IELTS Speaking Practice Test 39 with Sample Answers

Key Highlights

IELTS Speaking Part 1
IELTS Speaking Part 2
IELTS Speaking Part 3

This IELTS Speaking Practice Test has 3 Sections. In Part 1, you will be asked questions by your examiner for 4-5 minutes about Old Photographs. In Part 2, you will be given a cue card for a monologue of 2 minutes based on the topic Describe an Old Photograph You Like, followed by more in-depth questions for another 4-5 minutes based on the cue card in Part 3. Overall, the speaking test takes 15 minutes.

IELTS Speaking Part 1

Old Photographs

Q1. Do you like looking at old photographs?

A. Absolutely. I find old photographs incredibly fascinating because they capture moments that can never be repeated. I often look through my grandmother, Farida Begum’s, photo albums, especially the black-and-white pictures from the 1980s. One of my favourites is a family photo taken at Digha Beach during my father Arman’s childhood. The expressions, clothes, and even the background scenery tell a story about that time. I think photographs preserve emotions far better than videos sometimes.

Q2. Do you keep old photographs?

A. Yes, I do. I actually keep both printed albums and digital copies on my laptop. My mother recently gave me an old album containing pictures from my parents’ wedding in 1998, and I scanned all of them to prevent damage. Some photographs were slightly faded, but they still carried a lot of sentimental value. I believe keeping old photographs is important because they become family treasures over time.

Q3. Have you ever taken an old photograph to be restored?

A. Yes, I have. Last year, I restored a damaged photograph of my late grandfather, Abdul Karim. The picture had scratches and discolouration because it was over thirty years old. I took it to a small photo studio called Pixel Touch in Barrackpore, and they digitally repaired it. When my grandmother saw the restored version, she became quite emotional. It felt rewarding to preserve such a meaningful memory for my family.

Q4. What kind of old photographs do you enjoy the most?

A. I particularly enjoy candid family photographs rather than formal studio portraits. For instance, there’s a picture of my uncle Rahim teaching my cousin Sana how to ride a bicycle in our old neighbourhood park. Nobody was posing, so the emotions looked very natural and genuine. I think candid photographs reflect real life more accurately. They often remind people of simple moments that later become unforgettable memories.

Q5. Do you think people take too many photographs nowadays?

A. In many cases, yes. Because smartphones are so convenient, people tend to photograph everything, even ordinary meals or short outings. My friend Neha once took nearly two hundred photos during a two-hour café visit, which seemed excessive to me. Sometimes I feel people focus more on capturing moments than actually experiencing them. In the past, photographs were more meaningful because people clicked pictures only on special occasions.

Q6. Would you prefer printed photographs or digital ones?

A. Personally, I prefer printed photographs because they feel more personal and authentic. I still remember sitting with my cousins during Eid holidays and flipping through old family albums together. Printed pictures create a stronger emotional connection since you can physically hold them. Digital photos are definitely more convenient for storage, but they often remain forgotten inside phones or cloud drives. Printed photographs, on the other hand, are more memorable and timeless.

Vocabulary

Fascinating: Extremely interesting or attractive
Sentimental Value: Emotional importance attached to something
Faded: Less bright or less clear due to age or damage
Discolouration: Change in colour, usually caused by age or exposure
Candid: Natural and unposed
Excessive: More than necessary or reasonable
Timeless: Not affected by changes in fashion or time; always meaningful

IELTS Speaking Part 2

Cue Card

Describe An Old Photograph You Like

You should say:

When the photograph was taken
Who took the photograph
What can be seen in the photograph
And explain why this photograph is important to you

Sample Answer

One old photograph that is very special to me was taken in December 2008 during a family trip to Darjeeling. The photograph was taken by my uncle, Rashid Ahmed, who was really passionate about photography and always carried a small Nikon camera with him wherever he travelled.

The picture shows my entire family standing near the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway station, which is famous for its old toy train. In the photograph, my father is wearing a dark brown leather jacket, while my younger sister Anika is holding a red woollen scarf because it was extremely cold that day. Behind us, the mountains were partly covered with fog, which made the scenery look absolutely stunning. Everyone in the picture was smiling naturally because my uncle clicked it unexpectedly while we were talking.

This photograph means a lot to me because it reminds me of one of the happiest periods of my childhood. At that time, all my relatives used to meet regularly during vacations, but nowadays everyone is busy with work and studies. What makes the picture even more emotional is that my grandfather, who passed away a few years ago, is also standing beside me in the photograph. Whenever I look at it, I feel nostalgic and grateful for those precious family memories.

Vocabulary

Passionate: Having a very strong interest or enthusiasm for something
Scenery: The natural features of a landscape or place
Unexpectedly: In a surprising or unplanned way
Stunning: Extremely beautiful or impressive
Nostalgic: Feeling happy and emotional while remembering the past
Precious: Very valuable or important emotionally
Vacation: A period of time spent travelling away from work or study

IELTS Speaking Part 3

Q1. Why do some people still prefer old cameras instead of smartphones?

A. I think many people still prefer old cameras because they offer a more authentic photography experience. My cousin Imran owns a vintage Canon AE-1 film camera, and he says using it makes photography feel more artistic and deliberate. Unlike smartphones, film cameras require patience and technical skill, so photographers think carefully before taking each shot. Moreover, old cameras often produce unique colours and textures that digital filters cannot perfectly replicate. For photography enthusiasts, that originality is very appealing.

Q2. Do you think old cameras will completely disappear in the future?

A. No, I do not think they will disappear entirely. Although smartphones dominate everyday photography, there will always be people who appreciate traditional cameras for artistic or sentimental reasons. For example, several students at my friend Riya’s photography club in Kolkata still use vintage Fujifilm and Kodak film cameras for creative projects. Old cameras may become less common, but they will probably survive as collectors’ items and professional artistic tools. In many ways, they represent a piece of photographic history.

Q3. What are the disadvantages of using old cameras?

A. One major disadvantage is inconvenience. Old cameras usually require film rolls, which can be expensive and difficult to develop nowadays. My uncle recently spent nearly two weeks waiting for a film reel to be processed because very few photo labs still offer that service. In addition, old cameras are generally heavier and less user-friendly compared to modern smartphones. Beginners may also struggle with manual settings like focus, shutter speed, and exposure.

Q4. Why are old cameras becoming popular among young people again?

A. I believe many young people are attracted to old cameras because vintage trends have become fashionable again. Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest often promote retro aesthetics, and film photography matches that style perfectly. My friend Sneha recently bought a second-hand Polaroid camera because she wanted her travel photos to look more unique and nostalgic. Young people also enjoy the excitement of waiting to see developed pictures instead of instantly viewing digital images. It makes photography feel more meaningful and less rushed.

Q5. How has photography changed compared to the past?

A. Photography has changed dramatically over the last few decades. In the past, taking photographs was relatively expensive, so people usually captured only important events like weddings or birthdays. My father told me that during his childhood, his family owned only one camera and used it very carefully. Nowadays, because smartphones are widely available, people take countless photos every day without much thought. Photography has become faster and more accessible, but perhaps slightly less special than before.

Q6. Do you think printed photographs are better than digital photographs?

A. Personally, I think printed photographs are more emotionally valuable. Digital photos are convenient, but people often forget about them because they remain stored on devices. Printed photographs, however, are physical objects that families can keep for generations. For instance, my grandmother still keeps a small album containing photographs from her wedding in 1975, and everyone in the family enjoys looking through it during gatherings. Printed pictures create a stronger emotional connection because they feel more permanent and personal.