IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a change that can improve your local area

Describe a change that can improve your local area

Suggested ideas for each part

• What the change would be: 🚲 Building more cycling lanes / 🌳 Creating more green spaces and parks / 🚇 Improving public transportation
• How this change could be made: 🏗️ Government investment / 👥 Community participation / 📢 Raising public awareness
• What problems there might be: 💰 High cost / 🏘️ Lack of space / 🚗 Traffic congestion during construction
• How this change would improve your local area: 🌱 Better air quality / 🚶‍♂️ Encourages a healthier lifestyle / 🏙️ Makes the city more livable

Useful grammar structures

1. Second conditional: If my local area had more green spaces, people would feel more relaxed.
2. Passive voice: More parks should be built to improve the living environment.
3. Comparisons: The city would be much cleaner and greener than it is now.
4. Future tense: This change will help reduce pollution and improve public health.
5. Cause and effect: Having more parks leads to a healthier lifestyle and a stronger sense of community.

Collocations

1. Public transportation system 🚇 (hệ thống giao thông công cộng)
2. Green spaces and recreational areas 🌳 (không gian xanh và khu vui chơi giải trí)
3. Traffic congestion 🚗🚕 (tắc nghẽn giao thông)
4. Promote a healthier lifestyle 🚶‍♂️ (khuyến khích lối sống lành mạnh)
5. Enhance the quality of life 😊🏡 (nâng cao chất lượng cuộc sống)
6. Environmental sustainability 🌎 (sự bền vững môi trường)
7. Community engagement 👥 (sự tham gia của cộng đồng)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

One major change that I believe could greatly improve my local area is the development of more green spaces and recreational areas 🌳. At the moment, my neighborhood is quite crowded, with many buildings and busy roads, but very few parks or open spaces for people to relax and enjoy nature.

This change could be made by the local government 🏗️ investing in urban planning and setting aside land for public parks. Additionally, community groups could help by planting trees and maintaining these green areas. Schools and businesses might also contribute by running environmental projects to raise awareness 📢 about the importance of having more greenery in the city.

However, there are some challenges in making this change. The biggest issue is the lack of available space 🏘️, as most land has already been developed. Another problem is funding 💰, since creating and maintaining green spaces requires a large budget. Finally, during the construction process, there might be traffic congestion 🚗 and inconvenience for local residents.

Despite these difficulties, I strongly believe that this change would bring many benefits to my local area. More parks would enhance the quality of life 😊🏡 by providing a place for people to exercise, socialize, and relax. It would also promote a healthier lifestyle 🚶‍♂️, as people would have more opportunities to walk, run, or do outdoor activities instead of staying indoors. Furthermore, increasing the number of trees would improve environmental sustainability 🌎 by reducing pollution and providing fresh air. If this change were implemented, my city would become a much more pleasant and livable place.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. Are people where you come from usually friendly with their neighbors?

Ideas

• 👋 Yes, in smaller neighborhoods, people are usually friendly and supportive.
• 🏙️ However, in big cities, people are often too busy to interact much.
• 👥 Traditional Vietnamese culture values community and strong neighborly relationships.

Collocations

1. Close-knit community 👨‍👩‍👧 (cộng đồng gắn kết)
2. Lend a helping hand 🤝 (giúp đỡ lẫn nhau)
3. Respect personal space 🚪 (tôn trọng không gian riêng tư)

Sample answer

In Vietnam, people in smaller neighborhoods often have a close-knit community 👨‍👩‍👧 where they lend a helping hand 🤝 to each other. Neighbors usually share food, help with household tasks, or take care of children together. However, in big cities, people tend to be more reserved and prefer to respect personal space 🚪, as they are busy with work and daily life.

2. What are popular activities in and around your community?

Ideas

• 🏃‍♂️ Outdoor activities like jogging, cycling, and playing sports in parks
• 🛍️ Shopping at local markets and malls
• ☕ Socializing at cafés and restaurants

Collocations

1. Social gatherings ☕ (các buổi tụ họp xã hội)
2. Vibrant street life 🌆 (cuộc sống đường phố sôi động)
3. Cultural events and festivals 🎉 (các sự kiện và lễ hội văn hóa)

Sample answer

In my community, people enjoy various activities. Many like to exercise by jogging or cycling in parks 🚴, while others love social gatherings ☕ at cafés or restaurants. Our area also has a vibrant street life 🌆 with night markets and street food vendors. Additionally, we celebrate many cultural events and festivals 🎉 throughout the year, which bring people together and create a lively atmosphere.

3. Do people usually like living in residential compounds and communities alongside other people?

Ideas

• 🏡 Yes, because it provides safety and a sense of community.
• 🚪 Some prefer privacy and quiet, so they choose independent houses.
• 🏢 In big cities, apartments and gated communities are very common.

Collocations

1. Sense of belonging 🤝 (cảm giác thuộc về)
2. Gated communities 🚪 (khu dân cư khép kín)
3. Private and peaceful environment 🌿 (môi trường riêng tư và yên tĩnh)

Sample answer

Many people enjoy living in gated communities 🚪 because they feel safer and have a stronger sense of belonging 🤝. They can easily make friends with their neighbors and participate in community events. However, some prefer a more private and peaceful environment 🌿 and choose to live in independent houses or rural areas instead.

4. Where do people who live in the same compounds or communities usually meet? Are there any places where people meet socially?

Ideas

• 🏞️ Public parks and gardens
• 🏋️‍♂️ Gyms and sports clubs
• 🏡 Community centers and apartment lounges

Collocations

1. Public gathering spaces 🏞️ (không gian tụ họp công cộng)
2. Shared facilities 🏋️‍♂️ (cơ sở vật chất chung)
3. Neighborhood events 🎊 (sự kiện khu dân cư)

Sample answer

People in the same community often meet in public gathering spaces 🏞️ like parks or playgrounds, where they can relax and socialize. Many apartment complexes also have shared facilities 🏋️‍♂️ like gyms and swimming pools where residents interact. Additionally, local authorities sometimes organize neighborhood events 🎊 to strengthen community bonds.