Ideas and vocabulary for a common type of question in IELTS speaking part 3 – How to compare urban and rural life. The ideas and language can also be used in your IELTS writing task 2 essay.
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What’s your favourite…? Part 1 question tips
hello welcome to another IELTS
lesson in this lesson we’re going
to look at a very common topic
for IELTS for the speaking test and that is
the topic of
can you guess it’s the topic of homes and
today I’m standing outside a beautiful
old English country home it’s
really lovely here
now my question for you is from speaking
part 3
so that means it’s going to be more
difficult are you ready for your
question
do you think it is better to live
in the countryside or in
a city I would like you to answer that
question
I want you to take your telephone record
your answer and then
check your answer and see how you
can improve that and please do this
before you continue with the video
because now I’m gonna go to the white
board
and I’m gonna give you some vocabulary
and ideas to improve your
answer so record your answer and I’ll see
you
in a minute here is your question
do you think it’s better to live
in the countryside or in a city
have you recorded your answer I hope so
now let me give you some
ideas for the countryside and
for the city and you need to think of
advantages
to living in one up those places let’s
look
at the countryside and see what
advantages
there are the first one is
of lower pace of life
and this means that life
in the countryside often moves more
slowly
than in the city it’s often
more relaxed less stressful
and some people believe pleasanter
so that’s one benefit to country
life
another advantage is less
pollution and also less noise
the pollution is generally air pollution
now less air pollution and less noise in the
countryside
is because there is less industry
there’s less traffic less building work
than in a city and therefore
it is considered healthier to live
in the countryside so that really is a
a big positive point another
plus point to life in the countryside
and that is stronger communities
now what does that mean exactly
well in the countryside people often
live in a town for their whole life
and families live
in the town generation after generation
and that means that they know each other
very well
and therefore the community is quite
close
and neighbours have a good relationship
with each other
this means that the countryside
often gives people a good support
network
because the community is so close
so that is definitely a plus point
the next advantage now that depends
on which country you live in but
in England for example in the
countryside
houses are cheaper than in a city
so that means that they can have bigger
houses
bigger gardens there’s more space you
remember the beautiful house
from the beginning of the video that was
an English
country house over 150 years old
so the owner of that house couldn’t
have the same building if they lived
in a city so those are four
plus points four advantages to
country life now let’s look at cities
maybe you prefer living in the city
now one
definite advantage about that the city has
over country life is
there are more amenities
in a city what are amentities
well another word for amenities is
facility now the facilities and
amenities
that we’re talking about are things like
better restaurants
better sports facilities more leisure
centres for example
also the transport is better a
the roads are better there are so many
more things that you can do
their cinemas shopping malls opera houses
many many more amenities and
facilities
in a city than living in the countryside
in a small town or village
now let’s check the pronunciation of these
words
the first word is amenity
so that four syllables
A Men I Ty
this is ah ah
sound amenity
here is the stress amenity:
amenities so
singular amenity and plural
amenities the next one
facilities Fa
Cil I Ties
this also is ah fa
and the stress of is here
in the second syllable facilities
so the city has more facilities
and amenities to offer than the
countryside
the next positive point
to city life and that is in the city there
are often
better prospects do you know that word
well prospects often mean opportunities
there are more opportunities for people
in the city
the word prospects we often use with
employment and this means that when
there
are better prospects it means
that it’s easier to get a good job
so there are more jobs available in the
city
more prospects and more opportunities
to do what you want to do
and advance get promotion
and improve your life
the next advantage is very clear
better public transport there are more buses
and
trains and undergrounds in
cities and of course in the countryside
there’s often very little public
transport
people need their own transport to get
around
but in the cities if you don’t have
your own transportation
you can still get around and you can
travel using
public transport and the last
advantage again this depends on which
country you live in
but in many countries there is better
education
in the cities than in the countryside
nearly all universities are in
cities often the facilities
at school in the city
they are better than in the countryside
so for example city schools have better
technology
more laptops and computers and high
technology for their students
and the standard of education is often
higher
better teachers so
there are 4 clear positive points to
city life now before we finish
there’s something I want to tell you about
this question
obviously you need to choose
living in the country or living in
city and when you choose one
you really need to compare it with
the other because when you use
a language of comparison when you give a
comparative
sentence it will help your IELTS
speaking results the examiner does need to
hear
a range up different grammar
so we say less and
more well better
say for example there is less pollution
and noise
in the countryside than in
a city there are often better
prospects for work in a city
compared to the countryside
so remember when you give some ideas that
you need to compare them
now these are only 4 ideas for each one
maybe you’ve got some more ideas if you
have
let me know it’s always good to share
ideas
for IELTS well that’s all for this lesson
I hope that was useful and I will see
you again
in another IELTS lesson
here are some more useful IELTS lessons
to help you prepare for your IELTS test
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Hello Liz,
Can we use words like “you know” in our speaking test. I usually use this word while I am speaking so if you could say something about this it would be great.
