IELTS Speaking Practice: Holidays, Car Journeys & Electric Vehicles

IELTS Speaking Practice Test 2026: Holidays, Car Journeys & Electric Vehicles (Band 9 Answers)

To achieve a top score in the IELTS Speaking test, candidates must demonstrate an ability to smoothly transition from talking about everyday topics like holidays to discussing complex societal shifts, such as the rise of electric vehicles.

In this comprehensive mock / practice test, we provide an examiner’s script alongside Band 9 model answers. Analyze these responses to understand how native-level speakers deploy advanced vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and complex grammatical structures.

Part 1: Holidays

1. Do you prefer spending holidays with friends or with family? [Why?]

I genuinely appreciate both, but they offer completely different dynamics. Traveling with family is deeply comforting; it’s an opportunity to reconnect and usually involves a more relaxed, meticulously planned itinerary. However, if I had to choose, I lean slightly toward holidays with friends. It tends to be much more spontaneous and adventurous, and we share similar energy levels for exploring a new city from dawn until dusk.

2. What kind of holiday accommodation do you like to stay in? [Why?]

I almost exclusively opt for short-term rental apartments over traditional hotels. Having access to a full kitchen is a massive plus for me, as I love visiting local markets to buy fresh produce and attempt cooking regional dishes. Furthermore, staying in a residential neighborhood rather than a tourist hotspot provides a much more authentic, ‘lived-in’ experience of the destination.

3. What plans do you have for your next holiday?

I’m currently in the early stages of plotting a cultural trip to Japan for the autumn season. I am incredibly eager to witness the vibrant red maple leaves, known as koyo, and I plan to take the bullet train between Tokyo and Kyoto. Right now, I am just trying to navigate the logistics of securing accommodation during such a peak travel window.

4. Is your city or region a good place for other people to visit on holiday? [Why/Why not?]

Absolutely. The region is nestled right on the beautiful Mediterranean coast, boasting incredibly pristine beaches and a spectacular array of historical ruins dating back to antiquity. It’s a fantastic, slightly off-the-beaten-path destination for travelers who want to avoid massive, commercialized tourist traps while still enjoying a warm, sun-drenched climate and phenomenal local seafood.

Part 2: Cue Card (A Long Car Journey)

The Cue Card:

Describe a car journey you made that took longer than expected.

You should say:

• where you were going
• who you were with
• how you felt during the journey
• and explain why this car journey took longer than expected.

Band 9 Model Answer:

I’d like to tell you about a rather unforgettable, and ultimately exhausting, road trip I took last winter. I was traveling up into the mountains with two of my closest university friends. We had booked a secluded cabin for a long weekend of hiking and catching up, and the drive was only supposed to take about three hours.

For the first hour, everything was going swimmingly. However, as we began our ascent into the higher altitudes, the weather took a dramatic and completely unforecasted turn. A severe blizzard rolled in with terrifying speed, dropping visibility to near zero and covering the winding, narrow mountain roads in a thick sheet of black ice.

Consequently, the local highway patrol was forced to completely shut down the main mountain pass. We found ourselves trapped in an agonizing gridlock, moving forward at barely a crawl for hours on end.

Initially, I felt incredibly anxious. As the designated driver, navigating those treacherous conditions was immensely stressful, and gripping the steering wheel so tightly left my hands aching. However, once we realized there was absolutely nothing we could do to change the situation, a strange sense of resignation washed over us. We ended up turning up the heating, playing some nostalgic music, and having incredibly deep, philosophical conversations to pass the time. A journey that was meant to take three hours ended up taking nine, but the silver lining was the wonderful camaraderie we shared while trapped in that tiny car.

Part 3: Driving and Electric Cars

Topic 1: Driving a car

1. How interested are young people in your country in learning to drive?

Obtaining a driver’s license remains a highly significant rite of passage for most young adults. Despite the rising costs of fuel and insurance, the ability to drive represents ultimate autonomy and freedom. It signifies a transition into adulthood, allowing them to commute to university or a job without being tethered to the often unreliable schedules of public transportation.

2. What are the differences between driving in the countryside and driving in the city?

The contrast is incredibly stark. City driving is characterized by constant stop-and-go traffic, aggressive lane changes, and the perpetual stress of navigating complex intersections and hunting for scarce parking spots. It requires intense, hyper-focused concentration. Conversely, driving in the countryside is generally a much more serene experience. You can cruise at a steady pace and enjoy the scenic landscapes, though you do have to remain vigilant for hazards like poorly lit roads or wandering wildlife.

3. Do you consider most drivers where you live to be good drivers?

To be perfectly frank, it is a very mixed bag. While the majority of people are competent, defensive drivers, there is a very vocal, visible minority who exhibit quite reckless behavior. There seems to be a pervasive culture of impatience on the roads, leading to dangerous habits like tailgating, ignoring speed limits, and failing to use turn signals. So, one must always remain highly alert.

Topic 2: Electric cars

4. How popular are electric cars in your country?

They are currently gaining massive traction. A decade ago, an electric vehicle (EV) was a rare sight, considered a luxury novelty for early tech adopters. Today, however, you see them on almost every street corner. This surge is largely driven by growing environmental awareness, as well as the recent influx of more affordable, mid-range EV models entering the domestic market.

5. In what ways could more people be persuaded to buy electric cars?

Governments and manufacturers need to tackle the issue from two distinct angles: financial incentives and infrastructure. Firstly, offering robust tax rebates and subsidizing the initial purchase price makes them much more accessible to the average consumer. Secondly, they must rapidly expand the network of fast-charging stations. The biggest psychological barrier for potential buyers is ‘range anxiety’—the fear of running out of battery in the middle of nowhere. Alleviating that fear is crucial.

6. Do you think all cars will be electric one day?

I believe it is an absolute inevitability. The global consensus on climate change dictates that we must drastically reduce carbon emissions, and phasing out internal combustion engines is a critical step in that process. Furthermore, fossil fuels are a finite resource; eventually, economic pressure alone will force the transition. While we will undoubtedly face significant logistical hurdles during the phase-out period, the wholesale shift to electric transportation is only a matter of time.

📚 Essential Band 9 Vocabulary (Part 2 & 3)

To help you achieve a high lexical resource score, below are the key advanced vocabulary words and phrases used in the model answers above: