This IELTS Speaking sample has 3 parts with questions related to the Holidays topic.
Part 1
Examiner: Do you like traveling?
Candidate: Yes, definitely! I think seeing the world, from great historical monuments to white sandy beaches, is what life is all about. It’s a very interesting way to learn about new cultures and explore new places.
Examiner: What is your favorite type of holiday?
Candidate: I really like going to the countryside (āĻā§āĻ°āĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻā§āĻāĻ˛), getting away from it all. Nothing relaxes me as much as the wilderness(āĻŽāĻ°ā§āĻā§āĻŽāĻŋ)… I am tired of tourist traps (āĻĒāĻ°ā§āĻ¯āĻāĻ āĻĢāĻžāĻāĻĻ) and usually go off the beaten track…
Examiner: What do you do on holidays?
Candidate: I prefer visiting various museums and places of interest. For instance, on my last vacation, I was in Cox-Bazar and I visited Seabeach. It was fantastic! Of course, sometimes I go shopping with my friends or relatives too… But I don’t find it nearly as exciting…
Examiner: Are there many tourists visiting your country?
Candidate: Probably yes… My country has different tourist attractions (āĻā§āĻ°āĻŽāĻŖāĻāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻĻā§āĻ° āĻāĻāĻ°ā§āĻˇāĻŖāĻā§āĻ˛ā§) in many cities, especially the capital… For example, my country has old-time religious traditions… That’s why we have a lot of ancient cathedrals and churches that are interesting for both tourists and local citizens…
Part 2
Examiner: Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe a tourist attraction you once visited. You should say:
- When you visited it
- Where is it situated
- Whom you went with
and say what about it do you like the most
Candidate: A couple of years ago I went on a holiday to La-Bag (Puran Dhaka) with my parentsâĻ it is a very popular tourist destination since it has various places of interest, such as ancient museums and monumentsâĻ That’s why there are always hordes of tourists… So we decided to go out of season in the autumnâĻ Fortunately, the weather was great, and we did not waste any days watching TV at the hotel… it was a memorable holiday âĻ we enjoyed breathtaking views from the top of the Ahasan Mangil and dined in cozy little restaurants. I would certainly recommend visiting Puran Dhaka, it is a picturesque city.
Part 3
Examiner: Why do you think tourism is so developed now?
Candidate: Well, because it is a lot easier to travel nowadaysâĻ you can choose charter flights and find various youth hostels all around the world, so you donât need to spend much money on traveling. Moreover, you can book a trip via the Internet, so you don’t even have to leave home.
Examiner: How do people choose their destination?
Candidate: There are a lot of ways. For instance, you can surf the internet for all the necessary informationâĻ Or you can visit different travel agencies for more advice.
Examiner: What kind of transport do you prefer on holidays? Why?
Candidate: It dependsâĻ I usually reach my holiday destination by plane because it is the fastest and the least dangerous way to travel. However, flying can be a bit uncomfortable… So I also travel by train from time to timeâĻ But I never drive car on a vacation, because I do it every day when I work… I would have a busman’s holiday otherwise.
Examiner: Do you prefer traveling alone or in tour groups? Why?
Candidate: I definitely prefer traveling alone because I like to plan the trip by myself… When choosing a guided tour, you should always conform to a set scheduleâĻ So, if you are in Bangladesh and, say, you want to spend an extra hour at any good place, you simply cannot do that with a group tour… I like independent travel. That way I get to see and do exactly what I want and spend as much time as I want at various stops.
