IELTS Listening Band 9 formula for Part 4 Fill ups:

IELTS Listening Band 9 formula for Part 4 Fill ups:

🎯 Formula Name: TNT (Translation + Note-taking Technique) 💥

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Step 1 – Translate Keywords (Before Audio)

Look at each blank and mentally translate the keywords into your first language (only for understanding, not writing in L1 in the answer).

Translation helps your brain “lock in” the meaning so you can catch synonyms/paraphrases.

💡 Example:

Blank: “The main drawback of the policy is ______”

Translate “drawback” → “problem/disadvantage” in your own language.

When you hear “negative effect” in the recording, you instantly connect it.

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Step 2 – Predict & Prepare Notes

Predict the type of answer (noun, number, date, measurement) AND possible collocations.

Prepare abbreviations you’ll use for note-taking so you don’t miss the next blank.

💡 Example:

“Population increase” → pop ↑

“Environmental impact” → env imp

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Step 3 – Note While Listening, Then Convert

Write fast notes in abbreviations while listening — don’t pause to spell perfectly.

After the audio moves on, quickly convert your abbreviation into the full correct spelling during the transfer/check stage.

💡 Example:

Audio: “The biggest disadvantage was the rise in travel costs.”

Notes: ↑ trvl cost → Final answer: increase in travel costs

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🏆 Why TNT Works for Band 9

✅ Translation locks the meaning in your brain even if synonyms are used.

✅ Notes save you from missing the next answer.

✅ Conversion stage ensures spelling accuracy.

✅ Works perfectly in fast-paced Part 4 where information is dense.

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📌 Quick Demo

Question: The new museum will be completed by ______.

Step 1: Translate “completed by” → “finished on/before”

Step 2: Predict: Date / Month / Year

Step 3: Notes: “Nov 2026” → Final Answer: November 2026

IELTS Listening Keywords & Synonyms:

🎧 IELTS Listening Keywords & Synonyms:

1. Time & Frequency

Before → prior to, earlier than, ahead of

After → following, subsequent to, later than

Soon → shortly, in a moment, in no time

Immediately → right away, at once, straightaway

Rarely → seldom, hardly ever, infrequently

Often → frequently, regularly, on many occasions

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2. Numbers & Quantities

About → approximately, roughly, around

Exactly → precisely, accurately, spot on

More than → over, in excess of, beyond

Less than → under, below, fewer than

Double → twice, twofold

Half → 50 percent, one out of two

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3. Movement & Direction

Go to → head to, make your way to, proceed to

Come back → return, get back, go back

Across → over, to the other side of

Nearby → close to, in the vicinity of, within walking distance

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4. People & Roles

Manager → supervisor, head, director

Teacher → tutor, instructor, mentor

Student → learner, pupil, trainee

Doctor → physician, medical practitioner

Customer → client, shopper, buyer

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5. Places

Library → resource centre, study hall

Canteen → cafeteria, dining hall

Parking lot → car park, garage

Main road → high street, primary street

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6. Actions

Start → begin, commence, get underway

Stop → halt, cease, come to a standstill

Increase → rise, go up, surge, climb

Decrease → fall, drop, decline, go down

Check → verify, confirm, ensure

Book → reserve, arrange, secure

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7. Weather & Environment

Rain → rainfall, showers, drizzle

Sunny → bright, clear, cloudless

Cold → chilly, frosty, freezing

Hot → warm, scorching, sweltering

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8. Opinion & Feelings

Happy → pleased, delighted, thrilled

Sad → unhappy, upset, gloomy

Worried → concerned, anxious, uneasy

Important → crucial, vital, essential

Difficult → hard, challenging, tough

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9. Travel & Transport

Plane → aircraft, flight

Bus → coach, shuttle

Car → automobile, vehicle

Ticket → pass, fare

Journey → trip, voyage, expedition

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10. Common IELTS Listening “Trick” Words

Cheap → inexpensive, low-cost, budget-friendly

Expensive → costly, high-priced, overpriced

Small → little, tiny, miniature

Big → large, huge, enormous

Old → elderly, senior, aged

Young → youthful, juvenile

100+ Must-Know IELTS Reading Synonyms

100+ Must-Know IELTS Reading Synonyms 

1. Numbers & Trends

1. Increase → rise, surge, growth, escalation

Q: “The city saw a rise in population.”

