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

In this lesson, we are going to focus on six questions you might be asked in Part 3 of the IELTS speaking test. These are 'opinion' and 'ideas' questions which focus on places that tourists visit and being a tourist. 

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

PLACES THAT TOURISTS VISIT 

What areas of a town or city do tourists often like to visit? 

In general, most people like to see the sights when they visit a place. They tend to go sightseeing and have a look round the museums and historic monuments the city is famous for. Tourists always explore the main attractions in a city and that's the reason why most of them are absolutely packed. Buying a guidebook of a city gives you an overview of all the places that are worth visiting and all the things to do there. For instance, exploring the local markets and shopping areas are common tourist activities. 

Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. 


VOCABULARY 

• explore | visit 
• go sightseeing | see the sights - visit famous places 
• have a look round - to explore a place, often on foot 
• tourist attractions | attractions | sights 
• worth + noun/-ing - We use it to say that it is a good idea to do something or go somewhere. 
• worth visiting | worth seeing 

How important is it for local governments to look after popular tourist attractions? 

Well, even though economies are dependent on tourism as a source of income, governments need to consider the negative impact it has on historic landmarks. For the most part, tourists visit the main attractions in a city to enjoy the scenery and to take photos, but at the same time there are people who will scratch and destroy the structures. One thing that local governments can do to prevent landmarks from vandalism is to hire security. Setting up new rules of visitation is another way to preserve the most popular tourist attractions. This means that entrance will be limited to a certain number of visitors per day. All these measures can help protect the attractions so that they will last far into the future. 

Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. 


VOCABULARY 

• to be dependent on something 
• a source of income 
• historic landmarks 
• vandalism - the crime of destroying or damaging something, especially public property, on purpose 
• vandalise (British English) / vandalize (American English) (verb) 
• to prevent from vandalism 
• to set up rules 

Should people pay to visit tourist attractions such as museums and art galleries? [Why? / Why not?] 

I think tourist attractions should be more accessible to children, students and elderly people by giving them the chance of visiting museums and art galleries at a lower price. There could also be discounts for families and free admission days. On the other hand, more visitors would make museums more crowded and this would result in a less enjoyable experience. I think prices should apply to foreign visitors, for the most part, because they are actually the people most interested in exploring the cultural heritage of other countries. An entrance charge is necessary in order to protect institutions such as museums and art galleries. After all, we pay for every other cultural activity, for instance theatre, cinema, and so on. It seems quite reasonable to contribute to the financial needs of museums as well. 

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.) 

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VOCABULARY 

• accessible to somebody (Example: These buildings are not accessible to the public.)  
• chance of doing something (Example: Is there any chance of getting tickets for the concert?) 
• free admission days 
• to apply to someone / something (Example: What I am saying doesn't apply to you.) 
• heritage (noun, usually singular) - the art, buildings, traditions, and beliefs that a society considers important to its history and culture 
• cultural / national / musical heritage 
• an entrance charge - a fee charged for entry 
• to protect institutions 
• to contribute to something - to give something, especially money, to help someone/something

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BEING A TOURIST 

How should tourists behave when they are in a different country? 

First of all, I think that tourists should do as much research about their destination as they can before their departure. This will help them learn more about the culture and what is considered polite as well as rude. It is important for tourists to uphold local customs and to consider laws with respect. They need to be mindful of religious and cultural beliefs. Being aware of what is illegal and socially unacceptable will be beneficial for tourists during their stay in another country. Overall, when on holiday, people need to behave appropriately and they need to know what can get them into trouble. 

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 

• to do research 
• to uphold something - to support something that you think is right 
• to uphold local customs | to uphold the law 
• ​to be mindful of something - to remember something and consider it when you do something 
• religious and cultural beliefs 
• to be beneficial (to/for somebody or something) 
• to get someone into trouble - a situation in which you can be punished  
• to keep yourself out of trouble 

What can local people do to help tourists enjoy their visit? 

Meeting local people is an important part of any travel experience. Interacting with the locals is a great way to experience the culture and the lifestyle people have. Local people can make your trip special and memorable, especially by sharing more about their authentic local cuisine and traditions they have. Being hospitable to tourists is a great way to make them feel comfortable during their trip. Another thing that locals can do is sharing more about their culture and customs as this will help tourists understand local etiquette and as a result they will enjoy and appreciate their trip even more. 

Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. 


VOCABULARY 

• authentic local cuisine 
• hospitable (to/towards somebody) (of a person) - pleased to welcome guests; generous and friendly to visitors (Synonym: welcoming) 
• local etiquette 

What can tourists learn from visiting new places? 

For the most part, people can get a general understanding of a country's history by visiting museums and monuments. Besides that, travelling allows you to immerse yourself in a new culture. It also gives you a new perspective because you learn to appreciate other places and people, and you learn more about what the local customs are. In addition to this, exploring new places makes tourists more curious and open to new experiences. In general, I would say that travelling helps tourists learn how to adjust to new situations and how to be creative as well as more independent. 

Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. 


