Do you like rich foods?
This is a 2-part episode with vocabulary and strategies for talking about food on IELTS.
In this Part 2 we share higher-scoring adjectives to describe different foods.
If you are asked about food on IELTS speaking, you need topic-specific vocabulary.
You can’t just describe food as good or bad.
Today’s adjectives are less common and higher scoring.
#1: Rich
This means strong, heavy flavor often containing butter, cream, or chocolate.
- The dessert was extremely rich, so I could only eat a small portion.
- The sauce was very rich because it was cooked slowly with butter and herbs.
#2: Bland
Describing food as bland means it lacks flavor.
- The soup tasted a little bland, so I added some salt and pepper.
- It’s always disappointing when food is bland and flavorless.
#3 Savory
This means food is salty or spicy rather than sweet.
- For breakfast I usually prefer something savory, like eggs or toast.
- The pie had a savory filling made with vegetables and cheese.
#4: Aromatic
This adjective means something has a pleasant smell.
- The rice was very aromatic after being cooked with herbs and spices.
- The kitchen smelled amazing when the chef prepared the aromatic soup.
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#5: Juicy
Foods that are juicy are full of liquid and not dry.
- I love a burger that’s juicy and full of flavor.
- Where I grew up, we could pick fresh peaches from local trees that were incredibly juicy.
#6: Tender
Tender foods are soft and easy to chew.
We often use this to describe the texture of meat.
- The meat was very tender after being slow-cooked for several hours.
- Good barbecue should be both tender and flavorful.
#7: Overpowering
This means a flavor that is too strong.
- The garlic flavor was slightly overpowering.
- Sometimes strong spices can become overpowering if they aren’t balanced properly.
Sample answers
Be sure to listen to the podcast episode for band 9 answers to these questions:
- What is one of your favorite foods?
- Are there any foods you do not like?
Don’t miss Part 1!
In Part 1 of this series, we shared strategies for the topic of food on IELTS Speaking.
If you missed it, you can hear it at IE 1588: If You Love Food, You’ll Love This Episode!
These two episodes will give you everything you need for high scores on these questions!
Takeaway
The topic of food is extremely common on IELTS.
Your vocabulary scores will be low if you describe food as “good” or “bad.”
Instead, use the vocabulary from this series to boost your scores!
Sign up for 3 Keys IELTS for strategies for every part of the exam!
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Share it with us in the comments below.
