IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe your favourite place in your house where you can relax.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card

Describe your favourite place in your house where you can relax.
You should say:

• Where it is

• What it is like

• What you enjoy doing there
  And explain why you find it relaxing

1. Speaking Expressions

A. Where it is

• To paint a picture… (Để vẽ nên bức tranh…)

• It’s tucked away in… (Nó nằm gọn trong…)

• Right next to… (Ngay cạnh…)

• At the far end of… (Ở cuối…)

• My little sanctuary is in… (Nơi trú ẩn nhỏ của tôi ở…)

B. What it is like

• A cozy little nook (Một góc nhỏ ấm cúng)

• Bathed in natural light (Ngập tràn ánh sáng tự nhiên)

• Minimalist set-up (Bố trí tối giản)

• Filled with greenery (Đầy cây xanh)

• Soft cushions and a fluffy throw (Gối mềm và chăn lông mịn)

C. What you enjoy doing there

• Curl up with a book (Cuộn mình đọc sách)

• Sip a cup of herbal tea (Nhâm nhi tách trà thảo mộc)

• Put on some lo-fi music (Bật nhạc lo-fi nhẹ nhàng)

• Practice deep-breathing / meditation (Luyện hít thở sâu / thiền)

• Journal my thoughts (Viết nhật ký suy nghĩ)

D. Why you find it relaxing

• It helps me switch off (Nó giúp tôi tắt hết mọi lo toan)

• All my stress just melts away (Mọi căng thẳng tan biến)

• I can recharge my batteries (Tôi có thể nạp lại năng lượng)

• It’s my escape from the hustle and bustle (Đó là lối thoát khỏi nhịp sống hối hả)

• Time just slows down there (Thời gian như chậm lại ở đó)

2. Ideas & Collocations

• Balcony garden with potted herbs (ban công trồng cây gia vị trong chậu)

• Reading corner by the window (góc đọc sách bên cửa sổ)

• Hammock in the backyard (võng ở sân sau)

• Noise-cancelling headphones (tai nghe chống ồn)

• Unplug from screens (rời xa màn hình thiết bị)

• Fairy lights and scented candles (đèn dây và nến thơm)

• Rattan chair and bamboo mat (ghế mây và chiếu tre)

3. Sample Answer

To paint a picture, my favourite place to relax is a cozy little nook on the small balcony of my apartment in Ho Chi Minh City. It’s tucked away in the corner, right next to the sliding glass door, so it’s bathed in natural light every morning. I’ve turned it into a mini balcony garden with potted herbs, a couple of succulents, and a hanging spider plant. The set-up is pretty simple—just a rattan chair and a bamboo mat, a low wooden stool to hold my books, and a string of fairy lights and scented candles for evenings. It sounds basic, but for me it’s the perfect minimalist set-up.

What do I actually do there? Most of the time I curl up with a book and sip a cup of herbal tea—usually trà atiso or lavender tea. Sometimes I put on some lo-fi music with my noise-cancelling headphones to shut out the traffic noise below. On stressful days, I’ll journal my thoughts or do a quick five-minute deep-breathing routine just to clear my head. It’s also where I like to unplug from screens, leaving my phone inside so I’m not tempted to scroll.

Why is it so relaxing? Well, it helps me switch off from work and study completely. The moment I sit down and smell the scented candles, all my stress just melts away. The greenery makes me feel grounded, almost like I’m in a tiny urban jungle. Out there, time just slows down, and I can recharge my batteries before diving back into lesson plans or grading papers. Plus, being able to soak up the morning sun or feel the evening breeze is such an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Honestly, it’s my little sanctuary—no notifications, no deadlines—just me, my plants, and a peaceful vibe. Every time I step back inside, I feel lighter and more centered, ready to take on whatever’s next.

