IELTS Speaking Practice: Summer, Luxury Items & Wealth

IELTS Speaking Practice Test: Summer, Luxury Items & Wealth (Band 9 Answers)

To achieve a Band 9 in the IELTS Speaking test, you must demonstrate the ability to transition effortlessly from casual, everyday topics to highly abstract, sociological discussions. You need a rich lexical resource, perfect fluency, and the ability to structure complex arguments naturally.

In this comprehensive practice / mock test, we will cover Part 1 questions about the summer season, tackle a highly descriptive Part 2 cue card about a coveted luxury item, and dive into Part 3 discussions on consumer habits, wealth disparity, and philanthropy. Study these Band 9 model answers to elevate your own speaking performance!

Part 1: Summer

1. Is summer your favourite time of year? [Why/Why not?]

To be perfectly honest, it isn’t. While I appreciate the longer daylight hours, I live in a region where the summer heat can become incredibly oppressive and humid. I much prefer the crisp, moderate temperatures of autumn, which allow for outdoor activities without the constant discomfort of sweltering heat.

2. What do you do in summer when the weather’s very hot? [Why?]

When there is a severe heatwave, I tend to become quite a homebody. I heavily rely on air conditioning and use the time to catch up on my reading or watch documentaries. If I do venture out, it is strictly to coastal areas where I can take a refreshing dip in the sea to regulate my body temperature.

3. Do you go on holiday every summer? [Why/Why not?]

I certainly try to. Escaping the concrete jungle of the city is almost a necessity for my mental well-being. I usually organize a week-long getaway to a quiet, elevated mountain resort or a secluded beach town. It serves as the perfect annual reset, allowing me to fully disconnect from my professional responsibilities.

4. Did you enjoy the summer holidays when you were at school? [Why/Why not?]

Absolutely. For a child, the summer holidays represent the ultimate, unadulterated freedom. I vividly remember the sheer joy of waking up without an alarm clock, having zero homework hanging over my head, and spending endlessly long, carefree days playing outside with my neighborhood friends until the sun finally set.

Part 2: Cue Card (A Luxury Item)

The Cue Card:

Describe a luxury item you would like to own in the future.

You should say:

• what item you would like to own
• what this item looks like
• why you would like to own this item
• and explain whether you think you will ever own this item.

Band 9 Model Answer:

I would like to talk about a highly specific luxury item that I have coveted for years: a bespoke, mechanical timepiece—specifically, something akin to a Patek Philippe or a Vacheron Constantin watch.

Visually, these items are absolute masterpieces of micro-engineering. I am particularly drawn to models with a ‘skeleton’ dial, which features a transparent sapphire crystal face that allows you to actually see the intricate, pulsating heartbeat of the exposed gears, springs, and the tourbillon inside. It would likely be housed in a polished rose-gold case and fastened with a hand-stitched, dark mahogany leather strap.

The primary reason I want to own an item of this caliber is my profound appreciation for horology and traditional craftsmanship. In an era dominated by disposable smartwatches and planned obsolescence, a mechanical watch represents enduring, timeless artistry. It doesn’t even require a battery; it is powered entirely by the kinetic movement of the wearer’s wrist. Furthermore, it is a generational heirloom—something I could eventually pass down to my children.

As to whether I will ever own one, I am cautiously optimistic. These timepieces command an exorbitant price tag, often costing as much as a luxury car. Purchasing one would require reaching a very significant, long-term financial milestone in my career. It is not an impulsive purchase, but rather a lifelong goal that I hope to achieve perhaps a decade or two down the line.

Part 3: Expensive Items & Rich People

Topic 1: Expensive items

1. Which expensive items would many young people (in your country) like to buy?

Currently, the desires of the younger demographic are heavily dictated by technology and social media trends. The most coveted high-ticket items are invariably the latest flagship smartphones, high-performance gaming laptops, and premium wearable tech. Additionally, there is a massive appetite for ‘hype’ fashion—limited-edition designer sneakers and luxury streetwear that act as highly visible status symbols among their peers.

2. How do the expensive items that younger people want to buy differ from those that older people want to buy?

The distinction essentially boils down to depreciation versus appreciation. Younger people tend to spend their disposable income on depreciating assets that offer instant gratification and social prestige, like gadgets and fast fashion. Conversely, older, more financially established individuals gravitate toward enduring assets. They prefer investing their capital in real estate, classic automobiles, fine art, or high-end jewelry—items that retain their value or appreciate over time.

3. Do you think that people are more likely to buy expensive items for their friends or for themselves?

Undoubtedly, people are far more inclined to splurge on themselves. Luxury purchases are frequently driven by a desire for personal reward or self-indulgence after a period of hard work. While people certainly buy thoughtful gifts for their friends, those purchases are usually governed by a more moderate budget and social etiquette. An exorbitant purchase is almost always an act of personal gratification.

Topic 2: Rich people

4. How difficult is it to become very rich in today’s world?

It is exceptionally challenging. While the internet has certainly democratized access to information and created new avenues for entrepreneurship, the barrier to entry for true, generational wealth remains incredibly high. We are living in an era of profound economic disparity, where inflation outpaces wage growth, and massive corporate monopolies make it exceedingly difficult for independent startups to gain a foothold. Simply working hard at a traditional job is rarely sufficient to become ‘very rich’ anymore.

5. Do you agree that money does not necessarily bring happiness?

I completely agree, though with a necessary caveat. Money is absolutely essential for alleviating the chronic stress associated with basic survival—paying rent, affording healthcare, and buying nutritious food. However, once those foundational needs are comfortably met, there is a sharp diminishing return on happiness. Having billions in the bank cannot cure profound loneliness, mend a broken relationship, or guarantee physical health. True fulfillment is derived from purpose and human connection, not a bank balance.

6. In what ways might rich people use their money to help society?

The ultra-wealthy have a moral imperative to engage in large-scale philanthropy. Rather than simply hoarding capital, they can drive monumental societal change by funding medical research for rare diseases, establishing comprehensive scholarship programs for underprivileged students, or investing heavily in green, sustainable energy infrastructures. Because they are not bound by the bureaucratic red tape that often slows down government initiatives, wealthy individuals can rapidly deploy capital to solve pressing global crises.

📚 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: