Clothing and Fashion – IELTS Speaking Practice Test with Sample Answers

The IELTS Speaking test consists of 3 sections and it is the same for both the IELTS Academic and General exams. In Section 1, there is a short discussion between the examiner and the candidate. Next comes Section 2 or the long run/cue card section where you will be asked a series of questions on common topics. Finally, in Section 3, you have to state your opinion on the questions asked.

Before you start, improve your IELTS Speaking test skills and fluency by practicing more IELTS Speaking practice tests like the one given below.

Clothing and Fashion: IELTS Speaking Part 1

Given below are the Clothing and Fashion IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions with sample answers. With this sample answer, you will learn how to improve your speaking skills to get a higher band score at IELTS Speaking.

1 Do you often buy clothes?

No, I don’t buy clothes very often. I usually ponder and buy only when I don’t have anything new to wear or when it is a special occasion.

2 Are clothes important to you?

Yes, clothes are very important for me as they protect us from cold, dry, and hot weather. Not only that but it also helps to protect our body from ultraviolet radiations which may cause skin problems since I have very sensitive skin.

3 What kind of clothes do you prefer to wear?

I prefer loose and baggy clothes which maintain my comfort level and also make me look orderly even when I’m at home.

4 Are there any clothing items that you dislike to wear?

I don’t like anything made from polyester, or any other synthetic material. It looks cheap, isn’t breathable, and is, of course, bad for the environment. Also, I am not fond of anything too revealing, as I am a modest person by nature.

5 Can clothing tell you much about a person?

I do feel that looking at a person’s clothes and fashion, I can tell a lot about a person. For me personally, when I look at a person in a well-fitted suit, I get the impression that he or she is successful and has his or her life together.

Clothing and Fashion : IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Vocabulary

Go through some relevant words that you can use to answer Part 1 questions of IELTS Speaking exam.

1. Ponder

Meaning: to think about or reflect on before making a decision
Eg: I pondered for a moment before answering the question.

2. Orderly

Meaning: neatly and methodically arranged or well-behaved.
Eg: Harry arranges my clothes in an orderly fashion

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Clothing and Fashion: IELTS Speaking Part 2

You will have exactly one minute to prepare and speak on a specific topic like the ‘Describe an item of clothing that you recently bought' for IELTS Speaking Part 2. Check out the sample answer for this topic and learn how to answer similar IELTS Cue Card topics.

Sample Answer

I am not much of a shopaholic person but I do buy items when I need to. I remember the last item of clothing that I bought was a pair of boots. I bought them when I went to the Silk Market on my day off last month. They are black, tall, and soft and made me look very smart. This pair caught my eye because they were simple and matched my clothes and accessories.

I chose these specific boots because these can be worn on many different occasions and still look appropriate. Since it’s very cold here in Beijing during winters, it’s good to have some warm shoes to wear whenever I go out. It is popular to wear shoes that have pointy or tight toes, but to me, this style looks silly and is very uncomfortable. My boots give my feet plenty of room to be comfortable without looking clumsy and bulky. I’m a little bit short, so I like these boots because they have a high enough heel to make me look average without being awkward or difficult to walk in.

Now of course, one of the most important aspects for me besides the style is the price and that is what attracted me to these boots. All of my friends have been telling me that if I go to Europe or America, my boots would have cost me an arm and a leg. No pun intended. Here in China, my boots are very reasonably priced. I guess that would be the final reason why I bought them.

Clothing and Fashion : IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Vocabulary

Check out some IELTS Vocabulary to use while answering the cue card, 'Describe an item of clothing that you recently bought' and make sure to impress your IELTS examiner.

1. Shopaholic

Meaning: a person who enjoys shopping very much and does it a lot:
Eg: Harry is shopaholic and he buys something every other day.

2. Clumsy

Meaning: Awkward in movement or in handling things.
Eg: She is way too clumsy than I thought

3. Bulky

Meaning: Large and unwieldy.
Eg: Sarah was carrying a bulky bag

4. An arm and a leg

Meaning: a very large amount of money
Eg: This car would cost an arm and a leg

Clothing and Fashion: IELTS Speaking Part 3

In IELTS Speaking Part 3, you will be asked some questions related to the topic of the cue card you have been given in Part 2. So, some follow-up questions related to the topic, 'Describe an item of clothing that you recently bought' are given below with expert-curated sample answers.

1 How do people choose what style of clothing to buy ?

Many people buy clothing because it is a new style or it’s a color that they like. Often people will buy something because it looks like what a favorite movie star or singer wears. Other people buy clothes that suit them, or that they will wear most often while some just buy clothes because they are functional.

2 Do you think the brand of clothing is important ?

I feel that some people don’t really care about the brand of clothing as long as what they buy is good quality. Moreover, famous brands are usually too expensive so individuals will rarely buy them. Often they can find inexpensive brands that are just as good quality and very nice. Of course here, in my country, anyone can get branded clothes at a very cheap price.

3 Why do some people buy branded clothes ?

Many people buy branded clothing because they like the style. However, some people simply want their clothes to last for a long time, so they buy a certain brand of clothing that is known for its good quality. Other people buy brand name clothing because they feel it makes them look more stylish and voguish. Some people just like to have that name on their clothing. I think it might make them feel important.

4 Compare the materials and fashions of today’s clothing with those of the past.

In my opinion, older fashions changed more slowly and gradually from one to another, but they faded into each other. Fashions of today change drastically in a very short period of time. Often certain clothes will only be in style for one year or so before another, very different style is in. Of course, there are more choices to choose from now.

5 Do men and women have the same shopping habits when they buy clothes ?

No, they have very different shopping habits. Often men will shop less and only because they need new clothes. They often do not buy much, and they will spend less money on what they buy. Actually, I think that women buy clothes frequently and they usually pay more for their clothing. Usually, they will buy new clothes because they want to be in style.

6 Sometimes factory workers and very often school students have to wear uniforms. What do you think of this?

I think it helps reduce competition in the work or school area. When the workers or students don’t feel that they have to keep up with someone else’s clothes or style, they are able to concentrate on work or study. The downside to it is that if the uniform is uncomfortable or does not look very smart or stylish, it makes work or school unpleasant for some people. Also, it can make people feel that they have no individuality.

7 How much do overseas fashion influence the trends in your country ?

Overseas fashion trends, especially the Korean styles greatly affect the styles in my country. For young people, dressing like the young people do overseas is very important. Usually, a style will come into my country a bit later than it does to the rest of the western world; however, when it catches on, it spreads rapidly. When anyone travels to cities in my country, China, such as Shanghai or Dalian, one can really see the influence of foreign fashion here in China.

8 Do you think it is good that people in your country follow foreign fashion trends?

I think many Chinese feel better about themselves if they dress more fashionably, especially for young people, the way they dress is like their status. In my country, the dress is very important in all levels of society. With TV and fashion models and more money here in China ,it is a lot easier to follow these trends.

Clothing and Fashion : IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Vocabulary

Boost your IELTS band score by using the impressive vocabulary given below while answering the follow-up questions about the clothing and fashion.

1. Functional

Meaning: Purpose, or task
Eg: Mr. Hari holds a functional role in his office.

2. Inexpensive

Meaning: Not expensive
Eg: I know a lot of inexpensive brands in Delhi

3. Voguish

Meaning: Anything which is in fashion in a particular time period
Eg: The brand across the street always has voguish shoes collections.

4. Faded

Meaning: Gradually grow faint and disappear.
Eg: The craze of movies have gradually faded in the youth

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