Weather is a familiar yet engaging topic in English. While writing about weather can be simple, speaking about it fluently in the IELTS test requires careful preparation in terms of ideas, vocabulary, and grammar.
To help you deliver impressive answers and aim for a high score, this article offers useful vocabulary and sample answers related to the Weather topic in IELTS Speaking Part 1, 2, and 3.
1 IELTS Speaking Test Structure
The IELTS Speaking test consists of three parts:
Part 1: You will be asked about common personal topics such as friends, family, or hobbies. This part lasts about 4 to 5 minutes.
Part 2: You will receive a task card and be asked to speak on a specific topic, such as describing a person, place, or event. The examiner may ask one or two follow-up questions to conclude this part.
Part 3: You will be asked more in-depth questions related to the topic in Part 2. These questions are more analytical and require longer and more complex responses. Part 3 is considered the most challenging section of the test.
2 IELTS Speaking Sample Answers – Weather Part 1
Question: What is your favorite season?
Answer: I have to say it's definitely autumn. Hanoi has four distinct seasons. Summer is usually sweltering and stuffy, and you cannot survive it without air conditioning. Winter is freezing, and spring is often rainy. So hands down, autumn is my go-to season.
Vocabulary Highlights:
Distinct: clearly different
Sweltering and stuffy: extremely hot and uncomfortable
Make it through: to survive or endure
Hands down: without a doubt
Question: What do you think are the effects of climate change in recent years?
Answer: I believe global warming has many adverse effects on both humans and animals. Many species are at risk of becoming extinct due to issues like wildfires, extreme weather, and disease outbreaks. Rising global temperatures also worsen water shortages, especially in already dry regions, putting millions of people at risk.
Vocabulary Highlights:
Adverse effect: negative impact
At risk of becoming extinct: likely to disappear
Exacerbate: to make worse
Water shortage: lack of clean water
Question: What is the weather like in your country?
Answer: I live in Vietnam, which is a tropical country. The weather is mostly scorching hot and humid year-round. In summer, heatwaves can go above 40 degrees Celsius in Hanoi. Winters used to be frigid, but now they are more pleasant, probably due to global warming.
Vocabulary Highlights:
Residing: living
Scorching hot: extremely hot
Humid year-round: consistently humid
Frigid: very cold
Pleasant and bearable: tolerable and mild
3 IELTS Speaking Sample Answer – Weather Part 2
Question: Describe your favorite weather.
Answer: I want to talk about the kind of weather I enjoy most. Growing up in southern Vietnam, I’m used to hot and humid weather, although I don’t like it very much. I prefer chilled and dry weather, like what you find in the highlands or cities like Da Lat.
When I visit these places, I always wear thick jackets because I have low tolerance for cold. But I enjoy this because it gives me a chance to wear stylish garments like earmuffs and trench coats, which I cannot wear in my hometown.
Another thing I love is breathing in the crisp air. When I exhale, I can see small clouds of fog, which reminds me of being a dragon. These moments are linked with vacations and help me relax. I often think of this weather when I am stressed at work to calm myself.
Vocabulary Highlights:
Be accustomed to: be used to
Chilled: cool and fresh
Tolerance: ability to endure
Garments: clothes
Sport: to wear
Earmuffs: ear covers for warmth
Psychological: related to the mind
Tension: stress or pressure
4 IELTS Speaking Sample Answer – Weather Part 3
Question: Does air pollution affect the weather?
Answer: Yes, air quality has a serious impact on the weather. When pollution levels are high, we often see smoggy and gloomy mornings. The sky becomes overcast, which can make people feel down. On the other hand, cool and breezy weather can lift people’s moods and make them feel over the moon.
Vocabulary Highlights:
Severely: seriously
Dreary: dull and depressing
Overcast: cloudy
Breezy: slightly windy
Over the moon: extremely happy
Question: How does the weather influence people’s lives?
Answer: There have been many efforts to slow global warming. Governments are passing regulations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and many organizations are proposing geoengineering projects as alternative solutions.
Although we’ve made progress, more action is needed. Governments and companies must keep their promises, as some harmful projects still receive funding.
Vocabulary Highlights:
Devote: dedicate
Halt: stop or slow
Regulation: rule or law
Curb: reduce
Put into effect: implement
Multitude: a large number
Geoengineering: climate engineering
Proposal: suggestion
Grave: serious
Keep a pledge: fulfill a promise
Question: What should we do to solve this problem?
Answer: There are many solutions to help mitigate this issue. On a large scale, governments and companies should invest in renewable energy like solar power and biomass instead of fossil fuels, which release harmful gases.
On a personal level, individuals can drive less, plant trees, and make eco-friendly choices. Small actions, when done by many people, can make a big difference.
Vocabulary Highlights:
Mitigate: reduce
Harness: use or collect
Emit: release
Heat-trapping gases: greenhouse gases
Biomasses: renewable organic materials
Albeit: although
5 Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking – Weather Topic
Vocabulary for Weather Conditions
Vocabulary | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
Haze | Light mist caused by heat | The sun had a faint golden haze around it. |
Breeze | Light wind | The flowers swayed in the breeze. |
Gloomy | Dark and dull | The gloomy weather made me feel sleepy. |
Overcast | Cloudy | The sky was overcast all morning. |
Drizzle | Light rain | It started to drizzle while we were walking. |
Thunderstorm | Storm with thunder | He slept through the thunderstorms last night. |
Typhoon | Strong storm | Typhoons are common in coastal regions. |
Hurricane | Violent storm | The hurricane caused widespread damage. |
Torrential rain | Heavy rain | Torrential rain flooded the roads. |
Raining cats and dogs | Idiom for heavy rain | It's raining cats and dogs outside. |
Vocabulary Related to Temperature
Vocabulary | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
Baking hot | Very hot | We waited in the baking hot sun. |
Unbroken sunshine | Constant sunshine | We had unbroken sunshine for two days. |
Thermometer | Device to measure temperature | The thermometer reads 37 degrees Celsius. |
Fahrenheit | Temperature scale | It was 80 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday. |
Celsius | Metric temperature scale | It is 25 degrees Celsius today. |
Frosty | Very cold | The windows were frosty this morning. |
Mild weather | Calm and pleasant weather | It was a mild spring day. |
6 Common Sentence Structures – Weather Topic
Question Structure for Weather
What / How + be + the weather like (today / yesterday / in + place)? Example: A: What is the weather like outside? B: It is cloudy and windy. I think it might rain soon.
Useful Sentence Starters
When it comes to the weather...
I find the weather...
... is my go-to season
Examples:
When it comes to the weather, each season gives me a different feeling.
I find the weather today very cloudy and cool.
Autumn is my go-to season of the year.
Master the Weather Topic with IDP
We hope this article helps you expand your vocabulary and learn how to apply it in the IELTS Speaking test, especially for the topic of Weather. With regular practice and creative use of vocabulary, you can build strong and confident responses.
To help you prepare for the IELTS test, IDP offers valuable resources such as IELTS events, personalized preparation plans, and exclusive learning materials.
When you register for the IELTS test with IDP, you will receive access to exclusive prep tools, including step-by-step guides, video tutorials for common mistakes, and an online course developed by experts from Macquarie University.
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