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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.


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