VOCABULARY 

• to immerse yourself/somebody (in something) - to become or make somebody completely involved in something 
• local custom(s) - the way people behave in a community 

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

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. ​

​In this lesson, we are going to focus on six questions you might be asked in Part 3 of the IELTS speaking test. These are 'opinion' and 'ideas' questions which focus on arriving early and being patient. 

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

ARRIVING EARLY

In what kinds of situations should people always arrive early? 

I think people tend to arrive early when they have an important meeting or an exam. In these kinds of situations, people are under pressure and they feel nervous and because of that, they want to make sure they arrive in time. I believe job interviews are a good example why people arrive early as this not only shows they are professional but also that they have good time management skills. There are other situations such as arriving at the airport where people are required to be there early in order to check in and board without any problems. 

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 

• in time – having enough time to be able to do something, early enough, not late 
• essential (adj.) (Synonym: vital) - completely necessary; extremely important in a particular situation 
• to check in (at ...) (phrasal verb) 
• to board - to get on a plane (bus, train, ship, etc.) 

How important is it to arrive early in your country?  
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In my country, China, being punctual for formal events is considered extremely important. Not only does it show respect, but it also makes a very good impression on other people. Being punctual is seen as good manners, especially when it comes to business meetings as they always begin on time. However, when you are invited for dinner, you should never arrive early as this implies that you are hungry. 
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Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. 


VOCABULARY 

• formal events 
• business meetings 
• do business with somebody / something (without ‘a’) 
• be punctual 
• be trustworthy 
• be reliable 
• to invite somebody (to / for something) 

How can modern technology help people to arrive early? 

Nowadays, people can use different apps on their phones to take notes of important events and to plan their time. Modern technology can help us arrive early in many different ways. For example, you can easily coordinate your schedule with other people by using online calendars and important events could easily be shared. As a result, people will have access to the same schedule as well as the time arranged. You can also set a reminder so that the app notifies you of every upcoming event in advance, for example, an hour earlier. It is also easy to check the weather forecast and this way you can leave home early when the weather is bad. 

Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. 


BEING PATIENT 
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What kinds of jobs require the most patience? 

There are certain jobs which require extreme patience. For instance, working in a call centre and dealing with angry customers can be quite challenging and this type of job is suitable for people who can stay calm in stressful situations and are willing to help others. Another example could be any sales-related job where employees need to be patient, outgoing and able to interact with difficult or frustrated customers. Teaching can also be given as an example because this job includes interaction with problem students. In general, not all students obey rules. Teaching to these kinds of students could be quite stressful, but as a teacher, you need to do your job regardless of the situation. Teachers also need to be patient with students and their learning abilities as well as any discipline issues which can cause extra pressure. 

Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. 
(Jobs that require more patience than others: call centre representatives, managers, administrative jobs, surgeons, and so on.) 


VOCABULARY 

• extra patience | extreme patience 
• outgoing (Synonym: sociable) 
• (to handle) problem students 
• disobedient BrE /ˌdɪsəˈbiːdiənt/ - failing or refusing to obey 
• a disobedient student – doesn’t obey rule or don’t listen to what the teacher is saying 
• to obey rules 
• discipline issues 

Is it always better to be patient in work (or studies)? 

In my opinion, being patient has plenty of benefits. For example, a patient person has more time to consider different solutions to a problem as well as put more efforts to achieve high-quality results. Being patient in the workplace is essential when concentrating on tiny details for a long period of time or when dealing with challenging colleagues. When it comes to studying, I think patience can help you study more effectively and as a result, one can get higher grades. In contrast, impatient people are more likely to finish their job faster without considering all aspects of a certain task. Students, on the other hand, may find it difficult to study consistently before exams or they may end up making mistakes when they try to complete the test quickly. 

Note: This is an 'opinion' type of question. You need to share your opinion of the topic. 


VOCABULARY

• one – a person, someone; this could be anyone 
• challenging co-workers | challenging colleagues | difficult people at work 
• patience (noun) 
• patient (adjective) ​
• to attempt a test 
• to complete a test 
• to make mistakes due to time constraints 
• meet a deadline – You need to finish your work before a certain period of time. 

Do you agree or disagree the older people are, the more patient they are? 

In my opinion, people tend to lose patience regardless of their age and there might be various reasons for that. For example, many people become impatient due to physical factors such as hunger or fatigue. In general, people complain when there is a delay or something annoying happens. I feel both young and old people express their anger either verbally or their body language shows how tense and upset they are. Impatient people are often seen as arrogant and impulsive. In order to be patient, people need to practise this ability and to find out the causes of being impatient. Otherwise, their lack of patience is likely to affect not only their relationships and daily performance, but also their career prospects. 

Note: This is an 'opinion' type of question. You need to share your opinion of the topic. 


​VOCABULARY

• to lose patience - You become annoyed about something. 
• be / become / feel impatient  (collocations with 'impatient') 
• physical factors - hunger, dehydration, fatigue, and so on. 
• arrogant (adjective) - behaving in a proud, unpleasant way, showing little thought for other people 
• impulsive (adjective) - (used for people and their behaviour) acting suddenly without thinking carefully about what might happen afterwards 
• job / employment / career prospects - the chance for future success in a profession 

Click below to read some of our other IELTS related lessons: 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport 
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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