Get access to 97+ Part 2 topics given between January and November 2019. Click here. ​

In this lesson, we are going to focus on five questions you might be asked in Part 3 of the IELTS speaking test. These are 'opinion' and 'ideas' questions which focus on travelling by car, improving public transport systems as well as the future of transport. 

Read our answers below and take notes of the new vocabulary. 


Do you think too many people are dependent on cars as a means of transport? 

Well, in some countries people rely on cars as their main form of transport, especially in countries like the USA and Canada. People there do need a car if they want to travel around or even if they want to go to shops because they often live far away and need to drive long distance. Driving a car is necessary for some cities and countries where people don't have access to metro systems or the public transport is not reliable. At the same time, there are countries where people simply cannot afford a car, so they use other types of transport such as motorbikes or buses. 

Note: This is an 'opinion' type of question. You need to share your opinion of the topic. 
(What is your opinion? You can use some of our examples and vocabulary provided to help you express your point of view.) 


VOCABULARY 

• means of transport | forms of transport | modes of transport | types of transport 
• drive long distance 
• necessary (for somebody / something) (to do something) 
• commute long distance(s) 
• metro systems 
• reliable - able to operate for long periods 
• to travel by bus, train, car, etc. 
• to get around - to move from place to place 

Why do people prefer to travel by car? Is there a way of changing this attitude? 

Driving a car is considered to be a convenient way to travel around. I imagine this is the main reason why car users are very much dependent on their vehicles. In general, the car is more attractive than public transport because of its comfort, flexibility, and freedom. For example, drivers do not rely on any transport schedule and this makes them much more independent. I suppose the best way to encourage people to use other means of transport is by making them pay every time they park their vehicle in the city or when they travel on highways. 

Note: This is an 'ideas' type of question. This question tests your ability to discuss ideas in depth. 
(When you hear a question starting with 'why', it means you need to give reasons in your answer.) 


VOCABULARY 

• car use (noun) 
• car users 
• advantages of car use: convenience, independence, flexibility, comfort, speed, pleasure
• ​(adjectives: convenient, independent, flexible, comfortable, pleasurable) 
• toll - money that you pay to use a particular road or bridge
• motorway tolls 
• to make someone do something (make someone pay) 
• fine (noun) - a sum of money that must be paid as punishment for breaking a law or rule
• a speeding fine 
• a parking fine 
• motorway (British English) / highway (North American English) 

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How could public transport systems be improved? 

Public transport systems could be improved with the help of technology. The use of speed and trip data can help optimise the entire transport system in a country. The collected data can be used to plan the transport schedule, which has already been implemented in a city like Seoul. Traffic flow can easily be predicted and the information can be used to improve on-time performance as well as expected waiting time. Riders, for example, want to know that a bus will arrive soon and they rely on frequent services. On the other hand, collected data could be used to reduce traffic congestion in the network. An easy way to collect data would be by developing an online system to evaluate the service quality of public transport systems. 

Note: This is an 'ideas' type of question. This question tests your ability to discuss ideas in depth.
(You can use the vocabulary we have provided below.) 


VOCABULARY

• speed data - It provides data on traffic speeds. 
• trip data - It is used to understand the real journeys that drivers make throughout a region.  
• collected data 
• transport schedule 
• to implement - to make something that has been officially decided start to happen 
• to implement changes / decisions / policies / reforms 
• traffic flow - continuous movement of traffic in one direction 
• to predict traffic flow 
• to improve traffic flow (= make it move faster) 
• on-time performance 
• expected waiting time 
• bus riders 
• frequent (adjective) | frequency (noun) 
• service quality 
• way to do something | way of doing something 

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How can the amount of air travel be reduced throughout the world? 

Well, flying is the only realistic way to travel long distances, but the number of flights could be reduced within a country or short distances. High-speed rail network seems to be one of the possible solutions to reduce air travel. People should be running high-speed trains when travelling between cities or countries rather than getting on a plane. Of course, it would be much easier to switch to trains if the railway provided the long distance services that we need. For instance, putting into place a high-speed rail network between countries would definitely reduce the amount of air travel throughout the world. 

Note: This is an 'ideas' type of question. This question tests your ability to discuss ideas in depth. 

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VOCABULARY

• to travel long distances 
• ​high-speed rail | high-speed trains 
• high-speed rail network 
• to run high-speed trains - to travel a particular distance by high-speed trains 
• to get on a plane 
• to provide long distance services 

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How will people travel in the future? 

