IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a website that sells second-hand items.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card

Describe a website that sells second-hand items.
You should say:

• What it is

• How you found out about it

• What kinds of things people can buy from it
  And explain whether you like it or not

1. Speaking Expressions

A. What it is

• The website I’m referring to is… (Trang web tôi muốn nói đến là…)

• It’s essentially a platform for… (Nó về cơ bản là nền tảng cho…)

• It operates much like… (Nó hoạt động tương tự như…)

B. How you found out about it

• I stumbled upon it when… (Tôi tình cờ biết đến khi…)

• A friend recommended it to me… (Một người bạn đã giới thiệu cho tôi…)

• I first heard of it via… (Tôi lần đầu nghe về nó qua…)

C. What kinds of things people can buy

• You can find… ranging from… to… (Bạn có thể thấy… từ… đến…)

• It offers everything from… to… (Nó cung cấp đủ thứ từ… đến…)

• Sellers list items such as… (Người bán đăng món như…)

D. Whether you like it or not

• Overall, I’m quite fond of it because… (Tổng thể, tôi khá thích nó vì…)

• I appreciate its… (Tôi đánh giá cao tính… của nó)

• One drawback, however, is… (Tuy nhiên một nhược điểm là…)

2. Ideas & Collocations

• Browse listings (duyệt danh sách tin)

• Filter by category and location (lọc theo danh mục và khu vực)

• Negotiate prices with sellers (thương lượng giá với người bán)

• User ratings and reviews (đánh giá và nhận xét người dùng)

• Secure online payment (thanh toán trực tuyến an toàn)

• Local pickup arrangements (sắp xếp nhận hàng tại chỗ)

• Vintage furniture and decor (nội thất và trang trí cổ điển)

• Pre‑owned electronics (điện tử đã qua sử dụng)

• Affordable designer clothes (quần áo hàng hiệu giá phải chăng)

• Eco‑friendly shopping (mua sắm thân thiện môi trường)

3. Sample Answer 

The website I’m referring to is Chợ Tốt, one of Vietnam’s largest online marketplaces for second‑hand items. I first heard of it via a colleague who sold her old sofa there last year. Intrigued, I stumbled upon it when I needed a budget‑friendly desk for my home office.

It operates much like a classifieds site: users browse listings organized by category—furniture, electronics, fashion, vehicles, even real estate. You can filter by category and location, which is handy when you want to view only items near you. Sellers list items such as a barely‑used iPhone, a preloved bicycle, or a vintage coffee table. Each listing includes user ratings and reviews, photos, and a brief description. If you’re interested, you can negotiate prices with sellers via the built‑in chat, then arrange local pickup or request a secure online payment through the platform’s escrow service.

One thing I love is the variety: I’ve seen pre‑owned electronics at half their retail price and affordable designer clothes in excellent condition. For those into interior design, there’s a treasure trove of vintage furniture and decor, which you won’t find in regular stores. Plus, shopping second‑hand on Chợ Tốt feels eco‑friendly, since you’re giving items a second life instead of contributing to landfill waste.

Overall, I’m quite fond of it because it’s convenient and cost‑effective. The mobile app sends real‑time alerts whenever new items match my saved searches—super useful if you’re hunting for something specific. I appreciate its straightforward interface and the sense of community: many sellers include personal anecdotes about how they used the item, which makes browsing more engaging.

One drawback, however, is that you sometimes encounter outdated or misleading listings, so you have to be cautious and verify details before paying. I learned to always check the seller’s user rating and ask for extra photos. Despite that, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive. Last month I bought a nearly new office chair for 500,000₫, saving hundreds of thousands of dong. Every time I use Chợ Tốt, I feel savvy—and a bit proud—to shop sustainably and stretch my budget.