Passage: “The population surged dramatically.”

2. Decrease → drop, decline, reduction, downturn

3. Remain stable → stay constant, level off, plateau

4. Rapid → swift, quick, brisk, accelerated

5. Gradual → steady, slow, progressive

6. Dramatic → significant, considerable, substantial

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2. Time & Frequency

7. Always → invariably, consistently

8. Often → frequently, regularly

9. Rarely → seldom, hardly ever

10. Previously → formerly, earlier, in the past

11. Now → currently, at present

12. Soon → shortly, in the near future

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3. People & Groups

13. Children → youngsters, minors, juveniles

14. Young people → adolescents, teens

15. Old people → the elderly, senior citizens, pensioners

16. Experts → specialists, authorities, professionals

17. Workers → employees, staff, personnel

18. Teachers → instructors, educators, tutors

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4. Places & Geography

19. Area → region, zone, district

20. Country → nation, state

21. City → urban area, metropolis

22. Countryside → rural area, the provinces

23. Island → isle

24. Border → frontier, boundary

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5. Quantities & Amounts

25. Many → numerous, countless, a multitude of

26. Few → a handful of, a small number of, scarcely any

27. All → the whole, the entire

28. Some → several, a number of

29. Most → the majority of, almost all

30. Half → 50%, one in two

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6. Change & Development

31. Change → alter, modify, transform

32. Improve → enhance, boost, refine

33. Worsen → deteriorate, decline

34. Start → commence, initiate

35. End → terminate, conclude

36. Continue → persist, carry on

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7. Cause & Effect

37. Cause → trigger, lead to, result in

38. Result → outcome, consequence, effect

39. Because → due to, owing to, as a result of

40. So → therefore, thus, hence

41. Lead to → give rise to, bring about

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8. Opinions & Beliefs

42. Think → believe, consider, hold the view

43. Agree → consent, be in favour of

44. Disagree → oppose, be against

45. Popular → well-liked, favoured

46. Common → prevalent, widespread

47. Rare → unusual, uncommon

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9. Comparisons

48. Same → identical, alike

49. Different → distinct, unlike

50. Bigger → larger, greater

51. Smaller → lesser, reduced

52. Better → superior, improved

53. Worse → inferior, poorer

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10. Science & Environment

54. Animal → creature, fauna

55. Plant → flora, vegetation

56. Weather → climate, atmospheric conditions

57. Earth → soil, ground

58. Ocean → sea, marine environment

59. Pollution → contamination, degradation

60. Energy → power, fuel, electricity

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11. Education

61. School → educational institution, academy

62. University → higher education, tertiary education

63. Subject → discipline, field of study

64. Exam → test, assessment

65. Study → learn, acquire knowledge

66. Research → investigation, study, inquiry

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12. Business & Economy

67. Company → firm, enterprise, corporation

68. Money → currency, capital, funds

69. Price → cost, charge, fee

70. Buy → purchase, acquire

71. Sell → trade, market

72. Job → occupation, profession, career

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13. Law & Government

73. Law → legislation, regulation, rule

74. Government → administration, authorities

75. Tax → duty, levy

76. Ban → prohibit, forbid

77. Allow → permit, authorise

78. Protect → safeguard, defend

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14. Health

79. Illness → disease, sickness, ailment

80. Healthy → fit, in good shape, well

81. Cure → remedy, treatment

82. Doctor → physician, medical practitioner

83. Hospital → clinic, medical centre

84. Exercise → workout, physical activity

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15. Technology

85. Computer → PC, machine, device

86. Internet → online network, cyberspace

87. Phone → mobile, cell phone, handset

88. Software → program, application

89. Hardware → equipment, machinery

90. Robot → automated machine, android

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16. Other Common IELTS Paraphrases

