IELTS Speaking part 2: Describe a latest development in your area

Topic cue card:

Describe a latest development in your area.

• What it is
• Where it is
• How it is useful for people.

Answer:

I would like to talk about the recent reconstruction of the public space in District 1, Ho Chi Minh city. It is one of the latest infrastructure development in the area.

As you may know, Ho Chi Minh city used to be called Saigon, after the name of the river it was built on. When French people built this city in the 19th century, there was a large park on the bank of the river, from which people can enjoy the nice view of the river and the monuments and special structures of the city like the Notre Dame Cathedral or the Opera House. In fact, all important roads of downtown Saigon spanned out to all directions from this riverside park and the central square, somewhat similar to the Tuileries Garden in Paris. This place used to be the favorite public space for people in the city and tourists coming to Saigon. An enjoyable boat tour along the river would be essential for those who visited Saigon because it was the best way to enjoy the featured buildings of the city.

However, after the Vietnam War, when Saigon was returned to the Vietnamese Government and changed its name to Ho Chi Minh city, the initial spatial design of the city was totally destroyed, and the riverside park shared the same fate with many other structures built in the colonial period. Over the last few decades, countless new buildings, low or high, large or small, have risen along the banks of the river, and some were even built in the middle of the park, and they obstructed the view from the river bank. It was a loss to the city, and many people, especially older ones who had witnessed the beauty of the city in the old time, often feel pity about it.

Fortunately, the Government of Ho Chi Minh started a plan to reconstruct the park a few years ago. The ugly buildings were removed, and the riverside park was given a new life with beautiful trees, flowers and statues. A large road was turned into a pedestrian street and outdoor exhibition space where many large events and festivals take place. One of the highlights must be the flower festival taking place every Lunar new year. During the one-month festival, millions of colorful flowers are displayed in this large public space, creating a spectacular view and attracting a large number of visitors, both domestic and international.

I think the reconstruction of the riverside park and the central square near the Saigon River is a great development in the city. It helps to change the whole face of the area, and improves the quality of life for people living here.

Comment:

This answer can be modified to be suitable for many similar topics, for example:

Describe a public park you used to go as a child.

1. Who did you with?
2. What did you do there?
3. Why you like it

or

Describe an interesting place in your country which is not touristic.

• Where?
• What is it?
• Why it is not popular?
• Why is it interesting for you?

IELTS Writing task 2: Some people think that government should take care of disadvantaged people such as unemployed and homeless people

Topic:

Some people think that government should take care of disadvantaged people such as unemployed and homeless people. Do you agree or disagree?

Topic analyzing:

- What type of essay is it? - Agree/disagree

- What is the main issue? - Key words: government takes care of people

- What are the sub issues? - Micro key words: government, disadvantaged people

- What instruction are you given? - Instruction words: agree or disagree - give personal view

Answer:

As equality has become a standard for development of a country, the governments are under pressure to take care of disadvantaged people like the unemployed and the homeless. It is agreed that the government should allocate resources to help these vulnerable groups. This essay will discuss the importance of the government in improving the life of the less privileged section of the society.

All people have ups and downs and need help at some point in their lives, and disadvantaged people even need more help because their starting points are usually low – whether in terms of property, education or opportunities. The government is the only institution capable of providing such assistance because no person or organization is willing or has enough resources to cover this large-scale substitution. For instance, the government can give money to every homeless people in the country while no other organization can. Furthermore, when the government assumes the role, the public can be sure that all resources are distributed under strict supervision and management and reach the hands of those in needs.

Another good reason is that when the government takes care of the basic needs of disadvantaged people, the number of crimes dramatically decreased. The unemployed and homeless are the ones who have high chances of committing crimes as they can do anything to earn bread and butter and sometimes to vent their anger about life. When their basic needs are taken care of they will have less reasons to cause problems. However, financial and in-kind assistance is a short-term solution and can cause budget burden on the government, thus providing people with vocational training and employment opportunities could be better measures to solve the problem at its root.

In conclusion, governments should take care of vulnerable social groups to ensure social security and narrow down the gap between the rich and the poor. They can provide one-time financial assistance and create the chances for the vulnerable groups to access training and employment opportunities to ensure they can take care of their own lives.

(339 words)

Comment:

This is a tricky topic, and I have wondered a lot about how to write the essay, and it took me longer than 40 minutes to write the answer above, and the essay is also a bit longer than expected. I don’t know if I receive another tricky topic like this in the exam, I could do it in time or not. I thought tend to be too complicated, and sometimes my mind stuck with difficult answers which cannot be translated into a simple IELTS essay. I think I must practice more to write faster.

IETLS Writing task 2: Some people think that dangerous sports should be banned

Topic:

Some people think that dangerous sports should be banned. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Topic analyzing:

- What type of essay is it? - Agree/disagree

- What is the main issue? - Key words: sports

- What are the sub issues? - Micro key words: dangerous sports, ban

- What instruction are you given? - Instruction words: agree or disagree - give personal view

Answer:

Playing sport is an essential part of life, and although most would choose a simple and safe sport for themselves, a large number of people love playing dangerous sports. However, some people argued that dangerous sports should not be allowed. In my opinion, we should carefully go through the pros and cons of these sports before deciding on it.

One reason why many dangerous sports are strongly opposed is that they are a threat to human safety, which is considered the most important matter in all activities. Many serious accidents in sports are reported every year around the world, especially in adventurous games. For example, in Formula One car race, participants always drive at high speed and put themselves at the risk of having their car overturned or hit the stands, causing severe injuries or even death for not only the drivers but also the audience. Because of these unwanted incidents, many have to suffer from permanent disabilities or loss of family members.

