In part one of your IELTS Speaking test, you’ll be asked questions about three topics. If one of those topics is art, you might be asked, “Have you ever visited an art gallery?”
Let’s look at how to give a great answer to this question, with 10 good examples (go straight to the answers here).
If You Have Visited an Art Gallery
If you’ve been to an art gallery before, then simply talk about whether you enjoyed it or not, and why.
Quick Tip: picture the memory of the gallery in your mind. It’s easier to describe an experience when you can see it in your imagination.
Focusing on imagining and describing the event will also stop you from worrying about your English grammar too much.
So, really try to remember walking around that gallery. Then you could talk about:
- What type of gallery it was (modern, classical, portrait, something else…)
- Why you went there (on a school trip, on vacation, or with your family…)
- Where it was (the city or country…)
- How you felt while you were there
- What you enjoyed, or didn’t enjoy
- What you can remember from the trip
- Something that happened on that trip
- Something you learned there
- A painting, drawing, sculpture, or artist you really liked, and why
- Anything else you remember when you picture that trip
If You Haven’t Visited an Art Gallery
If you haven’t been to an art gallery before, you could talk about:
- Someone you know who went to a gallery, and what they said about it
- A gallery you would like to visit, and why
- What kind of art you like, and why
- What kind of gallery you would like to visit, and why
- Something similar to an art gallery that you went to (a museum, a comic store, the theatre)
- Who you would like to go with
- Why you’re not interested in going to galleries at all
- Anything else you think of
Quick Grammar Tip
Any ‘have you ever…?’ question in Part 1 means the examiner wants to hear you using the present perfect and past tense.
So be careful with these tenses when talking about an experience you’ve had.
This is a good tip for any story you tell during your IELTS exam.
How Long Should Your Answer Be?
For all part-one answers, one or two sentences will be fine. Don’t speak for too long, because the examiner needs to ask you many more questions.
Use the Three-Step YES Method to know just the right length of answer to give in part one. Just say:
- Your answer (‘yes, I have’ or ‘no, I haven’t’)
- Explain your answer, or add a few more details (just one or two simple sentences)
- Stop talking (wait patiently for the next question)
Focus on Fluency
In part one, it’s best to warm up and impress the examiner by answering as quickly as possible.
So just focus on fluency. Speak quite quickly, and don’t hesitate. You can use simple English, which will allow you to speak more smoothly and fluently.
Don’t worry about trying to use advanced vocabulary or complex grammar in part one. You can use all that in parts two and three, when you have more time to think.
In part one, you can use simple English and simple sentence structures. This way, you’re less likely to make a mistake.
The following are some good example answers.
‘Yes, I Have’ Answers
1. Yes, I have. I remember going to an art gallery on a school trip when I was quite young. I think it was classical art. I remember there were lots of colorful oil paintings of kings and battles.
2. Yes, I’ve been to many art galleries. I really enjoy them. One time, I was traveling in Italy, in Florence, and in one gallery I saw Michaelangelo’s David, which is a really well-known, amazing sculpture.
3. Yes, I have. My parents often took me to art galleries when I was younger. To be honest, I was quite bored. I’m not very interested in art. It’s not my cup of tea.
4. Yes. Actually, I’ve been to an art gallery very recently. Last month I visited the National Portrait Gallery in London. It was very interesting to see all those famous celebrities drawn in different styles.
5. Yes, of course. I think everyone has been to an art gallery before. Most big cities have several galleries. I live in Paris and we have the Louvre, which I’ve visited 5 or 6 times.
6. Yes, I quite frequently go to art galleries. I’m a big fan of impressionist artists, like Monet and Degas. I find their works fascinating and very powerful and moving.
‘No, I Haven’t’ Answers
7. No, I haven’t. But I like paintings a lot, especially modern art paintings with lots of vivid colors and life. I’d like to see some good modern artwork in a gallery one day.
8. No, I’m afraid I don’t know much about art. But I can understand why other people like art so much. It would be fun to get more into it one day when I have time.
9. No, to be honest, I’ve never been to an art gallery. The only kind of artwork I enjoy is the drawings in comic books and simple cartoons. But I’m not sure there are any galleries for that kind of art.
10. No, I haven’t. I’m not really interested in visual art, to be honest. I much prefer to listen to music, such as classical music or retro pop and dance music from the 80s.
You see that you can really say anything you like. Just say the first thing that comes into your head.
Practice answering this kind of question as quickly as possible, using the YES Method.
You’ll soon become excellent at IELTS Speaking part one questions like this.
Now, It’s Your Turn
Set up the voice recorder on your phone and ask aloud, “Have you ever been to an art gallery?”
Speak your answer, then listen to your recording.
Write down what you said. This way you can clearly see any mistakes you’re making.
Answer the same question again, trying to improve each time.
This is an excellent way to improve.