91. Important → crucial, vital, essential

92. Necessary → required, needed, mandatory

93. Big → huge, massive, enormous

94. Small → tiny, miniature, slight

95. Easy → simple, straightforward

96. Difficult → hard, challenging

97. Fast → quick, rapid

98. Slow → sluggish, unhurried

99. Expensive → costly, high-priced

100. Cheap → low-cost, affordable

 Must-Know IELTS Reading Synonyms & Collocations list —

1. People & Groups

Children → youngsters, juveniles, minors, the youth

Old people → elderly, seniors, aged individuals, pensioners

People → individuals, humans, mankind, population, society

Tourists → visitors, holidaymakers, travellers, sightseers

Students → pupils, learners, scholars, candidates

Workers → employees, staff, personnel, workforce, crew

Researchers → scientists, investigators, analysts, academics

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2. Change & Trend Words

Increase → rise, surge, growth, escalation, upswing

Decrease → drop, fall, decline, downturn, reduction

Stay the same → remain constant, be stable, show no change, unchanged

Fluctuate → vary, oscillate, shift back and forth

Rapid → quick, swift, fast, prompt

Gradual → slow, steady, progressive, step-by-step

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3. Time & Frequency

Always → invariably, at all times, consistently

Often → frequently, regularly, repeatedly

Sometimes → occasionally, from time to time, now and then

Rarely → seldom, hardly ever, infrequently

Never → not at all, in no instance, under no circumstances

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4. Cause & Effect

Cause → lead to, bring about, result in, provoke, trigger

Effect → impact, influence, consequence, outcome

Because of → due to, owing to, on account of, as a result of

Therefore → thus, hence, for that reason

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5. Comparison & Contrast

Similar → alike, comparable, much the same, resembling

Different → dissimilar, distinct, unlike, varied

Better → superior, preferable, more desirable

Worse → inferior, less favourable, substandard

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6. Amounts & Numbers

Many → numerous, a large number of, countless, several

Few → a small number of, hardly any, a handful of

All → the whole, entire, every

Some → a certain amount of, part of, a portion of

None → zero, no one, nobody

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7. Locations & Places

City → urban area, metropolitan region, municipality

Countryside → rural area, agricultural land, farmland

Ocean → sea, marine environment, coastal waters

Forest → woodland, jungle, tropical canopy

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8. Opinions & Attitudes

Believe → think, hold the view, be of the opinion

Support → back, endorse, advocate

Oppose → reject, resist, be against

Agree → concur, share the opinion, be in accord

Disagree → differ, dispute, object to

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9. Common IELTS Reading Collocations

Heavy rain → torrential rain

Strong wind → gale-force wind

High temperature → soaring temperature

Fast growth → rapid expansion

Strict rules → stringent regulations

Serious problem → grave issue

Big change → major shift

Important role → pivotal role

Increase sharply → rise dramatically

Decline slowly → drop gradually

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10. Reading Trap Synonyms (must be recognised but not always identical in meaning)

Aim → objective, purpose, goal, target

Method → technique, approach, process

Benefit → advantage, gain, positive effect

Risk → danger, hazard, threat

Limit → restriction, boundary, constraint

Law → legislation, regulation, statute

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Example

Question:

"Tourism in coastal towns has increased dramatically."

Passage:

"Visitor numbers to seaside resorts have surged in recent years."

✅ Spotting tourism → visitor numbers and coastal towns → seaside resorts is key to finding the answer.

15 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Templates + Band 9 Samples

📌 15 IELTS Speaking Part 1 Templates + Band 9 Samples:

1. How often do you…?

Q: How often do you go shopping?

Template:

“Most of the time, I [activity] around [frequency], usually when [situation]. It’s more about [personal reason] than just the activity itself.”

Band 9:

“Most of the time, I pop into stores twice a month, usually when there’s a new collection or special offer. It’s more about enjoying the atmosphere than buying something.”

2. When did you last…?

Q: When did you last visit the beach?

Template:

“It was about [time period] ago, when I [short story]. That trip really stood out because [reason].”

Band 9:

“It was about six months ago, when I escaped to a coastal town for a weekend of fresh air and peace. That trip really stood out because the sunsets were unreal.”

