IELTS Speaking Samples and Answers

IELTS Speaking Test - Sample 99

IELTS Speaking Test # 99

Part 1 Topic: "Bicycles".
Part 2 Topic: "Describe something you did that was new or exciting".
Part 3 Topic: "Helping other people in the community" & "Community Services".



Part One - Introduction

[The examiner asks the candidate about him/herself, his/her home, work or studies and other familiar topics.]

Topic - Bicycles:

Q.  How popular are bicycles in your home town? [Why?]
A.  If I talk about the time when I was a child, the bicycle was the primary mean of travelling for people in my hometown. However, this is not the case and motorised vehicles have replaced the bicycle. Around 5-8 percentage of people, these days in my hometown use this environment-friendly vehicle while it was more than 80% in the past.

Q.  How often do you ride a bicycle? [Why/Why not?]
A.  Honestly speaking, these days I scarcely ride a bicycle and mostly use my car. I used to be very fond of riding a bicycle in my teenage, but after I started working in a different city, I had been forced to buy a car.

Q.  Do you think that bicycles are suitable for all ages? [Why/Why not?]
A.  Yes, this is a suitable vehicle for all ages. The physical activity that a cyclist does is beneficial for his/her health and this is perhaps the most environmental-friendly ride in the world. There is no age restriction for commuting using a bicycle, I believe.

Q.  What are the advantages of a bicycle compared to a car? [Why?]
A.  Well, first of all, a bicycle is eco-friendly and does not harm the environment the way motorised vehicles do. Furthermore, it is cheap and does not require a high maintenance cost per month. Moreover, bicycle riding involves physical movement and it helps us maintain good health. Finally, this type of transport does not cause much traffic congestion, unlike motor cars.


 

Part 2 - Cue Card / Candidate Task Card

[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]

Describe a person who has done a lot of work to help people.

You should say:

  • who this person is/was
  • where this person lives/lived
  • what he/she has done to help people

and explain how you know about this person.

[ You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

[Examiner: All right? Remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don't worry if I stop you. I'll tell you when the time is up. Can you start speaking now, please?]

Click here for the answer to this Cue Card topic:
 

Part 3 - Two-way Discussion:

Discussion topics: Helping other people in the community:

Q.  What are some of the ways people can help others in the community? Which is most important?
A.  I believe "being friendly and having a helpful mentality" is something every community member expects from others. An ideal community member should stand beside other members when needed and abide by the rules. Sometimes, people in a community face obstacles and natural calamities and a good member would always extend his/her helping hands for others. Being part of activities like cleaning the streets, charity programmes, voluntary works is another great way to show support for the community.

I believe abiding by the rules and having respects towards other community members are the most important qualities.

Q.  Why do you think some people like to help other people?
A.  I think this is in their DNA; I mean some people are helpful from their childhood and they keep helping others throughout their life. Apart from that, people sometimes become philanthropic from their life experience and vow to help others in whatever way possible. These are good people who set examples for others.

Q.  Some people say that people help others in the community more now than they did in the past. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
A.  I do believe the sense of community is stronger among people these days than it was in the past. By saying so, I do not imply that people in the past were less helpful, but the concept of community has grown stronger and people meet others, discuss personal issues with community members more openly these days and as a result, the relationship of people has become stronger.


 

Discussion topics: Community Services:

Q.  What types of services, such as libraries or health centres, are available to the people who live in your area? Do you think there are enough of them?
A.  Well, the community I come from has numerous facilities for its members. We have two large public libraries, one free medical checkup centre, three sports centres, a fair-price shop, cleaning service, complaint board, evening school and many such mentionable good services including the necessary community amenities like a playground, park, convention hall and so on.

I believe those facilities need more expansion as the number of community members has increased significantly these days than in the past.

Q.  Which groups of people generally need the most support in a community? Why?
A.  People who are economically less fortunate need more community services. Besides, elder people, women and children often need various supports from the community they live in.

I believe people with less per capita income often find their life challenging and cannot support important things in their life. For instance, some people near my town cannot afford warm dresses during the winter and they need help from other community members. Children and women are often subject to domestic violence or discrimination and they need to turn to the community for help. Elder people need companions, caregivers and some facilities for them and they need support from the community as well.

Q.  Who do you think should pay for the services that are available to the people in a community? Should it be the government or individual people?
A.  I think community members should bear the maximum ratio of the expenses as it is almost impossible for the government to provide the fund for each community for everything they need. However, the government must contribute to good causes and community services for the overall benefits of less fortunate members of a community. For instance, a government can allocate budget to run evening schools and free medical centres and this can be a great way to show support for the citizens.

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