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IELTS Speaking Vocabulary: Intelligent People
Intelligence is a popular topic for Part 2 and Part 3 of IELTS Speaking.
First of all, let’s look at some vocabulary you can use to talk about this topic, including useful synonyms.
All of the following are synonyms of ‘intelligent’, but with some slightly different usage and connotations.
Synonyms
- Intelligent (adj.) – usually used to talk about people
Collocations: Highly, incredibly, remarkably
Einstein was a highly intelligent man
- Ingenious (adj.) – usually used to talk about things, ideas, ways…
That’s an ingenious idea
He has found an ingenious way of learning English
(Note: We also have the word ‘genius’ pronounced the same way and meaning a very intelligent person, but it is a noun.)
- Clever (adj.) – to talk about people and things
My daughter is so clever, she passed all her exams!
I like how you solved this problem, that was very clever of you
He is so annoying, he is a real clever clogs!
A clever clogs is a person who shows off their intelligence and can be quite annoying. So, we use this word in a slightly negative way, and often to add humour.
Next, we have more synonyms and all of these can mean ‘intelligent’ describing people, but these words also have a second unrelated meaning.
- Smart (adj.) Can also mean ‘well-dressed’
- Sharp (adj.) Can also mean ‘pointed’
- Bright (adj.) Can also mean ‘shiny’
- Quick (adj.) Can also mean ‘fast’
- Quick on the uptake = quick to answer and solve problems
Tom is a real smart student, he is so quick on the uptake.
Now, the following three words are used to describe a slightly different kind of intelligence. This is not so much about being a good student, but about being good at solving problems in real life.
- Resourceful (adj.)
I would never have thought of doing that, that’s a great idea, you are so resourceful.
- Street-wise (adj.)
Tom Selby, from the series ‘Peak Blinders’, is a street wise leader and he is really resourceful when it comes to solving the many problems life throws at him.
- Astute (adj.) = able to notice and understand things
Collocations: Financially, politically, very
Elon Musk is an astute businessman
Finally, we have two words that mean intelligent, but they are slightly negative in that they suggest someone solves problems in a smart way but maybe in a dishonest way or a way that is harmful to others.
- Crafty (adj.)
- Cunning (adj.)
That is a crafty way of avoiding tax payments, but I am not sure it is legal.
Be careful with Jack, he is cunning and can’t be trusted.
IELTS Speaking Ideas: Different kinds of Intelligence
When talking about intelligence, we tend to refer to academic intelligence. We talk about people who are good at studying, passing exams and so on.
However, there are different kinds of intelligence.
For example, many business people drop out of school, but they are very successful in business because they are intelligent in different ways.
Maybe they are good with people, or they know how to persuade and influence others.
Below we have some different kinds of intelligence that you can talk about for this topic in IELTS Speaking.
Make a note of the collocations and meanings
- Innate intelligence
Intelligence you are born with (inherit), from your parents’ genetics.
- Artificial intelligence
Read more about this in a recent live lesson on Technology
- Academic intelligence
Good at studying
- Emotional intelligence
Good at recognising and handling your emotions
- Multiple intelligences
These were made popular by Howard Gardner and including the following kinds of intelligence,
- Visual-spatial
- Linguistic-verbal
- Interpersonal
- Intrapersonal
- Logical-mathematical
- Musical
- Bodily-kinaesthetic
- Naturalistic
Read more about Multiple Intelligences here.
Find out what kind of intelligence you have by trying this test
IELTS Speaking Question about Intelligence
A common but complicated question you may hear in IELTS Speaking on this topic of intelligent people is the following:
Is intelligence innate or is it something we can develop?
Here below, you have some useful phrases you could use to start your answer.
- It depends what kind of intelligence you are talking about…
- This is the old nature versus nurture debate…I think…
- I guess intelligence is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors…
- I think intelligence is something we inherit from our parents
- Studies with identical twins show intelligence is largely genetic
- I read somewhere that intelligence can be learned
- Academic intelligence is something we can develop
- Academic intelligence is something that can be developed
IELTS Speaking: Idioms to talk about intelligence
Here are a selection of useful idioms you could use when discussing this topic.
Don’t overuse idioms in the IELTS Speaking test.
Just use a few, that should be fine.
The following two idioms mean to be intelligent or smart
- To be as sharp as a knife
A president needs to be as sharp as a knife
- To be as bright as a button
My friend does so well at school, he is as bright as a button
- To be on the ball = to be astute, quick to react.
Katie gave a good answer to that difficult question, she was really on the ball
- To be the brains behind something = to be the one responsible for it
You should thank Katie, she is the brains behind this great idea
- To suffer fools lightly = to be patient with stupid people
My mother-in-law doesn’t suffer fools lightly
- To be born yesterday = to be gullible and naive
My boss knew this plan wouldn’t work, he wasn’t born yesterday
- To miss a trick = to know everything that is happening
My boss knows what everyone should be working on. He doesn’t miss a trick.
- To be out of one’s depth = to not know what to do or how to do something
This class is too difficult, I’m out of my depth
Finally, the following idioms all mean I don’t understand something.
- I can’t get my head around it
- It’s all Greek to me
- I can’t make head or tail of it
- I can’t make heads or tails of it
More Free Lessons
If you liked this lesson, leave a comment below!
There are more lessons you can follow in the links below too.
MOVIES in IELTS Speaking. Learn the essential vocabulary for this topic, as well as how to talk about the different types of film.
SCIENCE in IELTS Speaking. Learn vocabulary and idioms to talk about different branches of science you like and get ideas to talk about.
THE INTERNET in IELTS Speaking. Vocabulary and collocations to talk about The Internet.
Thank you so much, Keith! Your lessons are brilliant, full of useful vocab and amazing idioms! What I personally like most of all, you support all the English learners, motivate us and help build positive mindset. I’m looking forward to watching your next live lesson and I’m eternally grateful for all your efforts and work and your passion to prepare this second to none lessons!
Thank you so much Maria. It is my pleasure to prepare the lessons and to help so many students across the globe!
I always appreciate your lessons.
They are very useful and help us to improve the language in a very pleasent way.
Thanks Daniela – I am glad you enjoy the lessons!
Thank you so much Mr O’Hare for this lavish information. It’s extremely useful and worthy to be familiar with. You must be doing a tough job to prepare all this interesting and relevant stuff on a silver platter ( hope the use of this idiom is right ) You know what, Keith ? You are the apple of my eye 🍎 😁