How band 9 IELTS Speakers stand out
Curious to know what Band 9 test takers in IELTS Speaking have in common? It’s not that they have the fanciest vocabulary or that they know all the advanced rules in English grammar.
They speak naturally. Confidently. Fluently.
Band 9 speakers sound natural, like “themselves” - just in English. They don’t freeze. They don’t translate in their head. They just talk.
How can you be like this, too? This article will spill all the tips, so you too can start building your fluency and eventually become a Band 9 scorer. Hint: You don’t need advanced grammar books or to memorise hundreds of sample answers to do this.
What Sets Band 9 Speakers Apart
Band 9 speakers don’t sound like rigid textbooks. They sound like real people having a genuine conversation, because that’s exactly what the IELTS Speaking test is about. What sets them apart isn’t just their grammar or accent. They can communicate clearly, naturally, and confidently. They’ve built what experts call communicative competence.
What is communicative competence, and why does it matter for IELTS Speaking
Communicative competence means knowing how to use English in different real-life situations, not just knowing grammar or vocabulary. For example, can you describe a past event? Give your opinion on an issue? Explain your weekend plans? These are the kinds of skills tested in the IELTS Speaking test.
If you need more convincing, several studies actually prove that communicative learning is more effective than prescriptive grammar.
Simply put, you learn a language better when you practice communicating with it, rather than overloading yourself with grammar and rules alone.
For example, in a study that compares traditional ways of teaching with communicative language teaching to improve the speaking skills of students, it was proven that communicative learning was more effective (Guado, Nataly & Mayorga, Jazmina, 2021).
The higher your score, the more flexible and fluent your responses must be.
Band 9 speakers don’t depend on memorised scripts – they speak with ease on any topic.
So, how can you do the same?
How do you build your communicative competence?
Imagine these scenarios:
You have to use English to describe a mathematical equation.
You have to use English to describe your favourite movie to your friend.
Which one would motivate you more to learn?
The second situation is the whole point of communicative practice. Practise speaking English to exchange real information that matters to you. Fluency grows when what you say has genuine meaning and purpose..
Another way to build your communicative competence is to speak English every day.
Jack C. Richards, linguist and author of Communicative Language Teaching Today, explains: “Learners learn a language through the process of communicating in it.”
So, put simply, you have to:
Learn to use English in real-life situations.
Practice speaking English every day.
But how can you do this when practising for the IELTS Speaking test? Below are some language exercises you can do.
6 ways to practice communicative speaking for IELTS Speaking
Here are some actionable steps you can take to build your fluency in IELTS Speaking using communicative practice. Remember, the key is to practise speaking English in real-world contexts, and by sharing information that matters to you.
Use “Complete + Share” Speaking prompts
What it is: Complete sentence prompts that invite personal answers, then share or record your responses.
Why it works: Personalising language helps you speak confidently and build vocabulary naturally.
How to practise:
Record yourself answering these prompts. If you have a lower level of fluency, don’t worry about timing yet. Just try speaking about these topics. If you are more advanced in your practice, speak about these prompts for 1-2 minutes.
You can also find a study partner and share answers, then have them ask you follow-up questions like, “Why do you think that?” or “How did that make you feel?”
Try these prompts:
“The most inspiring person I know is…”
“One of the best holidays I ever had was…”
“My plans after graduation include…”
“My favorite music artist is ____ because _____”
2. Voice Journaling: one topic a day
What it is: Record yourself speaking about a new topic every day.
Why it works: Regular speaking builds comfort and helps ideas come faster.
How to practise:
Record your answer on your phone or computer.
Listen back and note areas to improve (fluency, vocabulary, or pronunciation).
Try these daily prompts:
“Talk about a place you want to visit.”
“Explain a hobby you enjoy.”
“Describe a memorable class or lecture you attended.”
3. Speak About Your Day
What it is: Practice speaking spontaneously by commenting on your daily experiences. Imagine you are talking to your friend at the end of every day. What are the things you usually tell them? Do this, but in English.
Why it works: It helps you think and speak in English naturally, like in real-life conversations.
How to practise:
Speak freely for 1–2 minutes on one or two prompts each day. Try to add details and feelings to make your answers richer and more natural.
Try these activities. Talk about your daily routine:
“Today, I had _____ for lunch. I liked/didn’t like it because…”
“This morning, I went to _____ and it was _____.”
“After class, I _____ to relax.”
“Today, I attended a class on______. I liked/didn’t like it because….”
“I had an interesting conversation with a classmate about…”
“My favorite place to hang out near campus is _____ because…”
“I tried cooking _____ recently, and it turned out _____.”
“Today’s weather was _____ and it affected my plans by…”
“A typical day in my life includes _____, _____, and _____.”
