IELTS SPEAKING PART 2:  A HOLIDAY
In this lesson, you will review speaking part 2 tips, learn some key vocabulary and study a sample answer for an IELTS speaking part 2 question related 'A Holiday'. 

01 IELTS Speaking Part 2 Tips
  1. Use an opener.
  2. Answer the question by paraphrasing.
  3. Use different tenses/structures.
  4. Include fluency markers and linking words. 
  5. Use some less common vocabulary (as seen below) 

02 Useful Vocabulary: A Holiday
  • Coastal city – a city that is beside a sea/ocean.
  • Architecture (n) the style/design of buildings. 
  • A Tourist destination (adj) a place/city that many travelers visit.  
  • Impulsively (adv)  doing things suddenly and without careful thought.  
  • Cuisine (n) food. Used with adjective. Eg. French cuisine = French food.  
  • A Masterpiece (n) something made with amazing skill. 
  • To be (a person’s) cup of tea Something or someone that one finds pleasing. Eg. Rock music isn’t my cup of tea = I don’t like rock music very much.  

03 Sample Question & Answer

Describe a holiday you went on.
You should say:
  • Where you went.
  • Who you went with.
  • What you liked/didn’t like.
  • If you would like to go on a similar holiday in the future .



Although I am fortunate to have traveled to many places, I’m going to talk about at trip I took to Barcelona about 7 years ago. 

First of all, Barcelona is a major coastal city located in Spain. It’s famous for its stunning architecture, local cuisine and culture. I guess, it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. It was a long plane journey but it was worth it! 

Actually, I traveled there alone. I had some time off work and I hadn’t been on vacation that year. Most of my mates were busy with work so I impulsively booked a flight! I was quite nervous as I had never been abroad alone but it turned out to be an amazing experience.  

When I arrived there, I quickly realized why Barcelona is such a well-known city. I was extremely impressed by the historical buildings. The city boasts a multitude of architectural masterpieces. Needless to say, I took so many photographs! Furthermore, the local residents were welcoming and helped me to orientate myself. To be honest though, I wasn’t keen on the local dishes. It is very different from the food here and it really wasn’t my cup of tea. 

I would definitely visit Europe again if given the chance. The trip opened my eyes to a new culture and although, I hardly ate while there, it was a wonderful experience. Unfortunately, it’s not likely that I will return to Europe in the near future as I’m currently focusing on my studies. However, If I could go there again, I would like to share the experience with some of my close friends.  

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