IELTSIELTS Speaking for Success

Curious about the dark side of childhood stardom? Rory explores the psychological toll on young celebrities and reveals how they can wind up on a destructive path, from racking up convictions to prying paparazzi.

Why does Rory say you should 'never meet your idols' but then choose Paris Hilton? Listen as he unpacks her notorious persona using Band 9 idioms and strategies to soften his opinions for a fluent, natural answer.

Is 5:30 AM an ungodly hour? Rory defends his early bird habits while Maria offers wilder ways to start your day, from petting cats to 'energizing' showers. Discover key idioms for your daily schedule.

Are selfies a waste of time? Can you have too many apps? Rory tackles tough questions about our digital lives, revealing Band 9 vocabulary you can use to talk about your own screen time habits and friendships.

What happens when Rory has to give up his phone for his IELTS test? He shares a story packed with Band 9 vocabulary and grammar for a common Part 2 topic that you can make your own. Listen and learn!

Is a page-turner keeping you up all night? Rory explains how he went from a haphazard reader to finishing two books a month, and why he'll always choose a paper book over a portable e-reader. Listen now!

Are you born smart or do you build it? Rory and Maria debate what makes us intelligent, from school meals and leafy greens to the dangers of doomscrolling. Find out how to realize your full potential!

What happens when a simple paint job goes horribly wrong? Rory shares a hilarious story about his dad saving the day, revealing top-tier vocabulary for describing problems and smart solutions at home.

Do you bang down the keys or prefer to write by hand? Rory reveals how he learned to type without any conscious effort and discusses the pros and cons of keyboards versus good old-fashioned pen and paper.

Where does Rory go to escape the stress of work? He reveals his ultimate safe space at home, using advanced phrasal verbs and descriptive language to create a vivid picture of tranquility for the examiner.

Is steak better than pizza? Rory weighs the pros and cons of his favourites, discussing everything from hitting macros to junk food cheats. Listen as Maria explains how to sound like a native and impress the examiner.

Rory reveals why we buy things we don't need, from sneaky marketing ploys to the fear of being left out. Find out how to stop frittering money away and start squirreling it away for a rainy day!

Think buying books is cheap? Rory tells Maria about the time he paid over the odds for a sci-fi trilogy! Listen to learn how he uses advanced idioms to explain why he just couldn't resist overspending.

Does eating too much cheese really give you nightmares? Rory shares his weirdest flying experiences and Maria explains why seeing your teeth fall out might actually be a good sign. Don't sleep on this one!

Is it worth planning your future? Rory shares why 'flying blind' isn't a great strategy for careers or even birthday parties, and explains why young people might struggle to make an informed choice.

Rory describes his super-organized dad, a master planner with tick lists and Post-it notes for everything! Learn how to talk about an impressive person and pick up C1/C2 idioms like 'on the ball'.

How does Rory spend his time off? Find out if Maria thinks his hobbies are boring and discover new ways to talk about your own downtime, from hitting the gym to catching up on the latest gossip.

Rory reveals why modern homes are so noisy and shares advanced vocabulary for peace and quiet. Is technology making our leisure time better or just different? Listen in for Rory's Band 9 answers!

Rory gives us a tour of the quietest place in his house: his bedroom! Find out why he says it would be the 'shortest video tour in history' and learn key phrases for describing your own personal space.

Rory explains why Chow Chows make great guard dogs and reveals his surprising favorite animal! Learn key vocabulary and grammar to ace questions about pets, even if you don't have one yourself.

Rory claims every job needs it, even baristas! But Maria isn't buying it. Listen in as they debate who has more creativity—adults or children—and discover a medical term to impress your examiner.

Can visualizing success actually help you get a Band 9? Rory shares a vivid story about sci-fi books, while Maria reveals the secret techniques of Formula 1 drivers to boost your score. Listen now!

Rory reveals the unwarranted gift his parents dropped off and shares his 'yes and no' strategy for choosing presents. What's the one handmade item he can't quite recall making? Tune in for top tips!

Are apps making us less carefree? Rory gets into the repercussions of our digital lives, from intrusive notifications to why older people are more discerning online. Listen for C2 vocab you can use today!

Is Rory's Instagram really that boring? Maria challenges him to post his food! Listen in for top-scoring language to talk about social media apps, plus tips on how to avoid common pitfalls on exam day.

Rory admits he's become a bit of a couch potato! Listen as he and Maria share Band 9 vocabulary for daily routines and explore grammar for discussing past habits and hypothetical situations.

Is a blockbuster with a big-name star guaranteed to succeed? Rory discusses why casting "non-entities" can still lead to a box office hit and shares powerful vocabulary for writing movie reviews.

Rory shares why a recent trip to the cinema was a 'real letdown.' Listen to find out which blockbuster film he thought took 'absolutely ages' and learn how to describe your own disappointing experiences.

Rory explains why he avoids high-rises but would visit a royal residence. Listen as he and Maria share stunning vocabulary for architecture and Rory cracks a dad joke about the world's tallest building!

Should parents reward their kids for everything? Rory weighs in on when praise becomes a problem and shares some C2-level grammar that Maria says is essential for a Band 9. Listen for tips on avoiding selfish kids!

Listen as Rory shares a personal story about his high-flying cousin! He reveals the idioms and transitions you need to talk about achievements and navigate tricky interview-style questions with confidence.