IELTS Speaking for Success
by Podcourses
Every week, Maria and Rory get together to discuss the latest IELTS Speaking topics, providing model answers and vocabulary to help you improve your general spoken English and achieve a higher band in your IELTS exam. Our website: https://successwithielts.com Transcripts: https://successwithielts.com/podcast#transcripts Premium episodes: https://linktr.ee/sfspremium
Episodes
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📜 Describe a person who learns history and loves history (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Hate talking about history? Rory shows you how to turn this tricky topic into a Band 9 answer by talking about himself! Learn how his vivid imagination helps him impress everyone at the pub quiz. Tune in and have a great day!…
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🏫 Secondary school (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory struggles to remember his school days! Listen to him talk about his favorite subjects, the ones he was 'rubbish at', and the mischief he got up to. A perfect lesson on speaking about the past. Tune in and have a great…
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🎤 Interviews (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Ever wonder what to wear to an interview? Rory explains how to "dress the part" and avoid "shenanigans" while Maria probes the difference between real interviews and stage-managed chats. Tune in and have a great day! - Book a...
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📺 Describe a time you watched a famous person being interviewed (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory recounts a chaotic 90s interview he saw on Instagram featuring a pop diva and a gate-crasher. Maria breaks down how to use this Band 9 vocabulary and grammar to talk about celebrities and media. Tune in and have a great...
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📄 Paper (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Did Rory really make origami hand puppets in class? Find out as he and Maria discuss everything from handwritten letters to the joy of doodling, and why a physical letter has more emotional impact. Tune in and have a great…
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🌱 Protecting the environment (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com How do you discuss major global issues without sounding too extreme? Rory shows how to use advanced vocabulary like 'wreck' and 'reckless' while discussing corporate responsibility and individual actions. Tune in and have a...
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🌍 Describe a person who protects the environment (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory describes a world-famous environmentalist who's nearly 100! Learn how he uses advanced tenses and idioms to talk about protecting the planet, and find out which other celebrities Maria mentions. Tune in and have a great...
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🎵 Music (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Why does Rory refuse to sit through an entire opera? Find out which music genres he can't stand and discover high-level phrases to talk about your own tastes, from fancying an idea to watching a show from home. Tune in and…
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✏️ Borrowing things (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Ever lent something and never got it back? Rory shares killer phrases for when a 'gentle reminder' isn't enough. Maria even jokes about borrowing your dog! Is it okay to borrow money from a friend? Find out. Tune in and have…
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📚 Describe something you borrowed from a friend or family member (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Find out how Rory 'borrowed' a laptop stand from his flatmate and made it his own! Maria breaks down his clever use of idioms and transition phrases to tell a memorable story that scores high. Tune in and have a great day! -...
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🍿 Cinema and movies (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Find out why Rory thinks going to the cinema alone is 'morbid and sad'! He also shares why he rarely goes anymore and reflects on the 'big releases' he saw as a kid when his family wasn't made of money. Tune in and have a…
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🤝 Teamwork and leadership (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Is teamwork always a good thing? Rory dives into the pros and cons of collaboration, explaining why some people are 'dead weight' and why being tech-savvy is the new key to good leadership. Tune in and have a great day!…
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👯♀️ Describe a time when you worked in a group (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Ever been forced into a team-building exercise? Rory recounts a bizarrely fun training session where teachers threw rocks, revealing top-tier idioms and grammar to describe working with others. Tune in and have a great day! -...
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👕 Clothes (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory absolutely hates shopping and just wants to 'nip in and flee'! Discover why he thinks he was traumatized as a child and learn the REAL way to pronounce 'clothes' with Maria. Are you making this mistake? Tune in and have…
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👩⚕️ Healthcare and medical professionals (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Is being a doctor more prestigious than a nurse? Rory dives into the immense pressure and indispensable nature of medical staff, sharing top-tier vocabulary to describe their incredible work and challenges. Tune in and have a...
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💉 Describe a person you know who has chosen a career in the medical field (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory describes his friend the nurse practitioner, but admits he doesn't have the 'brain power' to grasp the details! Learn how to talk about a job you don't fully understand and still score a Band 9. Tune in and have a great...