3. Have you ever…?

Q: Have you ever tried surfing?

Template:

“Once, I gave it a go and it was [adjective]. I still remember [specific detail] which made it unforgettable.”

Band 9:

“Once, I gave it a go and it was exhilarating. I still remember tumbling into the waves more times than I could count, which made me laugh at myself.”

4. Is it common in your country to…?

Q: Is it common in your country to eat street food?

Template:

“In my country, it’s pretty [adjective], especially during [time/situation]. People tend to [habit/example], which makes it part of our culture.”

Band 9:

“In my country, it’s pretty normal, especially during late-night hangouts, when friends gather at roadside food stalls. It’s almost a ritual after a long day.”

5. What kind of… do you like?

Q: What kind of movies do you like?

Template:

“I’ve always been drawn to [type] because [reason]. They give me [specific feeling/benefit].”

Band 9:

“I’ve always been drawn to gripping thrillers because they keep me hooked from start to finish. They give me the same rush as solving a puzzle.”

6. Why do you…?

Q: Why do you enjoy painting?

Template:

“For me, it’s all about [reason]. It also helps me [benefit] in ways other hobbies can’t.”

Band 9:

“For me, it’s all about unwinding after a hectic day. It also helps me express emotions I can’t easily put into words.”

7. Where do you usually…?

Q: Where do you usually eat out?

Template:

“Most often, I head to [place] because [reason]. The experience there always feels [adjective].”

Band 9:

“Most often, I head to a small family-run café because the food feels cooked with love. The atmosphere always feels like home.”

8. Do you usually…?

Q: Do you usually exercise in the morning?

Template:

“Generally, I [activity] at that time because [reason]. It sets the tone for the rest of my day.”

Band 9:

“Generally, I hit the gym early in the day because it gives me a burst of energy. It sets a positive tone for everything that follows.”

9. What do you usually do when…?

Q: What do you usually do when it rains?

Template:

“Whenever that happens, I tend to [activity], as it’s the best way to [benefit]. It turns the day into something special.”

Band 9:

“Whenever that happens, I tend to curl up indoors with a novel, as it’s the best way to relax. It turns gloomy weather into a cosy retreat.”

10. What will you do if…?

Q: What will you do if you get a day off tomorrow?

Template:

“If that’s the case, I’ll probably [activity] because [reason]. It’s the perfect chance to [extra benefit].”

Band 9:

“If that’s the case, I’ll probably spend the day exploring new cafés because I love finding hidden gems. It’s the perfect excuse to slow down.”

11. Do you remember…?

Q: Do you remember your first day at school?

Template:

“That day is still fresh in my mind — [short detail + feeling]. It shaped how I felt about [topic] for years.”

Band 9:

“That day is still fresh in my mind — I clung to my mother’s hand, half-excited and half-terrified. It shaped how I approached new places for years.”

12. Would you rather… or…?

Q: Would you rather read a book or watch a film?

Template:

“Given the choice, I’d go for [option A] because [reason]. It feels more [adjective] than the alternative.”

Band 9:

“Given the choice, I’d go for a book because I like imagining the scenes my way. It feels more personal than watching someone else’s vision.”

13. Has your… changed over time?

Q: Has your taste in music changed over time?

Template:

“It definitely has — I used to [past habit], but now I [present habit] because [reason]. The shift has been [adjective].”

Band 9:

“It definitely has — I used to blast pop all day, but now I lean towards soft jazz for its calm. The shift has been refreshing.”

14. How important is… to you?

Q: How important is exercise to you?

Template:

“It’s incredibly [adjective] for me because [reason]. Without it, I feel [negative effect].”

Band 9:

“It’s incredibly vital for me because it keeps my body and mind sharp. Without it, I feel sluggish and less focused.”

15. Do you think… will change in the future?

Q: Do you think shopping habits will change in the future?

Template:

“Chances are, they will, mainly because [reason]. The pace of change is already [adjective].”

Band 9:

“Chances are, they will, mainly because technology is making online shopping easier than ever. The pace of change is already astonishing.”