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Speaking Practice Test: Practice test 4 – Communication Part 1 – sample questions Which languages do you speak? Do you think it’s important for children to learn a foreign language? When did you start learning a foreign language? Do you enjoy learning languages? What activity do you find most useful for learning English? What do you find most difficult about learning English? Are there any other languages you would like to learn in the future? Part 2 – sample task card Describe a conversation you had which was important to you. You should say: when the conversation took place who you had the conversation with what the conversation was about and explain why the conversation was important to you. Part 3 – sample questions 1. What are the main differences between spoken and written communication? 2. To what extent do you think the media influences how people communicate with each other? 3. Do you think there are differences in the way men and women communicate? 4. Do you think that people become better communicators as they get older? 5. Do you agree that education has a strong and positive effect on people’s ability to communicate effectively? 6. What impact has the growth of technology had on the way people communicate and how do you think this will develop in the future?

IELTS speaking test preparation

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Page 1: IELTS speaking test preparation

Speaking Practice Test: Practice test 4 – Communication

Part 1 – sample questions

Which languages do you speak?

Do you think it’s important for children to learn a foreign language?

When did you start learning a foreign language?

Do you enjoy learning languages?

What activity do you find most useful for learning English?

What do you find most difficult about learning English?

Are there any other languages you would like to learn in the future?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a conversation you had which was important to you.

You should say:

when the conversation took place

who you had the conversation with

what the conversation was about

and explain why the conversation was important to you.

Part 3 – sample questions

1. What are the main differences between spoken and written communication?

2. To what extent do you think the media influences how people communicate with each other?

3. Do you think there are differences in the way men and women communicate?

4. Do you think that people become better communicators as they get older?

5. Do you agree that education has a strong and positive effect on people’s ability to communicate effectively?

6. What impact has the growth of technology had on the way people communicate and how do you think this will

develop in the future?

Page 2: IELTS speaking test preparation

Uses of internet for communication

Modern forms of communication

speaking / talking / chatting face-to-face

speaking / talking / chatting on the phone / by

mobile phone / by skype

sending a text message/an SMS / texting

sending / writing an email

using an electronic messaging service

social networking

video-conferencing

Non-verbal forms of communication

lip-reading

using body language

using sign language

using hand gestures / signals

using facial expressions

Informal utterances

Give me a call/ring/bell/buzz

Call / ring / phone me

Send me a text / an email / a whatsapp

Text me / email me

Drop me a line

Keep me posted

Let me know

Keep / stay in touch

I’ll be in touch

Other forms of communication

making / giving a speech

speaking in public / public speaking

giving a lecture / lecturing

giving a seminar / presentation

giving / having / conducting an interview

having / maintaining a

dialogue/conversation/discussion

having an argument

Reasons for communicating

giving a demonstration / demonstrating

giving instructions / instructing

asking for/giving directions / directing

asking for/giving advice / advising

making a complaint / complaining

making small talk / building social relations /

exchanging pleasantries

exchanging/defending/challenging

views/opinions

requesting/supplying information

gossiping / spreading rumours

Page 3: IELTS speaking test preparation

Effective communication skills

maintaining eye-contact

projecting your voice

varying your intonation

punctuating your sentences

emphasizing / repeating key words

engaging the listener

asking rhetorical questions

using discourse markers

Useful linkers for giving opinions

In my view…

In my opinion…

From my point of view…

In my experience/case…

As I see it…

Personally, I think…

I believe / feel that…

For me personally…

As far as I’m concerned…

Sample Answer

Do you think that people become better communicators as they get older?

I think that people’s ability to communicate does improve with age because generally speaking, people get

more confident as they gain more experience of life and I believe that confidence is a major factor. On the

other hand, some people may become more self-conscious as they got older, particularly when they reach

certain stages in their life such as adolescence. For me personally, I feel that I’m a better communicator now

than when I was younger.

Page 4: IELTS speaking test preparation

Speaking Practice Test: Practice test 4 – Tourism/ Holidays

Part 1 – sample questions

Are there many public or national holidays in your country?

Do you think there are enough public holidays?

Do you like going away on holidays?

Tell me something about your last holiday?

Do you always like to go to the same place for your holiday?

Where would you like to go for your next holiday?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a holiday you would like to go on.

You should say:

what place you would like to go to

how you would like to get there

what you would like to do while you were there

and explain why you would like to go on this holiday.

