IELTS Speaking Part 1: Music (Band 9 Sample Answers)
This IELTS Speaking Part 1 topic asks about music — a universal, easy topic to speak about naturally. A band-9 answer gives a clear reply and extends it with a preference, a reason or a small personal detail, then stops cleanly. Below are five common music questions with band-9 model answers in a relaxed spoken register, plus why they score 9 and the collocations worth stealing.
Practice this exact speaking task with AI feedback
Record your answer and get a band score on all four criteria — Pro plan, credit-metered.
01 · Questions & Band 9 answers
Q: What kind of music do you enjoy?
My taste is pretty broad, but I keep coming back to acoustic and indie music — anything with a bit of soul to it. I'm not really one for heavy electronic stuff; I prefer something I can actually listen to the lyrics of. Lately I've been getting into jazz, which I never expected to enjoy as much as I do.
state a preference, then a contrastQ: When do you usually listen to music?
Pretty much throughout the day, to be honest. I'll put something on while I'm working to help me concentrate, and then in the evening I use it to wind down. Music's almost like a background soundtrack to my day — I barely notice how much I rely on it until it's not there.
give the when, add whyQ: Did you learn to play a musical instrument as a child?
I did, actually — I took guitar lessons for a few years when I was around ten. I wasn't the most dedicated student and I let it slide for a while, but I picked it back up recently, and I'm so glad I did. There's nothing quite as relaxing as playing after a stressful day.
past habit + present returnQ: Do you think it is important for children to learn music?
I really do. Beyond the obvious enjoyment, learning an instrument teaches patience and discipline — you can't rush it, you just have to practise. And there's good evidence it helps with things like maths and memory, so I'd say it's well worth the time, even for kids who don't end up playing seriously.
reason beyond the obviousQ: Has your taste in music changed over the years?
Quite a bit. As a teenager I mostly listened to whatever was in the charts, largely because my friends did. As I've got older my taste has become more my own — I seek out older and more varied music now, and I care far less about whether it's fashionable.
contrast then and now02 · Why this scores Band 9
Each answer picks a clear line and develops it with a reason or a small story, then stops. Relaxed fillers and signposts ("to be honest", "actually", "I'd say") keep the delivery natural and connected rather than rehearsed.
Music vocabulary is idiomatic and precise — "a bit of soul to it", "wind down", "let it slide", "seek out", "in the charts" — used casually the way a confident speaker talks, not as showpiece words dropped into a warm-up.
Structures vary well: a present perfect continuous ("I've been getting into jazz"), a past-then-present contrast ("As a teenager... As I've got older"), and a relative clause ("anything with a bit of soul to it"). All controlled accurately.
Short, speakable chunks with natural stress on the key words invite the easy, enthusiastic intonation this friendly topic rewards, with no awkward consonant clusters to trip over.
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 don't play an instrument?
That's completely fine — most people don't. Just say so and extend it: "I never learned an instrument, but I'd love to pick up the piano one day." Adding a reason or a wish keeps the answer full.
Do I need to know technical music terms?
No. Part 1 tests natural conversation, not expertise. Everyday phrases like "get into", "wind down" and "my taste in music" score better than technical jargon you might use awkwardly.
Can I name real artists or bands?
Yes — naming a genre or an artist you actually like ("I keep coming back to indie music") gives you specific detail that flows more naturally than a vague answer. Just be ready to say why you like them.
How do I extend a short answer about music?
Add when, why or a small story. "I like pop music" becomes band-9 as "I mostly listen to pop when I'm working, because the upbeat rhythm helps me concentrate." The extension is what earns the marks.
Want feedback on your own answer?
Toey grades your recording on Fluency, Lexical Resource, Grammar and Pronunciation, then shows exactly how to reach the next band — Pro plan, credit-metered.
Try IELTS Speaking practice