In your IELTS Speaking test, you might be asked about pets in part one. A common pet-related question would be, “Do you like pets?”
Let’s take a look at how to answer this question for a good band-seven score. Below, you can also see 10 example answers (go straight to the answers here).
If You Do Like Pets
If you like pets, you can say that you do, and then talk about:
- Why you like pets
- What kind of pets you like
- Any pets you have now, or had in the past
- Any pets you would like to have in future
- An exotic pet you’d like to have
- A friend or family member who has a pet
- What kind of pet you dislike, and why
- Anything else that comes to mind
If You Don’t Like Pets
If you don’t like pets, you could talk about:
- Why you don’t like them
- What kind of pets you dislike
- Any pets you have now, or had in the past
- Problems pets can cause
- The hassle of looking after pets
- What kind of pet you would really dislike having
- Any animal you might enjoy having as a pet
- Anything else you think of
The Three-Step YES Method
When answering, keep your answer short. Just two or three sentences will do.
Part-one answers are supposed to be short: about 10 or 20 seconds long.
You can practice by using the simple YES Method. This will help you get used to good part-one answers. Just say:
- Your answer (‘yes, I do’ or ‘no, I don’t’)
- Explain your answer (why you do or don’t like pets) or add more details
- Stop talking (let the examiner know you’re ready for the next question)
Focus on fluency in part one. Just speak smoothly, without hesitation. It’s easiest to do this if you use pretty simple English.
Don’t worry about advanced grammar and vocabulary in part one, you can show that off in parts two and three.
Here are 10 good example answers to this question about pets.
‘Yes, I Do’ Answers
1. Yes, I really like pets. I don’t have any pets myself, but I would love to have a dog or a cat. I think it would make my home much warmer and friendlier.
2. Yes, I do. I’ve always had cats in my home since I was little. Now I own two cats called Milo and Scruff. They’re very cute and cuddly.
3. Yes, I think everyone should have a pet for companionship. I plan to get a pet dog when I buy my own home because dogs are our greatest friends and fans. They’re very loyal and always happy to see you.
4. Yes, I love pets. When I was a child, I lived in the countryside and my family had three really playful dogs. I was so sad when they died. It broke my heart.
5. Yes, I certainly do. I adore pets because they’re our furry little friends. I think we humans have always had pets, for thousands of years.
6. I suppose I do like pets, yes. I don’t have any pets myself, but my friend has a pet rabbit, and it’s very adorable and funny. I like playing with it and feeding it when I visit him.
‘No, I Don’t’ Answers
7. To be honest, I’m not much of an animal person. I don’t really see the appeal in pets. To me, pets always seem quite dirty and difficult to look after.
8. No, I don’t like pets because it’s too much responsibility to look after a cat or a dog. And it makes it difficult to travel as well because you usually can’t take an animal with you.
9. I don’t think I like pets because my friend has cats and whenever I go to her home there’s an unpleasant smell there from the cats, and there’s also cat fur all over her carpet and furniture.
10. No, I really hate pets. I’m allergic to cat fur, it makes me sneeze. And I think dogs are dangerous: you never know when they might bite you.
Now, It’s Your Turn
Set up the voice recorder on your phone and ask yourself, “Do you like pets?”
Try to answer smoothly, without hesitation. You can keep the English nice and simple. Just focus on fluency.
Follow the three-step YES Method to remind you to stop talking.
Listen to your recording, think of one way to improve your answer, then do it again.
This is a very effective way to prepare for part-one questions in your IELTS Speaking test.
