IELTS Speaking Part 1: Shopping – Model Answers 2026

Shopping is one of the new topics in the IELTS Speaking Part 1 question bank for May–August 2026. Every candidate has something to say about this topic, which is exactly why so many answers sound the same. The ones that score higher are the ones that go beyond “I like shopping” and actually describe habits, preferences, and real experiences with specific language.

IELTS Speaking Part 1 Shopping: Questions and Model Answers

Question 1: Do you like shopping?

Model Answer:
I have mixed feelings about it. I enjoy shopping when I am looking for something specific and I find exactly what I need. That is quite satisfying. But browsing without a purpose tends to feel overwhelming and time-consuming to me. So I would say I like purposeful shopping, but not aimless wandering around stores.

Why This Works:
“Mixed feelings” is an excellent opener for any question where your view is nuanced. The contrast between purposeful and aimless shopping gives the answer real structure.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– mixed feelings — having both positive and negative reactions to something
– satisfying — giving a sense of pleasure or fulfilment
– browsing — looking through things in a casual way
– overwhelming — too much to deal with comfortably
– purposeful — having a clear aim or intention

Question 2: How often do you go shopping?

Model Answer:
For groceries and daily essentials, I shop about two or three times a week. For clothes or bigger purchases, maybe once or twice a month. I have been doing more of my shopping online recently, which means I visit physical stores less often than I used to. It is just more convenient for most things.

Why This Works:
Separating grocery shopping from larger purchases shows that you can give a structured, nuanced answer rather than one vague frequency. The shift from physical to online adds a natural present-to-past comparison.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– essentials — things that are absolutely necessary
– purchases — things that have been bought
– physical stores — shops with a physical location, as opposed to online retailers
– convenient — fitting easily into your needs or schedule
– recently — in the not distant past

Question 3: Do you prefer online shopping or in-store shopping?

Model Answer:
Online shopping for most things, because it saves time and makes it easy to compare prices from home. However, for clothes and shoes I still prefer going in store, because you can try items on and get a real sense of the quality before buying. So it depends on what I am purchasing.

Why This Works:
“It depends on what I am purchasing” is a natural, fluent way to conclude an answer that has already given a clear position with a qualification. That structure shows the examiner you can manage complex preferences.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– compare prices — to look at the cost of similar items and evaluate differences
– try on — to put on clothing to see if it fits
– quality — the standard of something as measured against other things
– purchasing — the act of buying something
– preference — a greater liking for one alternative over another

Question 4: Have you ever returned anything you bought online?

Model Answer:
Yes, a few times. Once I ordered a pair of shoes online and they were a completely different colour from what was shown in the photo. Quite disappointing. The return process was a bit tedious, but the company handled it professionally and I received a full refund. Since then, I read reviews much more carefully before buying anything.

Why This Works:
A specific story with a clear sequence (bought, discovered problem, returned, lesson learned) shows narrative structure and strong use of past tense. That is exactly what the examiner is listening for.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– disappointing — failing to meet expectations
– tedious — too long and repetitive, causing boredom
– professionally — in a competent and efficient manner
– refund — a repayment of money previously paid
– reviews — assessments or evaluations written by other customers

Examiner Tips for IELTS Speaking Part 1 Shopping

Tip 1: Separate different types of shopping.
Groceries, clothes, and online purchases are three different habits. Treat them separately in your answers and you immediately have more to say.

Tip 2: Tell a real story for question 4.
The return question is an invitation to tell a short story. Use it. A clear sequence of events with past tense shows grammatical range effortlessly.

Tip 3: “It depends” is not a weak answer.
“It depends on what I am buying” shows that you can think in nuanced terms. Follow it immediately with a specific example and it becomes a strong answer.

Common Mistakes on This Topic

Saying only “I like shopping” with no development
Giving the same level of detail to every question
Forgetting to mention the online vs. in-store contrast
Using “shopping” in every sentence instead of varying the vocabulary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shopping a confirmed IELTS Speaking topic for 2026?
Yes. Shopping appears in the official IELTS Speaking Part 1 question bank for May–August 2026 as a new topic.

What if I do not enjoy shopping?
Say so clearly. Explaining why you dislike shopping, with specific reasons and language, is just as strong as saying you love it.

Should I mention specific brands or shops?
You can, if it sounds natural. But a specific shop mentioned without any development does not help your score. Only use names you can say something real about.