Sample Speaking Part 2: Describe a place in a village you visited

In the ongoing series of Sample Speaking Part 2 topics, we present a new prompt: Discuss a location in a rural area that you have visited, blending elements of both novelty and familiarity. This topic is relevant for candidates preparing for the IELTS exam. We will utilize the sample provided by PREP to extract useful vocabulary and engaging concepts that can be readily incorporated into actual Speaking exam scenarios.

I. Sample Speaking Part 2: Describe a place in a village you visited

1. Cue card

The IELTS Speaking Part 2, often referred to as the "Long Turn," is a unique segment of the IELTS Speaking test where candidates are asked to speak uninterrupted for 1-2 minutes on a particular topic. Upon receiving a task card, candidates have one minute to prepare their thoughts and jot down notes on the given subject, which typically relates to personal experiences or opinions. This part assesses an individual's ability to express and develop ideas coherently, demonstrate a range of vocabulary, and utilize appropriate language fluency and pronunciation. It's a critical component that allows examiners to gauge a candidate's spontaneous speaking skills in a more structured manner. Below is an example:

Describe a place in a village you visited

2. Sample essay

Let’s listen to the podcast of the sample IELTS Speaking Part 2 - Describe a place in a village you visited:

I don’t have a lot of memories traveling, since I am a homebody and prefer to stay put if I can help it. However, a destination really stands out among the rare occasions that I actually go on trips. It is a local market in Sapa, which is a small town in the mountainous area of northern Vietnam. I visited Sapa 2, 3 years ago, I believe, to see the snow that is, you know, quite few and far between in our tropical country. During our stay, we stopped by an outdoor market where locals usually buy an assortment of goods. It was a particularly intriguing and new experience to me. 

The first thing I’d like to mention is that the market was a stark difference compared to what I was used to seeing in the city. Hordes of locals were walking around in their traditional attires, which were incredibly colorful and brightened up the whole atmosphere. Around you were all sorts of products, like from special clothing items to fresh ingredients that could not be found elsewhere. But what really attracted me was the collection of traditional ornaments and handicrafts there. After walking around a few stalls, I decided to buy a scarf with distinct tribal patterns and some local souvenirs for my family, all of which were good bargains. 

All in all, I was glad to visit the market since it offered a chance for me to interact with the very welcoming people in Sapa and immerse myself in an authentic, local environment. For a city girl born and raised like me, the market was a definite eye-opening experience. Besides, I could also support the local communities by buying souvenirs and gifts.  If there’s a chance, I would love to revisit this place.

II. Key vocabulary used in the sample: Describe a place in a village you visited

In IELTS Writing Task 2, vocabulary is essential for expressing ideas clearly and demonstrating language proficiency. Using a wide range of vocabulary enhances clarity, precision, and the overall quality of the essay. It also showcases lexical resource, a key criterion for scoring. Therefore, candidates should focus on expanding their vocabulary to excel in Task 2.

Below are some commonly used vocabulary words that have been used by PREP teachers in the IELTS Speaking Part 2 sample on the topic: Describe a place in a village you visited. Let’s take a look:

• homebody (n): a person who prefers to stay at home
• stay put (phrase): remain in one place
• few and far between (phrase): rare, not happening often
• an assortment of goods (phrase): a variety of goods
• intriguing (adj): interesting, fascinating
• a stark difference (phrase): a noticeable difference
• hordes of locals (phrase): large numbers of local people
• traditional attires (phrase): traditional clothing
• brighten up (phrase): make brighter
• ornaments (n): decorative items
• handicrafts (n): handmade items
• tribal patterns (n): traditional patterns associated with a particular tribe or community
• good bargains (phrase): good deals, advantageous purchases
• immerse oneself in (phrase): deeply involve oneself in
• authentic (adj): genuine, real
• eye-opening experience (phrase): a surprising and enlightening experience

See more articles:

• Sample Speaking Part 2: Describe a person whose work is useful to society

This article has provided the sample and highlighted vocabulary used in the topic: Describe a place in a village you visited. Wishing you effective IELTS preparation, and don't forget to register for PREP's IELTS preparation course if you haven’t had a specific study plan for IELTS.