IELTS Speaking Practice: Sustainable Urban Development

This practice set covers all three parts of the IELTS Speaking test.

Part 1 lasts 4-5 minutes, Part 2 takes 3-4 minutes, and Part 3 runs for 4-5 minutes.

Use these questions to prepare for discussions on sustainable urban development.

Part 1 (4-5 minutes)

Do you live in a city or a rural area?
What do you like about living there?
Are there any green spaces near where you live?
How often do you visit parks or other natural areas in your city?
Do you think your city is becoming more environmentally friendly?
What forms of public transportation are available in your area?
Have you noticed any recent improvements in your city’s infrastructure?
Do you think it’s important for cities to be sustainable? Why or why not?

Note: The examiner may ask follow-up questions based on your responses.

Part 2 (3-4 minutes)

You have 1 minute to prepare. Then speak for 1-2 minutes about:

A sustainable feature or project in your city that you admire

You should say:

What the feature or project is

When and why it was implemented

How it benefits the city and its residents

And explain why you admire it

Part 3 (4-5 minutes):

What are the biggest challenges cities face in becoming more sustainable?
How can urban planners balance economic growth with environmental protection?
Do you think technology will play a significant role in creating sustainable cities? How?
Should governments prioritize sustainable development over other urban issues? Why or why not?
How might sustainable urban development affect social inequality in cities?
What role should citizens play in making their cities more sustainable?
How do you think climate change will impact urban planning in the future?

Sample answer outlines

Part 1: You can provide brief, personal responses with some elaboration.

For example: “I live in a city. I enjoy the convenience of having everything nearby, but sometimes I miss the peace and quiet of rural areas.”

Part 2: Structure your response to cover all points:

Introduction: You can mention the sustainable feature (e.g., a new bike-sharing program)

Main points: Discuss when and why it was implemented, its benefits, and why you admire it

Conclusion: Summarize your thoughts on the project’s impact

Part 3: Offer more complex answers showing critical thinking.

For instance: “Balancing economic growth with environmental protection is challenging but crucial. Cities could incentivize green businesses, implement stricter environmental regulations, and invest in sustainable infrastructure to achieve this balance.”

Evaluation criteria

Fluency and Coherence
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Pronunciation

Practice all three parts with a study partner for the best results.

Sample high-scoring responses will be provided in a reply.

Share your practice answers in the comments!

Feel free to try other speaking practice tests: Culture and Sociology.

4/5 – (1 vote)

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