Changes, the environment and future choices – IELTS Speaking Questions
Practice focus: Narrating an unexpected change, explaining how people adapt, and discussing individual and collective environmental decisions.
Before you begin practice
Ask a partner to act as the examiner, or record yourself. Allow approximately 11-14 minutes for the full interview. The examiner should ask the questions in order and should not explain or teach during the test.
Part 1 – Introduction and interview
Suggested practice time: 4-5 minutes. The examiner introduces the interview and asks questions about familiar topics.
Examiner: Good morning/afternoon. My name is ____. Could you tell me your full name, please?
Examiner: Thank you. Now, let us talk about a few familiar topics.
Weather
- What kind of weather do you enjoy most?
- Does the weather affect your mood?
- What do you usually do on a rainy day?
- Has the weather in your area changed over the years?
Travel and plans
- Do you prefer planned trips or spontaneous ones?
- How often do you make plans with friends?
- Have you ever had to change an important plan?
- What do you do when something unexpected happens?
The future
- Is there anything you would like to change about your daily life?
- Do you enjoy making plans for the future?
- What kind of transport would you like to use more often?
- Do you think your town will be different in twenty years?
Part 1 – Band comparison
Question: What do you do when something unexpected happens?
Notice how each answer responds directly, adds an appropriate amount of detail and sounds like a spoken reply rather than a prepared mini-essay.
Band 6 model response
First, I try to understand what has happened and whether it is urgent. Then I think about another option. I may feel stressed at first, but making a simple plan usually helps me deal with the situation.
Band 7 model response
I normally pause for a moment and work out what needs attention first. If a plan is no longer possible, I look for a realistic alternative and let anyone affected know. I might feel frustrated, but I try not to waste time worrying about what I cannot change.
Band 8 model response
I try to separate the immediate problem from the inconvenience it causes. Once I know what is essential, I adjust the plan and communicate the change to anyone involved. I am not always relaxed about surprises, but taking practical steps usually stops the situation from becoming more complicated.
Band 9 model response
My first instinct is to establish what has actually changed and what still remains under my control. I then prioritise the essentials, consider a workable alternative and keep the people affected informed. Unexpected events can be frustrating, but a measured response is usually more useful than reacting to the disruption itself.
Part 2 – Individual long turn
Suggested practice time: 3-4 minutes in total. You have one minute to make notes. Then speak for 1-2 minutes. The examiner may ask one short follow-up question.
Describe a time when you had to change an important plan unexpectedly.
You should say:
- what you had planned to do
- why the plan had to change
- what you did instead
and explain how you felt about the change.
Band 6, 7, 8 and 9 sample long turns
The four responses address the same task. Compare how the speaker develops the story, chooses vocabulary and controls sentence structure. Do not memorise them as scripts.
Band 6 model response
I remember a day when I planned to travel to another city to meet a friend. We had arranged the trip several days earlier, and I was looking forward to it because we had not met for a long time. However, heavy rain caused transport delays, and the service I was going to use was cancelled.
At first, I was disappointed because I had already organised my day. I contacted my friend and explained the problem. Instead of travelling, we decided to have a video call and arrange another date. I used the free time to finish some work that I had been postponing.
Although it was not the day I expected, it turned out to be useful. I was still disappointed that we could not meet, but I learned that changing a plan does not always mean the whole day is wasted.
Band 7 model response
An important plan I had to change was a day trip to visit a friend in another city. We had organised it in advance, and I was particularly looking forward to catching up because our schedules rarely matched. On the morning of the trip, severe weather disrupted public transport and the service I intended to take was cancelled.
I was disappointed at first, but there was little point in trying to continue with a journey that had become unreliable. I called my friend, explained the situation and suggested that we rearrange the visit. We had a long video call instead, and I used the extra time to deal with a few tasks I had been putting off.
The change was inconvenient, but it reminded me that flexibility is important. I would still have preferred the original plan, yet I managed to make the day productive rather than allowing the disappointment to spoil it.
Band 8 model response
I once had to abandon a planned day trip to see a close friend in a neighbouring city. We had fixed the date well in advance, as both of us had busy schedules, and I had arranged my other commitments around it. Unfortunately, unusually heavy rain disrupted the transport network and the service I was relying on was cancelled.
After checking the alternatives, I realised that the remaining journey would take far longer and would probably leave us with very little time together. I contacted my friend, explained the situation and suggested postponing the visit. We switched to a video call, which was not quite the same, but it meant we could still catch up.
I was frustrated initially, mainly because I had been looking forward to the day. However, I felt better once I had made a decision. The experience taught me to build some flexibility into plans and not to treat an unexpected change as a personal failure.
Band 9 model response
A plan I had to change at short notice was a day trip to visit a close friend in a neighbouring city. We had chosen the date carefully because our work commitments rarely left us with a free weekend, and I had rearranged several things to make the visit possible. On the morning itself, torrential rain disrupted the transport network and the service I intended to take was cancelled.
I checked other routes, but they involved lengthy delays and would have reduced the visit to a rushed meal. I decided that forcing the original plan would not be worthwhile. I called my friend, explained the circumstances and suggested we reschedule. We ended up having a video call and agreed on a new date.
I was disappointed, but not devastated. What helped was moving quickly from frustration to a practical decision. It was a useful reminder that planning is important, but being able to adapt is just as valuable when circumstances change beyond your control.
