IELTS Speaking Part 1: Food – Model Answers 2026

Food is a carryover topic in the IELTS Speaking Part 1 question bank for May–August 2026. It has appeared consistently because it is universally relatable. And that is exactly the problem. Because everyone can talk about food, most answers sound the same. The candidates who score higher are the ones who are specific about flavours, memories, and cultural connections. These model answers show you how.

IELTS Speaking Part 1 Food: Questions and Model Answers

Question 1: What is your favourite food?

Model Answer:
My absolute favourite is adobo, a Filipino dish made with meat slow-cooked in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic. It is deeply savoury and comforting, and no restaurant version has ever quite matched the one my mother makes. Food connected to family memories always tastes better.

Why This Works:
Naming a specific dish with ingredients makes the answer vivid and personal. The closing observation about family memory adds emotional depth in a single sentence.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– savoury — having a strong, salty, or spiced flavour rather than sweet
– comforting — providing relief and a feeling of warmth
– slow-cooked — prepared over a long time at a low temperature
– restaurant version — a dish prepared commercially rather than at home
– connected to — associated with or linked to

Question 2: What kind of food did you like when you were young?

Model Answer:
As a child, I was quite a picky eater. I loved anything sweet or fried. Chips, fried chicken, and sweet pastries were my favourites. I avoided vegetables whenever possible, which drove my parents crazy. It is interesting how much your tastes can change as you get older.

Why This Works:
“Drove my parents crazy” is idiomatic and natural. The closing reflection creates a bridge to the present that shows tense range.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– picky eater — someone who is difficult to please when it comes to food
– pastries — baked goods made from a dough rich in fat
– avoided — kept away from deliberately
– tastes — preferences for particular flavours or types of food
– get older — to advance in age

Question 3: Do you eat different foods at different times of the year?

Model Answer:
Yes, somewhat. During warmer months I tend to eat more salads, fruit, and lighter dishes. In cooler weather I crave heartier, warming foods like soups and stews. There are also traditional foods associated with festivals that I only eat at certain times of year. Food really does have a strong cultural and seasonal rhythm to it.

Why This Works:
Moving from personal habit (lighter dishes in summer) to cultural tradition (festival foods) gives the answer natural variety. “Seasonal rhythm” is a sophisticated phrase that lands well.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– crave — to have a strong desire for something
– heartier — more substantial and filling
– stews — dishes of meat and vegetables cooked slowly in liquid
– associated with — connected to or linked with something
– seasonal rhythm — a regular pattern that follows the seasons

Question 4: Has your favourite food changed since you were a child?

Model Answer:
Significantly, yes. As a child I had a strong sweet tooth and avoided anything spicy or bitter. Now I actually enjoy complex flavours. Spicy food, fermented dishes, and even bitter vegetables have all become things I genuinely appreciate. My palate has become much more adventurous, which I think is a natural part of growing up.

Why This Works:
“My palate has become more adventurous” is a specific, impressive phrase. Using “fermented” and “complex flavours” shows food vocabulary range that is clearly at Band 7 level.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– sweet tooth — a strong liking for sweet-tasting foods
– complex flavours — tastes that involve multiple distinct elements
– fermented — preserved through a process involving bacteria or yeast
– palate — a person’s sense of taste
– adventurous — willing to try new or unusual things

Examiner Tips for IELTS Speaking Part 1 Food

Tip 1: Name a specific dish, not just a cuisine.
“Adobo” is more impressive than “Filipino food.” Specificity shows genuine knowledge and natural vocabulary.

Tip 2: Connect food to memory and culture.
Food has meaning beyond taste. Connecting a dish to a family memory or cultural tradition adds depth that generic food answers never have.

Tip 3: Show how your food preferences have changed.
Question 4 is designed for this comparison. Past tense preferences vs. present palate is one of the easiest ways to show tense range in the exam.

Common Mistakes on This Topic

Saying only “I like rice and chicken” with no development
Listing foods without connecting them to taste, memory, or culture
Using “food” or “eat” in every sentence instead of varying the vocabulary
Forgetting to compare childhood and adult food preferences

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Food a confirmed IELTS Speaking topic for 2026?
Yes. Food is a carryover topic in the official IELTS Speaking Part 1 question bank for May–August 2026.

Should I name dishes from my own culture?
Yes. Naming food from your own cultural background is always more authentic and more interesting than trying to sound international.

What vocabulary is most useful for this topic?
Words like savoury, comforting, palate, fermented, craving, and seasonal are all strong choices for this topic.