IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a time when you saw a lot of plastic waste (e.g., in a park or on a beach).

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card

Describe a time when you saw a lot of plastic waste (e.g., in a park or on a beach).

You should say:

• Where and when you saw the plastic waste

• Why there was a lot of plastic waste

• What you did after you saw it
  And explain what your thoughts were about this

Speaking Expressions

• To be honest… (Thật lòng mà nói…)

• If I remember right… (Nếu tôi nhớ không lầm…)

• It was a real eye-opener… (Đó là một bài học mở mang tầm mắt…)

• I was honestly shocked… (Thật sự tôi đã sốc…)

• I couldn’t just walk away… (Tôi không thể cứ thế bỏ đi…)

• It hit me that… (Tôi chợt nhận ra rằng…)

• Since then, I’ve been trying to… (Từ đó, tôi đã cố gắng…)

Ideas & Collocations

• Single-use plastics (nhựa dùng một lần)

• Overflowing trash bins (thùng rác tràn ngập)

• Community clean-up drive (chiến dịch dọn rác cộng đồng)

• Canal choked with bottles (kênh rạch nghẹt chai nhựa)

• Plastic-strewn shoreline (bờ biển đầy nhựa)

• Sort the recyclables (phân loại đồ tái chế)

• Raise awareness on Facebook (nâng cao nhận thức trên Facebook)

Sample Answer

To be honest, the worst plastic mess I’ve ever seen was at Thủ Thiêm riverside in Ho Chi Minh City, just a couple of months ago. If I remember right, it was a Sunday morning after a big night market nearby, and the place was a disaster—single-use plastics everywhere, from bubble-tea cups to food containers. The trash cans were there, but they were overflowing trash bins, so people just dumped stuff on the ground. The canal next to the walkway was basically choked with bottles, floating like a giant ugly soup.

I was honestly shocked. I mean, I knew littering was bad, but seeing a plastic-strewn shoreline right in the middle of the city hit differently. I couldn’t just walk away, so I joined a small community clean-up drive that a local environmental group happened to be running that morning. We grabbed gloves, started to sort the recyclables, and filled bag after bag. Afterward, I posted some photos to raise awareness on Facebook, tagging friends and saying, “Guys, this is our backyard. We have to do better.”

It was a real eye-opener. It hit me that convenience comes with a cost, and we’re kinda pretending not to see it. Since then, I’ve been trying to carry a reusable bottle and say no to plastic straws. I walked away feeling a mix of anger and motivation—angry that people were so careless, but motivated because I saw that a handful of volunteers actually made a visible difference in just a couple of hours.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions

1. Do you think we should continue using plastic products?

2. How can we reduce our use of plastic?

3. What kinds of plastic waste are commonly seen in your country?

4. Why do people prefer plastic products?

Question 1

Speaking Expressions:

• In my opinion… (Theo tôi…)

• Let’s be real… (Thực tế mà nói…)

• We can’t quit cold turkey, but… (Không thể bỏ ngay lập tức, nhưng…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Essential medical plastics (nhựa y tế thiết yếu)

• Phase-out plan (kế hoạch loại bỏ dần)

• Eco-friendly alternatives (giải pháp thay thế thân thiện môi trường)

Sample Answer:
In my opinion, we shouldn’t keep using plastic the way we are now, but let’s be real, some plastics—like essential medical plastics—are hard to replace. We can’t quit cold turkey, but we can push for a phase-out plan for unnecessary packaging and eco-friendly alternatives. Think biodegradable bags or refill stations. The key is being selective: keep what’s truly needed, ditch what’s just for convenience. If governments and businesses step up, individuals will follow.

Question 2

Speaking Expressions:

• One practical way is… (Một cách thực tế là…)

• If we make it a habit… (Nếu chúng ta biến nó thành thói quen…)

• It starts with small swaps… (Bắt đầu từ những thay đổi nhỏ…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Bring-your-own (BYO) policy (chính sách tự mang đồ dùng cá nhân)

• Bulk-buy refills (mua số lượng lớn để châm lại)

• Plastic-free campaigns (chiến dịch không nhựa)

Sample Answer:
One practical way is a bring-your-own (BYO) policy—carry your own bottle, cup, even lunch box. If we make it a habit, shops will adapt and reward that. It starts with small swaps: buy shampoo bars, do bulk-buy refills for detergent, join plastic-free campaigns at work or school. Honestly, once you set up a routine, it’s not that hard. The trick is making the greener choice the easier choice.

Question 3

Speaking Expressions:

• More often than not… (Thường thì…)

• You see tons of… (Bạn thấy vô số…)

• It drives me crazy when… (Tôi phát điên khi…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Bubble-tea cups with plastic seals (ly trà sữa với màng nhựa)

• Instant noodle wrappers (vỏ mì ăn liền)

• Takeaway cutlery packs (bộ dụng cụ ăn mang đi)

Sample Answer:
More often than not, you see tons of bubble-tea cups with plastic seals tossed on sidewalks. Street food culture means takeaway cutlery packs everywhere—spoons, forks, even tiny fish-sauce packets. Instant noodle wrappers pile up in dorm trash cans. It drives me crazy when people finish a drink and drop the cup right by the bin. It’s all the “on-the-go” stuff that adds up and clogs drains during heavy rain.

Question 4

Speaking Expressions:

• Honestly, it boils down to… (Thật ra, vấn đề nằm ở…)

• People love the convenience of… (Mọi người thích sự tiện lợi của…)

• It’s dirt cheap compared to… (Nó rẻ bèo so với…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Lightweight packaging (bao bì nhẹ)

• Waterproof durability (độ bền chống nước)

• Cost-effective production (sản xuất tiết kiệm chi phí)

Sample Answer:
Honestly, it boils down to price and convenience. People love the convenience of lightweight packaging that doesn’t leak and can be carried anywhere. Plus, it’s dirt cheap compared to glass or metal because of cost-effective production. Add waterproof durability, and you’ve got a product that checks all the boxes for busy consumers. Until alternatives match those perks, plastic will keep winning.