Part 3 – sample questions

1. Which places in your country do visitors enjoy visiting most?

2. What are some of the benefits of going away on holiday?

3. Have there been any recent changes in the types of holiday that are popular in your country?

4. What kinds of benefits might a significant increase in tourist numbers bring to a location?

5. What are some of the negative effects of a dramatic increase in tourism?

6. What developments affecting international travel might there be in the future?

Page 5: IELTS speaking test preparation

Useful Vocabulary: Toursim

Personal benefits of going on holiday

a chance to unwind

to spend quality time with family / friends

to get away from work / stressful

environment

to have a change of routine / scenery

to visit new places / experience new things

/ cultures

to broaden your horizons

to visit family or friends abroad

Positive aspects of holidays (commercial)

creates new jobs in the tourist industry

boosts the local economy

attracts media attention to the resort

'puts a place on the map'

ensures good level of infrastructure

improves services & facilities for local

residents

provides revenue to protect /maintain local

heritage

Negative aspects of holidays (personal)

loss of earnings (if self-employed)

can be stressful (to be out of your comfort

zone)

can be difficult to cope in a foreign country

/ unfamiliar place

may encounter travel problems (plane/train

delays / traffic jams)

may not have access to health

facilities/services

may lose your luggage

may not be able to speak the local

languages

Negative aspects of holidays (commercial)

can cause overcrowding

tourists may not respect local

customs/traditions

can cause excess of litter / noise

may cause damage to local environment /

possible vandalism

area becomes too built-up due to increase

of hotels/shops etc

natural landscape/beauty may be spoilt

may cause increase in prices of local

services and goods

Useful linkers for adding more ideas

in addition (to that)

apart from (that)

as well as (that)

besides (that)

also

not only (that) … but also

both … and …

Page 6: IELTS speaking test preparation

Sample Answer

What are some of the benefits of going away on holiday?

There are many benefits of going on holiday. Besides giving you a chance to unwind and relax, it also allows

you to spend some quality time with your family, not only in a different environment but more importantly,

away from the routine pressures of work and daily life. In addition to this, it also gives you the opportunity

to broaden your horizons by visiting new places and experiencing a different way of life.

Page 7: IELTS speaking test preparation

Speaking Practice Test: Practice test 4 – Health

Part 1 - sample questions

In what ways do you try to stay healthy?

Is it easy to keep fit where you live?

What do you think is more important, eating healthily or doing exercise?

What are the health benefits of playing a sport?

Have you ever had any habits which you consider to be unhealthy?

Do you think more about your health now than when you were younger?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe something you do to keep healthy.

You should say:

what this activity is

when you do it

and how often you do it

and explain why you think it’s a good way to look after your health.

Part 3 – sample questions

1. What are the most popular ways of keeping healthy in your country?

2. Do you think most people worry more about their health as they get older?

3. Why do you think some people continue bad habits when they know that they are damaging to their health?

4. How can children be encouraged to adopt healthy eating habits?

5. Do you think people have become more health conscious in recent years?

6. Could governments do more to promote healthier lifestyle options?

Page 8: IELTS speaking test preparation

Useful Vocabulary

Healthy activities / habits

taking regular exercise

playing sport(s)

(going) swimming / cycling / jogging

going to the gym

walking to work / the dog

doing yoga / pilates / tai chi

eating fresh fruit and vegetables / organic food

eating regular meals

having a balanced diet

drinking lots of water

Unhealthy habits

smoking

binge drinking / drinking alcohol excessively

taking drugs

eating too much salt / fat / sugar

eating too much greasy food / fried food / junk

food / fast food

eating too many ready meals / pre-prepared

meals

being overweight

Health Collocations

a health farm / centre / club

a health service

a health risk / hazard

a health check

a health problem

a health visitor

a health inspector

health food

health insurance

healthcare

health and safety (rules / regulations /

guidelines)

a healthy lifestyle

a healthy diet

a healthy appetite

a healthy economy

a healthy bank balance

a healthy profit

a healthy attitude

a healthy respect

Verb + Noun Collocations

to look after your health

to take care of our health

to maintain your health

to be in good / poor health

to regain your health

Verb + Adjective Collocations

to feel healthy

to look healthy

to be healthy

to keep / stay healthy

Useful linkers for adding more detail

In (actual) fact…

Actually…

More to the point…

Indeed…

To be more precise / exact…

Sample Answer

Could governments do more to promote healthier lifestyle options?

