IELTS Speaking Part 1

Expressing ideas
Travelling and destinations
 What country do you come from?

 Which other countries have you visited?

 Are there any countries you would like to visit? Why?

 What do you find difficult about travelling?

 What do you enjoy about travelling?

 What is your preferred method of travel?

Sample response
What country do you come from?
I am from Vietnam, a country located in Southeast Asia. It shares border with China in the north,
Laos in the west and Cambodia in the southwest. Vietnam is a coastal nation, with a long coastline
along the South China Sea. The total population is about 90 million people, and the native language
is Vietnamese.

Key points
 Give a full response with many details.
 The ideas must be relevant and strongly connected to one another.
 Use advanced-level and academic vocabulary.
 Use a variety of compound and complex structures.
Useful expressions
1. Expressing new ideas:
 Well,…/To be honest,…/Honestly speaking,…/Frankly speaking,…/Generally speaking,
…/Actually,…
Ex. Which other countries have you visited?
 Response 1: Well, I have travelled abroad only once. It was when I graduated from high
school and got accepted to university; my parents rewarded me with a holiday overseas to
Singapore. The trip was such a memorable event, for not only did I have a chance to witness
myself the stunningly beautiful city of Singapore, but also because I could share some
valuable experiences with my family.
 Response 2: To be honest, I’ve never had a chance to travel abroad, but given a chance I
would like to give it a shot, not only since it can broaden my horizons, but also because I can
have a chance to meet new people and establish more relationships. For example, I’d really
 love to visit Hawaii one day, for as far as I’m concerned it has one of the most magnificent
sceneries in the world. Also, the native people are very friendly, and I can be exposed to
some interesting local customs, such as the Hula dance.
2. Expressing opinions
 In my opinion,…/In my experience,…/From my perspective,…/From my point of view,…
 I believe that…/I reckon that…/I concur that…/I hold the opinion that…/I agree that…/I support
the view that…
Ex. What do you find difficult about travelling?
 Response: From my perspective, travel cost and language barrier are two of the greatest
hindrances to travelling. As there is an increasing number of people going abroad, either on a
holiday or on a business trip, fuel expenses have been rising continuously lately, which adds
a substantial amount to travel costs. In addition, communication difficulty is also one of the
factors that prevent some visitors from choosing their new destinations.
3. Giving reasons and explanations
 Simply because…/Mainly because…
 Because…/Since…/As…/For…/For the reason that…/In the sense that… + Clause (S + V)
 Because of…/Due to…/Thanks to… + Noun/Noun phrase
 The reason why… is that…
Ex. What is your preferred method of travel?
 Response: In my experience, the most reliable means of transportation is the airline, mainly
because it is both safe and convenient. On the one hand, the annual number of air accidents
pales in comparison with the figure for road or marine accidents. On the other hand,
travelling by airplane is by far the fastest and most comfortable choice for long-distance
journeys.