Describe a painting or work of art you like.
This test has appeared in 5 seasons · 2 reported by test takers
- Jan–Apr/2026
- Sep–Dec/2024
- Jan–Apr/2024
- Sep–Dec/2023
- Jan–Apr/2023
Reported by test takers Forecast only
Part 1
The examiner asks about you and two familiar topics. About 4–5 minutes.
Work or study
- Do you work, or are you a student? (Why?)
- Why did you choose that job or that subject? (Tell me more about that.)
- What do you enjoy most about it? (Why?)
- Is there anything you would like to change about it? (Why?)
Crowded places
- Do you mind being in crowded places? (Why is that?)
- What is the most crowded place you often go to? (Tell me more about that.)
- Were the places you went to as a child as crowded as they are now? (Why is that?)
- Do you think cities are becoming too crowded? (Why is that?)
Chatting
- Do you enjoy chatting with people? (Why is that?)
- Who do you chat with most often? (Tell me more about that.)
- Do you chat with people differently now compared to when you were a teenager? (Why is that?)
- Do you prefer chatting face to face or online? (Why is that?)
Part 2
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Describe a painting or work of art you like.
You should say:
- what the painting or artwork shows
- where you saw it
- who created it
and explain why you like it.
Follow-up question after your talk: Do you ever draw or paint yourself? / Where did you first see this painting?
Part 3
A broader, more abstract discussion of the Part 2 topic. About 4–5 minutes.
art in everyday life
- Can you explain why some people visit galleries often and others never do?
- How would you compare looking at a painting in a gallery with seeing it on a screen?
- In general, what kinds of art do ordinary people enjoy most?
art and money
- Can you explain why some paintings sell for very high prices?
- What could be done about young artists who cannot make a living from their work?
- Can you speculate on how people will buy and look at art in the future?
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.