IELTS Speaking
Today I will share with you a wide range of IELTS travel vocabulary words to help you hike up your IELTS
score on any IELTS Speaking question that has to do with travel & adventure in the Speaking section (Part 1,
2 or 3) on the IELTS test.
Useful Collocation and expressions for IELTS Speaking – Topic: Travel
To get away: To escape, to go somewhere that is not your home. You can also use the noun “a getaway.”
Example: Last week, I had a great chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to visit an ancient
village in the countryside.
A thirst for adventure: strong desire for travelling/adventure
Get itchy feet: have a strong desire to travel
Example: I’ve always had a thirst for adventure and often get itchy feet so I decided to set out to a journey
from the North to the South of Australia next month.
To find a gem: When you find a place where only locals go and other tourists don’t visit.
Example: Try to find a local guide when you visit a foreign country to successfully find a gem during your
trip.
Arduous journey: difficult & tiring journey
Break the journey: stop for a short time during journey
Example: I had an arduous journey to the South of Vietnam last year. I thought I would break the journey
somewhere but I finally did it all in one go.
Adventurous explorer: a traveler who is willing to do or try new and daring things
Have a stopover: Have a brief overnight stay in a place when on a long journey to somewhere else, usually
by air
Example: I had a stopover in China on the way to Thailand, had a bit of a rest, and did the sights there before
travelling on.
Low-cost airline: discount or budget airline
Put somebody on standby: make me wait to see if a seat become available
Example: Last week I got a flight on a low-cost airline to Paris. I then tried to get a flight to the UK but they
were all full, so they put me on standby.
To take a red eye: To take a late night airline flight
Example: I had to take a red eye and now I’m exhausted.
Intrepid explorer: brave, with no fear of dangerous situations
Off the beaten track: An unusual route or destination
Example: My best friend is an intrepid traveler who has a real sense of adventure. He always loves to set
out on a journey off the beaten track
Unexplored wilderness
Example: I’m thirsty for a journey into unexplored wilderness and getting right off the beaten track.
To take the road less traveled: To do things differently and to think outside of the box.
Example: Adventurous travelers like to take the road less traveled when visiting a new country.
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,A real sense of adventure: the urge to explore beyond your daily surroundings and open yourself up to the
adventure
To have wanderlust: To want to move around and see a lot of things around the world. To not want to stay
in one place.
Example: I had an incurable case of wanderlust.
The first leg of the journey: the first segment of a journey; the first flight of a multi-flight trip.
Example: The first leg of the journey got me to the UK but it just gave me very little indication of what lay
ahead.
Off the beaten track (path): in a place where few people go; unusual route/destination
Example: Most young travellers (US Traveler) make the effort to get off the tourist trail and look for off the
beaten path destinations to experience the raw beauty of the country.
Practice:
Part 1 Sample Questions
Do you like to travel?
What kind of places have you visited in your life?
Which place would you really like to visit? Why?
What’s the best place you’ve ever visited?
Which form(s) of transport do you usually use?
What is the easiest way to get around your town/city?
Do people use public transport where you live?
Are there any problems with the public transport system in your town/city?
How do you prefer to travel on long journeys?
What is the most unusual method of transport you’ve ever used?
Part 2: Cue Card
Describe an interesting journey you have been on.
You should say:
where you went
how you travelled there
who you went with
and explain what was so memorable about the journey.
Part 3 Sample Questions
How important is it to have adventure in our lives?
What do people learn about themselves from having adventures?
How do you think people will travel in the future?
How easy is it to travel around your country?
Which method of travel do you consider safest?
Has travel become safer in recent years?
What are the pros and cons of low-cost air travel?
How do you think people will travel in the future?
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,Remember, the worst thing you could do on the IELTS is to sound like every other Band 6 student by using
typical IELTS vocabulary.
Make sure you are using interesting and native vocabulary throughout the exam like the ones in today’s
article.
