IELTS Pronunciation: Comparatives and superlatives in fluent speech

Technique

How to say it

1
Keep your lips relaxed and jaw slightly open to produce '-er' as an unstressed schwa /ə/ without emphasising the ending.
2
Pronounce '-est' with a short, weak vowel /ɪst/, ensuring the primary stress stays entirely on the root syllable.
3
Insert a smooth linking /r/ when an '-er' ending is immediately followed by a word starting with a vowel sound.
4
Articulate the final consonant cluster in '-est' cleanly before a vowel, but avoid over-stressing the suffix.

8 pairs

Minimal pairs

Say each pair aloud. If the two words sound the same when you record yourself, slow down and go back to the steps above.

fast /fɑːst//faster /ˈfɑːstə/
faster /ˈfɑːstə//fastest /ˈfɑːstɪst/
bright /braɪt//brighter /ˈbraɪtə/
brighter /ˈbraɪtə//brightest /ˈbraɪtɪst/
cheap /tʃiːp//cheaper /ˈtʃiːpə/
cheaper /ˈtʃiːpə//cheapest /ˈtʃiːpɪst/
tough /tʌf//tougher /ˈtʌfə/
tougher /ˈtʌfə//toughest /ˈtʌfɪst/

12 sentences

Practice lines from IELTS-style answers

1
It is far cheaper to rent a small flat nearer the city centre.
weak schwa /ə/ in cheaper and nearer
2
My current job is certainly busier and much more demanding than my previous one.
short unstressed /i.ə/ in busier
3
To be honest, that was the hardest exam I have ever taken.
unstressed /ɪst/ on hardest
4
Public transport is faster and cleaner now than it used to be.
linking /r/ in faster‿and cleaner
5
Living in a smaller town is significantly calmer and safer for young families.
weak /ə/ endings on smaller, calmer, and safer
6
The weather gets hotter and drier during the peak summer months.
linking /r/ in hotter‿and drier
7
I think that was the smartest decision I have made in my career.
short weak /ɪst/ in smartest
8
Electric vehicles are becoming cheaper and far easier to charge across the country.
linking /r/ in cheaper‿and easier
9
The countryside is definitely quietest in winter, when tourism completely drops off.
unstressed suffix /ɪst/ on quietest
10
Working remotely makes my schedule much simpler and far more flexible.
neutral schwa /ə/ on simpler
11
This is probably the strictest rule that our local council has introduced.
consonant blend /ktɪst/ in strictest
12
My older brother is usually quicker at picking up new practical skills.
weak /ə/ endings on older and quicker

Say it in a real answer

Record an IELTS Speaking answer and get a Pronunciation band from the AI examiner, with the exact words that were hard to understand.

Watch out

Common mistakes

→Over-pronouncing '-er' as a strong, fully stressed vowel rather than a light schwa /ə/.
→Stressing '-est' with a heavy /est/ sound instead of reducing it to an unstressed /ɪst/.
→Failing to use a linking /r/ when an '-er' adjective is followed by a vowel sound.

In the exam: Use natural weak forms on comparative and superlative endings when discussing changes over time in Part 3 to demonstrate effortless rhythm.

Frequently asked questions

How much does pronunciation count in IELTS Speaking?+

A quarter of your Speaking band. Examiners judge how easy you are to understand and how well you use features like stress, rhythm and intonation, not whether you sound British or American.

Do I need a native accent for Band 8?+

No. An accent is fine at every band. What matters is that individual sounds are clear, stress falls on the right syllables and your intonation helps the listener follow you.

How should I practise these lines?+

Read each line slowly, then at natural speed, then record yourself and compare. Say the sentences in a real answer next, because examiners hear your pronunciation while you think, not while you read.

Keep practising

More word endings practice

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