In this tutorial, we review band 9 speaking samples to recent IELTS Speaking questions as seen in the exam in June 2021.

I share the vocabulary, grammar, and expressions before you hear the answer. This allows you to get ready for them, and hear them in a natural environment, and in context. 

Each sample answer aims to have: 

* a list of higher-level vocabulary terms 

* a natural-sounding easy to learn expression 

* a higher level grammatical construction 

See the questions below:

Education and work: Describe an activity you did at work, school or in sports as part of a team

When I was at university we had a group project to work on. 

We had to coordinate between ourselves and assign each other certain tasks, so as to break the project down into bite-size pieces. 

We initially approached the project with a real sense of enthusiasm and gusto, but this quickly dissipated because of James. he was a laggard or a freeloader who did not want to work.   

He said he had done the work but in reality had done absolutely nothing. 

We had been hoodwinked, duped, bamboozled, and it severely affected team morale. 

In the end, we kicked him off the project and handed it in without his name on it. 

I remember someone said that I had done it well, which (in all) honestly surprised me. 

Anyway, if I remember correctly, I believe we scored pretty high on that work, project, and assignment. 

KEY VOCABULARY 

Upgrade: When I was at uni, university  

TSV: group project 

Preposition: we had to coordinate between ourselves 

hard worker 

Adjective stacking: a real sense of enthusiasm and gusto 

Noun stacking: laggard, freeloader, 

Verb stacking: hoodwinked, duped, bamboozled

Expression: severely affected team morale vs very bad for the team

Relative clause: I remember someone said that I had done it well, which (in all) honestly surprised me. 

Expression to suggest surprise: (in all) honestly 

 

Health: Describe an article on healthy living that you read in a magazine or online

I recently read this quick article on exercises to improve posture. You see, since my brother became a physiotherapist, he has been continuously picking me up on my poor posture. In fact, he said ‘Ben you will end up like the hunchback of Notre dame’ unless you sort it out.  

To be honest, I am quite happy about this because otherwise, I would have never noticed. 

Anyway, the article suggested a few different routines I could do to improve my posture. These included back stretches, arm extensions, and shoulder rotation exercises. 

However, like most of us, I only read the article and have yet to do anything about my poor posture.       

 

KEY VOCABULARY

Expression to emphasise: You see, 

Phrasal verb: picking me up on 

Expression to emphasise show mild surprise: In fact, 

hunchback of notre dame – sounds much richer than ‘bad posture’. 

Conjunction: ‘…notre dame’ unless you sort it out.

Expression: To be honest,

Get back on topic! – Anyway… 

Vocabulary stacking: back stretches, arm extensions, and shoulder rotation exercises. 

Conjunction: …and have yet to do anything

 

Technology: Describe a useful piece of equipment (but not a computer) that you use at home

I’d like to tell you about my spiralizer. This is probably my favourite kitchen device, it saves time, produces healthy food, and allows for a lot of creativity. 

With this device, you take a courgette or zucchini as they say in Australia, and place it on a skewer.