IELTS Speaking Part 1: Music Questions and Answers

Common music questions

Here are some useful music IELTS speaking questions to practise:

1. Do you like listening to music?
2. What kind of music do you enjoy?
3. Who is your favourite singer or band?
4. How often do you listen to music?
5. When do you usually listen to music?
6. Has your taste in music changed over time?
7. Do you prefer listening to music alone or with other people?
8. Have you ever been to a live concert?
9. Do you play a musical instrument?
10. Did you learn music at school?
11. Is music important in your life?
12. What kind of music is popular in your country?
13. Do you listen to music while working or studying?
14. Do you prefer old or modern music?
15. Is there any type of music you dislike?

You are unlikely to receive all of these questions. The point is to practise enough different angles that you can respond flexibly.

Band 7+ sample answers

These IELTS music questions and answers demonstrate how to develop a short response naturally. They are examples of strong speaking style, not scripts to memorise.

Do you like listening to music?

Yes, definitely. I listen to music almost every day, usually when I’m travelling somewhere or doing something fairly repetitive. It helps me relax and makes boring tasks a bit more enjoyable.

Why this works:

• answers immediately
• explains when the speaker listens
• gives a natural reason
• avoids unnecessary complexity

What kind of music do you like?

My taste is quite varied, but I tend to listen to rock and acoustic music more than anything else. I generally prefer songs with strong melodies rather than really heavy electronic production.

The phrase my taste is quite varied is useful if you do not listen to one particular genre.

Who is your favourite singer or band?

I don’t really have one favourite anymore, but there are a few bands that I’ve listened to for years. I usually go through phases where I listen to one artist constantly and then move on to something different.

This is a good example of answering honestly rather than forcing an artificial favourite.

When do you usually listen to music?

Mostly when I’m travelling or exercising. I also sometimes put music on in the background while I’m working, although I find songs with lots of lyrics quite distracting if I need to concentrate.

The answer develops naturally through contrast. Listening to music is also a common free-time activity, so you can reuse many of these ideas in our IELTS Speaking Part 1 free-time questions.

Has your taste in music changed?

Yes, quite a lot. When I was younger, I mostly listened to whatever was popular at the time, whereas now I’m much more likely to discover older music or smaller artists online.

This naturally demonstrates past and present comparison.

Have you ever been to a live concert?

Yes, quite a few. I really like live music because the atmosphere is completely different from listening through headphones. Even songs I don’t particularly love can sound much more exciting when they’re performed live.

Music and entertainment can become longer Part 2 topics too. See our IELTS Speaking Part 2 media and interests topics for extended-answer practice.

Do you play a musical instrument?

Not properly. I learnt a little bit of guitar when I was younger, but I never became particularly good at it. I’d quite like to learn again one day if I had enough time.

This answer uses natural qualification such as not properly and particularly good at it.

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Useful music vocabulary

Good music vocabulary for IELTS should help you describe what you genuinely listen to.

Other useful collocations include:

• listen to music
• play an instrument
• a catchy song
• a strong beat
• meaningful lyrics
• background music
• a live performance
• a music festival
• a favourite artist
• a wide range of music
• discover new music
• stream music online
• release an album
• a relaxing playlist
• musical taste

Avoid learning obscure technical words simply because they look impressive. You are far more likely to use words such as catchy, upbeat, lyrics and live performance naturally.

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Describing musical preferences naturally

Questions about your favourite music in IELTS Speaking become easier when you use a few flexible patterns.

State your preference

I’m really into...

I tend to listen to...

I mostly listen to...

I’m quite keen on...

I’m not particularly interested in...

My taste is fairly varied.

For example:

I’m quite into acoustic music at the moment.

Explain why you like it

I like it because it helps me relax.

I find it really uplifting.

I enjoy the lyrics.

I like the energy of it.

It reminds me of...

Compare different types of music

I prefer rock to electronic music.

I like both, but I probably listen to jazz more often.

I used to listen to pop, whereas now I prefer older music.

It depends on my mood.

Talk about changing preferences

My taste has changed quite a bit.

I used to listen to...

I’ve recently started listening to...

I’ve been listening to a lot of...

I went through a phase where...

These structures are useful because they allow you to demonstrate different tenses naturally.

Common mistakes

Giving only the name of a genre

Question:

What kind of music do you like?

Weak:

Pop music.

Better:

I listen to quite a lot of pop, especially when I’m exercising because I like something energetic.

Saying listen music

Incorrect:

I listen music every day.

Correct:

I listen to music every day.

The verb listen normally requires to before the thing you hear intentionally.

Confusing hear and listen

Hear usually describes sounds reaching your ears:

I heard a strange noise.

Listen to means deliberately paying attention:

I listen to music while travelling.

Saying musics

Music is normally uncountable.

Incorrect:

I like many different musics.

Correct:

I like many different types of music.

Or:

I listen to a wide range of music.

Using singer for every musician

A singer sings.

A musician is a broader term for someone who plays or creates music.

A band is a group of musicians.

An artist can also refer to a singer or musician.

Forcing unusual idioms

You do not need sentences such as:

Music is the food of my soul.

unless that is genuinely how you speak.

A natural personal explanation is much stronger:

I listen to music mainly because it helps me switch off after work.

Turning Part 1 into a music lecture

If the examiner asks:

Do you like live music?

You do not need to explain the history of concerts or the music industry.

Answer personally first:

Yes, definitely. I love the atmosphere at live concerts...

Then develop briefly.

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Extra practice questions

Answer these aloud rather than writing complete scripts.

1. What music did you listen to as a child?
2. Do your friends have similar taste in music?
3. Do you ever listen to music while travelling?
4. What kind of music helps you relax?
5. Are concerts popular where you live?
6. Have you ever been to a music festival?
7. Do you prefer headphones or speakers?
8. Do you listen to songs in other languages?
9. Do you like discovering new artists?
10. Is there a song you never get tired of?
11. Do you prefer fast or slow music?
12. Did your parents influence your taste in music?
13. Do you ever sing along to songs?
14. Would you like to learn an instrument?
15. Does music help you concentrate?

Quick practice method

Choose five questions and answer each for two or three sentences.

Try this structure:

Direct answer + reason + personal detail

For example:

Do you listen to music while working?

Sometimes, but only if I’m doing something fairly simple. I find instrumental music quite helpful, but songs with lots of lyrics tend to distract me when I’m writing.

Then listen to your recording and ask:

• Did I answer the actual question?
• Did I develop the idea rather than just listing vocabulary?
• Did I use listen to correctly?
• Did I repeat music, like or good too often?
• Did I naturally use different tenses?
• Did I sound conversational rather than rehearsed?

For IELTS Speaking Part 1 music, prepare flexible ways to discuss your real listening habits, favourite genres and changing preferences. Useful vocabulary such as catchy, upbeat, lyrics, live music and go through a phase can help, but the strongest answers combine natural vocabulary with clear reasons and personal details.

More IELTS Speaking practice

• IELTS Speaking Part 1 Free Time
• IELTS Speaking Part 1 Hobbies and Interests
• IELTS Speaking Part 2 Media and Interests

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