The Exact IELTS Speaking Questions I Got — And My Band 9 Answers

Most IELTS students prepare for the speaking test by studying example questions. But there is a huge difference between practicing sample questions and seeing the real thing play out in an actual, high-pressure exam room.

I recently sat the official IELTS Speaking test and scored a perfect Band 9 — including Band 9 across all four scoring criteria: Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, and Pronunciation. In this guide, I’m going to walk you through every question the examiner asked me across Parts 1, 2, and 3, and break down exactly how I structured my responses and why they worked.

Part 1: Familiar Topics, Fast Answers

Part 1 is designed to warm you up. The examiner asks short questions on everyday topics, and your job is to respond quickly, naturally, and coherently. The goal is not to impress — it’s to demonstrate effortless Fluency.

Career Questions

Question: Do you work or are you a student?

I answered directly and naturally. I explained that I work in tech as a software engineer — I build websites and apps — but I also do some English teaching on the side. I added that I enjoy this setup because it lets me mix my technical skills with my love for languages.

Why it worked: I gave a clear answer, a reason, and a personal detail. No hesitation. No filler words. This immediately signals high Fluency & Coherence to the examiner.

Question: Where do you work?

My answer: I work from home — more specifically, in a co-working space on the bottom floor of my apartment building.

Why it worked: Short, precise, and natural. Part 1 answers don’t need to be long. They just need to be clear.

Question: What would the perfect place to work be like?

Here, I said I already work in the perfect place. I explained that it gives me much better work-life balance, there’s no commute, and the flexible hours mean more time with my family.

Why it worked: Instead of giving a hypothetical, I grounded my answer in personal reality. This made my response feel genuine — and genuine answers score higher than rehearsed-sounding ones.

Question: What would you change about where you work?

I admitted that, despite enjoying my workplace, I would prefer a quieter environment. As a shared space, the noise from others can be distracting. I also added that sharing tables and chairs with strangers can sometimes feel uncomfortable.

Why it worked: I didn’t just repeat that I love my workplace. I showed the examiner I could handle a nuanced question by acknowledging a real trade-off. This demonstrates both Coherence and Lexical Resource.

Childhood Questions

Question: What were your favorite activities as a child?

I shared a genuine memory: my favorite activity was playing with my cousins at their house. We would play video games, bring out board games, and go biking. I added that I have really fond memories of this because it was a great way to spend school holidays.

Why it worked: Specific memories outperform generic answers every time. “Playing video games with my cousins” is vivid. “I liked playing sports” is forgettable.

Question: What is one favorite thing you had as a child?

My answer: a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figure. It was a birthday gift from my parents, and I carried it everywhere.

Why it worked: Again, specificity. A named toy is far more compelling than “I had a lot of toys I liked.” The specificity also adds personality, which supports your Fluency score by making the conversation flow more like a real discussion.

The Wildcard: Keys

Question: Do you often carry a lot of keys?

This is where many test-takers freeze. Unexpected topics can throw you completely off-balance if you don’t have a structural system to fall back on.

I used the A.R.E. Framework™ — Answer, Reason, Example — to structure my response instantly:

• Answer: Yes, I do carry quite a lot of keys.
• Reason: Because I use them every single day.
• Example: I have a key for my house, my car, and my mailbox.

I also added a light, humorous comment — that you can probably hear me coming down the hall because of all the keys clanging in my pocket.

Why it worked: The humor made the response feel natural and spontaneous, not rehearsed. It also showed the examiner that I was completely comfortable — a key signal for a top Fluency score. The A.R.E. Framework™ kept my answer structured without sounding robotic.

Practice Tip: Wildcard topics like “keys,” “receipts,” or “mirrors” are designed to test how you handle the unexpected. I practiced these exact types of curveball questions extensively using the SpeakPrac app before my test, which is exactly why I was able to respond quickly and confidently.

Part 2: The Cue Card

After Part 1, the examiner handed me a cue card. It read:

Talk about a technology that you found difficult to use. You should say: what it is, when you started using it, why you used it, and explain what you found difficult about it.

I had one minute to prepare. Rather than writing out a script, I used the bullet points on the card as inspiration and then applied the Topic Diamond™ to organize my two-minute response.

The Topic Diamond™ in Action

The Topic Diamond™ ensures you cover four angles: Past → Present → Future → Opinion/Feeling. This framework is what separates a fluent two-minute answer from a two-minute ramble.