Part 3 – Two-way discussion
Suggested practice time: 4-5 minutes. These questions move from personal experience to broader social issues. Give reasons, examples and qualifications where they are relevant.
Why do some people find it difficult to adapt to change?
Band 6 model response
Some people are comfortable with their routine and do not want to lose it. Change can also create uncertainty because they do not know what will happen next. If they have had bad experiences before, they may be even more worried.
Band 7 model response
People may resist change because it creates uncertainty or threatens routines they rely on. It can also require new skills and extra effort. Those who have had negative experiences with change may be more cautious about accepting it.
Band 8 model response
Change can be uncomfortable because it removes familiar reference points. People may worry about losing security, status or control, and they may not feel equipped to deal with the new situation. Clear information and a chance to adjust gradually can make adaptation easier.
Band 9 model response
Resistance often has less to do with change itself than with what people fear they might lose: predictability, competence, status or a sense of control. Adaptation becomes easier when people understand the reasons for a change, have some agency in the process and receive support while learning new routines.
Should people make detailed plans or leave room for spontaneity?
Band 6 model response
I think they need both. Plans help people use their time and avoid problems, but sometimes unexpected opportunities appear. If everything is planned, people may feel stressed when something changes.
Band 7 model response
A basic plan is useful, especially for important responsibilities, but it should not be so rigid that there is no room for new opportunities. I prefer to organise the essentials and leave some free time for unexpected things.
Band 8 model response
The right balance depends on the consequences of getting something wrong. Work deadlines and travel arrangements deserve careful planning, whereas leisure time can be more flexible. Planning should provide direction, not remove the ability to respond to new information.
Band 9 model response
I would distinguish between planning and over-planning. Important commitments need structure because other people may depend on them, but a completely fixed schedule can make life unnecessarily brittle. A sensible plan establishes priorities while leaving enough room to respond to opportunities or setbacks.
How can cities encourage people to make environmentally friendly choices?
Band 6 model response
They can provide better buses and trains so people do not need to use cars. They can also add recycling bins and make public information easier to understand. It should be convenient for people to choose the greener option.
Band 7 model response
Cities should make sustainable choices practical and affordable. Reliable public transport, safe cycle lanes and convenient recycling facilities can change behaviour more effectively than posters alone. Information is useful, but infrastructure makes the choice possible.
Band 8 model response
The key is to remove barriers. People are more likely to use public transport if it is frequent and dependable, and more likely to recycle if facilities are accessible. Cities can combine good infrastructure with incentives and clear information about the impact of everyday choices.
Band 9 model response
The most effective approach is to design sustainability into ordinary life. Reliable transport, safe walking and cycling networks, energy-efficient housing and accessible waste facilities make low-impact choices easier by default. Financial incentives and public information can reinforce that infrastructure, but they cannot compensate for its absence.
Do individual actions make a meaningful difference to environmental problems?
Band 6 model response
Yes, they can make a difference when many people do the same thing. For example, saving electricity or using less plastic can reduce waste. However, governments and large companies also need to take responsibility because they have a bigger influence.
Band 7 model response
Individual actions matter, particularly when they become common habits, but they are not enough on their own. Consumers can reduce waste and energy use, while governments and businesses need to change systems that create pollution on a much larger scale.
Band 8 model response
They make a difference by reducing demand, shaping social norms and showing public support for change. However, responsibility should not be placed entirely on consumers. Large-scale progress also depends on regulation, cleaner production and investment in infrastructure.
Band 9 model response
Individual behaviour is meaningful, but its influence is partly indirect. Everyday choices can reduce resource use and signal demand for better products, while collective habits can shift expectations. Nevertheless, systemic problems require systemic responses; consumers cannot personally redesign energy networks or regulate industrial emissions.
Should governments prioritise economic growth or environmental protection?
Band 6 model response
They should try to balance both. People need jobs and a good economy, but pollution can damage health and nature. Governments should support businesses that create jobs without causing serious environmental problems.
Band 7 model response
I do not think the two goals should automatically conflict. Governments need economic growth to support living standards, but long-term growth is difficult if the environment is damaged. Policies should encourage cleaner industries and help workers move into new sectors.
Band 8 model response
Environmental protection should be treated as part of long-term economic planning, not as an optional extra. Some short-term trade-offs are unavoidable, but ignoring pollution and resource depletion creates costs that eventually undermine productivity and public health.
Band 9 model response
The choice is too simplistic because economic activity depends on functioning ecosystems and a healthy population. Governments should pursue growth that accounts for environmental costs, while managing the transition fairly for workers and communities whose livelihoods depend on high-emission industries.
Test strategy and language bank
- For an unexpected-event story, make the sequence clear: original plan, disruption, options considered, decision and reflection.
- In Part 3, compare short-term convenience with long-term consequences. Environmental questions often require both individual and systemic perspectives.
- Use careful qualification: ‘in some circumstances’, ‘to a large extent’, ‘provided that’ and ‘the main limitation is’.
Useful topic language
- at short notice – with very little warning
- a workable alternative – another option that can realistically succeed
- build flexibility into a plan – allow for unexpected events
- low-impact choices – choices that cause less environmental harm
- a fair transition – a change managed so affected people are supported
After the test: review your performance
- Did I answer the question before adding extra detail?
- Did I develop my Part 2 response with a clear sequence and enough specific detail?
- Did I explain and support my Part 3 opinions rather than simply state them?
- Did I repeat the same vocabulary or linking phrases too often?
- Could a listener understand every word without needing to concentrate unusually hard?