Describe a competition you took part in.
This test has appeared in 4 seasons · 3 reported by test takers
- May–Aug/2025
- Jan–Apr/2025
- Sep–Dec/2022
- May–Aug/2022
Reported by test takers Forecast only
Part 1
The examiner asks about you and two familiar topics. About 4–5 minutes.
Your home town
- Where is your home town? (Tell me more about that.)
- What do you like most about it? (Tell me more about that.)
- Has it changed much since you were a child? (Why is that?)
- Would you like to live there in the future? (Why is that?)
Hats and caps
- Do you often wear a hat or a cap? (Why is that?)
- What kind of hat do you like to wear? (Tell me more about that.)
- Did you have to wear a hat for school when you were a child? (Why is that?)
- Do you think hats are just for protection or also for fashion? (Why is that?)
Street markets
- Are there any street markets near where you live? (Why is that?)
- How often do you go to a street market? (Tell me more about that.)
- What do people usually buy there? (Tell me more about that.)
- Do you prefer markets or supermarkets? (Why is that?)
Part 2
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Describe a competition you took part in.
You should say:
- what the competition was
- when and where it took place
- how you prepared for it
and explain how you felt about the result.
Follow-up question after your talk: Would you enter a competition like this again? / How did you feel about the result at the time?
Part 3
A broader, more abstract discussion of the Part 2 topic. About 4–5 minutes.
competitions and the people who enter them
- Can you explain why some people enjoy competing while others avoid it?
- How would you contrast competitions at school and competitions in sport?
- What could be done about children who are afraid of losing?
competition in work and study
- Can you explain why competition between students can be useful?
- In general, how much competition is healthy in a workplace?
- Can you speculate on how competition for jobs will change in the next ten years?
Test titles follow test-taker reports and each season's forecasts — IELTS does not publish its papers. "Reported" means someone reported meeting this topic in a dated test. The questions are written by us in the format of the real test.