“If I had more free time, I would _____.”
“What I loved about this day was_______”
“Today, I’m grateful for_______ because ________”
“I felt ______ today because _________”
4. Talk About Personal Experiences with Useful Phrases
What it is: Practise speaking about yourself and your experiences, choosing words and phrases that show the examiner you can express yourself clearly. This helps you answer Part 1 and Part 2 questions naturally and with varied language.
Why it works: Using these phrases makes your speech sound more fluent and interesting. It also helps you avoid repeating simple sentence starters and makes your answers feel like real stories.
How to practise:
Choose a phrase and complete it with your own experience. Then add details to expand your answer.
Try these fill-in-the-blank prompts:
“When I was a kid, my favorite toy was ____________, and I used to __________.”
“Back when I was in high school, I enjoyed ____________, especially because __________.”
“Just the other day, I tried ____________ for the first time, and it was __________.”
“A memorable trip I took was to ____________, where I __________.”
“My most memorable birthday celebration was _______ because ______”
“I remember when ____________, it was a really __________ experience.”
“Back when I was ____________, I used to __________.”
“Just the other day, I ____________, and I felt __________.”
“Whenever I would feel sad, I would _______.”
5. Immerse Yourself in Spoken English
What it is: Listening to native English speakers regularly helps improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and overall fluency. It’s a fun way to absorb natural language without the pressure of speaking immediately.
Why it works: Exposure to real spoken English trains your ear to recognise sounds, intonation, and common phrases. It also helps you get used to different accents and speeds, which is useful for the IELTS Listening and Speaking tests.
What to try:
Watch TV shows popular with young adults and international students, like “Friends,” “The Good Place,” or “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”- use subtitles at first if you need.
Listen to podcasts on topics that interest you, such as “The English We Speak” (BBC Learning English), “TED Talks Daily,” or “The Moth” (real-life stories).
Mix in English music from artists you like to enjoy language learning through songs. The more you surround yourself with English, the more natural it will become to speak fluently.
6. Speak English as Often as Possible
What it is: It helps to practise with native speakers who can correct your English and provide genuine feedback.
Why it works: The more you speak English, the more confident you get. Plus, practising through real-life conversations helps you use a wider range of vocabulary and sound more natural.
Try speaking English in these everyday situations:
Describe a movie you want to watch. You can ask Siri or Google Assistant to suggest titles in English, read the summary or synopsis, then talk about which one sounds interesting and why.
Make small talk with an English-speaking friend or coworker. Ask them how their weekend was and share your own story.
Join a language chat group at your school, library, or online, where everyone only speaks English.
When you study, try explaining new words or concepts out loud in English (yes, you have to talk to yourself. It’s fun!) as if you’re teaching someone else.
At home, talk to your roommate or your family members in English. They may find this unusual at first if they aren’t used to you doing so (assuming you’re from a non-English speaking household), but explain to them that you’re practising your English skills.
The more you speak English every day, the easier it becomes, and the closer you get to Band 9 fluency.
More ways to build your fluency for IELTS Speaking
The activities we mentioned above are actionable ways you can build your fluency.
When you’re trying to answer the prompts we have discussed, it helps to know about discourse markers and functional language. You can use both to expand your answers and add better cohesion in your response.
If you want to read more into this, you can use this list of discourse markers for IELTS Speaking.
Each discourse marker is used for a specific function. For example, you can use the discourse marker, “First of all” when you are introducing a list.
To know which discourse marker you can use for a specific language function, you can also read this guide on functional language to help you speak more fluently in the IELTS Speaking test.
Practice with more prompts and sample answers
Did you enjoy all these practice prompts?
If you want more prompts to practice with, you can access our compilation of FREE IELTS Speaking practice tests. Here, you’ll find IELTS Speaking questions with sample answers.
Need expert help to improve your IELTS Speaking score?
So, let’s say you’ve done all these communicative practices. You’ve immersed yourself in English every day.
But how do you actually know whether you’ve improved, or know whether you might reach your target band?
That’s where IELTS Speaking Coaching comes in.
With IELTS Speaking Coaching, you’ll take a full mock Speaking test and receive a detailed report within 3–5 days. The feedback will highlight your strengths and give you clear, practical tips to improve where it matters. If you already have a solid level of English but need to improve your score by half a band, this coaching session is designed for you. It’s not a direct substitute for English lessons, but it will help you zoom in on areas you’re doing well and areas you need improvement to help you get to that band 8 or 9. You’ll get insights which can only be seen and provided by an expert.
There you have it!
We have discussed all the communicative practices that can help you build your fluency and speak more naturally, just like what IELTS Band 9 speakers do.