IELTS Speaking Part 1: The News & Newspapers (Band 9 Sample)
This IELTS Speaking Part 1 topic asks about the news and how you keep up with it — a familiar, everyday area to talk about naturally. A band-9 answer gives a clear reply and rounds it out with a habit, a preference or a reason, 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: How do you usually get your news?
Almost entirely on my phone these days, I'm afraid. I follow a couple of reputable news apps and I'll scroll through the headlines over breakfast to get the gist of what's going on. I hardly ever buy a physical newspaper any more — it's just so much quicker and more convenient to check the news online whenever I've got a spare moment.
answer, then a reasonQ: How often do you follow the news?
Pretty much every day, though I try not to overdo it. I like to stay reasonably informed about what's happening in the world, so I'll usually catch up in the morning and maybe again in the evening. That said, I do consciously take breaks from it, because a constant stream of bad news can get quite draining.
frequency, then a caveatQ: What kinds of news are you most interested in?
I'm mainly drawn to science and technology stories — anything about new discoveries or gadgets really grabs my attention. I also keep half an eye on world affairs, because I think it's important to understand the bigger picture. What I tend to skip, though, is celebrity gossip, which I find pretty trivial.
preference, then a contrastQ: Do you prefer to read the news or watch it on TV?
I'm definitely more of a reader. I like being able to skim the headlines and then choose which stories to read in full, at my own pace, rather than sitting through a whole bulletin. Watching it on TV feels a bit passive to me, whereas reading lets me be more selective about what I actually pay attention to.
take a side, give a reasonQ: Do you think it is important to keep up with the news?
I do, within reason. I think being informed makes you a more engaged citizen and helps you make better decisions, whether that's about voting or just everyday life. At the same time, I don't think you need to follow every single development obsessively — a healthy awareness is enough, without letting it stress you out.
give an opinion, then qualify it02 · Why this scores Band 9
Each answer commits to a clear line and develops it with a habit, a reason or a contrast, then stops. Relaxed signposts ("I'm afraid", "That said", "though") link the ideas naturally, so the delivery never stalls or rambles.
News vocabulary is idiomatic and precise — "get the gist", "stay informed", "grab my attention", "keep half an eye on", "the bigger picture", "a whole bulletin" — used casually the way a confident speaker actually talks.
Structures vary well: a "whenever" clause ("whenever I've got a spare moment"), a "whereas" contrast ("reading lets me be more selective, whereas watching feels passive"), and a concessive ("At the same time, I don't think you need to follow every development"). 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
How do I extend a short answer about the news?
Add how, when or why you follow it. "I read the news on my phone" becomes band-9 as "I scroll through the headlines over breakfast to get the gist, because it's quicker than a newspaper." The extension carries the marks.
Is this the same as the Part 3 media topic?
No — Part 1 asks about your personal habits ("how do you get your news?"), whereas Part 3 asks broader, more analytical questions about the media in society. Keep Part 1 answers personal, short and developed.
What if I do not really follow the news?
That is fine — just extend it honestly. "I don't follow it closely because I find it a bit draining, but I'll skim the headlines now and then" is a natural, developed answer that scores well.
Which news collocations are worth using?
Natural phrases like "stay informed", "get the gist", "keep half an eye on" and "the bigger picture" sound authentic and boost Lexical Resource, as long as you use them accurately.
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