Yes, in my opinion the government has a big responsibility to try to persuade people to live more healthily. I

think they could provide more education in schools to teach children how to eat more healthily and show

them the importance of taking physical exercise. In fact, it’s the parents too that also need to be re-

educated on these issues. Another thing, I think there should be more government warnings on TV showing

people the dangers of obesity and poor diet, for example. Actually, they do have some that show the health

risks of smoking and drinking, which are quite powerful, but not really about healthy eating. Finally, there

could be more public facilities to help people keep fit, like swimming pools, gyms and sports centres. More

to the point they need to be affordable so that everyone has the opportunity to use them.

Page 9: IELTS speaking test preparation

Speaking Practice Test: Practice test 4 – Work

Part 1 - sample questions

Do you work full-time or part-time?

What's your job / What do you do (for a living)?

What do you enjoy most about your work?

What are the main tasks/duties in your job?

Is there anything you would like to change about your job?

What would be your ideal job?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe the job you would most like to have.

You should say:

what this job would be

where you would work

which qualifications you would need

and explain why you would like to have this job most.

Part 3 – sample questions

1. Which jobs would you say are most respected in your country?

2. Some people say it's better to work for yourself than be employed by a company. What's your view?

3. Do you agree that some jobs are still more suited to either men or women?

4. Do you think schools provide enough advice and support to students about their future careers?

5. What changes in employment have there been in recent years in your country?

6. Do you think more people will work from home in the future?

7. Can you think of any disadvantages of working from home?

Page 10: IELTS speaking test preparation

Useful Vocabulary

to apply for a job / post / promotion

to get / have a part-time/full-time job

to work in [field / place]

to work for [a company]

to specialise in [field]

to be a qualified [job]

to work shifts / unsociable hours

to get / have an interview

to be shortlisted for an interview/job/post

to be demoted / promoted

to be transferred / to put in for/request a transfer

to be fired / sacked / dismissed

to be made redundant

to get/take voluntary redundancy

to retire / to be retired

to get a pension / to be a pensioner

the perks of a job (benefits)

to work from home (home-working)

to be self-employed / to work for yourself

to work/do flexi-time / overtime

Useful links for sequences ideas

firstly / first of all…

secondly…

thirdly…

then…

another point / reason / example is…

lastly / finally….

overall…

Sample Answer

What changes have there been in recent years in employment in your country?

I think there have been many changes in the types of jobs that people do nowadays compared to 20 or 30

years ago. First of all there are much fewer jobs related to heavy industry such as mining or ship-building or

even manufacturing. Secondly, there has been a big increase in the number of jobs in the service and leisure

industries like shops, gyms, and hotels. And finally, since the launch of the internet there has been a big

surge in the number of jobs related to IT, such as web development and design.

Page 11: IELTS speaking test preparation

Speaking Practice Test: Practice test 4 – Travel

Part 1 – sample questions

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 – sample task 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

1. What methods of transport are most popular in your city / country?

2. What are some of the problems of long-distance travelling?

3. Has the way people travel changed much in the last few decades?

4. Do you agree that governments should do more to encourage greener methods of transport?

5. What measures could be taken to reduce problems of congestion in cities?

6. Do you think that transport problems are worse in urban or rural areas?

Page 12: IELTS speaking test preparation

Typical methods of transport in cities

to take/catch the metro / underground /

subway

to take/catch a tram

to take/catch a bus

to take/catch a taxi

to go by car

to go by motorbike/scooter/moped

to go by bike/bicycle / to cycle

to go on foot / to walk

Other methods of transport

to go by plane / to take/catch a flight

to go by / to take/catch a train

to go by / to take a coach

to go by / to take/catch a boat/ferry

Transport problems

long delays = my flight/plane was delayed

cancellations = my flight was cancelled

to lose your luggage

to miss your connection

to be stuck in traffic-jams / traffic congestion

to be held up by roadworks / diversions /

accidents

to break down = my car broke down

bad weather conditions

thick fog / icy roads / heavy rain / strong winds

/ heavy storm

Solutions to inner-city congestion

road access charges in city centres

car share schemes / incentives

bypasses / ringroads

park and ride schemes

free rental of city bikes

more cycle lanes

more frequent buses / extended network of

buses

cheaper public transport

more pedestrianised streets

more electric trams

more accessible metro system

Useful linkers for giving examples

for example

for instance

such as

like / as

another example / way is

Sample Answer

What measures could be taken to reduce problems of congestion in cities?

There are many ways that congestion could be reduced in big cities. In my city, for example, they have

introduced a bike rental system where members can pick up a bike at one point and drop it off at another.

