IELTS Speaking Part 1: Weather Questions & Band 9 Answers (2026)

Weather is the most common "small talk" topic in the world. The examiner wants to see if you can describe conditions beyond just "sunny" or "rainy." To score Band 9, you need to describe how the weather feels and how it affects your plans. Use words like humid, overcast, or drenched to paint a picture.

How to Use These Sample Answers

Below are the latest 2026 questions for "Weather."

Important: These answers are written specifically for a person who commutes to work or school (maybe by bike, scooter, or walking) and hates bad weather because it ruins their clothes and makes them late. They constantly check the forecast to avoid getting wet. However, if you are a nature lover who enjoys hiking in the rain, or if you drive a nice car and don't care about the weather, these answers are not for you and will not fit your life.

So, here is the plan:

1. Read these samples to understand the Band 9 structure.

2. Use the IELTS Speaking Lab App to get personalized answers. It gives you perfect vocabulary that fits your real life—whether you love the snow or hate the heat.

Part 1: Questions & Model Answers about Weather

1. What is the weather like in your country?
It is quite extreme. We have scorching hot summers where the temperature can reach 40 degrees, and then very humid, wet monsoons. It makes it quite difficult to plan outdoor activities or hobbies like football because the weather is so unpredictable.

2. Do you like the weather in your hometown?
Not really. My hometown is very polluted, so when it gets hot, the air feels heavy and suffocating. I prefer the fresh, crisp air of the countryside. The city heat island effect makes the heat unbearable in July.

3. What is your favorite season?
I definitely prefer winter. It is the only time of year when I can walk to my work without arriving completely sweaty. The cool breeze is very refreshing, and I can finally bundle up in stylish jackets instead of just wearing thin T-shirts.

4. Do you check the weather forecast?
Obsessively! Because I ride a scooter to university for my studies, I need to know if it’s going to rain. Getting caught in a sudden downpour without a raincoat is my worst nightmare, so I check the app every single morning to avoid being caught unawares.

5. Does the weather affect your mood?
Yes, significantly. When it is overcast and gloomy for days on end, I feel quite lethargic and unmotivated. But when the sun comes out and we have blue skies, my energy levels spike immediately. I think I might have a mild form of seasonal depression.

6. Have you ever been in extreme weather?
Yes, a few years ago there was a massive typhoon. The wind was howling, and the streets were flooded. My family had to seek shelter inside for three days. It was quite scary to see the destructive power of nature up close.

7. Do you like rainy days?
Absolutely not. Rain is a huge inconvenience for me. It causes massive traffic jams, and the public transport system often collapses. If I have to go out, I usually end up getting soaked to the bone, which leaves me feeling miserable.

8. What do you do on rainy days?
If I can, I stay indoors and refuse to leave the house. I try to avoid going outside at all costs. It’s the perfect excuse to be lazy, watch movies, and curl up with a blanket while listening to the patter of the rain against the window.

9. Is the weather changing in your country?
Yes, definitely. Climate change is becoming very noticeable. The summers are getting longer and the heatwaves are becoming more intense. It is quite worrying for the future, especially for farmers who rely on predictable seasons.

10. Do you prefer hot or cold weather?
I prefer cold weather. You can always put on more layers to stay warm, but when it is muggy and hot, there is nothing you can do. The humidity makes me feel sticky and gross, and I end up sweating buckets just by standing still.

11. What is the weather like today?
It’s actually quite pleasant today. There is a gentle breeze and the sun is shining. It’s ideal conditions for meeting friends in the park, unlike yesterday which was incredibly stormy and grey.

12. Does weather affect your health?
Yes, sudden fluctuations in temperature often give me a cold. Also, in the summer, the high pollution levels combined with the stifling heat are bad for my respiratory health. I often feel under the weather during the hottest months.

13. Do you listen to music when the weather is bad?
Yes, if it is raining and I am safe indoors, I like to listen to some slow, melancholic music. It matches the mood of the grey sky. It makes the atmosphere feel very cozy and nostalgic.

14. Does the weather affect technology?
Sometimes. In severe thunderstorms, the internet connection often drops out or we have a power outage, which is frustrating because I rely on technology for everything. Also, extreme heat makes my phone overheat if I leave it in the sun.

15. What season is best for traveling in your country?
I would recommend autumn. The weather is mild—not too hot and not too cold. It’s the perfect time to explore without worrying about frostbite or sunstroke. It makes the trip much more enjoyable.