Thanks
Certainly you can say that. The IELTS Speaking Test is informal and your aim is to speak naturally. Some native speakers will use such expressions quite often when speaking – it’s fine.
Thanks, that makes me feel more confident. 🙂 I hope you are fit and fine now and we would see you back in action on youtube.
I would love to be back on Youtube. I really enjoyed making those video lessons. Hopefully next year my health will be better 🙂
Hi Lizz:
we are waiting for more videos about part 4 Speaking test
thanks.
Part 4? There is no part four. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-speaking-free-lessons-essential-tips/
Hi Liz , Thanks for Posting this Video . It’s really helpful . Also , I would like to confirm one thing on the comparison questions . Will it be correct , if we explain pros and cons for both the options (for example , urban and country side ) or should we only choose one option and describe advantages of it ?
You just answer what the question asks for. If the examiner says “What are the advantages and disadvantages…” then give both. But remember, task response and task achievement do not exist in IELTS speaking. The examiner will only mark your language, not your ideas.
Thank you Liz, for this very useful website and your effort.
I want to know…
Is it okay to start my answer by saying – okay, … . / well, …. . I mean starting the answer by the words which come naturally.
Another thing to know is, in the speaking part, should I always answer by using I/me? or can I use we/ you?
The speaking test is informal and you should speak in your natural way. It is normal to use such fillers. If the question is about you, then you answer about you. If the question is about people in your country, you answer about people in your country. Just answer the question.
Hello Liz,
May I know, if I take 2-4 seconds pause to answer questions in Part 3, will it create any problem?
Thanks
Try filling your pause with language – “Well, let me see, I suppose …. ”
Or ask the examiner to repeat the question so you have time to think.
Hi Liz, kindly ask you to help me with one question: When I registered for IELTS I choose the option that I am a student. Actually, I am not a student because I graduated in July this year and came to Germany, and I will pass my IELTS here on 1st December. I am not working also and that’s why I am worried if the examiner will ask me if I am a student and I will say not, but in my registration paper they have information that I am a student. So what should I respond to him, if I am not studying and not working? (I am actually going to start an intensive course of German language, and intend to make a master next year).
Thank you for your time!
If the examiner asks “do you work or do you study?”, you say “I’m about to start a Germany language course and I plan to take a Masters next year.”
The words “I’m about to start…” mean that you will start very soon. Just be honest and open in your test. This is an informal test so be chatty, friendly and open.
Hi liz, hope you are doing well.
My question is- Can I use examples from my own experiences in speaking part 2&3?
For instance, if the question is- ‘Does travelling to different countries change the way people think?’ can i use examples from my travels and how it changed the way i percieve things?
Part 3 is usually a time to talk about the world in general. If the question is about the world in general, you should speak about the world in general and relate your examples and ideas to people. Part 1 is mainly about yourself. Part 2 – it depends on the topic but you should always add your own memories and experiences.
This was a great help. Thanks for the prompt reply. Now i can prepare accordingly.
Thank you Liz for your support through this website. I learned a lot and got confidence to attend IELTS speaking exam by tomorrow. And I have LRW exam on 8th of this month. Can you help me out anything to get better score in this time.
And I am confident that I will get 7band
Ramesh
Review my last minute tips for each section of the test: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-exam-tips-on-the-day/. All main pages with tips etc are accessible through the RED BAR at the top of the website. Good luck!
Hey liz
Thank you so much for your useful tips hope i can crack this exam in coming Wednesday
Good luck. See my last minute tips for all sections: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-exam-tips-on-the-day/
Hey liz, thnx for ur great help n i rly need ur wishes for my IELTS exam.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you 🙂
I find the comparison method very helpful, it’s make the English learning more Interesting , Hope i would get better score in tomorrows Speaking Test.
Thanks Liz.
Good luck!!
Hi Liz!
Should I present as many points as I thought of in part 3 Speaking?
Or should I only give one point and then further elaborate it?
Thanks for your videos and materials!
The examiner is not marking your ideas. You are being marked on your English language only. So, present each idea with lots of detail in order to showcase your language skills with a range of grammar and vocabulary.
hi liz maam,
Is it good to take the use of cambridge ielts books for reading practice(GENARAL)
What is the cost of that cambridge books.
How can I improve my generation of ideas in writing task 2
Give me any suggestion
Yes, you should use the Cambridge books which you can find on amazon. Get ideas for writing task 2 from model essays and the internet.
From your videos and lessons,I learned a lot and indeed i am going to take my speaking test tomorrow.Thank you and wish me good luck”)
Good luck!!! Relax and be chatty.
Thank you so much for your help…………………………
thanks
You are awesome, Liz. I’m going to take IELTS speaking test tomorrow morning, and I have learned a lot from your videos and notes. I hope I can get band 6.5!
Good luck!!
Liz
One more thing I always love to add to this type of topic. Life in the city is convenient but not comfortable but in the countryside, life is comfortable but not convenient. 😉
my fate is my decisions
you are the best,good luck to all
nice 🙂