Each June, International Sushi Day celebrates one of the world’s most recognisable foods. Originally part of Japanese culinary tradition, sushi is now a global phenomenon. Today, you’ll find sushi outlets in Australian food courts, homemade sushi nights in Canada and locally inspired adaptations such as Philadelphia rolls and sushi burritos.
Sushi’s worldwide popularity comes not only from its taste, but from its diverse ingredients, health benefits and ability to bring people together.
Food plays a similar role in the IELTS Speaking test. Instead of preparing for it as a separate topic, think of food as a theme that runs through many different discussions.
This guide shows how food can link topics across all parts of the IELTS Speaking test, from cooking and health to celebrations and cultural change. We’ll share tips on how to build language and respond naturally, so you can speak fluently and confidently on test day.
Food is not just one IELTS topic
Food plays a central role in our lives because it intersects with so many different areas.
It’s part of our daily routines, our childhood memories, our travel experiences and our cultural traditions. Food influences our health, our societies and the way we interact with others.
Because food is everywhere, it often appears in the IELTS Speaking test, sometimes as the main topic and sometimes as part of other discussions.
Let’s explore how food might feature in each part of the IELTS Speaking test.
Food in IELTS Speaking Part 1: Familiar topics
In Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test (Introduction and Interview), the examiner will ask you some questions about familiar topics such as home, work, studies and interests.
This could include direct questions about food habits and preferences like the sample IELTS questions below:
What kind of new food would you like to try?
Do you like cooking?
What was the last meal you cooked?
Do people in your country generally eat meals at home?
However, you may want to discuss food in your responses to other questions, for example if you’re asked about what you like to do in your free time or if you are currently working in the food industry.
Watch someone practising these test questions in IELTS Speaking Part 1.
How food comes up in IELTS Speaking Part 2: Long turn
Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test assesses your ability to speak for two minutes on a given topic. As you’re asked to draw on your own experiences to complete the task, food often comes up if you’re asked to talk about:
celebrations or festivals
memorable meals
someone who had a significant influence on you
holidays and travel
Food might not be the main topic here, but you may use it to support your talk through explanations and examples.
Food topics in IELTS Speaking Part 3: Deeper discussion
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, the examiner will ask you questions that are connected to the topic that you spoke about in Part 2. You will discuss the topic in a more general and abstract way. This part of the test focuses on your ability to express and justify your opinions, analyse, discuss and speculate on the topic.
Here, you might use food to discuss wider themes such as:
cultural celebrations
traditions and customs
societal changes and modern lifestyles
health and diet
global influences
travel and tourism
the environment
advertising
As in Part 2, food often plays a supporting role in Part 3. You might discuss food to cover another topic in more depth.
How to extend your answers in IELTS Speaking
The same speaking skills apply in all three parts of the IELTS Speaking test. You can read more about how your Speaking test is assessed in the IELTS Speaking band descriptors.
Focus on answering questions naturally, as you would in an everyday conversation. But at the same time, avoid giving one-sentence answers. It’s important that you try to extend your response to highlight your language skills.
Here are some ways you can develop your answers:
Ways to extend your answers | Example |
Express your opinion | In my opinion, home‑cooked meals are healthier because you can control the ingredients. |
Give a reason | People are changing their eating habits because they are more aware of health and environmental issues. |
Give an example | For example, at Lunar New Year, we usually eat dumplings. |
Look at advantages or disadvantages | While eating out is convenient, it can be expensive in the long run. |
Describe your feelings about something | Sushi is not really my cup of tea. |
Describe the situation in your country | In my country, there are a lot of international restaurants now. |
Suggest a solution | Governments should invest more in public campaigns that promote healthy eating. |
Speculate about the future | I think more people will eat plant‑based diets in the future. |
Compare or contrast | Compared to the past, people today eat more convenience food. |
Natural language for talking about food
Food vocabulary lists can be helpful, but only if you treat them as a starting point. In your IELTS Speaking test, it’s best to speak naturally, the way you would in a real conversation. One useful tip is to become familiar with common collocations.
Collocations
Collocations are two or more words that naturally go together. Here are some examples that you might find helpful for discussing the food-related topics we mentioned above.
Collocation | Definition | Example sentence |
junk food | Food that is high in fat, sugar or salt and low in nutritional value. | Many people rely on junk food because it is cheap and convenient. |
home-cooked food | Food prepared at home rather than bought outside. | Home‑cooked food is usually healthier than takeaway meals. |
comfort food | Food that makes people feel relaxed or happy, often linked to memories. | My favourite comfort food is macaroni cheese because my mum used to make it for me. |
street food | Ready‑to‑eat food sold by vendors in public places. | Night markets are popular places to enjoy street food in Malaysia. |
processed food | Food that has been altered from its natural state, often with additives. | Eating too much processed food can increase the risk of health problems. |
organic food | Food grown without chemical fertilisers or pesticides. | Yue usually buys organic food even though it’s more expensive. |
ready meal | A pre‑prepared meal that can be heated quickly | Kiran eats ready meals on weekdays when he doesn’t have time to cook. |
light meal | A small or low‑calorie meal. | Dana usually has a light meal like sushi in the evening. |
balanced diet | A diet that includes all the nutrients the body needs. | Doctors recommend a balanced diet to maintain good physical health. |
plant‑based diet | A diet mainly consisting of vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes. | Plant‑based diets are growing in popularity due to environmental concerns. |
fresh ingredients | Food items that are not frozen or preserved. | Using fresh ingredients can significantly improve the flavour of a dish. |
batch cooking | Preparing large quantities of food at one time for later use. | Batch cooking helps families save time during busy weekdays. |
healthy options | Food choices that are good for health. | Restaurants should offer more healthy options on their menus. |
eating habits | The regular ways in which a person eats. | Eating habits are strongly influenced by culture and family background. |
local dish | A traditional food from a particular area. | Trying a local dish is a great way to experience a new culture. |
served hot/cold | Food presented at a specific temperature. | Gazpacho is a Spanish soup that is traditionally served cold. |
shop locally | Buy food or products from nearby producers or shops. | Governments should encourage people to shop locally to support small businesses. |
reasonably priced | Not too expensive; good value for money. | The university café is popular because its meals are reasonably priced. |
family gathering | Occasions when family members get together. | I really enjoy family gatherings because everyone shares food and stories. |
special occasion | Important events such as celebrations or ceremonies | Paolo usually goes back to his village for special occasions like New Year. |
Phrasal verbs
Another example of natural language is phrasal verbs. These are verbs made up of two or three parts, and their meaning isn’t always obvious from the individual words. Here are some that can be useful for discussing food.
