# Describe your favourite season or time of year: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Environment

Describe your favourite season or time of the year.

You should say:
- which season or time of the year it is
- what the weather is like at that time
- what you usually do during this time
- and explain why it is your favourite

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 6 sample

My favourite season is winter. In my country the summer is very long and very hot, sometimes the temperature goes more than forty degree, so when the winter comes everybody feels relaxed.

Winter starts from around November and it continue until February. The weather is cool and dry, and in the morning there is a lot of fog, so sometimes you cannot see the road clearly. In the afternoon the sun comes out and it is very pleasant to sit outside. At night it becomes quite cold, but not like snow countries, we just need a jacket and a blanket.

In winter I usually do many things with my family. We go for picnic on weekends to the riverside or some park, and my mother cooks special food like rice cakes, which we only eat in this season. Also there are many weddings in the winter because the weather is good, so almost every month I am going to some wedding party with my parents. It is tiring but also fun because I can meet all my relatives.

Another thing I like is the vegetables and fruits. In the winter market there are fresh cauliflower, carrots and oranges, and they are cheaper than in other time.

The main reason winter is my favourite is that I can study and work more comfortable. In summer I feel sleepy and lazy because of the heat, and I need to turn on the fan all the time. But in winter my mind is fresh and I can concentrate better. So that is why I always wait for the winter every year.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 6 answer gives plenty of relevant detail, such as morning fog, picnics and seasonal "rice cakes", and it covers every bullet point. The weakness is control: "forty degree" and "it continue" miss endings, "go for picnic" drops an article, and "work more comfortable" uses an adjective where an adverb is needed. Linking is mostly "Also" and "Another thing". A Band 7 version would keep the same content but add precise descriptive language, such as "crisp, clear mornings", and handle comparisons and tenses accurately.

## Band 7 sample

I'd have to say my favourite time of year is autumn, particularly October, when the leaves start to change colour but it hasn't got properly cold yet.

Where I live, in the north of the country, the summers can be quite humid and sticky, so by the end of August most people are desperate for a change. Then, almost overnight, the air becomes crisper, the mornings are misty and the evenings start drawing in. You still get plenty of sunny days, but there's a sort of freshness in the air that I find really energising.

As for what I do at that time of year, I spend a lot more time outdoors than you might expect. There's a range of hills about half an hour from my house, and most weekends a few friends and I drive up there and go hiking. The trails are much quieter than in summer, and the views across the valley, with all the red and orange trees, are spectacular. Autumn is also harvest season in our region, so there are lots of local food festivals, and I usually come home with far more apples and honey than I can actually eat.

The reason it's my favourite, I think, is partly the weather and partly the feeling it gives me. For me, autumn has always felt like a fresh start, probably because the school year used to begin in September. Even now that I'm working, I tend to set myself new goals around that time, like taking up a new hobby or getting back into running.

So, all things considered, autumn suits both my personality and my lifestyle.

**Examiner notes.** This is a well-organized Band 7 answer with natural signposting ("As for what I do", "all things considered") and vivid but accessible description: "the air becomes crisper", "the evenings start drawing in". Grammar is varied and accurate, including comparatives like "far more apples and honey than I can actually eat". The explanation of why autumn feels like "a fresh start" adds a personal angle. To reach Band 8, the speaker would need more precise, less predictable word choice throughout, and would develop the final reason in more depth instead of closing with a general summary.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-your-favourite-season).

## Part 3 follow-up questions

1. How do changes in the seasons affect people's moods?
2. Do people in your country do different activities in different seasons?
3. How has climate change affected the seasons in recent years?
4. Are seasonal festivals as important now as they were in the past?
5. Why do some people prefer to live in places where the weather is the same all year round?

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.