Almost every candidate hears two questions at the start of IELTS Speaking Part 1: “Where are you from?” and “Tell me about your hometown.” Because they come up so often, it pays to have a few natural answers ready.
The examiner is not testing your knowledge of geography. They want to hear you speak fluently about a familiar subject, with a reason or a small detail in each answer. Below you will find twelve common hometown questions with band 7+ sample answers, useful vocabulary and tips.
Part 1 lasts 4 to 5 minutes. The examiner asks short questions about you and familiar topics. Answer in 2 or 3 sentences: a direct answer, then a reason or an example.
Hometown questions with sample answers
1Where is your hometown?
I come from a medium-sized university city in the south-east of my country. It is, about two and a half hours by car from the capital.
2Is it a big city or a small town?
It is a fairly small city, with about a hundred thousand people. It is big enough to have everything you need, but small enough to cycle almost everywhere.
3What do you like most about your hometown?
I love the atmosphere. Because of the university, there are a lot of students, so the city feels young and lively, especially in spring when the cafés put their tables outside.
4Is there anything you dislike about it?
The winters are very long and dark. From November to February it gets dark at about four in the afternoon, which can be quite depressing.
5How has your hometown changed in recent years?
It has become much more modern. There are new cycle paths, a renovated riverside and a lot of new restaurants. Unfortunately, rents have also gone up a lot.
6What do people in your hometown do for work?
Many people work at the university or the hospital, and there is a growing IT sector. Quite a few people also commute to the capital.
7What is the best place to visit in your hometown?
I would recommend the old town and the park along the river, with its old bridges and cafés. It is especially beautiful in autumn.
8Is your hometown a good place for young people?
Yes, I think so. There are lots of events, concerts and student clubs, and it is much cheaper to live there than in the capital.
9Is it a good place for families with children?
Definitely. It is safe and green, schools are good, and you can get from one side of the city to the other in twenty minutes.
10Would you like to live in your hometown in the future?
Maybe later in life. For now I would like to gain some experience abroad, but I can imagine moving back when I have a family.
11Do you often go back to your hometown?
I try to go back every couple of months to see my parents and old friends. It always feels relaxing to be there.
12What would you change about your hometown?
I would improve public transport in the evenings. The buses stop running quite early, so it is hard to get home late without a car.
Useful hometown vocabulary for IELTS
Use precise words instead of repeating “nice”, “big” and “a lot of things to do”:
| Topic | Words and phrases |
|---|---|
| Size and location | a small town, a medium-sized city, a capital city, on the coast, in the north / south-east of, a short drive from |
| Describing a place | lively, peaceful, historic, picturesque, vibrant, crowded, a close-knit community |
| Places in a town | the old town, the city centre, the outskirts, a residential area, a pedestrian street, a riverside |
| Changes | to be renovated, to develop rapidly, new developments, rising rents, to become more modern |
| Useful phrases | I was born and raised in, it is well known for, there is plenty to do, it has a lot of character |
How to answer hometown questions
- 1
Give the answer, then one detail
Say where it is, then add one fact: its size, what it is known for or how far it is from the capital.
- 2
Do not memorise a speech
Examiners notice prepared answers. Know a few facts and opinions, then answer each question naturally.
- 3
Use different tenses
Questions about change (“How has it changed?”) are a chance to show the present perfect and past tenses.
- 4
Living somewhere else?
If you moved, say so: “I was born in X, but I have lived in Y for ten years.” Then talk about the place you know best.
Practise on your own
Ask yourself three or four of the questions above and answer them aloud without looking at the sample answers. Record yourself and check that each answer has a reason or an example. For the next part of the test, see Describe a place: Part 2 cue cards with sample answers, and for more Part 1 topics, see the IELTS Speaking Part 1 guide.