Upgrade Your Language for IELTS and CELPIP Speaking
In this blog, we explore how using strong adjectives at the right moments can make your IELTS or CELPIP speaking answers more expressive, natural, and impactful — helping you impress examiners and boost your score.
Here’s what you’ll find in this blog:
- Lists of strong adjectives for feelings, physical states, size, quality, and more
- Guidance on correct adverbs to use with strong adjectives (absolutely, totally, utterly)
- Sample IELTS and CELPIP answers showing simple vs. emphatic adjectives in action
- Tips for balancing regular and strong adjectives to sound natural and fluent
In IELTS and CELPIP Speaking, high scores don’t come from using “big” words all the time. They come from using the right words at the right moment.
Words like tired, busy, happy, and interesting are perfectly natural and completely acceptable in the exam. However, strong candidates know when to upgrade their language to be more precise or more emphatic. By occasionally replacing a neutral adjective with a strong (extreme) adjective, you can add impact to your answer and show the examiner that you have flexibility and control over your vocabulary.
Compare these two responses:
I was very tired after work.
I was absolutely exhausted after a twelve-hour shift.
The second answer doesn’t just sound stronger — it sounds intentional. Strong adjectives work best when they are saved for key moments, rather than used constantly. This balance helps you sound natural, fluent, and expressive, without going overboard.
In this post, you’ll learn how to combine regular adjectives with strong adjectives effectively, using the correct adverbs — exactly the kind of lexical control that IELTS and CELPIP examiners reward.
The Key Rule Examiners Expect You to Know
Weak adjectives → use very / really / quite
Strong (extreme) adjectives → use absolutely / completely / totally / utterly
Feelings & Physical States
| Weak Version | Upgraded Version |
| very tired | absolutely exhausted |
| very hungry | absolutely starving |
| very thirsty | completely parched |
| very scared | utterly terrified |
| very angry | absolutely furious |
| very happy | absolutely delighted / totally thrilled |
| very sad | completely devastated |
| very surprised | absolutely astonished |
Size, Temperature & Degree
| Weak Version | Upgraded Version |
| very big | absolutely huge / totally enormous |
| very small | absolutely tiny / completely minuscule |
| very hot | absolutely boiling |
| very cold | absolutely freezing |
| very full | completely stuffed |
| very busy | totally swamped |
| very loud | absolutely deafening |
Quality & Evaluation
|
Weak Version |
Upgraded Version |
| very good | absolutely excellent / outstanding |
| very bad | absolutely awful / utterly terrible |
| very interesting | absolutely fascinating |
| very boring | utterly tedious |
| very important | absolutely crucial / essential |
| very difficult | extremely challenging / virtually impossible |
| very easy | absolutely effortless |
| very expensive | utterly extortionate |
Below is a single IELTS/CELPIP Speaking Part 2 task, followed by two sample answers:
- Sample A: mostly simple / neutral adjectives (≈ Band 6–6.5)
- Sample B: controlled use of strong adjectives at key moments (≈ Band 7.5–8)
IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Sample Task
Describe a time when you were very busy.
You should say:
- When this was
- What made you busy
- How you felt about it
And explain whether it was a positive or negative experience
Sample Answer A
(Mostly Simple Adjectives – Natural but Limited Range)
A few months ago, I was very busy at work because we were short-staffed and had several deadlines at the same time. I work in a fairly demanding job, and during that period I had to work longer hours than usual.
Because of this, I felt very tired most days and didn’t have much free time. I was also quite stressed because I didn’t want to make mistakes or fall behind. However, I tried to stay organized and focused, which helped me manage my workload.
In the end, it was a difficult period, but it was also a good learning experience. Even though I was very busy, I felt proud of myself for handling the situation reasonably well.
Why this works (but is limited):
● Clear and coherent
● Natural use of very / quite
● Vocabulary is accurate but not especially expressive
Sample Answer B
(Upgraded with Strong Adjectives at Key Moments)
A few months ago, I went through an extremely busy period at work when we were short-staffed and facing several tight deadlines at the same time. My job can be demanding, but that particular week was on another level.
I was working long hours almost every day, and by the end of the week I was absolutely exhausted. I barely had time to relax, and I felt completely drained, both physically and mentally. At times, the pressure was intense, as I didn’t want to let my team down.
That said, once everything was finished, I felt genuinely proud of how I handled it. Although it was a challenging experience, it turned out to be surprisingly positive because it showed me that I can cope well under pressure.
Why this scores higher:
● Strong adjectives are used selectively, not constantly
● Emphatic language appears at emotional peaks (absolutely exhausted, completely drained)
● Clear control over tone and emphasis — very examiner-friendly
Key Takeaways
You don’t need strong adjectives in every sentence. Use simple adjectives for background information, and upgrade your language when you describe:
● feelings
● pressure
● consequences
● emotional reactions
That contrast is what makes your speaking sound natural, fluent, and controlled — exactly what IELTS and CELPIP examiners are listening for.
If you would like to have your speaking evaluated by an expert IELTS/CELPIP examiner, call us today at 416-893-2330.
Upgrade Your Language for IELTS and CELPIP Speaking
Written by Larry Fedorowick
