If you’re asked about cooking in part one of your IELTS Speaking test, one question might be, “What type of things do you like to cook?”
Let’s take a look at how to answer this question really well, with a few example answers to help with ideas (go straight to the answers here).
What You Can Say
First, say anything that you like to cook or can cook. Just talk about the firs thing that comes into your mind. This could be a type of ingredient or dish:
- Meat dishes
- Fish
- Seafood
- Chicken
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Pasta
- Pizza
- Bread
- Cake
- Cookies
- Tacos
- Steak
- BBQ ribs
- Fried rice
- Hamburgers
- Roasted dishes
- Stir fry
- Meatloaf
- Sushi
- Curry
- Lasagna
- Shepherd’s pie
- Risotto
- Tapas
- Sandwiches
- Soups
- Broths
- Salads
It could be a nationality of cooking:
- Vietnamese food
- Italian
- Chinese
- Uzbekistani
- Indian
- Thai
- Mexican
- Greek
- Japanese
- German
- Spanish
It could even be a method of cooking:
- Steamed dishes
- Fried dishes
- Roasted
- Grilled
- Barbecued
- Boiled
- Stir-fried
- Baked
Then you can briefly talk about:
- Why you like to cook it
- How it tastes
- How you cook it (brief instructions)
- What the best way to cook that thing is (any cooking tips?)
- Why you enjoy cooking
- How often you cook this type of food
- Who you cook it for
- Who you cook with
- What you do while you’re cooking (listen to music, talk to your family…)
- Where you cook
- How you learned to cook
- What you’ve cooked recently
- What you’d like to cook in future
- Anything else that comes to mind
What If You Don’t Like Cooking?
If you don’t like to cook, no problem. Just say that you don’t like cooking or you don’t cook often, and then you can talk about:
- Why you don’t like to cook
- What types of food you like to eat
- If you sometimes cook because you have to and what you can cook then
- Someone you know who likes to cook
- What restaurants you like to go to
- Anything else you can think of
Useful Vocabulary for Talking About Cooking
There are many useful cooking words to learn. Here are a few:
- Dish
- Cuisine
- Comfort food
- Ingredients
- Spices
- Seasonings
- Cook
- Bake
- Roast
- Grill
- Boil
- Fry
- Stir
- Saute
- Season
- Marinate
- Mix
- Chop
- Mince
- Dice
- Peel
- Slice
- Dice
- Grate
- Broil
- Simmer
Use the 3-Step YES Method in Part One
In all your part-one answers, you can use the three-step YES method to give a great answer. Just say:
- Your answer (say what type of food you like to cook)
- Explain your answer (say why you like it and add a little more information)
- STOP talking (don’t say too much. Stop talking, and patiently wait for the next question)
In part one, you shouldn’t speak too much. Just 10 or 20 seconds of talking is fine for each answer.
Focus on Fluency
In part one, you’re just warming up.
So focus on speaking fluently: speak calmly and smoothly without hesitation.
Don’t worry about using amazing vocabulary or grammar in part one. Just focus on fluency and you can use all your incredible vocabulary in parts two and three.
Example Answers
Let’s look at some good example answers to this question about cooking. See if you can borrow any ideas for your own answer.
- To be honest, I just like to cook comfort food, like macaroni and cheese or spaghetti bolognese. Or sometimes I bake myself a cake. This sort of food isn’t very healthy but it tastes great and really hits the spot.
- I love cooking. I enjoy experimenting with different spices and seasonings to create unique flavors in my dishes. So I usually cook Thai food or Indian food, which has lots of spicy dishes.
- I’m very health conscious so love cooking stir fry dishes with a variety of vegetables and proteins. I cook for myself every day.
- I have a passion for baking and often make desserts like cakes and cookies. I learned how to bake when I was a child and my mother taught me.
- Grilling is one of my favorite cooking methods, especially for steaks and burgers. I sometimes invite my friends around for a barbecue in the garden, when the weather’s nice.
- If I’m honest, I don’t like cooking much. It’s too much work and I’d rather just order a takeaway or go to a restaurant.
- I like cooking when I have the time. I like to try new recipes and cuisines. Last year I learned how to cook a few Mexican dishes like tacos and burritos.
- I enjoy cooking hearty stews and soups, especially in the autumn and winter. It’s good food to keep you warm. And the stews are very filling meals.
- I’m a fan of simple and healthy meals, like roasted vegetables and grilled salmon. But to be frank, I don’t really cook for myself. My wife does most of the cooking in our household. She’s great at it.
- I actually hate cooking. I’m just no good at it. And I’m too busy with my business every day. But I have a few friends who like to cook and it’s always nice to visit them for dinner.
Your Turn To Answer
Now it’s your turn to try. Set up the recorder on your phone and ask yourself out loud, “What type of things do you like to cook?”
Use the three-step YES method to answer. And focus on speaking fluently, without hesitation.
When you’ve finished, listen to your recording and try to notice any mistakes.
Then… answer it again!
Repeating this process is a very effective way to prepare for part one of your IELTS Speaking test.