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🌐 Websites (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Tune in and have a great day! - Book a class with Rory here: https://successwithielts.com/rory Our course on Phrasal Verbs: https://successwithielts.com/podcourses Transcript: https://successwithielts.com Find an IELTS…
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📝 Personal goals and achievement (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Is it okay to just float through life? Rory argues that having direction is key to living on your own terms. Tune in to grab top-tier vocabulary for talking about ambition and what societies value! Tune in and have a great…
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🎯 Describe a long-term goal you would like to achieve (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Feeling stuck on a goal? Rory shares his 7-year struggle with a diploma, revealing top-tier vocabulary for talking about procrastination and motivation. Learn phrasal verbs to describe...
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🎧 Headphones (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory explains why chunky devices just get in the way, but Maria reveals a C1 word that describes the opposite. Is everything really portable these days? Listen in for key phrasal verbs and collocations! Tune in and have a…
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🏛️ Rules, laws, and social behavior (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory discusses the fine line between being a law-abiding citizen and flouting the rules. Can society function without etiquette, or will it descend into anarchy? Listen for high-level...
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📜 Describe a law you would like to introduce in your country (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory proposes a wild new law: making all lying illegal! Discover the advanced idioms and grammar he uses to explore this revolutionary idea and learn how to argue both sides of any…
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🤣 Telling jokes (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Can a joke 'bomb' in the IELTS test? Rory reveals a mortifying story from his stand-up comedy debut, sharing essential idioms to describe what's funny... and what definitely isn't. Listen to learn more! Tune in and have a…
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⚖️ Dream jobs and career choices (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Rory explains why money isn't everything when choosing a career. He discusses how to find a job that fits your personality and why you might need to reinvent yourself just to keep up with the times. Tune in and have a great day! -...
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👨🍳 Describe your perfect job (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Ever get 'stuck in a rut'? Rory describes his ideal flexible career, packed with idioms and advanced grammar. Listen to see how he avoids boredom and creates a 'win-win' work-life...
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🌙 Evenings (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Is it a pain to work late? Rory, our resident early bird, feels groggy and irritable, but what about night owls? Learn high-level idioms and phrasal verbs to describe your own daily energy levels and habits. Tune in and have a great...
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🔀 Making and changing plans (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Rory discusses why changing plans can make you untrustworthy. Listen as Maria unpacks advanced idioms like "pull the rug out" and "willy-nilly" for a high-scoring answer on plans and personality. Tune in and have a great day! - Book…
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📆 Describe a plan that you have changed recently (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Find out how Rory's 'uncharacteristic lack of foresight' nearly ruined a reunion with friends! He shares top-tier vocabulary to describe when plans don't pan out and how to make up for...
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🎯 Dreams and ambitions (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Rory reveals he's achieved everything he wanted in life and is now more "chilled out." Listen as he and Maria discuss grand designs, dream jobs, and whether being ambitious is really a good thing. Tune in and have a great day!…
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📢 Advertising (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Rory tackles the good, the bad, and the 'meh' of modern marketing. Learn high-level idioms like 'down the drain' and master how to soften your opinions when discussing business strategy. Tune in and have a great day! - Book a class...
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⛹️♂️ Describe and advertisement with a famous person in it (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Can't remember that celebrity ad you just saw? Rory breaks down how to describe something you've forgotten, using advanced language for topics like endorsements and branding. A...
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🎧 Music (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Can sad music be therapeutic? Maria and Rory explore everything from pop to niche opera, teaching you key idioms like 'play by ear' and what to say when the fine details escape you on exam day. Tune in and have a great day! - Book a...
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🦮 Stories with animals (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Ever wondered why Peter Rabbit is so cool? Rory explains the high-level word 'anthropomorphic' and discusses if keeping a crocodile in your city apartment is a good idea. Plus, learn idioms to cushion the blow! Tune in and have a...
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🐖 Describe a story or a book with animals in it (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Join Rory as he dives into a nostalgic tale of woodland creatures, differentiating between venomous and poisonous animals for a Band 9 vocabulary boost. Can a children's story secure a...