It’s proving to be very popular and as a result more cycle lanes are also being provided.

Another example, which unfortunately doesn’t exist in my city, is a park and ride scheme where you leave

your car outside the city in a carpark and then take a free bus into the centre. Another way to prevent

people bringing their cars into the city would be to charge a special fee to access the centre, like they do in

London, though I guess this wouldn’t be quite so popular with the residents.

Page 13: IELTS speaking test preparation

Speaking Practice Test: Practice test 4 – Tourism

Part 1 – sample questions

Are there many public or national holidays in your country?

Do you think there are enough public holidays?

Do you like going away on holidays?

Tell me something about your last holiday?

Do you always like to go to the same place for your holiday?

Where would you like to go for your next holiday?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a holiday you would like to go on.

You should say:

what place you would like to go to

how you would like to get there

what you would like to do while you were there

and explain why you would like to go on this holiday.

Part 3 – sample questions

1. Which places in your country do visitors enjoy visiting most?

2. What are some of the benefits of going away on holiday?

3. Have there been any recent changes in the types of holiday that are popular in your country?

4. What kinds of benefits might a significant increase in tourist numbers bring to a location?

5. What are some of the negative effects of a dramatic increase in tourism?

6. What developments affecting international travel might there be in the future?

Page 14: IELTS speaking test preparation

Personal benefits of going on holiday

a chance to unwind

to spend quality time with family / friends

to get away from work / stressful environment

to have a change of routine / scenery

to visit new places / experience new things /

cultures

to broaden your horizons

to visit family or friends abroad

Commercial benefits of tourism

creates new jobs in the tourist industry

boosts the local economy

attracts media attention to the resort

'puts a place on the map'

ensures good level of infrastructure

improves services & facilities for local residents

provides revenue to protect /maintain local

heritage

Negative aspects of going on holiday

loss of earnings (if self-employed)

can be stressful (to be out of your comfort

zone)

can be difficult to cope in a foreign country /

unfamiliar place

may encounter travel problems (plane/train

delays / traffic jams)

may not have access to health facilities/services

may lose your luggage

may not be able to speak the local language

Disadvantages for local community

can cause overcrowding

tourists may not respect local

customs/traditions

can cause excess of litter / noise

may cause damage to local environment /

possible vandalism

area becomes too built-up due to increase of

hotels/shops etc

natural landscape/beauty may be spoilt

may cause increase in prices of local services

and goods

Useful linkers for adding more ideas

in addition (to that)

apart from (that)

as well as (that)

besides (that)

also

not only (that) … but also

both … and …

Sample Answer

What are some of the benefits of going away on holiday?

There are many benefits of going on holiday. Besides giving you a chance to unwind and relax, it also allows

you to spend some quality time with your family, not only in a different environment but more importantly,

away from the routine pressures of work and daily life. In addition to this, it also gives you the opportunity

to broaden your horizons by visiting new places and experiencing a different way of life.

Page 15: IELTS speaking test preparation

Speaking Practice Test: Practice test 4 – Technology

Part 1 – sample questions

How much time do you spend using a computer at work or at home?

What do you mainly use a computer for?

Did you learn how to use a computer at school?

Have you ever taken a course to improve your computer skills?

Has the internet made your job / studies easier?

Which device do you prefer to use for browsing the internet?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a piece of technology that you find useful.

You should say:

what it is

what you can do with it

how often you use it

and explain why you find it so useful

Part 3 – sample questions

1. What are some of the main uses of technology for communication?

2. Do you agree that some people use technology for communication too much?

3. What differences are there between the attitudes of older and younger people to technology for

communication?

4. Do you think that the advance of technology has improved standards of education in schools?

5. Would you agree that the rapid development of digital technology has had a positive impact on the world of

work?

6. Do you think that the rate of technological expansion will slow down in the years to come?

Page 16: IELTS speaking test preparation

Uses of internet for communication

sending emails

sending text messages

tele-conferencing

video conferencing

online chatting

social networking

blogging

posting messages on forums

using an intranet system

Advantages

offers immediate communication

cheaper than telephone calls / face-to-face

meetings

allows global communication without the need

to travel

more convenient / people can communicate

on-the-move

allows friends and family overseas to stay

connected

gives everybody the chance to have a public

voice

Disadvantages

people may lose “real” social skills

people may spend less time socialising face-to-

face

people may become more introverted

people may become addicted to social network

sites

people spend too much time in front of a

screen

Technology and Education

interactive whiteboards

e-learning courses /e-books

online degrees

self-access centres / study

online teaching / tutoring / training

blended learning (online + face-to-face)