IELTS Speaking Part 3

1. Why is it hard for some people to relax?

Expressions:

• Oddly enough… (Lạ thay…)

• Their mind just won’t switch off… (Đầu óc họ không chịu ngừng nghĩ…)

• They’re constantly on edge… (Họ luôn trong trạng thái căng thẳng…)

• Work bleeds into their personal life… (Công việc lấn sang đời sống cá nhân…)

• They feel guilty for “doing nothing”… (Họ thấy áy náy khi “không làm gì”)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Digital overload / information overload (quá tải thông tin số)

• High-pressure deadlines (hạn chót căng thẳng)

• Perfectionist mindset (tư duy cầu toàn)

• Financial worries and family responsibilities (lo tài chính và trách nhiệm gia đình)

Sample Answer:
Oddly enough, a lot of people struggle to relax because their mind just won’t switch off. With digital overload and work bleeding into personal life, they’re constantly on edge. Some have a perfectionist mindset, feeling guilty for “doing nothing”. Add financial worries or caring for family, and it’s no surprise relaxation feels like a luxury.

2. What are the benefits of doing exercise?

Expressions:

• Hands down, it’s a game-changer… (Chắc chắn rồi, đó là yếu tố thay đổi cuộc chơi…)

• It boosts both body and mind… (Nó tăng cường cả thể chất lẫn tinh thần…)

• You get a natural dopamine hit… (Bạn nhận được một cú “đá” dopamine tự nhiên…)

• Keeps lifestyle diseases at bay… (Giúp tránh xa các bệnh do lối sống)

• It sharpens your focus… (Nó làm sắc bén khả năng tập trung…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Improve cardiovascular health (cải thiện tim mạch)

• Reduce stress hormones (giảm hormone căng thẳng)

• Better sleep quality (chất lượng giấc ngủ tốt hơn)

• Build social connections through team sports (kết nối xã hội qua thể thao đồng đội)

Sample Answer:
Hands down, it’s a game-changer. Exercise boosts both body and mind—you get a natural dopamine hit, reduce stress, and improve cardiovascular health. It also keeps lifestyle diseases at bay and leads to better sleep quality. Mentally, it sharpens your focus, and socially, joining a class or team helps you bond with others.

3. Do people in your country exercise after work?

Expressions:

• More and more, yes… (Ngày càng nhiều, có chứ…)

• You can see parks packed at dusk… (Buổi chiều tối công viên đông nghịt…)

• It’s become a post-office ritual… (Nó đã thành thói quen sau giờ làm…)

• Of course, some are still couch potatoes… (Tất nhiên, vẫn có người lười vận động…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Evening aerobics groups in public squares (nhóm thể dục nhịp điệu buổi tối ở quảng trường)

• Jogging around the lake / park (chạy bộ quanh hồ / công viên)

• Badminton and shuttlecock kicking in alleys (cầu lông, đá cầu trong hẻm)

• Gym memberships and yoga studios booming (thẻ gym, studio yoga bùng nổ)

Sample Answer:
More and more, yes. After work, parks are packed at dusk with people jogging or joining evening aerobics groups. Badminton and shuttlecock kicking in alleys are still common. Gyms and yoga studios are booming too. Of course, some are still couch potatoes, but overall the trend is positive.

4. Which area of the house do people usually spend the most time in?

Expressions:

• It varies, but generally… (Còn tùy, nhưng nhìn chung…)

• The living room is the heart of the home… (Phòng khách là trái tim của ngôi nhà…)

• Nowadays the kitchen doubles as a hangout spot… (Ngày nay bếp cũng kiêm nơi tụ tập…)

• With tiny apartments, the bedroom does it all… (Căn hộ nhỏ thì phòng ngủ “bao sân”…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Open-plan living room-kitchen combo (không gian mở phòng khách – bếp)

• Family bonding over TV or meals (gia đình quây quần xem TV hay ăn uống)

• Work-from-home corner in the bedroom (góc làm việc tại nhà trong phòng ngủ)

• Balcony as a mini garden / café corner (ban công thành vườn mini / góc café)

Sample Answer:
It varies, but generally, the living room is the heart of the home, where families watch TV and eat together. In modern apartments with open-plan living room-kitchen combos, people hang out around the dining table too. For many young professionals in studios, the bedroom does it all—sleeping, working, chilling. And some turn the balcony into a mini garden to unwind.