Place Topic Idea For IELTS Speaking Exam.
There are several categories of cards you could be given in the IELTS speaking exam. The example we are looking at today is a place topic card.
IELTS Speaking Card
Valid May-August 2022
Place – New Place Topic
Describe a time you visited a new place. You should say: Where the new place is When you went there Why you went there And explain how you feel about the place
There are four questions to consider.
1 - Some ideas for where = a holiday destination – national park/beach resort/city centre (city break) or a building – a café / a restaurant / a shopping mall
2 - When = Last year, a few months ago, during the last school holiday
3 - Why = for a relaxing break, learn about the culture and traditions, visit friends or family. To escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
4 - How you feel = energised, refreshed, bored, grateful,
= Useful grammar ideas =
Tenses = This card is aiming you at the present and past tense. Try and include a future tense.
Idioms = It’s a piece of cake to get there / it didn’t cost me an arm and a leg / when I go there, I feel on cloud nine / The manager has a heart of gold/travelling is my cup of tea.
Phrasal verbs = get up / check in / find out / hang out / chill out /
Comparative/Superlative Adjectives = more interesting than - the most interesting / prettier than - the prettiest / safer than - the safest.
=Useful Vocab =
boarded up shops: shops that are no longer doing business
chain stores: well-known brands with shops in multiple cities
to close down: to stop doing business
fashionable boutiques: fashionable clothes shops
to get around: to travel around
high-rise flats: multi-storey apartments
inner-city: the central part of a city where people live and where conditions are often poor
in the suburbs: the outer area of large towns and cities where people live
lively bars/restaurants: bars or restaurants with a good atmosphere
local facilities: local buildings or services serving the public
multi-story car parks: car parks on several floors
office block: a large building that contains offices
out of town shopping centre/retail park: large shopping centres outside of the town or city
pavement cafe: cafes with tables outside on the pavement
places of interest: buildings that have a particular interest for visitors
poor housing: housing that is not in good condition
public spaces: areas in a town or city that are open to the public
public transport system: public vehicles such as buses and trains that operate at regular times on fixed routes
residential area: an area where people live
run down: old and of a poor standard
shopping centre: an area consisting of multiple shops
shopping malls: large indoor shopping centres
sprawling city: a city that has grown over time and which covers a wide area
tourist attraction: a place of interest to tourists
traffic congestion: heavy traffic makes it difficult to move around a town or city
upmarket shops: expensive fashionable shops
all-in package/package holiday: a holiday where you purchase the travel and accommodation together
breathtaking view: an extremely beautiful view
charter-flight: a cheaper form of flying than a scheduled flight
check-in desk: the place at the airport where you register for your flight and deposit your luggage
departure lounge: where you wait for your flight to be called
far-off destination: somewhere a long way away
to get away from it all: to take a holiday to escape a busy or stressful lifestyle
guided tour: an organised group shown around a place of interest by an expert
holiday brochure: a glossy publication with details of holiday packages
holiday destination: where you go for a holiday
holiday of a lifetime: a special holiday that you are unlikely to repeat
holiday resort: a place where lots of people go for a holiday
hordes of tourists: crowds of tourists
local crafts: objects produced locally
long weekend: an extended weekend holiday including Friday or Monday
out of season: outside of the main holiday period
picturesque village: very pretty village
passport control: the place where your passport is checked
places of interest: sites of interest to tourists
wildlife safari: a holiday, often in Africa, to observe wild animals
self-catering: a holiday where you supply your own food
short break: a short holiday
to go sightseeing: to look around the tourist sites
stunning landscape: extremely beautiful countryside
travel agent: a shop that specialises in booking holidays
tourist trap: somewhere where too many tourists go
youth hostel: a cheap form of accommodation
Book a lesson today if you want to practice your speech and receive valuable, constructive feedback.