Food and cooking are possible topics in part one of your IELTS Speaking test. One question you might be asked is, “Do you like cooking?”
Let’s look at how you can answer this question for a great band-seven score, with 20 example answers (go straight to the answers here).
If You Like Cooking
First, say that you like cooking. Then, explain why.
In your short answer (10 to 20 seconds) you can talk about:
- Why you like cooking (healthy, affordable, fun, convenient…)
- What type of food you like to cook
- How often you cook
- Who you cook for (yourself, family, friends, kids, customers…)
- Who you cook with
- How you learned to cook
- Something you’ve cooked recently
- Anything else that comes to your mind
If You Don’t Like Cooking
Just say that you don’t like cooking, and then explain why.
You can talk about:
- Why you don’t like cooking
- If you’ve ever liked cooking in the past
- Who cooks for you, if anyone
- How you usually eat
- How often you cook, if you must cook
- If you want to learn to cook in future
- Anything else you can think of
Use the Three-Step YES Method
For all your part-one questions, you should give more than a one-word answer, but don’t say too much.
Practice using the simple YES Method for this part-one question. Just say:
- Your Answer (say ‘yes’ or ‘no’).
- Explain your answer, or add more details (say why you like or dislike cooking).
- Stop talking (let the examiner know you’re ready for the next question).
It’s important to stop talking. Nervous students sometimes talk too much, which can annoy the examiner and lead to mistakes.
Keep It Simple
Remember that part one is just a quick and easy warm-up. So you should give short, simple answers.
In parts two and three you can give more complex answers with better vocabulary and grammar.
In part one, just focus on fluency: answer as quickly as you can, without hesitation. This will warm you up and impress the examiner.
Here are 20 example answers about whether or not you like cooking.
‘Yes, I Do’ Answers
1. Yes, I like cooking because I think it’s a lot healthier than eating out all the time. In restaurants, they put too much sugar and salt in the food.
2. Yes, I really like cooking because it’s so quick and convenient. In 20 minutes I can knock up a delicious, healthy meal. I cook for myself almost every day.
3. Yes, I like cooking if it’s for my family or friends. It’s a real pleasure to create a delicious meal for people I care about.
4. Yes, I do. I enjoy cooking but to be honest, I’m not very good at it. I can make a pretty delicious breakfast, but for dinner I can only cook really simple food, so I usually just order a takeaway.
5. Yes, I’m a stay-at-home mum, so I spend a lot of time cooking for my children and husband. I’m especially good at baking cakes and cookies.
6. Yes, cooking is one of my favorite hobbies. I like to learn new recipes and dishes from videos on Youtube, and I’m always trying to experiment and cook new things.
7. Yes, my flatmates and I all enjoy cooking. Every now and then we all cook a big meal together. Only last week, we cooked lasagna, and it was really good.
8. Yes, I’m a big fan of cooking because I’m from China and we have a big cooking and foodie culture. I usually cook noodle or rice dishes, with lots of pork and vegetables.
9. Yes, I am actually training to be a chef, so I love cooking and I want to become really good at it. I’d like to cook professionally in a high-class restaurant one day.
10. Yes, I do. I cooked for a dinner party last weekend. I made a large Spanish-style broth, which had chorizo sausage and red onions and beans in it. It was delicious.
‘No, I Don’t’ Answers
11. No, I don’t like cooking at all. I’m just not good at it. But I do like good food, and if someone offers to cook for me, I won’t complain!
12. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of cooking. I’m too busy to spend hours in the kitchen every day. These days, it’s so easy to order delicious, healthy food online.
13. No, I don’t. I cook once in a blue moon if I really have to, and it usually doesn’t taste very good. Fortunately, my boyfriend’s an excellent cook so he does all the cooking for me.
14. No, I used to like cooking, but these days I don’t. I just find it too boring. I prefer to go out to restaurants, where I can eat all kinds of amazing food.
15. No, I don’t like cooking at all. I think I don’t like it because I have to cook for myself every day, and it’s just a big hassle for me.
‘Sometimes’ Answers
16. Well, I suppose I like cooking, sometimes. I don’t enjoy the cooking process but I like eating healthy, affordable food at home.
17. I kind of like cooking. I’ve been trying to learn how to cook since I became a student. But I’m not very good at it. I only cook because it’s too expensive to eat out every night.
18. I only like cooking if I can do it with other people. When it’s a social thing, I really enjoy it. But I hate cooking alone for myself. Then, it’s just boring and sad.
19. To be honest, I haven’t cooked in donkey’s years. I used to really enjoy it when I was younger. I suppose I still like it now, but I never bother to cook these days.
20. I suppose I like cooking. I haven’t tried it much. I’d like to learn how to cook really well one day, like an Italian chef. That would be cool.
Now It’s Your Turn!
I hope you’ve gained some ideas from these 20 example answers. Now try to answer this question yourself.
Remember to focus on fluency, and use the simple YES Method to answer.
First, set up the recorder on your phone. Then ask aloud, “Do you like cooking?”
Answer clearly and quickly, without hesitation.
Don’t think about vocabulary or grammar, just focus on fluency.
When you’ve finished, listen to the recording and write down what you said.
Think of one way you can improve your answer, then do it all again.
Keep repeating this process. It’s a fantastic way to prepare for a band-seven answer in part one of your IELTS Speaking test.
