# What is your favourite animal? IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 1 - Animals

What is your favourite animal?

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 6 sample

My favourite animal is dog. I like dogs because they are very loyal and friendly with the people. When I was child we had a dog called Tiger, he was brown and quite big, and he always waited for me in front of the gate when I came back from school. Unfortunately he died few years ago and our whole family was very sad. Now we don't have any pet because my parents are busy and nobody can take care. But when I see dogs in the street I always want to play with them. In the future, when I have my own house, I will definitely keep a dog again.

**Examiner notes.** This answer gives a clear reason and supports it with a personal memory of the family dog, so it stays relevant and easy to follow. The vocabulary is adequate ("loyal", "definitely keep a dog") but mostly general. Article errors such as "is dog", "When I was child" and "died few years ago" recur, and "nobody can take care" leaves out "of him". For Band 7, the speaker would use more precise expressions like "incredibly loyal companions", vary sentence structure, and control articles more consistently.

## Band 7 sample

I've always had a soft spot for elephants. I think it started when I was about ten and saw a documentary about a herd crossing a dried-up river to find water. The older females seemed to know exactly where to lead the others, and I was amazed by how intelligent and caring they were. Later I found out that elephants can recognise themselves in a mirror and even seem to mourn their dead, which made me like them even more. Sadly, I've only seen them in a national park once, from quite a distance, but it's definitely on my bucket list to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary one day.

**Examiner notes.** This answer explains the choice through a specific memory and then adds facts that deepen it, linked smoothly with "Later I found out". Expressions like "had a soft spot for" and "on my bucket list" are idiomatic and well placed, and relative and infinitive structures are accurate. Some words remain fairly general ("intelligent and caring", "amazed"). For Band 8, the speaker would choose more exact language to describe what impressed them and reflect a little more on why that matters personally.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/what-is-your-favourite-animal).

## More Part 1 questions on this topic

1. Did you have a pet when you were a child?
2. Are there many wild animals where you live?
3. Do people in your country like keeping pets?
4. Have you ever been to a zoo or a wildlife park?

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.