On the other hand, dangerous sports are loved by many because they give players the adrenaline rush and the sense of superiority that nothing can replace. Furthermore, many of them are traditional sports that are associated with religion and culture. For instance, bullfighting is one of the most famous symbols of Spain, and many have died participating in this game. However, the idea of banning this game has received massive public outcry because it hurts the sentiments of the countrymen. Thus, it is important to consider the merits and demerits of dangerous games before taking any decision.

In conclusion, I believe it is necessary that all the positive and negative points of dangerous sports be considered when considering banning them.

(283 words)

Comment:

This is the most I can think of when writing about this topic. I know it is quite short comparing to the answer for other topics, but I hope it is just enough, not too long, not too short. My strong point is grammar and vocabulary, and the only thing that I worry about is idea. My mind often goes blank whenever I sit in an exam and I do not know what to write at all, mostly because of my lack in life experience. As a result, I need to accumulate ideas for different topics before the test.

I would love to receive comments or other essays from you. I think I will learn a lot from your essays – especially when it comes to ideas.

IELTS Speaking part 2: Describe an important river, lake or water body in your country

Topic cue card:

Describe an important river, lake or water body in your country. You should say:

• Where the river/lake locates
• How long/big the river/lake is
• Why it is important.

Answer:

I am living in Hochiminh city, and the city is often called by another name - Saigon. This name is taken after the name of the Saigon river, which flows across the city. It is one of the symbol of Hochiminh city. Actually, the river is built over the city – most of the important roads fan off from the banks of the river. Recent developments have turned the banks into popular public places for citizens and tourists.

The Saigon river is a small river with the length of about 250 km. It starts from Cambodia, flows through several provinces in southern Vietnam and peacefully weaves its way around Hochiminh city. It finally joins the Nha Be river before pouring into the sea. From above, the river looks just like a giant snake.

When I first came to live in Saigon, my husband and I found relief from the clamor of the city by sitting on the banks of the Saigon River, in District 2. From here, we could look back across the water to downtown District 1, where the traffic, noise, and chaotic swell of Saigon was at a safe distance. I knew I would grow to love this river.

People in Saigon also love this river, not because of its beauty, but because of the peaceful feeling it gives them in the middle of the bustling city. This river offers many quiet corners where you can escape from the busy life for a minute. There are lots of great spots in the city from which to enjoy the Saigon River: from riverside cafes to rooftop bars, from local waterfront restaurants to boutique hotels.

The Saigon River is emerging, along with the city as a whole, as a busy, commercial hub with huge and exciting potential, at least as far as shipping, industry and development is concerned. There’s a constant flurry of boats of all sizes ploughing the water: tankers, cruise ships, river taxis, floating restaurants, industrial barges, private yachts, and motor-canoes.

However, due to rapid economic development, the Saigon river has been seriously polluted. The water is sometimes so dirty that it changes into muddy brown color, and there are a lot of wastes floating on the surface, which come from households, restaurants and boats. The government is using many measures like allocating budget on waste collection, ad campaigns to raise awareness of the community about disposing wastes in order to protect the Saigon river and its beauty.

Comment:

This answer can be used for similar topics like:

Describe a quiet place you like to go.

• Why you like that place
• Where that place is
• How you spent time in that place
• How much time you spent in that place.

or

Describe a public place you visited.

• Where it is
• Why you went there
• What it needs to be improved
• Do you think the government would do it?

IELTS Writing task 2: Some people spend money on tickets for sporting or cultural events

Topic:

Some people spend money on tickets for sporting or cultural events. Is it a good thing or bad thing? Explain your view from your knowledge or own experience?

Topic analysis:

- What type of essay is it? – Positive or negative

- What is the main issue? - Key words: money

- What are the sub issues? - Micro key words: spend (money) on tickets, sporting or cultural events

- What instruction are you given? - Instruction words: good or bad – personal opinion from own experience

Answer:

In today’s world, many people are willing to spend large amount of money to buy tickets for sporting or cultural events. While many people think that it is a total waste of money, I personally think that it is worthwhile. This essay will discuss both opinions, followed by a reasoned conclusion.

Many people think that it is not a good idea to spend money on just a sporting or cultural event. Attending these kinds of events can be costly, not only because of the pricey entrance tickets, but also because of the traveling cost sometimes if the events are held away from participants’ locality or place of residence. They prefer saving or investing their money elsewhere, for example, on gold or property.

While this argument sounds logical, I believe people who approve of it are less informed about the bounty of benefits of participating in such events. When people go to a sporting or cultural event, especially those held away from their hometown, they are exposed to the lifestyle and culture of the host communities, which may result in memorable moments in life. In addition, these special events can also be a nice getaway for people to take some time off work and relax. Furthermore, large sporting and cultural events may attract people from different religious and cultural backgrounds and are great opportunities to make new friends and build relationships. As a matter of fact, I am arranging a trip to Brazil to attend the Carnival which will be held in Rio de Janeiro next Easter. It has been proven to be one of the most colorful and fascinating events around the globe. I believe all the money spent on this trip will worth it.

In conclusion, contrary to some people’s thought, spending money on sporting or cultural events is not a waste. In my opinion, it is a good development and should be encouraged.

(313 words)

Comment:

This topic requires candidates to write from their own knowledge or experience, and I put it into the essay. However, I think that the second paragraph of the essay body is a bit too long. Possibly I should balance between it and the paragraph above.

I am trying to read more about task 2 writing – and find that I have a lot to improve – not only in task response, but also in coherence and cohesion, I think these two aspects are my weak points. Besides, sometimes it’s difficult to think of ideas – maybe I should also practice vocabulary for more flexible use.