100 Past Continuous Questions for IELTS Speaking Practice
Below are 100 questions grouped into various common IELTS topics to help you practice using the past continuous tense.
Topic 1: Daily Life
What were you doing at 7 AM yesterday?
Were you reading a book last night before you went to sleep?
Was your family having dinner when you arrived home last night?
Were you watching TV when your friend called you yesterday?
What were you wearing when you left for work yesterday?
Were you helping anyone with their work last week?
What were you and your friends discussing when I saw you yesterday?
Were you cooking when the power went out last night?
Were you waiting for someone at the cafe yesterday afternoon?
What were you doing at this time last week?
Topic 2: Work and Study
Were you studying for your exam last night?
What were you working on at the office last Friday?
Was your teacher explaining something important when you arrived late?
Were you preparing for a presentation when your boss interrupted you?
Were you revising for your exams when your friend invited you out?
Were you sending an email when your computer crashed?
What were you writing when the teacher gave more instructions?
Were you participating in any extracurricular activities during high school?
Were you attending any workshops while you were working there?
What project were you working on at your previous job?
Topic 3: Travel
Were you planning any trips when the lockdown started?
What were you doing when you first arrived in a new city?
Was it raining when you were landing at the airport?
Were you traveling alone when you visited that country?
Were you staying at a hotel or with friends when you were on holiday?
What were you thinking about while you were on that long flight?
Were you sightseeing when you got lost in the city?
Were you driving when you noticed the beautiful landscape?
Were you taking photos when the tour guide was explaining the history of the place?
What were you doing when you found out your flight was delayed?
Topic 4: Health and Fitness
Were you exercising regularly last year?
What were you eating while you were on your diet?
Were you working out when the gym closed early last week?
Were you feeling well when you went to the doctor last month?
Were you recovering from an injury when the season started?
Were you practicing any sports when you were younger?
What were you doing when you first noticed the symptoms of your illness?
Were you meditating when you started feeling more relaxed?
Were you following any fitness program while you were on holiday?
Were you walking or running when you hurt your ankle?
Topic 5: Social Life
Were you meeting any friends when I called you last week?
What were you discussing when I saw you with your colleagues at lunch?
Were you attending any parties when you were in college?
Were you hanging out with your family last Sunday?
Were you waiting for someone at the restaurant last night?
Were you dancing when the music suddenly stopped at the event?
What were you and your friends laughing about when I joined you?
Were you going out more frequently before you got your new job?
Were you having dinner with friends when the lights went out?
Were you texting someone while you were waiting for me yesterday?
Topic 6: Shopping and Fashion
Were you shopping for new clothes when I saw you last weekend?
What were you looking for when you entered the store?
Were you considering buying a new jacket when you saw the sale?
Were you browsing online for gifts when the website crashed?
Were you trying on shoes when the store closed?
What were you wearing when you attended the wedding last year?
Were you shopping with your family when you found that bargain?
Were you spending a lot on clothes when you were in college?
Were you buying anything special during the holiday season last year?
Were you checking out the new fashion trends when you were at the mall?
Topic 7: Technology
Were you using your phone when the power went out last night?
Were you downloading any apps when your internet stopped working?
Were you upgrading your computer when you realized it was too slow?
Were you playing video games when your friend called you?
Were you searching for tech reviews before buying your new gadget?
Were you charging your phone when you got that important call?
Were you setting up your new laptop when I messaged you?
Were you troubleshooting your computer when the system crashed?
Were you using any social media when you found out about the news?
Were you listening to music on your phone when the battery died?
Topic 8: News and Current Events
Were you watching the news when the announcement was made?
Were people protesting in your area when you moved there?
Were you reading about any global issues during your last vacation?
Were you discussing politics with your family when I called you last week?
Were you following any news stories when the situation changed?
Were you watching the election results when they were first announced?
Were you working in another country when the big news broke out?
Were you aware of climate issues when you were younger?
Were you participating in any campaigns when the decision was made?
Were you attending any events when the news came out?
Topic 9: Environment and Nature
Were you camping when the storm hit last year?
Were you hiking when the weather suddenly changed?
Were people planting trees in your community when you moved there?
Were you taking part in any environmental projects when you were in school?
Were you recycling regularly when you lived in that apartment?
Were you using any eco-friendly products when you learned about sustainability?
Were you discussing environmental issues with friends last week?
Were you helping clean up a park when the event started?
Were you reading about climate change when the news came on?
Were you thinking about the environment when you decided to go green?
Topic 10: Hobbies and Interests
Were you learning to play the guitar when you were in high school?
Were you painting when I visited you last weekend?
Were you working on any creative projects when you got your new job?
Were you playing any sports when you injured yourself last year?
Were you writing stories when you decided to study literature?
Were you exploring new hobbies when you moved to a new city?
Were you watching documentaries when you became interested in science?
Were you attending any art classes when you were in college?
Were you practicing photography when I saw you at the park?
Were you listening to music when you started learning to sing?
How to Use These Questions for IELTS Speaking Practice
To effectively practice the past continuous tense, follow these tips:
Answer in Full Sentences: Practice responding to each question with detailed sentences using the past continuous tense. For example, "I was studying for my exams when my friend came over."
Add Details: Expand your answers with extra information about the action or situation you were describing.
Practice with a Partner: If possible, ask a friend or tutor to ask you these questions so you can simulate the speaking test environment.
Record Yourself: Record your responses to check your fluency and accuracy when using the past continuous tense.
By regularly practicing with these questions, you will gain confidence in discussing past events and situations, which is crucial for your IELTS Speaking exam success!
In Part 1 of the IELTS Writing test, you may be asked to describe a process. While process questions are less common than charts or graphs, they do appear occasionally. Fortunately, process questions are generally easier to answer, though many people overlook preparing for them. This is a missed opportunity, as it doesn’t take long to become familiar with these types of questions and learn how to respond effectively.