IELTS Speaking Part 3

1. Some people say buying many clothes for children is wasteful. Do you agree?

Expressions:

• To a large extent, yes… (Ở một mức độ lớn, có…)

• Kids outgrow clothes so quickly… (Trẻ con lớn nhanh nên quần áo nhanh chật…)

• It’s efficient to… (Việc… thì tiết kiệm hơn…)

Collocations:

• Hand‑me‑downs among siblings (quần áo truyền tay giữa các anh chị em)

• Clothing swaps (đổi chác quần áo)

• Quality over quantity (chất lượng hơn số lượng)

Sample Answer:
To a large extent, yes. Kids outgrow clothes so quickly, making frequent purchases wasteful. It’s efficient to rely on hand‑me‑downs among siblings, participate in clothing swaps, and focus on quality over quantity so outfits last longer and reduce environmental impact.

2. What do people usually do with clothes they no longer wear?

Expressions:

• Many opt to… (Nhiều người chọn…)

• Some donate them to… (Một số người tặng cho…)

• Others resell on… (Người khác bán lại trên…)

Collocations:

• Charity organizations (tổ chức từ thiện)

• Second‑hand shops (cửa hàng đồ cũ)

• Online resale platforms (nền tảng bán lại trực tuyến)

Sample Answer:
Many opt to donate them to charity organizations like local shelters. Some resell items on second‑hand shops or online resale platforms such as Chợ Tốt. Others might upcycle old clothes into cleaning rags or crafting projects.

3. Why do people buy second‑hand clothes?

Expressions:

• Primarily for… (Chủ yếu vì…)

• They can snag… at a fraction of the price… (Họ có thể mua… với giá rất thấp…)

• It aligns with… (Nó phù hợp với…)

Collocations:

• Budget‑conscious shoppers (người mua hàng tiết kiệm)

• Vintage enthusiasts (người thích phong cách cổ điển)

• Sustainable fashion (thời trang bền vững)

Sample Answer:
Primarily for affordability. Budget‑conscious shoppers can snag branded items at a fraction of the price. Vintage enthusiasts look for unique pieces, and those who care about the planet appreciate sustainable fashion by reducing demand for new garments.

4. What problems can happen if people don’t recycle?

Expressions:

• Over time… leads to… (Lâu dài… dẫn đến…)

• It contributes to… (Nó góp phần vào…)

• Without intervention… (Nếu không can thiệp…)

Collocations:

• Landfill overflow (chất thải quá tải tại bãi rác)

• Resource depletion (cạn kiệt tài nguyên)

• Environmental pollution (ô nhiễm môi trường)

• Increased greenhouse gases (tăng khí nhà kính)

Sample Answer:
Over time, landfill overflow becomes a serious issue, as discarded textiles and plastics take centuries to decompose. It contributes to resource depletion, environmental pollution, and increased greenhouse gases from waste processing. Without intervention, ecosystems suffer and public health can decline.

5. Should the government encourage recycling?

Expressions:

• Absolutely… (Chắc chắn rồi…)

• Incentivise citizens to… (Khuyến khích người dân…)

• Implement stricter policies like… (Áp dụng chính sách nghiêm ngặt như…)

Collocations:

• Recycling subsidies (trợ cấp tái chế)

• Mandatory waste sorting (bắt buộc phân loại rác)

• Public awareness campaigns (chiến dịch nâng cao nhận thức)

Sample Answer:
Absolutely. Governments should incentivise citizens to recycle through recycling subsidies, enforce mandatory waste sorting, and run public awareness campaigns to teach proper disposal and highlight environmental benefits.

6. How do people in your country recycle unwanted items?

Expressions:

• They typically… (Họ thường…)

• There are designated… (Có những… chuyên dụng)

• Community-driven initiatives like… (Các sáng kiến cộng đồng như…)

Collocations:

• Collection points (điểm thu gom)

• E‑waste drop‑off centers (trung tâm thu nhận rác điện tử)

• Charity bazaars (hội chợ từ thiện)

• Door-to‑door pickup services (dịch vụ thu gom tại nhà)

Sample Answer:
They typically sort recyclables at home and bring them to collection points in their neighborhood. For electronics, they use E‑waste drop‑off centers. Community-driven initiatives like charity bazaars allow people to donate clothing and household items, while some cities now offer door-to‑door pickup services for sorted waste.