IELTS - SPEAKING 2023 with complete solution

. Do you use public transport? Why / why not? 2. Which type of public transport do you prefer? Why? 3. How good is the public transport where you live? 4. Do you think people should use public transport more? 5. Why / why not? 1) Do you use public transport? Why / why not? These days I mostly drive, and the main reason is that my usual journeys are much faster by car. For example, the half-hour drive that I do twice a week would take me three times as long by train and bus. 2) Which type of public transport do you prefer? Why? I definitely prefer the train. I like being able to stroll up and down, and on some trains I can book a seat with a table and a socket, so that I can do some work. 3) How good is the public transport where you live? It's quite good. There's a train station not far from my house, and it's a direct line straight into the city centre. There are lots of bus routes too, and there's even a tram network in the centre of Manchester. 4) Do you think people should use public transport more? Why / why not? Yes, as long as it's convenient for them. Public transport is obviously more environmentally friendly than private cars, so we could reduce air pollution by using it more. 1. In your country, what possessions are considered "status symbols"? 2. Do you think we place too much importance on possessions? 3. Do you think things were different 50 years ago? 1) In your country, what possessions are considered "status symbols"? 2) Do you think we place too much importance on possessions? 3) Do you think things were different 50 years ago? 1) Answer, examples, explain: The typical status symbols in my country are things like big houses, expensive luxury cars or sports cars, and anything made by certain brands. For example, a new Ferrari or a Rolls Royce or a Rolex watch would definitely be considered status symbols. I suppose the reason why these possessions are seen in this way is because you have to be very wealthy to buy them, so they show other people that their owner is rich and successful. 2) Answer, explain, example: Probably, yes. Many people are obsessed with showing off their new mobile phone or wearing the latest fashions. I think it's a problem for teenagers because there's a lot of peer pressure to follow fashion or buy the latest gadget that their friends have got. 3) Answer, example, further explanation: Yes, maybe people were less materialistic, and I think they bought things that lasted longer. For example, my grandparents always talked about how they repaired things rather than throwing them away. Maybe brands and advertising weren't as powerful as they are now. Describe a plant, flower or tree that is famous or important in your country. You should say - what type of plant, flower or tree it is - where it grows or is usually seen - how it is used in your country - and why it is famous or important - I'm going to talk about oak trees, and I'll also describe a specific example of a famous oak tree called the Major Oak. This is a huge tree in Sherwood Forest; it's thought to be around 1000 years old, and I'd probably say that it's the most impressive tree that I've ever seen. - Oaks are very common in England; they can be seen in fields and areas of woodland in the countryside, but they are also commonly found in parks and gardens in towns and cities. The Major Oak is in Sherwood Forest, which is near Nottingham. It stands out from the other oak trees because its trunk and branches are so wide and thick. - The wood from oak trees is used to make furniture; for example, I have an oak table, wardrobe and various other pieces of oak furniture at home. Oak is a strong and reliable wood that has traditionally been used in construction, for beams and other parts of the framework of houses and other buildings. The Major Oak obviously hasn't been used in this way; it's a tourist attraction that people visit and marvel at. For example, I went to see it on a school trip as a child. - The oak tree is important in England because it symbolises history, strength and reliability - probably because of its traditional role in construction. The Major Oak is famous for a completely different reason: it was supposedly Robin Hood's hideout, so it has a kind of legendary or mythical status because of the stories that are associated with it. For this reason, and because of its age and unusual size, the Major Oak has become known as Britain's favourite tree. Describe a place of entertainment (e.g. theatre, cinema, sports centre) that you would like to have where you live. You should say - what this place would be - where it should be - whom it would be for, or who would use it - and why you think this place of entertainment is needed - The place of entertainment that I wish we had close to where I live is a sports centre. My ideal sports centre would have a gym, swimming pool, indoor and outdoor football pitches, courts for tennis, badminton and squash, and an all-purpose area for things like gymnastics and circuit training. - I can think of the perfect place for this facility: There's a