Key Vocabulary for IELTS Topic: Weather

Here is the complete glossary of every bolded word and phrase used in the answers above.

• At all costs: To do everything possible to achieve (or avoid) something.

• Blue skies: A phrase used to describe a clear, sunny day with good weather.

• Bundle up: To dress warmly in many layers of clothing.

• Caught unawares: To be surprised by something unexpected (like sudden rain).

• City heat island effect: When a city is significantly warmer than the surrounding countryside due to concrete and pollution.

• Climate change: A change in global or regional climate patterns (global warming).

• Collapses: Stops working correctly (e.g., transport systems failing during a storm).

• Cool breeze: A refreshing, light wind that lowers the temperature.

• Cozy and nostalgic: Feeling warm, comfortable, and sentimental about the past.

• Crisp air: Cool, fresh, and dry air (usually feels good to breathe).

• Curl up with a blanket: To sit or lie in a comfortable position with a warm cover.

• Destructive power: The ability of something (like a storm) to cause great damage.

• Fluctuations in temperature: Changes in temperature (going up and down) quickly.

• Frostbite: Injury to body tissues caused by exposure to extreme cold.

• Gentle breeze: A light, pleasant wind.

• Gloomy: Dark or poorly lit, especially so as to appear depressing.

• Heatwaves: Prolonged periods of abnormally hot weather.

• Howling: Producing a long, loud, doleful sound (used to describe strong wind).

• Humid: Marked by a relatively high level of water vapor in the atmosphere.

• Ideal conditions: Perfect weather for a specific activity.

• Inconvenience: Trouble or difficulty caused to one's personal requirements or comfort.

• Intense: Of extreme force, degree, or strength.

• Lethargic and unmotivated: Feeling a lack of energy and having no desire to do anything.

• Massive traffic jams: Long lines of vehicles on a road that cannot move.

• Melancholic: Feeling or expressing pensive sadness.

• Mild: Weather that is not too hot and not too cold (pleasant).

• Miserable: Wretchedly unhappy or uncomfortable.

• Monsoons: A seasonal prevailing wind in the region of South and Southeast Asia (heavy rain).

• Muggy: Unpleasantly warm and humid weather.

• Obsessively: Doing something constantly or to an excessive degree.

• Outdoor activities: Things done outside (sports, hiking, walking).

• Overcast: When the sky is covered with grey clouds; no sun is visible.

• Overheat: To become too hot (often used for electronics).

• Patter of the rain: The sound of rain hitting a surface gently.

• Power outage: A period when the electricity supply stops.

• Refreshing: Making you feel less tired or hot.

• Rely on predictable seasons: Depending on the weather being normal (crucial for farming).

• Respiratory health: The health of your lungs and breathing.

• Scorching: Very hot (often used for burning sun).

• Seasonal depression: A mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year.

• Seek shelter: To find a safe place to protect yourself from bad weather.

• Severe thunderstorms: Strong storms with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain.

• Soaked to the bone: Completely wet; wearing wet clothes that touch your skin.

• Spike immediately: To increase very quickly (e.g., energy levels going up).

• Sticky and gross: Feeling uncomfortable because of sweat and humidity.

• Stifling heat: Heat that is so intense it feels like you cannot breathe.

• Stormy: Weather characterized by strong winds and rain.

• Stylish jackets: Fashionable coats worn in cold weather.

• Sudden downpour: A heavy fall of rain that starts very quickly without warning.

• Suffocating: Making it difficult to breathe (often used for hot, heavy air).

• Sunstroke: Heat exhaustion caused by too much exposure to the sun.

• Sweating buckets: Sweating a lot (informal idiom).

• Typhoon: A tropical storm in the region of the Indian or western Pacific oceans.

• Under the weather: Feeling slightly sick or not well.

• Unpredictable: Not able to be foreseen or known beforehand; changeable.

• Worst nightmare: A very unpleasant or frightening experience or prospect.

Create Your Own Band 9 Answers

The answers above are perfect—if you are a commuter who hates rain. But what if you are a farmer? Or what if you love snow sports?
Your answers need to be true so that you can easily recall them during a stressful exam.

IELTS Speaking Lab helps you turn your real ideas into Band 9 answers.

1. Select your topic - Weather.

2. Input your rough idea (e.g., "I love the snow because I go skiing every winter").

3. Get personalized Band 9 answers instantly, with the perfect vocabulary for your story.

Start Generating Your Personal Answers Now →