I imagine the vehicles of the future will be energy efficient and emission-free. A lot has been said about travelling by driverless cars, which I believe would be incredibly convenient as a means of transport. Another option could be to travel by electric buses able to recharge when necessary. There are different ideas how technology can be used to assist drivers and to help them navigate through bad weather, for example. Other ways of travelling in the future may include sharing vehicles or folding them so that people can save space. 

Note: This is an 'ideas' type of question. This question tests your ability to discuss ideas in depth. 


VOCABULARY

• energy efficient 
• emission-free (adjective) 
• driverless cars 
• electric buses 
• to assist drivers 
• folding vehicles (e.g. folding bikes) 

Tips: 
​Do not try to memorise answers. Instead, try to increase your vocabulary and learn phrases that can help you express yourself better in English. Play with words and make nouns from adjectives and vice versa. 


Click below to read some of our other IELTS related lessons: 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient 
IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist 

Other lessons: 
City Life - Going out
Cities - Talk about your area 
Cities - Advantages and Disadvantages of Urban Life 
Countryside - Advantages and Disadvantages of Rural Life 

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Get access to 97+ Part 2 topics given between January and November 2019. Click here. 

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Today, more than half of the world's population lives in an urban area. 

In this lesson, we are going to focus on the push and pull factors of migration, the challenges people face when moving to cities as well as the effects on cities and existing city dwellers. 


PUSH FACTORS 

Push factors are the reasons people leave the countryside. 

Here are some main reasons why people leave rural areas. 

Causes of mass migration are the push factors which include: 

• It is quite challenging for people to make a fixed monthly income in rural areas as crops are easily affected by the seasons and natural disasters. 
• Social services such as health care and education for country dwellers are generally of poor quality. 
• Rural residents have limited access to health care. 
• In the poorest areas, people lack basic necessities such as water and electricity. 
• Rural people experience social isolation due to poor infrastructure and limited access to information. 
• Rural dwellers could be forced to leave their homes in the countryside due to natural disasters such as drought, flooding or rising sea levels which affect their main source of income. 

PULL FACTORS  

Pull factors are the reasons people move to the city. 

Let's look at some key points why people are attracted to urban areas. 

Causes of mass migration are the pull factors which include: 

• One of the pull factors of living and working in the city could be making a steady monthly income. People move to cities in search of work and a better life.  
• Children can get a better education which will help them build a more secure future, and perhaps join a profession. 
• Urban residents have access to high quality health care. 
• Urban dwellers have access to safe water and sanitation. 
• Modern cities provide convenient transport systems which make commuting more accessible and reliable. 

CHALLENGES WHICH PEOPLE FACE WHEN MOVING TO CITIES: 

• People no longer belong to their rural hometowns, and yet, they don't quite fit into urban life either. 
• Migrants find it hard to assimilate into urban society.  
• Building relationships can be difficult because low wages make young male migrants reluctant to approach potential partners. 
• Long working hours make finding and maintaining a relationship difficult. 
• Loneliness is a major complaint of the new generation of migrants. 
• People feel frustrated at the gap between expectation and reality as well as inability to assimilate into a city. 
• In general, migrants tend to face high pressure from work, low satisfaction in terms of their wages, and an overall lack of happiness. 

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Rapid urbanisation can come at a cost for cities, let alone to the people who live there. 

SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF MIGRATION ON EXISTING CITY DWELLERS: 

• Due to the significantly high numbers of population in the city, housing can be a problem. The higher demand makes housing prices increase. 
• Crime and violence are typically more severe in urban areas. 
• Traffic congestion remains the most visible and frequent problem which urban citizens face. 
• Another widespread problem is urban air pollution which can have a number of negative effects on people's health. 
• Large cities are overcrowded, especially in low- and middle-income countries. 

VOCABULARY 

• country dwellers | rural dwellers | rural residents | villagers | rural citizens 
• city dwellers | urban dwellers | urban residents | urban citizens 
• a new generation of city residents
• rural settings | rural environment 
• urban settings | urban environment 
• migrant workers 
• go into / enter / join a profession 
• health facilities (hospitals, clinics)  
• health care | health services 
• transport systems | transport facilities 
• challenge - a new or difficult task that tests somebody’s ability and skill 
• assimilate someone into something 
• reluctant (SYNONYM: hesitant) 
• frustrated at/with something 
• low- and middle-income countries 
• high-income countries 

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Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport 
IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient 

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Other lessons: 
City Life Going out
Cities - Talk about your area 
Cities - Advantages and Disadvantages of Urban Life 
Countryside - Advantages and Disadvantages of Rural Life 

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