Phrasal verb | Definition | Example sentence |
eat out | To eat a meal at a restaurant rather than at home. | We usually eat out on Fridays. |
pig out/pig out on something | An informal expression that means to eat a large amount of food. | Last night we watched a movie and pigged out on pizza. |
force (something) down/force down (something) | To make yourself eat or drink something that you don’t really like. | I didn’t like the soup, but I forced down a few mouthfuls because I didn’t want to seem rude. |
snack on (something) | To eat small amounts of food between meals. | Omar likes to snack on fruits and nuts while he’s studying. |
throw (something) together/ throw together (something) | To prepare something quickly using what is available. | Claudia threw a chicken salad together using leftovers from the fridge. |
cut down on (something) | To reduce the amount of something. | Many people are trying to cut down on sugar to improve their health. |
pass down/pass (something) down | To transfer something to someone who will be alive after you have died. | Recipes are often passed down through families. |
put on (something) | To organise or host an event. | The community puts on a picnic every year. |
stock up/ stock up (on something) | To buy a large quantity of something for future use. | We stocked up on canned food before our camping trip. |
shop around/shop around for something | To compare prices before buying something. | It’s smart to shop around at the market before you buy any fruit. |
Idioms
Idioms are another part of natural, everyday English. Like phrasal verbs, the meaning usually isn’t literal, and they need to be learned as a phrase like these examples below.
Idiom | Definition | Example sentence |
not be someone’s cup of tea | Something you do not like or enjoy. | Buffet restaurants are not my cup of tea. |
the icing on the cake | Something that makes a good situation even better. | The wedding was spectacular but the fireworks at the end were the icing on the cake. |
sweet tooth | A strong liking for sweet foods. | Many children have a sweet tooth, which can lead to unhealthy eating habits. |
from scratch | From the beginning without using things that are pre-prepared or already exist. | Do you prefer cooking from scratch or buying ready meals? |
someone’s eyes are bigger than their belly/stomach | Something you can say when someone takes more food than they can eat. | Rob ordered two desserts, but he couldn’t finish them because his eyes were bigger than his belly. |
Why some IELTS Speaking answers sound unnatural
While it’s important to use a range of vocabulary to demonstrate your language skills, it’s just as important to show that you can use this vocabulary naturally and appropriately. Here are some common mistakes IELTS test takers make:
Memorised answers: Don’t try to memorise responses for your IELTS Speaking test. Examiners ask follow-up questions and can tell when an answer is rehearsed. Memorised answers can lower your score because they don’t reflect real communication.
Try this instead: Listen carefully to the examiner’s questions and respond in your own words. Use vocabulary and grammar you are comfortable with, and allow your answer to develop naturally, even if it isn’t “perfect”.
Overloading with topic vocabulary: Don’t try to pack your answers with too many complex or specialised words. For example, when talking about food, there’s no need to sound like a food critic. Test takers who do this often go off topic or make mistakes.
Try this instead: Choose a few relevant words and explain your ideas clearly. Simpler, accurate language used well is much more effective than complicated vocabulary used incorrectly.
Forcing idioms: Don’t try to use idioms if they don’t truly fit the situation or if you’re not confident using them. Misused idioms can lead to confusion.
Try this instead: Only use idioms if you are sure of their meaning and context. One well‑used phrase is better than several awkward or inaccurate ones.
How to practise talking about food for IELTS Speaking
IELTS Speaking practice questions are a good place to start, but don’t limit your practice to formal study.
Look for informal opportunities, too. These will help you practise sharing opinions and trying out new vocabulary naturally in a low-pressure environment. Practise talking about food from different angles, not just likes and dislikes.
Ask friends, colleagues or classmates about their own experiences and opinions related to food, such as:
eating habits and choices
shopping and cooking
childhood or holiday memories
cultural traditions and observations
environmental impact
hobbies and leisure activities
health and nutrition
food advertising and marketing
globalisation
While practising, focus on:
Speaking clearly at a natural pace
Using discourse markers to organise your ideas
Extending your answers with reasons or examples
Using a range of appropriate vocabulary
Whether you’re talking about eating sushi, changing food habits or a family celebration, it’s always better to speak naturally and use language that fits the situation rather than trying to sound impressive.
The IELTS Speaking test is designed to reflect real communication such as sharing opinions, describing experiences and discussing everyday issues clearly and confidently. These are the same skills you’ll need at work, in study and in daily life.
When you approach the test as real conversation, you’re not just preparing for IELTS; you’re preparing to succeed in what comes after.
When you’re ready, so are we.