IELTS Speaking Part 1 Sample Band 9 – Topic: Music

1. Do you often (like to) listen to music? Or Do you like listening to songs?

So far I haven’t met anyone who dislikes listening to music. However, when the workload is too heavy that requires me to stay highly focused, music is a huge distractor. Unlike many people who like listening to instrumental music because it highly benefits for their concentration and study, in my case the music makes me feel instantly sleepy.

2. When do you listen to music?

Well, music is essential to human in the whole world so I’m no exception. I usually listen to cheerful music when I need motivation while sad music is my go-to choice during emotional days.

Vocabulary

To be no exception (adj)  if someone or something is no exception, they are the same as all others so they can be included in a general statement

3. How much time do you spend listening to music every day?

As I’ve mentioned I prefer working in silence. To put it simply, no music is allowed during my working hours. After a long day at school, I probably want to chill out for like half an hour with music to help me stay energetic so I can get back to work later.

Vocabulary

To put it simply (expression) used for saying that you are explaining something in a clear and simple way

Chill out (phrasal verb) to relax

4. What kinds of music do you like to listen to? Or What’s your favorite kind of music?

My music taste varies widely from West to East and from the 90s to modern EDM. But if Korean pop is considered as a kind of music, then yeah, that’s my favorite of all time. More than half of my playlists are Korean songs and I always keep myself updated with the news related to Korean showbiz.

Vocabulary

To keep updated (v) to follow a celebrity by frequently reading news about them

5. Have you ever been to a concert before? Or Have you ever been to a musical performance?

Once in a blue moon I attend a concert, since the ticket price for foreign artists’ concerts is so out of my reach that I can only stay home and watch online. It was 2014 that I finally did go to a concert on my own, obviously it was an international music concert. It was absolutely mind-blowing and unforgettable for me.

Vocabulary

Once in a blue moon (idiom) rarely

Out of my reach (idiom) to be unable to afford

On one’s own

(idiom)  Responsible for oneself, independent of outside help or control

Mind-blowing (adj) Sth overwhelmingly impressive

6. Do you like to listen to live music?

Unless it’s live at a coffee shop, where literally there are only you and music, then yeah I would love to. But I would change my mind if it’s a concert. The crowd is too crazy. It’s completely a mess that most of the time I end up having serious dizzy and headache.

7. When did you start listening to this type of music?

Since the day a friend of mine introduced her favorite group to me. She couldn’t help herself talking on and on about them that I thought I somehow needed to catch up with her. And the more I know about Korean pop, the more passionate I’ve become.

Couldn’t help one’s self doing Sth (n) continuously doing Sth

On and on (expression) continually; at tedious length

8. Where do you listen to it?

Almost everywhere, except for classroom. It’s the golden era of mobile devices, everyone carries earphone and phone with them all the time, music therefore is on their fingertips.

Golden era (n) a certain period of time that Sth vastly develops

On their fingertips (phrase) easy to reach

9. How do you feel when you listen to this music?

Well I’m a type of person whose mood is easily affected by what I’m listening to, thus as the music changes, my mood also fluctuates. But most of the time, listening to some music helps me pick up my energy and chill a bit.

Vocabulary

To be a type of person (that) (phrase) to belong to a group of people who share a similar characteristic

Pick up my energy (phrasal verb) to get better, stronger

10. Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?

I learned to play the organ when I was in kindergarten. It was quite funny because I started out as one of the performers, then my teacher told my mom that I had better play the organ instead of performing, so I became her trainee and it continued for around 4 to 5 years until I was 10.

Vocabulary

To start out (v) to begin

11. Is music an important subject at school in your country?

Music is one of the compulsory subjects for primary and secondary students in my country. However, mainly singing is focused. We can also add some movements to make the songs more lively. Only those who are selected for the big performances are allowed to use musical instruments.

Vocabulary

Compulsory (adj) to be required

12. Did you often listen to music when you were a child? (If yes give details.)

Since my parents are music-lovers and they also have very good tastes, I was exposed to the old kinds of music at a very young age. Sometimes my mom sang me to sleep with her lullabies. Although I can’t get the message at that time, my mom said that I buoyed up when listening to them.

Vocabulary

Bouyed up (adj) feel cheerful

13. What kinds of music are (most) popular in your country?

Beside pop music, the young generation nowadays expose to a number of different types of music. It is indeed difficult to tell which is the most in demand, since from my point of view each type has roughly the same popularity. But I guess pop music is the most sought-after now. At least I’ve never met someone who completely doesn’t know a single pop song.

Vocabulary

Sought-after (adj) in demand

14. Do you like traditional songs?

Well, it’s easy for me to name some traditional songs, some of which are even quite familiar to me. But to be honest, I think I’m not that into this kind of music.