Advantages

offers more flexibility for the learner

allows people in rural areas the same study

opportunities

cheaper for students (no travel /

accommodation costs)

students & teachers are less bound by time and

space

Technology and Work

automated processes

automated manufacturing

automated customer services

high-tech computer systems

computerised filing / administrative systems

huge databases

intranet system / internal emailing

Page 17: IELTS speaking test preparation

Disadvantages

has made some jobs redundant

gives customers less personal service

requires staff to be technically skilled

may cause security issues / files may be lost

requires a lot of investment

breakdowns in the system may cause severe

problems

Useful linkers for giving reasons

due to (the fact that)

because of

because

as a result of

that’s (the reason) why

Sample Answer

Do you think that the advance of technology has improved standards of education in schools?

I think the growth of the internet has had a major impact on current teaching methods and I’m sure general

standards have improved as a result. I strongly believe that the motivation for both learning and teaching

has increased because of the phenomenal amount of information now available to both students and

teachers. On the other hand, due to a danger of information overload, some people may be put off using

technology in the classroom, wishing for a return to more traditional methods.

Page 18: IELTS speaking test preparation

Speaking Practice Test: Practice test 4 – Entertainment

Part 1 – sample questions

Cinema

Do you like watching films/movies?

What kinds of films do you enjoy?

Do you prefer watching films at home or at the

cinema?

Is it easy to get to a cinema where you live?

How often do you watch films / go the cinema?

Have you seen any good films recently?

What kind of movies did you like to watch when

you were a child?

Has your taste in films changed as you've got

older?

Television

How much television do you watch per

day/week?

What time of time do you usually watch TV?

Who do you normally watch TV with?

What kind of TV programmes do you like the

most?

Do you have a favourite TV programme at the

moment?

What TV programmes do you remember from

your childhood?

How often do you watch the news on TV?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a film you found interesting.

You should say:

when you saw this film

why you decided to see this film

what happened in the film

and explain why you found this film interesting.

Part 3 – sample questions

1. Is cinema a popular form of entertainment in

your country?

2. How has the cinema experience changed in

recent years?

3. Do you think that films should always have an

educational value?

4. Is it important for governments to support film-

making in their countries?

5. Do you think the Internet has had a big impact

on the entertainment industry?

6. In what ways do you think that entertainment

media may develop in the future?

Page 19: IELTS speaking test preparation

Uses of internet for communication

Advantages of going to the cinema

the thrill of watching something on the big-

screen

more exciting/intense atmosphere

surround sound system brings the characters to

life / enhances the special effects

able to appreciate the cinematography

can enjoy a night out with friends

the excitement of watching a premiere

screening

Advantages of watching TV

can sit in the comfort of your own home

can choose what you want to watch

can play back your favourite parts

can pause it if you want to stop watching

can flick through the channels

can invite your friends round

can watch a variety of programmes at your own

convenience

can switch it off if you get bored

Film-making

social responsibility to make

educational/informative films

good media for reaching wide audiences

has high impact on the public

can get worldwide recognition

can deliver social and cultural messages

can bring widespread attention to social/world

problems

Technology & Entertainment

online gaming / games / gambling

downloading films / videos

downloading music

computer game consoles

social networking / network sites

instant chat/photo feeds

Useful linkers for giving more exact information

in (actual) fact…

actually…

as a matter of fact…

to be more exact…

to be more precise…

Sample Answer

No, I don’t think that it’s necessary for all films to be educational. In fact, I think people go to the cinema

because they simply want to be entertained, not always educated. Watching a film on the big screen is a

form of escapism and so people want adventure, romance or fantasy. As far as I’m concerned, if I’m looking

to be educated I would choose to read a book or watch a documentary, although actually I do also enjoy

historical films which teach me something about the past.

Page 20: IELTS speaking test preparation

Speaking Practice Test: Practice test 4 – Education

Part 1 – sample questions

Are you a full-time or part-time student?

What subject(s) are you studying?

Why did you choose this/these subject(s)?

Which topic/subject do you find the most difficult/interesting?

What was your favourite subject when you were at school?

What do you plan to do when you finish studying?

Is there anything else you would like to study in the future?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a teacher that had a positive influence on you.

You should say:

what subject this teacher taught

how long he/she was your teacher

what positive attributes this teacher had

and explain why you remember this teacher in particular.

