IELTS Speaking

Part 2 + 3
Topic from the IELTS Question Bank

Road Trips
IELTS Speaking

Part 2
 Part 2 Cue Card

Describe a road trip you've done

You should say,

- where you went

- who you went with
- what happened on the trip

and explain why you remember it

 1.
Ideas
Road Trips…

Are a quintessential (key) part of American / European

culture pop culture.

Famous book
“On the Road” Jack Kerouac (1950’s)

A road trip is a kind of holiday, travelling on the road, to

explore different places.

Often covering a long distance, passing through different

cities/places.
It could be travelling by car, motorbike, coach, bus.
It could possible even be walking (on foot), e.g. a
pilgrimage (so long as it is on a road).

Focus on what happens on the trip…

The driving
The scenery
The conversations (in the car, bus)
The food you ate
The stops you made on the way
The places you explored!
 2.
Advanced
Vocabulary
 Cars

A drive (n.)
To go for/on a drive
An epic drive
=legendary,
memorable
To be on the (open)
road
It’s time to hit the road
=begin the journey
 Cars

To be behind the
wheel = to drive
To take the wheel =
to start driving
To drive on the left /
right
To overtake
= to pass another car
 3.
Model
Answer
 4.
Language
Analysis
Actually, I went on a road trip with my father when I had
just turned thirty.

The two of us decided to take the car and drive from

England through France, from top to bottom.

We had both been through some difficult times, and decided

we needed to get away from it all.

Idiomatic expressions

To turn 30
To become 30 years old

To get away from it all

=to escape (stress, problems,
routine)

Grammar

We had been…
‘Past perfect’ for an action that
happened before the story.
So, it seemed to us that hitting the open road was the best
way to do it, particularly since we both loved driving.

We had a rough plan, but we were open to adventure. In

actually fact, we took advantage of the trip to go and visit
friends in the north and south of France.

Idiomatic Vocabulary

To hit the open road

= to start your road trip

To be open to ….(adventure/
ideas/criticism)
= willing to accept….

To take advantage of A to do B
= To make use of A to do
something else (B).

Kind of killing two birds with one stone, if you like.

So, I was behind the wheel for most of the first leg,
through the big cities and little towns of Northern France. I
just remember those busy, urban landscapes and reckless
driving of the French.

Idiomatic Vocabulary

To kill two birds with one

stone
= do two things with one action

To be behind the wheel

= to drive

The first leg

= the first part / stage of a trip
It was hard driving in France at first, because they drive on
the right, and I wasn’t used to it.

I had to be really careful when overtaking and especially at

the roundabouts.

I got the hang of it though, within a few days.

Then in the south of France, my Dad took the wheel.

Idiomatic Vocabulary

To get the hang of something

= to learn how to do it

To take the wheel

= to start driving
I do remember the long flat roads, stretching out for miles
ahead, and the fields dotted with these yellows and
oranges from the flowers and cereals. I just soaked up the
beautiful views whilst my Dad was driving.

It was a really memorable trip, and one honestly, that I will

savour for years to come.

Advanced Vocabulary

Dotted with ___________

= covered with (and looking
like dots)

To soak up ______(view/
atmosphere)
= to enjoy

To savour something
= to enjoy (usually food/drink)
IELTS Speaking

Part 3
1. What is the most popular
means of transport in your
country?

2. What are the advantages and

disadvantages of travelling by
car?

3. How are cities adapted to cars?

4. Do you think people will drive

cars more in the future?
What is the most popular means of transport in your country?

Probably the car. Most families have at least one car, and
many people will commute to work by car. Certainly for day
trips and short holidays people like the flexibility that a car
offers, so if you want to take a detour and visit a sightseeing
spot, you can.

Mind you, I do recognise that nowadays more and more

people are being socially responsible and are using public
transport, such as trains and buses.
Give an opinion

Probably…
I guess

Develop the answer

Certainly…. so….

Give a counter opinion

Mind you….
What is the most popular means of transport in your country?

Probably the car. Most families have at least one car, and many
people will commute to work by car. Certainly for day trips and
short holidays people like the flexibility that a car offers, so if you
want to take a detour and visit a sightseeing spot, you can. Mind
you, I do recognise that nowadays more and more people are being
socially responsible and are using public transport, such as trains
and buses.

Vocabulary

To commute by car
=to drive to work (into the city)

I like the _______ (flexibility, beauty,

entertainment)… that ______ offers
= I like this aspect of it

To take a detour
=to take a different route…

To be socially responsible
=to look after the society
What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling by car?

I would say the main benefits are convenience and comfort. So

you just walk out of your house, jump in your car and you can
drive directly to wherever you are going.

As you are travelling, you can sit comfortably, adjust the air
conditioning, and even listen to music. You can do whatever you
feel like, actually.

The downside is your carbon footprint. Driving by car is not very

good for the environment.
Give an opinion

I would say,…

Develop the answer

So…
As you…

Give another opinion

The downside is…
What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling by car?

I would say the main benefits are convenience and comfort. So you
just walk out of your house, jump in your car and you can drive directly
to wherever you are going.

As you are travelling, you can sit comfortably, adjust the air conditioning,
and even listen to music. You can do whatever you feel like, actually.

The downside is your carbon footprint. Driving by car is not very good
for the environment.

Synonyms

The main benefits

= the pros, upsides, advantages

Binomials
Convenience and comfort
(ADJ + and + ADJ)

Natural English
Use the pattern of 3.

Vocabulary
Carbon footprint
= How much fossil fuel you use
 https://keithspeakingacademy.com

Copyright © Keith Speaking Academy