errors:

  • If you have teachers grading your Speaking practice, or if you get feedback at PREP, the detailed, second-by-second feedback will point out every issue, from the smallest pronunciation mistakes to more serious errors in word usage, and explain them thoroughly based on the 4 Speaking assessment criteria.

  • With such comprehensive error correction for each Speaking practice, you will gain a much deeper and longer-lasting understanding. This will allow you to avoid repeating similar mistakes and improve your scores in the next practice.

This article provides the most comprehensive sample answers for the IELTS Speaking Part 1 Fishing topic. Good luck with your effective at-home preparation, and may you achieve your target score soon!