Part 3 – sample questions

1. Some people say that your school days are the best days of your life. Do you agree?

2. Do you think school and university prepares young people adequately for real life?

3. Do you agree there is too much pressure on young people at school these days?

4. Some people argue that end-of-year exams should be replaced by continuous assessment. What do you think?

5. Have there been significant changes in schooling methods in your country in recent years?

6. Do you think schools and universities provide enough careers advice to their

Page 21: IELTS speaking test preparation

Uses of internet for communication

School

nursery / primary / secondary school /

education

state school / private school / boarding school

all girls / all boys / single-sex / co-ed school

to go to / attend school

the curriculum / syllabus

extra-curricular activities

school trips / holidays

school playground / dinners / uniform

school pupils / teachers

schoolchildren / schoolboy / schoolgirl

to sit / do / take an exam

to resit / retake an exam

to revise / to study (for an exam)

to pass / to fail an exam

to get exam results

to get qualifications / to be qualified

to leave school / a school-leaver

to drop out of school / a dropout

to be academic / to be an all-rounder

University/College

tertiary / higher / further education

colleges of higher education / technical colleges

/ universities

to apply for a course

to get an (un)conditional offer

to do a course in [subject]

halls of residence / student accommodation

student union / student body

a fresher / an undergraduate / a graduate

a graduation ceremony

to get a university degree / a Masters / a

Doctorate (Phd)

to graduate from university / to graduate in

[subject]

a postgraduate student / course

to do / take a postgraduate course / a Masters /

a PhD (Doctorate)

to be a qualified [job title] / to qualify in

[subject]

to take a gap year

to drop out of university

Useful linkers for contrasting ideas

However....

...whereas / while...

On the one hand…. but on the other hand…

Although / Even though…

Despite (the fact that)…

But…

Page 22: IELTS speaking test preparation

Sample Answer

Is there a system of free state education in your country?

In my country there is a state education system offering free education for children from 3-18, although

parents still have to pay for food, materials, school trips and other extra-curricular activities. This is only one

part of the system, however, because there are also private schools and semi-private schools, which are

partly funded by the state. So on the one hand it appears that we do have free state education, but in

actual fact it isn’t available to everyone because places are limited.

Page 23: IELTS speaking test preparation

Speaking Practice Test: Practice test 4 – The Environment

Part 1 – sample questions

What is the climate like in your country?

Are there any problems with the climate in your country?

What is your favourite type of weather?

What kind of weather do you dislike?

Would you prefer to live in a hot or cold country?

What is the best/worst weather for travelling in?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe an environmental problem. You should say:

what it is

how long it has existed

how it affects people’s lives

and explain how you think the problem will develop in the future.

Part 3 – sample questions

1. Which environmental problems are people most concerned about in your country?

2. What are the main causes of these environmental problems?

3. Do you think it is the responsibility of governments alone to protect the environment?

4. What measures can individuals take to protect the environment?

5. Do you think large companies and business organisations should be more environmentally friendly? Why? How?

6. How can we teach children about the importance of protecting the environment?

Page 24: IELTS speaking test preparation

Environmental Problems

destruction of the rainforests (deforestation)

melting of the icecaps

extinction of many species (loss of biodiversity)

destruction of the ozone layer

global warming / the “greenhouse effect”

rising sea levels

pollution of land, sea and air

increase of natural disasters eg, earthquakes,

landslides, floods

Causes of Environmental Problems

excessive emissions of greenhouse gases, eg

carbon dioxide

chemical and industrial waste

emissions from cars and planes

improper dumping of household waste

overuse of non-renewable fossil fuels

genetic modification

over-consumption

over-urbanisation

Solutions to Environmental Problems

recycling

using renewable sources of energy, eg solar

heating, wind-farms

replanting trees

cutting carbon emissions

cleaner waste disposal

sustainable consumption and development

buying products with less packaging

buying organic products

buying products made from recycled material /

renewable sources

using natural remedies as alternative medicine

Useful linkers for explaining cause & effect

caused by

due to

because of

as a result of

leads to

results in

causes

Sample Answer

Which environmental problems are people most concerned about in your country?

I think people in my country are most concerned about future shortages of fresh drinking water, which I

suppose is both a result of poor water management and general global warming. I think everyone is feeling

the effects of the latter problem which is causing us to experience more extreme temperatures, for

example, much colder winters and much hotter summers. The long hot summers are particularly worrying in

the south of the country where there is a real risk of drought due to the consistent lack of rainfall.

Page 25: IELTS speaking test preparation