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🎞 Going to the cinema (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Is going to the cinema a thing of the past? Rory explains why he prefers watching films at home and shares some high-level vocabulary to describe movies that are a 'complete shambles'! Tune in and have a great day! - Book a class…
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♻️ Recycling and waste (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Think your old coat is 'threadbare'? Rory explains why second-hand clothes are great, but what should we do with all our waste? Discover key phrasal verbs for recycling and managing your stuff! Tune in and have a great day! - Book a...
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👕 Describe a website or app you have used to buy or sell second-hand or recycled items (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Ever had to buy a used book? Rory shares his secret for finding second-hand gems online without shelling out for pristine copies. Discover Band 9 phrases to describe your own savvy...
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🤾♀️ Watching Sports (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Rory absolutely hates watching games, but his answers are still Band 9! Discover how to ace topics you find boring, learn idioms like 'bored to tears', and find out why Maria is talking about cheese rolling. Tune in and have a great...
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🔗 Friendship and social relationships (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Is technology a 'double-edged sword' for our friendships? Rory explains why keeping in touch has gotten both easier and less valuable, and how to discuss these complex changes for a high band score. Tune in and have a great day! -...
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👯♀️ Describe your favourite childhood friend (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory shares a hilarious story about a childhood friend and their 'healthy disregard for authority.' Learn how to use advanced grammar and idioms to describe the inseparable bonds that...
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⌚️ Watches (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Maria and Rory discuss why a simple accessory can be an investment, a status symbol, or just a tool for teachers. Find out why your phone just "won't cut it" in certain situations. Tune in and have a great day! - Book a class with...
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😪 Boredom (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Are teachers 'terminally boring'? Rory explains why young people might have a short attention span and shares idioms like 'dull as dishwater' to help you describe things that send you to sleep. Tune in and have a great day! - Book a...
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🥱 Describe a boring place (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory describes a museum he found incredibly dull. Listen to him masterfully use vocabulary for being bored and explain why a place lacks excitement, giving you the perfect model for…
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🏞 Parks and public gardens (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Ever been asked about the outdoors? Listen as Maria prompts Rory to describe his ideal tranquil spot, revealing how to use phrases like 'peace and quiet' and 'off the top of my head' for a Band 9 answer. Tune in and have a great…
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🏢 Buildings and architecture (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Why does Rory detest modern styles like Brutalism? Listen as he explains the pros and cons of skyscrapers, why people love remodeling, and how to discuss a topic even when you're not 'in the know'! Tune in and have a great day!…
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🗼 Describe a tall building you like or dislike (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory describes a building he hates! Learn how he uses strong descriptive language and clever idioms to explain why a new office block is a total eyesore and has ruined the views in his...
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🛒 Shopping (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Rory claims he isn't a shopaholic, but he just bought three pairs of trousers in one go! Listen as he explains how to use Band 9 idioms and phrasal verbs to describe your own shopping habits for the IELTS exam. Tune in and have a...
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💻 Video content and media habits (Part 3) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Rory dives into what's 'all the rage' right now, comparing media habits of different generations. Can you handle the cognitive load of his C2 vocabulary? This one is packed with high-level language! Tune in and have a great day! -...
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🎞 Describe an interesting video (Part 2) + Transcript
Get access to our premium episode archive: https://successwithielts.com Rory recounts a hilarious evening watching an off-the-wall music video with friends. Find out how he uses vivid adjectives and handy idioms like 'the name escapes me' to tell a…
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🏎 Cars (Part 1) + Transcript
Get access to our episode archive: https://successwithielts.com/ Hate being behind the wheel? Rory reveals he's a 'passenger princess' and finds driving a 'nerve-wracking' experience. Find out why car color matters for safety and how to talk about transport you don't care for. Tune in and have a...
About this show
Every week, Maria and Rory get together to discuss the latest IELTS Speaking topics, providing model answers and vocabulary to help you improve your general spoken English and achieve a higher band in your IELTS exam.
Our website: https://successwithielts.com
Transcripts: https://successwithielts.com/podcast#transcripts
Premium episodes: https://linktr.ee/sfspremium
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