Learn some useful tips for improving and developing your answer to one of the most common questions in IELTS speaking part 1.
In this lesson you will find out what mistake many students make when they answer this question as well as how to create a higher band score answer by adding more information to your answer.
One of the most common types of questions in IELTS Speaking Part 1 is:
“What’s your favorite…?”
This question is simple, but many students make small grammar mistakes or struggle to develop their answer. In this post, I’ll show you how to answer correctly, avoid common errors, and give a strong, natural response.
Common Topics for “What’s Your Favorite…?” Questions
This question can appear in many different forms, across various topics. Here are some examples:
- What’s your favorite dish?
- What’s your favorite sport?
- What’s your favorite TV program?
- What’s your favorite leisure activity?
- What’s your favorite book?
- What’s your favorite weather?
- What’s your favorite time of day?
- What’s your favorite animal, flower, drink, or even person?
A more specific version could be:
"Who was your favorite teacher at school?"
Common Grammar Mistake: “Most Favorite”
A frequent mistake many students make is using "most favorite" in their answer:
✖ "My most favorite drink is green tea."
This is incorrect because:
- “Favorite” already means the one you like the most.
- You can’t make it more superlative by saying “most favorite.”
✅ The correct sentence is:
"My favorite drink is green tea."
How to Develop Your Answer
It’s not enough to just say one sentence. To get a better score, you need to develop your answer.
Here’s a strong example:
"My favorite drink is green tea, which I find very refreshing, especially when I’m tired. I enjoy it in all kinds of weather."
Let’s break that down:
- Direct answer: “My favorite drink is green tea”
- Reason: “which I find very refreshing”
- Extra detail: “especially when I’m tired” + “in all kinds of weather”
Tip: Use "Because" If You're Not Comfortable with Complex Grammar
If you're not confident using clauses like “which I find…”, you can still give a good answer with "because":
"My favorite drink is green tea because it’s very refreshing."
This is still a complex sentence and works perfectly well in the IELTS test.
Final Advice
- Always answer directly.
- Give a clear reason for your choice.
- Add extra details like when or why you enjoy it.
- Avoid over-complicating grammar—use language you feel confident using.
Practice Time
Try preparing answers to these questions:
- What’s your favorite meal of the day?
- What’s your favorite animal, and why?
- Who was your favorite teacher growing up?
Practice speaking your answers out loud to build fluency and confidence.
More IELTS Lessons
Want more tips like this? Explore other lessons on:
- Common Speaking Mistakes
- IELTS Part 1 & Part 2 Answer Strategies
- How to Improve Your Fluency and Coherence
