✦ IELTS Topic: Weather – 10 Useful Phrases

1. Bitterly cold
   e.g., It was bitterly cold last night — well below freezing.

2. Scorching hot
   e.g., It gets scorching hot here in August — almost unbearable.

3. Mild and pleasant
   e.g., Spring is usually mild and pleasant in this part of the country.

4. Pouring with rain
   e.g., We couldn’t go outside because it was pouring with rain.

5. Overcast skies
   e.g., The whole day was gloomy with overcast skies.

6. A light breeze
   e.g., A light breeze made the walk more enjoyable despite the heat.

7. Thunderstorm rolling in
   e.g., We stayed indoors as a thunderstorm was rolling in.

8. Changeable weather
   e.g., The weather in the mountains is very changeable — sunny one minute, raining the next.

9. Freezing fog
   e.g., Driving was dangerous this morning because of freezing fog.

10. A spell of sunshine
    e.g., After days of rain, we finally had a spell of sunshine.

---

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice Test – Weather

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. What’s the weather like where you live?

2. Do you prefer hot or cold weather?

3. What do you usually do on rainy days?

4. How does weather affect your mood?

5. Have you ever experienced extreme weather?

---

Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a time when the weather affected your plans.
You should say:

• what the weather was like

• what your plans were

• what you did instead
  and explain how you felt about it.

---

✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. It’s usually mild and pleasant, though we do get some overcast skies in winter.
2. I prefer warm weather, but not when it’s scorching hot.
3. On rainy days — especially when it’s pouring with rain — I like to stay indoors and read.
4. Weather definitely affects my mood. A spell of sunshine lifts my spirits.
5. Yes, once I got stuck in a thunderstorm while hiking. It was scary!

---

Part 2 Sample Answer

Last autumn, my friends and I planned to have a picnic in the park. The forecast said it would be mild and pleasant, but just as we arrived, it started pouring with rain.

Within minutes, the sky turned dark and overcast, and we could see a thunderstorm rolling in from the west. It wasn’t safe to stay outside, so we packed up and went to a café instead.

Although we were disappointed, we made the best of it. I remember saying how changeable the weather can be in our city — you never know what to expect.

---

✦ Comprehension Test: Weather Vocabulary

1. "It was bitterly cold last night — well below freezing."
Q: How cold was it?

2. "It gets scorching hot here in August — almost unbearable."
Q: What is the summer like?

3. "Spring is usually mild and pleasant in this part of the country."
Q: How is spring described?

4. "We couldn’t go outside because it was pouring with rain."
Q: Why did they stay indoors?

5. "The whole day was gloomy with overcast skies."
Q: What was the sky like?

6. "A light breeze made the walk more enjoyable despite the heat."
Q: What helped make the walk better?

7. "We stayed indoors as a thunderstorm was rolling in."
Q: Why did they avoid going out?

8. "The weather in the mountains is very changeable — sunny one minute, raining the next."
Q: What’s the weather like in the mountains?

9. "Driving was dangerous this morning because of freezing fog."
Q: What made driving dangerous?

10. "After days of rain, we finally had a spell of sunshine."
Q: What happened after several rainy days?

---

✦ Answer Key

1. Extremely cold, below zero.

2. Very hot and uncomfortable.

3. Nice and comfortable.

4. Because of heavy rain.

5. Cloudy and grey.

6. A soft wind cooled things down.

7. Because of the approaching storm.

8. It changes quickly and unexpectedly.

9. The fog was icy and thick.

10. The sun came out for a while.