disused piece of land just down the road from where I live, where an old warehouse was knocked down. It's near to the main road and the train station, so it would be easy for people to get to. There are plans to build houses on this plot of land, but I think a sports centre would be much better for local residents. - The good thing about a sports centre is that everyone can use it. There could be sports lessons and clubs for children and teenagers - things like swimming lessons and football team practice sessions. I'm sure many adults in my local area would join the gym, use the pool, and book the courts for games of tennis or badminton. The centre could even hold sports events, such as competitions, that would attract spectators as well as participants. - I think we need a good sports centre where I live because people currently have to travel to the next town if they want to find some of the facilities, activities, lessons and clubs that I've mentioned. I think a sports complex would give young people, in particular, something fun and productive to do in the evening and at weekends. Playing sport keeps people healthy and makes them feel happy, so I think a sports centre would brighten up my local area and improve our quality of life. part 1 speaking technique Did you notice how I answered each question in yesterday's lesson? Here's the first part of each of the four answers: - No, not at all. - Yes, definitely. - Yes, unfortunately it does. - Yes, many times. After answering with these short phrases, I then explained my answers in more detail, using full sentences. I think this is a nice technique that you could try. Start with a short "yes or no" answer (e.g. yes I do, no we don't, yes it certainly is...), and then explain your answer fully. Perhaps this technique will give you a few extra seconds to think before you give your full answer. 1) Do you like rain? Why / why not? 2) Do you think that rain affects people's mood? 3) Does it often rain where you live? 4) Have you ever been caught in the rain without a coat or umbrella? IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'rain' answers Here are my answers to the 'rain' questions from last Friday's lesson. Remember: there's no need to show off in this part of the speaking test, so short, simple answers are best. 1) Do you like rain? Why / why not? No, not at all. It rains far too often in Manchester, where I live, and I'm fed up of it; I wish we had more sun! 2) Do you think that rain affects people's mood? Yes, definitely. I think rainy days and grey skies can be a bit sad and depressing. Where I live, people are much more cheerful when the sun comes out. 3) Does it often rain where you live? Yes, unfortunately it does. As I said, Manchester is known for being a rainy place; you can't trust the weather here, because it can cloud over and start raining at any moment. 4) Have you ever been caught in the rain without a coat or umbrella? Yes, many times. Just last week I went out without an umbrella and got soaked; I did have a coat on, but it didn't really help. IELTS Speaking: pauses and hesitations A student asked me for advice about avoiding pauses and hesitations in the speaking test. So here are some tips: - First, don't worry too much about this. It's normal, even for native speakers, to pause or hesitate to some extent. The more you worry, the more likely you are to hesitate. - Don't "overthink". If you're thinking about grammar, linking or using "difficult" words, you're more likely to hesitate. Just focus on answering the question with the first idea that comes into your head. - Slow down. Many candidates speak too quickly; hesitation or repetition occurs because their brains can't work fast enough to keep up. But here's the main piece of advice: practise! Make yourself a collection of IELTS speaking questions (from this site or from the Cambridge books), and practise answering them without hesitating. And don't just practise this once. Go through your list of questions many times (every day if necessary), and you'll find that you gradually improve, both in terms of the quality of your answers and in terms of fluency and lack of hesitation. Maybe you could even record yourself, perhaps once a week, so that you can analyse your own performance. IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'health' topic Let's have a look at some questions from Cambridge IELTS book 12. I've answered the first two questions; can you answer the others in the same simple, direct way? 1. Is it important to you to eat healthy food? 2. If you catch a cold, what do you do to help you feel better? 3. Do you pay attention to public information about health? 4. What could you do to have a healthier lifestyle? 1. Is it important to you to eat healthy food? Yes, I prefer to eat healthy home-cooked food, rather than fast food or pre-prepared meals, because I want to stay fit and healthy as I get older. 2. If you catch a cold, what do you do to help you feel better? I usually take paracetamol tablets, and I sometimes buy a nasal spray or cough medicine. It also helps to stay at home and relax.