I chose to speak about AI and large language models. Here’s how I structured it:

• Past: I started using this technology a few years ago, when ChatGPT was first released and tech podcasts were talking constantly about its potential.
• Present: I still use AI today to stay current with tech trends and to build software tools that make me more productive.
• Difficulty: Learning prompt engineering was surprisingly hard. I often had to re-prompt the AI several times just to get a useful output because chatbots tend to hallucinate if used incorrectly. Even AI experts call it a “black box” because it’s difficult to explain exactly how large language models work.
• Future: I plan to keep watching tutorials so I can keep my AI skills sharp.
• Opinion: I’m genuinely excited to see what else I can build with this technology going forward.

The Follow-Up Question

After my two minutes, the examiner asked: Is it necessary for everyone to learn prompt engineering, or should the technology just be easier to use?

My response: I argued that usability matters more than skill. As AI advances, it should be able to understand your intentions from natural voice prompts and basic cues. But in the meantime, trial and error is the best way to get started.

Why it worked: I took a clear position and explained my reasoning. This is exactly what examiners want to see in abstract follow-up questions — a confident opinion backed by logic.

Part 3: Abstract Discussion

Part 3 shifts the conversation to broader, more abstract topics. This is where you demonstrate your ability to think critically and express nuanced ideas in English. The I.D.E.A. Framework™ — Idea, Develop, Example, Alternative — is the perfect tool for these questions.

Question 1: What would make technology difficult for new users?

I pointed to a lack of documentation and training. Without clear guidance, new technologies will simply go unused. I did note, however, that informal resources — like tutorials on YouTube and other online platforms — can fill that gap today.

Structure used: Clear position → developed reasoning → balanced counterpoint. This is Coherence at its best.

Question 2: Is technology positive or negative for all generations?

Here I applied the I.D.E.A. Framework™ in full:

• Idea: The impact really depends on the age group.
• Develop: For younger people, internet access can be highly empowering. Yet for the elderly, technology can leave them behind if they struggle to keep up.
• Example: Communication apps and assistive tools can actually give the elderly more independence and mobility.
• Alternative: So the relationship between technology and generations isn’t uniformly negative — it depends on access, design, and support.

Question 3: Does technology make people more lonely?

I agreed that in many cases, it does. People increasingly spend time on screens rather than connecting face to face. I used cafes and trains as a concrete example — nearly everyone is staring at a device.

But I offered an alternative view: technology can actually foster connection for people living in isolated or rural areas, where in-person community is harder to come by.

Why it worked: The examiner isn’t looking for the “right” opinion. They are looking for a well-constructed, coherent argument. Balancing your point with a counterexample shows sophisticated thinking and directly boosts your Lexical Resource and Fluency scores.

Question 4: How can technology negatively affect the priorities of people?

This one caught me off guard initially. But rather than freezing, I quickly organized my thoughts and gave this response:

Technology can disrupt people’s priorities through addiction. Modern app design uses gamification techniques to hook users in for long periods of time. I used doomscrolling as a specific example of how people can lose focus and neglect their daily priorities as a direct result of technology.

I then ended on a balanced note: technology can be a powerful positive if people use tools like calendar apps and note-taking apps to stay organized and intentional.

Why it worked: Even when surprised, I committed to an answer, used a specific vocabulary term (“doomscrolling,” “gamification”), and closed with a balanced perspective. The vocabulary choices alone are worth noting — these are the kinds of precise, topic-specific words that push your Lexical Resource score into Band 8 and 9 territory.

Key Takeaways from a Real Band 9 Test

Here’s what I learned from going through the real thing:

• Structure is your safety net. When wildcard topics appear, fall back on the A.R.E. Framework™ (Part 1) or the I.D.E.A. Framework™ (Part 3) immediately.
• Specificity beats generality. Whether it’s a childhood toy or a tech trend, named and detailed examples always sound more natural and score higher.
• Balance your opinions. Examiners are not looking for extreme views. They want to hear you acknowledge multiple perspectives — this is what Coherence at Band 9 looks like.
• Don’t freeze on surprises. The IELTS examiner will throw curveballs. Practice with random, unexpected topics so that your brain is trained to respond — not panic.
• Preparation is what makes fluency possible. The reason I could respond quickly and naturally to questions about keys, loneliness, and AI wasn’t talent. It was systematic practice with the SpeakPrac app in the weeks leading up to my test.

The IELTS Speaking test is stressful. But if you walk in with the right frameworks, a habit of specific storytelling, and enough practice with unexpected topics, you give yourself the best possible chance at Band 9.