IELTS Speaking Practice: Sleep, Friendships & Social Dynamics

IELTS Speaking Practice Test 2026: Sleep, Friendships & Social Dynamics (Band 9 Answers)

Achieving a Band 9 in the IELTS Speaking exam requires candidates to demonstrate absolute fluency, an expansive lexical resource, and the ability to articulate complex thoughts on both personal habits and broad sociological topics.

In this comprehensive mock test, we will navigate through Part 1 questions about sleep hygiene, tackle a descriptive Part 2 cue card about forming a meaningful friendship, and dive into high-level Part 3 discussions on childhood socialization and the challenges of making friends as an adult. Study these Band 9 model answers to elevate your own speaking strategies.

Part 1: Sleep

1. How many hours do you usually sleep at night?

I typically aim for a solid eight hours, though realistically it fluctuates around seven. I’ve found that maintaining a consistent circadian rhythm is absolutely crucial for my cognitive function, mood regulation, and overall productivity the following day.

2. Do you sometimes sleep during the day? [Why/Why not?]

Rarely, unless I am fighting off a virus or dealing with severe jet lag. I find that taking daytime naps, even brief ‘power naps’, often leaves me feeling incredibly groggy and completely disrupts my sleep architecture, making it much harder to fall asleep the following night.

3. What do you do if you can’t get to sleep at night? [Why?]

If I find myself tossing and turning, I strictly avoid looking at my smartphone or tablet, as the blue light suppresses melatonin production. Instead, I’ll get out of bed and read a physical book or practice some mindful breathing exercises in a dimly lit room. This helps downregulate my nervous system and distracts my brain from the anxiety of not sleeping.

4. Do you ever remember the dreams you’ve had while you were asleep?

Quite vividly, actually, especially if my alarm wakes me up abruptly in the middle of a REM sleep cycle. My dreams tend to be highly narrative and sometimes bizarrely detailed. However, that memory usually evaporates within minutes of getting out of bed unless I make a conscious effort to write them down immediately.

Part 2: Cue Card (Meeting a Good Friend)

The Cue Card:

Describe a time when you met someone who you became good friends with.

You should say:

• who you met
• when and where you met this person
• what you thought about this person when you first met
• and explain why you think you became good friends with this person.

Band 9 Model Answer:

I’d like to tell you about how I met my closest friend, Elias. We crossed paths about five years ago during a rather grueling, intensive Spanish language immersion program in Madrid.

I vividly recall our very first interaction. We were randomly paired up for a conversational role-play exercise on the first morning of class. Initially, I thought he was a bit aloof and perhaps even a little intimidating. He had this very serious, focused demeanor and seemed fiercely competitive about getting the complex grammar rules perfectly right, whereas I was just trying to survive the conversation.

However, that initial impression was entirely shattered during our lunch break. He made a hilariously self-deprecating joke about his own terrible pronunciation, and I instantly realized his serious exterior was just a defense mechanism for dealing with his own nerves.

I believe we became such fast and enduring friends because our personalities perfectly complement one another. While I tend to be quite spontaneous and sometimes a bit disorganized, he is incredibly pragmatic, grounded, and logical. Furthermore, because we met entirely out of our comfort zones in a foreign country, we bonded deeply over the shared vulnerability of trying to navigate a new culture and language. That foundational experience created a deep-seated mutual trust that has only solidified over the years.

Part 3: Friendships and Socializing

Topic 1: Friends at school

1. How important is it for children to have lots of friends at school?

I would argue that the quality of friendships is far more paramount than the sheer quantity. While having a wide social circle can foster a general sense of belonging, having two or three highly supportive, empathetic friends is what truly builds a child’s emotional resilience. A tight-knit group provides a safe, non-judgmental space for them to express their authentic selves without the pressure of performing for a large crowd.

2. Do you think it is wrong for parents to influence which friends their children have?

It’s a very delicate ethical line. Outright dictating a child’s social circle is overly controlling and will likely lead to resentment or secretive behavior. However, I believe it is a parent’s prerogative—and responsibility—to gently steer their children away from genuinely toxic or delinquent peers by fostering an open environment where the child learns to recognize positive, mutually respectful relationships themselves.

3. Why do you think children often choose different friends as they get older?

It is a natural byproduct of psychological and emotional maturation. In early childhood, friendships are often formed purely based on geographic proximity or simple shared activities, like playing the same playground game. As children mature into adolescents and young adults, their core values, intellectual interests, and worldviews begin to crystallize, prompting them to naturally seek out peers who align with their newly evolving identities.

Topic 2: Making new friends

4. If a person is moving to a new town, what is a good way for them to make friends?

The most effective strategy is to lean heavily into their existing hobbies or passions. Joining local clubs—whether it’s an amateur sports league, a book club, or a community volunteer organization—provides a built-in network of like-minded individuals. It removes the intense awkwardness of forced networking because the shared activity acts as a natural, low-pressure icebreaker.

5. Can you think of any disadvantages of making new friends online?

The primary drawback is the sheer lack of physical, non-verbal cues, which are essential for gauging true intent and empathy. Furthermore, people tend to curate highly idealized, heavily edited versions of themselves on the internet. This can lead to a false sense of intimacy, making individuals vulnerable to deception or profound disappointment when the online persona doesn’t match the offline reality.

6. Would you say it is harder for people to make new friends as they get older?

Unquestionably. As adults, our schedules become completely saturated with demanding professional obligations and exhausting family responsibilities, leaving a severely diminished window for socializing. Additionally, adults are generally more rigid in their routines and much more selective about who they invest their limited emotional energy in, whereas youth is characterized by a much higher degree of social fluidity, free time, and openness.

📚 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: