IELTS Speaking Part 1: Music – Model Answers 2026

Music is one of the new topics in the IELTS Speaking Part 1 question bank for May–August 2026. This topic has only two confirmed questions, which means each answer needs to carry more weight. Do not rush through them. Develop each response fully and let the examiner hear that you can sustain a conversation about something as personal and familiar as music.

IELTS Speaking Part 1 Music: Questions and Model Answers

Question 1: Do you prefer sad or happy music?

Model Answer:
It really depends on my mood. When I need energy or motivation, I go for upbeat, happy music. But sometimes, after a long or difficult day, sad music is actually quite comforting. There is something about a melancholy song that captures feelings you cannot always put into words. So I genuinely enjoy both, just in different situations.

Why This Works:
The answer avoids picking one side and instead explains both with real context. The phrase “captures feelings you cannot always put into words” is sophisticated and sounds completely natural in this setting.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– upbeat — cheerful and optimistic in tone
– comforting — providing relief and consolation
– melancholy — a feeling of deep sadness, often with no obvious cause
– captures — represents or expresses something accurately
– genuinely — in a sincere and authentic way

Question 2: Does happy music make you feel more excited?

Model Answer:
Yes, there is a kind of instant energy boost that comes from a lively, positive song. I notice it especially when I am exercising or getting ready to go out. The right track can completely shift my mood and mindset within a few seconds. Music is probably one of the most powerful tools we have for changing how we feel in a short space of time.

Why This Works:
Specific examples like exercising or getting ready to go out make the answer feel personal and real. The final sentence lifts the response into a broader observation, which shows the examiner that you can move between personal experience and general thinking.

📌 Band 7-8 Vocabulary:
– energy boost — a sudden increase in alertness or vitality
– lively — full of life and energy
– shift — to move or cause to move from one position to another
– mindset — a way of thinking that affects behaviour
– space of time — a period or interval of time

Examiner Tips for IELTS Speaking Part 1 Music

Tip 1: Develop each answer fully.
With only two questions, the examiner has fewer chances to assess your range. Make each answer count. Aim for five to six natural sentences per response.

Tip 2: Connect music to real situations.
Exercising, commuting, studying, cooking. These are moments everyone relates to. Grounding your answer in a real situation makes it sound fluent rather than rehearsed.

Tip 3: Move from personal to general.
The best answers start with something personal (“I notice it when I am exercising”) and close with a broader observation (“Music is one of the most powerful tools we have”). That movement shows intellectual range.

Common Mistakes on This Topic

Choosing one type of music and saying nothing else
Listing genres or artists without explaining why you like them
Giving very short answers on a topic that should be easy to extend
Using the word “music” in every sentence instead of varying your language

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Music a confirmed IELTS Speaking topic for 2026?
Yes. Music appears in the official IELTS Speaking Part 1 question bank for May–August 2026 as a new topic.

What if I do not listen to music much?
Say so clearly and explain why. An honest answer about not being a music listener, developed with reasons, is just as strong as an enthusiastic one. What the examiner is assessing is your English, not your taste.

Should I name specific songs or artists?
You can if it sounds natural. But naming an artist just to seem specific, when you cannot develop the idea further, does not help your score. Only use a specific name if you can say something real about it.