IELTS Speaking: Towns and Cities
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.
Vocabulary/ Expressions
fashionable boutiques: (noun)
fashionable clothes shops
My wife usually buys clothes from Fashionable boutiques.
to get around: (verb)
to travel around
I just bought a new bike in order to get around town.
inner-city: (noun)
the central part of a city where people live and where conditions are often poor
My friends live in the inner-city.
in the suburbs: (noun)
the outer area of large towns and cities where people live
I have been living in the suburbs for three years now.
lively bars/restaurants:(noun)
bars or restaurants with a good atmosphere
My wife and I usually go to restaurants during the weekends.
local facilities: (noun)
local buildings or services serving the public
People should show their support and use the local facilities in their cities.
office block:(noun)
a large building that contains offices
There are many office blocks on my street where I live.
places of interest: (noun)
buildings or places that have a particular interest for visitors
There are a few places of interest where tourists like to visit in my city.
public spaces:(noun)
areas in a town or city that are open to the public
Public spaces should always be kept clean and tidy at all times.
public transport system: (noun)
public vehicles such as buses and trains that operate by transporting people and goods.
I think the public transportation system in my city is very good.
shopping center: (noun)
an area consisting of multiple shops
My family and I usually visit the shopping centers at the weekend in our free time.
shopping malls: (noun)
large indoor shopping centers
There are a lot of shopping malls around my City that are open during the holidays.
tourist attraction:(noun)
a place of interest to tourists
The Eiffel Tower is a popular tourist attraction in paris France.
traffic congestion: (noun)
heavy traffic making it difficult to move around a town or city
The biggest problems with big cities are the traffic congestion problems during rush hour.
Downtown: (noun)
the main business district of a city or town
The main city Center is in the down town area.
Residential area: (adj + noun)
an area in a city or town where private homes are located; usually no offices or factories
The residential areas are very safe in my part of town.
Industrial area: (adj + noun)
an area in a city or town where there are business and factories, usually no private homes
There is a very large industrial area very close to my City.
Suburb: (noun)
an outlying part of a city or town
My friends have recently moved to the suburb area as it is very quiet there, and they enjoy the tranquility.
Rural : (adjective)
of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture or village
Many people who live in the bigger cities come from rural areas.
Cost of living: (noun)
the amount of money a person needs to live
The cost of living in London is very high compared to most other cities in the UK.
Hustle and bustle :(idiom)
busy and noisy
Some people enjoy the hustle and the bustle of the city, instead of the quiet life of the country side.
Out in the sticks :(idiom)
to live in a rural or remote area; countryside, village
There are a lot of poor people who live out in the sticks as they do not have enough money to afford the high costs.
PART 1 QUESTIONS
Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
In the first part, the examiner will ask you a number of general questions
Topic
Let’s discuss your home town
What is it like where you live?
Where is your hometown located?
Do you like living in a city or town?
Is it better to live in the heart (City Center) of the city or on the outskirts?
Let’s talk about activities a person can do in your home town
Do you get many tourists visiting your area?
What is your city or town known for (famous for)?
Are there Street Markets in your town?
What do people in your town do for entertainment?
Let’s talk about how to get around your home town/city
Is it easy to travel around your hometown?
What is the most popular means of transportation in your home town?
Do you use a map to get around in your city?
Do you prefer parks with open spaces or parks with lots of facilities?
PART 2 QUESTIONS
Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
You will have 1 minute to prepare to speak, and then you will talk for 2 minutes, during which the examiner will not speak.
Part 2 – sample task card
Sample A
Part 2 Questions
Describe your home town.
You should say:
Where it is located
What it looks like (Describe the place)
What is special about it
How it compares to other cities in the world
Sample B
Part 2 Questions
Describe an interesting town or city in your country that visitors might enjoy.
You should say:
what the place is called
where the place is
what the facilities are like and say why visitors might enjoy going there.
Sample C
Part 2 Questions
Describe a city or town you would like to visit (in your own country or internationally).
You should say:
what’s the name of the city or town
where’s it located
what you would like to see and do there
and explain why you would like to visit this city
PART 3 QUESTIONS
Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
In the last part, you will talk with the examiner about issues related to the topic on the card.
In what ways can your hometown be improved?
Why do you think people not living in their hometowns like going back to visit?
What are the advantages of living in a city rather than a town?
In your experience are city centers usually a very busy place in your Home town or city?
What are some of the benefits of living in the city as opposed to a town or the countryside?
Why do some people prefer to live in a city and others in a town?
How can traffic be reduced in a city?
Is a city more dangerous than a town?
How can the government help make cities and towns safer?
