IELTS Speaking Part 1: Celebrities (Band 9 Sample)
This IELTS Speaking Part 1 topic asks about celebrities and fame — a familiar area most people have a view on. A band-9 answer gives a clear opinion and rounds it out with a reason or an example, then stops cleanly. Below are five common questions with band-9 model answers in a relaxed spoken register, plus why they score 9 and the collocations worth stealing.
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01 · Questions & Band 9 answers
Q: Is there a celebrity you admire?
There is, actually — I've a lot of respect for David Attenborough, the wildlife broadcaster. What I admire isn't fame for its own sake but the fact that he's used his profile to raise awareness of environmental issues. He comes across as genuinely humble and passionate, which is quite refreshing in the celebrity world.
name someone, say whyQ: Do you follow news about celebrities?
Not really, no. The odd headline catches my eye when I'm scrolling through my phone, but I don't go out of my way to keep up with who's dating whom. Honestly, I find a lot of celebrity gossip fairly trivial, so I tend to skim past it and focus on news that feels more relevant to me.
honest answer, then a reasonQ: Would you like to be famous?
I don't think I would, to be honest. The perks like money and recognition might sound appealing, but I really value my privacy, and the idea of being followed around and constantly judged sounds exhausting. I'd much rather be quietly successful at something I love than famous for its own sake.
take a side, weigh it upQ: How do people usually become famous in your country?
These days it's increasingly through social media, which has completely changed the game. A lot of young people build huge followings on platforms like TikTok almost overnight, whereas in the past you generally had to be a talented actor, musician or athlete. So the route to fame is far quicker and more unpredictable than it used to be.
contrast now and thenQ: Do you think celebrities have a responsibility to be good role models?
I do, to a degree. Whether they like it or not, famous people have an enormous influence on young fans, so I think there's a fair expectation that they behave reasonably in public. That said, they're only human, and it would be unrealistic to expect them to be perfect all the time.
give an opinion, then qualify it02 · Why this scores Band 9
Each answer commits to a clear opinion and develops it with a reason, an example or a contrast, then stops. Relaxed signposts ("to be honest", "That said", "So...") link the ideas naturally, so the delivery never stalls or rambles.
Fame and media vocabulary is idiomatic and precise — "raise awareness", "come across as", "celebrity gossip", "go out of my way", "build a following", "role models" — used casually the way a confident speaker actually talks.
Structures vary well: a cleft for emphasis ("What I admire isn't fame... but the fact that he's used his profile..."), a "whereas" contrast ("whereas in the past you had to be a talented actor"), and a concessive ("Whether they like it or not, famous people have an enormous influence"). All accurate.
Short, speakable chunks with natural stress on the key words invite the easy, chatty intonation Part 1 rewards, with no tongue-twisting clusters to disrupt the flow.
03 · Useful phrases for this topic
Tap a phrase to see what it means and how to use it. Natural phrases like these lift your Lexical Resource score.
04 · Frequently asked questions
What if I cannot think of a celebrity I admire?
Pick anyone reasonably well known — an actor, athlete, scientist or presenter — and focus on one quality you respect. The examiner is testing your English, not your knowledge of celebrities, so the reason matters more than the name.
Is it fine to say I do not follow celebrity news?
Absolutely — just extend it. "I don't really follow it because I find most of it trivial" plus what you prefer instead is a natural, developed answer that scores well.
How do I handle the "good role models" question without over-thinking it?
Give a clear opinion and one reason, then a small qualification. This answer says celebrities do have some responsibility because of their influence, but adds that they are only human — balanced and easy to deliver.
Should I use real celebrity names?
Yes, a real name makes your answer concrete and easier to develop. Just be ready to say a sentence or two about why, rather than only naming the person.
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