COMPLETE IELTS SPEAKING TEST 3

Part I
Studies
1. Where are you studying at the moment?
 I am studying at an independent university in HCM city. My major is
philosophy.
2. How do you hope to use your study in the future?
 I hope to complete my post graduate study and then I’m interested in
teaching at the university or maybe at another university abroad.
3. What do you like most about your studies ?
 What I like best is that every day we have best discussion and debate at
the university. It’s never dull.
Reading
1. What kind of reading material do you prefer to read?
 I don’t really enjoy reading, so I don’t read much at all but I suppose the
material read most often is on website and online material
3. Do you read much now as you did when you were much younger?
 I think I probably read more when I was younger but not much more
because I never enjoy reading. Of course I have to read for school so I
probably read a lot more then
4. Where do you usually read? Why?
 As I mentioned, I usually read on line, so either in my office or at home, on
the laptop or at work. Oh, and occasionally I read the magazine when I
was relaxing in the lounge at home
5. What do you like most about reading? Why?
 I know I didn’t like reading much but the one thing I do enjoy is keeping
up-to-date with new trends. So I suppose I like that aspect of reading.
Relaxing
1. How do you know way to relax? Why?
 Well, I think I relax by having a hot bath and doing some yoga at home. If I
am really feeling stressed out, I need to switch off a little bit by watching
some television
2. Have you always relaxed in the same way?
 I think I used to relax more by playing sports. And I usually go to the
beach but I don’t relax so much any more because we don’t live near the
beach
3. Do you prefer to relax by yourself or with other people?
 Most of the time I try to relax by myself and then spend time with other
people because I don’t like to be stressed out around other people

4. Do you think men and women relax in different ways?

 Yes, I think they do. Men usually relax by playing sports or expressing
physicality and women relax by talking things through with friends

Part 2
Describe an item that you bought but don’t really use
 What it is
 Where you bought it
 How it was
Explain why it was a mistake buying it

 I am talking about the dress that I bought but hardly ever wear. The dress
is black, a very usual color because it is so versatile
 I bought it when I was on holiday in London last year and everything
was on sale. I was with a friend of mine who has unusual fashion taste
because she is quite wild, I guess. I am more conservative on my taste of
clothes. So we had a great day in London having lunch and shopping in
the afternoon
 My friend saw a black dress which had a gold chain across it. It had quite
unusual details around the waist. She loved it. She took it off to the
changing room and tried it on but came out to show me but it was too tight
and was the only size they got. My friend thought that I loved the dress as
much as she did. So she forced me to try it on as I was thinner than she
was. Reluctantly, I tried it on and thought that it was not my style at all but
my friend insisted on my buying it.
 I ended up buying the dress because I didn’t want her to feel bad. The
only good thing was that it wasn’t too expensive and because it was on
sale, I couldn’t return it the next day. So now I have this inappropriate
black dress in my wardrobe and that I will probably never wear. I know I
should try to wear it or give it to charity but I haven’t got around to it

Following-up questions
1. did it cost a lot of money?
 No, not really. I think the sale price was 50 or something
2. Do you always find things that aren’t useful?
 I try not to

Part 3
RECYCLING
1. There’s a growing trend toward public concern of recycling schemes in
many countries, what’s the reason for and the result of this?
 The main reason for introducing recycling scheme is simply that people
are producing too much rubbish and the amount needs to be reduced.
Recycling plastic, glass, and paper means the amount of waste is reduced
and that the amount of rubbish and landfill is also reduced, in turn, it has
positive effect on local environment. Also recycling saves money
2. Do you believe individuals or government should be responsible for
recycling?
 I think both individuals and government need to take responsibility and
initiative for a recycling scheme. At the level of government, in particular,
they need to corporate with recycling pick-up, centers, and processing
 plant. At the individual level, people need to commit sorting their rubbish,
so they can be easily collected. Ultimately, it needs a combined effort in
order to be successful.
3. What can be done to encourage people to recycle more?
 There are many initiatives which I believe can encourage recycling. First
of all, if people understand what happens to their recycled items, I think
they are more motivated and they can be motivated by knowledge about
what can be recycled and what can’t. So education and information is
important. Secondly, I think people are quite lazy, so recycling has to be
made as simple and easy as possible for them. So the only thing they can
do is to put aside their rubbish.
 I think the government should launch the 3R’s campaign – that is to
Reuse, Recycle, and Reduce. It is important to provide the people with
knowledge and information about recycling. It should be simple and easy
to put aside their rubbish into what can be recycled, and what can’t
CONSUMERISM
1. Some people think that owing the latest products is extremely
important, what’s your opinion?
 I feel that having the most up-to-date products and clothes is fun but not
essential. I think there are too many people place too much status on
money, style and innovation. Money can’t buy you style, but with creativity
and flare, you can show your style definitely. So for me, it’s not important
to have the most expensive, latest phone or items of clothing
2. Are there any disadvantages to having a wide range of choice to the
items?
 Yes, I think there are. On the whole, I think it’s unnecessary to go to the
supermarket and be faced with one hundred different types of toothpastes
to choose from. I mean competition is necessary but that kind of thing
seems wasteful and you see at supermarket aisles, I think it’s a
disadvantage to having too much choice.
3. Do you think people will buy more or less in the future?
 Oh more, definitely. I mean after the recession, people have slowed down
in consumption area, but I don’t think that will last for long. People have to
feel good about themselves by buying a lot more products that they
don’t really need, but just want to show off to their friends the purchasing
things would be related to status and wealth in the future