IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a time free from work or study that you enjoyed

Describe a time free from work or study that you enjoyed

Suggested ideas for each part

• When it was: 📅 Last summer holiday / 🎄 During Tet holiday / 🏖️ After finishing an important exam
• Where you spent your free time: 🏡 At home relaxing / 🌊 At the beach / 🏕️ In the countryside
• What you did: 🎮 Played games / 🏊 Went swimming / ✈️ Traveled with friends
• Why you enjoyed it: 🧘‍♂️ Stress-free and relaxing / 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Quality time with family / 🌍 Explored new places

Useful grammar structures

1. Past simple: Last summer, I took a break from studying and went on a trip.
2. Past continuous: While I was lying on the beach, I felt completely relaxed.
3. Comparisons: It was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had.
4. Present perfect: I have never felt so stress-free in my life!
5. Conditional sentence (Type 2): If I could relive that time, I would enjoy it even more.

Collocations

1. Well-deserved break ⏳ (kỳ nghỉ xứng đáng)
2. Recharge my batteries 🔋 (nạp lại năng lượng)
3. Escape from daily routine 🚀 (thoát khỏi thói quen hàng ngày)
4. Stress-free environment 😌 (môi trường không căng thẳng)
5. Unforgettable experience ✨ (trải nghiệm khó quên)
6. Spend quality time 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 (dành thời gian chất lượng)
7. Immerse myself in nature 🌿 (hoà mình vào thiên nhiên)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

One of the most enjoyable times I had away from work and study was last summer 📅 when I took a well-deserved break ⏳ after completing my IELTS exam. I decided to travel to Phu Quoc Island 🌊 with my closest friends for a relaxing getaway. Since we had been studying so hard for months, we really needed to recharge our batteries 🔋.

As soon as we arrived, I was amazed by the stunning beaches, crystal-clear water, and fresh air. The first thing we did was check into a beautiful beachside resort, where we had a private balcony overlooking the sea 🌊. It was the perfect place to escape from daily routine 🚀 and just enjoy the moment.

We spent most of our days exploring the island. One of the highlights was going on a snorkeling tour 🤿. I had never seen such colorful coral reefs before, and swimming among tropical fish was an unforgettable experience ✨. We also tried many delicious seafood dishes, including fresh shrimp, grilled fish, and a local specialty called herring salad 🍤.

At night, we gathered around a bonfire on the beach, listening to the waves while chatting and laughing under the stars 🌌. It was such a stress-free environment 😌, far from the noise and pressure of city life. I felt incredibly happy and grateful to be surrounded by amazing friends.

Overall, this trip was one of the best breaks I’ve ever had. It helped me relax, spend quality time 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 with people I love, and immerse myself in nature 🌿. If I had the chance, I would go back in a heartbeat. After that trip, I realized how important it is to take breaks and enjoy life, rather than always focusing on work and study.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. How do people in your country usually spend their free time?

Ideas

• 🎮 Young people: playing games, watching movies, going to cafés
• 🏃 Adults: exercising, traveling, spending time with family
• 🧑‍🌾 Elderly: gardening, watching TV, socializing

Collocations

1. Leisure activities 🎭 (hoạt động giải trí)
2. Social gatherings 🍻 (buổi tụ tập bạn bè)
3. Hectic schedule 📆 (lịch trình bận rộn)

Sample answer

In Vietnam, people have different leisure activities 🎭 depending on their age and lifestyle. Young people often go to social gatherings 🍻 at cafés, play online games, or watch movies. Adults prefer outdoor activities like jogging or traveling to relax after a hectic schedule 📆. Meanwhile, elderly people enjoy gardening, watching TV, or simply chatting with their neighbors. No matter the activity, people value their free time as a way to unwind.

2. Do you think leisure time is important?

Ideas

• 🧠 Good for mental health and stress relief
• ⚖️ Helps maintain a work-life balance
• 🚀 Boosts creativity and productivity

Collocations

1. Work-life balance ⚖️ (cân bằng công việc và cuộc sống)
2. Mental well-being 🧠 (sức khỏe tinh thần)
3. Boost productivity 🚀 (tăng năng suất làm việc)

Sample answer

Absolutely! Having leisure time is crucial for maintaining a work-life balance ⚖️. If people work non-stop, they will burn out quickly. Taking time to relax can improve mental well-being 🧠, reduce stress, and even boost productivity 🚀. In my opinion, no matter how busy someone is, they should always set aside time to do things they enjoy.

3. How has the way people spend their free time changed over the years?

Ideas

• ⏳ Past: outdoor activities, playing traditional games
• 📱 Present: social media, online entertainment
• 🔮 Future: more tech-based leisure, virtual reality experiences

Collocations

1. Traditional pastimes 🎏 (trò chơi truyền thống)
2. Digital entertainment 📱 (giải trí kỹ thuật số)
3. Changing lifestyle trends 🔄 (xu hướng lối sống thay đổi)

Sample answer

Over the years, people’s leisure activities have changed significantly due to technology. In the past, people enjoyed traditional pastimes 🎏 like kite flying, storytelling, or playing outside. However, nowadays, more people rely on digital entertainment 📱, such as streaming movies, playing video games, or scrolling through social media. As technology advances, I think changing lifestyle trends 🔄 will continue, with virtual reality and AI shaping the way people relax in the future.

4. Should employers encourage employees to take breaks?

Ideas

• ✅ Yes: Improves productivity, reduces stress, creates a happier work environment
• ❌ No: Some companies prioritize efficiency and deadlines over breaks

Collocations

1. Increase job satisfaction 😊 (tăng sự hài lòng trong công việc)
2. Prevent burnout 🔥 (ngăn ngừa kiệt sức)
3. Improve workplace efficiency 💼 (cải thiện hiệu suất làm việc)

Sample answer

Yes, I believe employers should encourage breaks because they can increase job satisfaction 😊 and prevent burnout 🔥. Short breaks allow employees to refresh their minds, which in turn helps them focus better and improve workplace efficiency 💼. Companies that care about their employees’ well-being usually have a more positive and productive work environment.