2. IELTS Environment Vocabulary: Useful Phrases & Expressions In IELTS
Speaking
Environment is a controversial topic in life and in IELTS as well. If you don’t prepare yourself for
environment topic, you will find it hard to express your idea when facing the topic in the IELTS test or in the
real-life conversation. Thus, my advice is that you should equip yourself with some phrases and collocations
about environment right now.
At first, there are several causes and solution of environmental issues.
Causes Of Environmental Problems
Chemical and industrial waste
Example: The chemical and industrial waste being released from factories cause to the pollution of my local
area.
Emission from cars and motorbikes
Example: The pollution of land and air can be blamed for emission from cars and motorbikes.
Solutions To Environmental Problems
To raise people awareness of preserving water and forest resources
Example: It is necessary to run some campaigns to raise people awareness of preserving water and forest
resource.
To use alternative energy resources
Example: In order to mitigate the environmental issues, alternative energy resources such as wind and solar
energy should be implemented.
Collocations And Phrases For IELTS Speaking Test – Topic: Environment
1. Wildlife reserve/ nature reserve/ game reserve: an area of land in which plants and animals are
protected
Example: Rare animals should be protected in game reserve.
2. Wildlife conservation: to protect animals and plants and their habitats
Example: The government are considering whether they should invest money on wildlife conservation.
3. Natural environment: the place where animals and plants would normally be found
Example: Legislation to protect natural environment should be enacted due to enhanced greenhouse effect.
4. Toxic waste/poisonous fumes/emissions: poisonous rubbish produced by industrial process
Example: Local people are suffered from great deal of toxic waste being released by factories.
5. Air quality: the cleanliness of the air we breathe
Example: Living in the environment with high air quality can have a good impact on our health.
6. Pollution levels: the amount of toxic waste
Example: Many factories are releasing waste illegally into air and water, which contributes to the increase of
pollution levels.
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, 7. Man-made disaster: widespread damage or loss of life brought about by action of humans
Example: Man-made disaster is a controversial issue, and people should pay more attention to find a solution
for this problem.
8. Loss of habitats: the decline in areas of land where animals and plants would normally exit
Example: Due to logging, loss of habitats is increasingly common at present.
9. Endangered species: animals or plants are on the verge of extinction
Example: We have to take the responsibility for protecting endangered species from hunting and natural
disaster.
10. To die out: to become extinction
Example: The population of Kangaroo are being in danger of dying out.
11. Global warming: the increasing temperature of the world brought about by gases such as CO2
Example: We are beginning to experience global warming due to the enhanced greenhouse effect.
12. Greenhouse effect: the gradual warming of the air surrounding the Earth as a result of heating trapped by
pollution
Example: The deforestation of forests is contributing to greenhouse effect.
PRACTICE
IELTS Speaking Task 1:
Are there any environmental problems in your country?
Absolutely yes, the most common environmental issue in my hometown is exhausted emissions produced
by cars and motorbikes have been afflicting the air and water quality. My government is struggling to deal
with the problem.
Do you take an interest in nature?
Of course yes, as a city person, I barely have an opportunity to experience the natural environment. Then
whenever I have a holiday, I really prefer to go to the far-off destination, so I could get closer to the nature
and discover the natural world.
Do you or your family take steps to help the environment?
Yes, we do. We always turn of lights or electronic appliances when they are unnecessary. Although this is
minor action, but I believe that it could make significantly contribution to the environment.
IELTS Speaking Task 2:
Describe environmental pollution in your city.
What type of pollution is/are?
Why it had happened?
And explain how this pollution can be controlled?
Sample answer:
I have been living in Hanoi for almost 8 years, then I have the chance to see how the city has changed in
these years. Due to the increasing number of tourist, Hanoi’ environment has been polluted significantly.
Indeed, many people traveling to there has thrown illegally thrown rubbish into the land and water, which
causes to land and water pollution. In addition, industrial and household waste from factories and
families is contributing to the high level of pollution.
In order to solve this issues, I would recommend the Hanoi’s authority to heavily fine who are caught
realising trash into the atmosphere. By carrying out the rule, people being intent to litter the environment will
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