WIKION

IELTS Speaking Forecast · Q3 2026 · September–December

Cars and Transport

This topic is part of the Part 1 forecast set for Q3 2026 (September–December). Below are the questions that keep coming up, each with an original Band 9 model answer by WIKION.

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Questions & Band 9 answers

Do you often travel by car?
Band 9 sample

Yeah, pretty much every day, actually. I rely on my car to get to work because the office is out in the suburbs and there's no direct bus route, so driving just saves me a ton of hassle. That said, if I'm heading into the city centre, I'll usually leave the car at home and hop on the metro instead, since parking downtown is an absolute nightmare.

Do you prefer being a driver or a passenger? Why?
Band 9 sample

Honestly, I much prefer being a passenger. When someone else is behind the wheel, I can just kick back, put on a podcast or stare out the window, whereas driving means I have to stay switched on the whole time. I remember on a road trip last summer, my friend did all the driving and I got to soak in the scenery the entire way, and it was honestly the most relaxing part of the whole holiday.

Do you prefer travelling by car or by public transport? Why?
Band 9 sample

It really depends on the situation, but on balance I'd lean towards the car for the sheer convenience of it. With public transport you're at the mercy of timetables and it can get unbearably packed during rush hour, whereas in my own car I can leave whenever I like and go door to door. Having said that, for long distances I'd take a train any day, because I can actually get some work done instead of being stuck staring at the road.

Is the colour of a car important to you?
Band 9 sample

Not hugely, to be honest, though I wouldn't say it's completely irrelevant either. For me, things like reliability and fuel economy come way ahead of the colour, but if I had a free choice I'd probably steer clear of anything too flashy and go for something neutral like white or grey, mainly because it doesn't show the dirt as much and it's easier to resell down the line.

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