Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.
Your home and your hometown are typical topics in IELTS Part 1, and Part 2 may ask you to describe a place. Be careful with two questions that sound almost the same:
Many learners answer What's it like? with Yes, I like it. That answers a different question.
| Phrase | Example |
|---|---|
| in the north / south / east / west of… | It's in the north of the country. |
| on the coast / on a river / in the mountains | It's a small town on the coast. |
| about an hour from… / not far from… | It's about an hour from the capital by train. |
| in the city centre / in the suburbs / on the outskirts | I live on the outskirts, near some fields. |
| next to / opposite / near… | My flat is opposite a big park. |
| Topic | Useful words |
|---|---|
| Size and type | a big city, a small town, a village, the capital |
| Atmosphere | lively, busy, peaceful, quiet, friendly |
| How it looks | historic, modern, green, beautiful, a bit run-down |
| Things to do | There are plenty of… / There aren't many… / There's hardly any… |
| Your home | spacious, cosy, bright, a bit small, in a good location |
Put two adjectives together, with your opinion first: a lovely old town, a busy modern city, a small but cosy flat.
Then add change or comparison:
Complete each sentence with a word or phrase from the box. Use each one once.
Listen and repeat. Stress the adjectives and place words (small, north, lovely, quieter), and keep the small words weak.
Listen to each sentence, then record yourself saying it the same way. Copy the rhythm, stress and intonation.
1.I'm from a small town in the north of the country.
2.It's about two hours from the capital by train.
3.It's a lovely old town with lots of narrow streets.
4.There isn't much nightlife, but it's great for families.
5.A lot of new cafés have opened in the last few years.
6.It's much quieter than the city where I live now.
7.My favourite room is the kitchen, because it's bright and cosy.
Answer with no preparation time. This is a “describe” question, so talk about the place itself: size, rooms, location, one good point and one small problem. Aim for about 30 seconds.
Let's talk about your home. Can you describe the place where you live?
No preparation time · 0:30 speaking
You have one minute to prepare and make notes. Then speak for up to two minutes. Follow the points on the card in order.
Describe a place in your town or city where you like to spend time.
You should say:
60 s preparation · 2:00 speaking
Save words to review them later with flashcards.
“We live on the outskirts of the city, near the fields.”
“The village is very peaceful at night.”
“The old town is lively at weekends.”
“There are many historic buildings in the centre.”
“Our living room is small but cosy.”
“The new flat is bright and spacious.”
“Some parts of the town are a bit run-down.”
“There isn't much nightlife in my hometown.”
“There are plenty of buses to the centre.”
“The town has good sports facilities.”
“My village is surrounded by hills.”
