IELTS Speaking Part 3 Masterclass

[Point] My hometown is a small city and over the past few decades it has continued to grow by adding more and more buildings. [Extension 1] The buildings have gotten taller and more modern both in the residential areas and downtown. There are also new shopping centres opening up, giving us more to do and see on weekends. [Point 2] Many of my city's historical and cultural sites have been restored and improved over the last few decades as a lot of them had fallen into disrepair, which has made the place more beautiful.

[Point 1] Modern buildings tend to be more structurally sound than before. [Extension] Many old buildings were made quickly and cheaply when people had less money, so the materials used were not so good. Engineers today, by contrast, have access to better technology, making modern buildings more resistant to fires, storms, and earthquakes. [Point 2] Moreover, newer buildings are designed for better views of the surroundings. [Extension] Many high-rises have observation decks where visitors or residents can have a magnificent bird's eye view of the entire city.

[Point 1] I think that the inside of a building is more important because that is where the people who live or work there will spend their time. [Extension] If you live in a house or an apartment where the interior is decorated in a creative way, your mood and health will be more influenced by this. [Point 2] On the other hand, the outside of the building affects the whole city. [Extension] One could argue that since we will travel past so many buildings every day, our experience of seeing all of these buildings will affect our attitude towards our city or community.

[Point 1] People usually visit historical places to learn about the past. [Extension] Historical buildings can show us how people lived many years ago. They are carefully preserved because they represent an important story or a wonderful part of our history. [Point 2] Historical places are also interesting examples of architecture and culture. [Extension] Modern cities have similar buildings, designs and establishments within. That is why it is quite refreshing to see a historical town that features past architectural styles and the different amenities and equipment our ancestors used.

[Point] I think that the best old buildings should be preserved, although I do recognize that there is also a need to get rid of many of them to make way for new buildings. [Extension 1] The history of a place is in a way told by its buildings, and we should look after some of them to give us and future generations the chance to experience times gone by. [Extension 2] Having said that, societies also need to progress and often older buildings need to make way for the new, as well as respecting our history we must also create our own new environments.

[Point] Living in the city means that you have much more to do socially, whereas the countryside offers a more relaxed and cleaner way of living. [Extension 1] There are more restaurants, better schools, more jobs and so on meaning that especially for younger people, cities offer many more exciting opportunities and choices. [Point 2] On the other hand, life in the countryside is more relaxing and less stressful, because there are fewer people around. The air and surroundings are cleaner and more peaceful.

I think that the most urgent areas for improvement in our cities are the air pollution and the traffic. [Point 1] Air quality needs to be closely monitored, and major polluters must be fined or punished for failing to convert to clean fuels and proper waste disposal. [Extension] Alternative energy sources such as solar and electric need to be encouraged. [Point 2] Traffic needs to be dealt with by continuous improvement of transportation system. [Extension] Means of public transportation such as buses, metros, car sharing and public bicycles need to be encouraged and made accessible to all.

[Point] When many people move to the cities from rural areas, the city becomes overcrowded which can lead to other problems such as unrest and alienation. [Extension 1] The population of many cities in China has increased by more than double with people from the countryside coming in for work, which puts a huge strain on the infrastructure of the cities. [Extension 2] Often when the local residents' lives are disrupted by the influx of people, they begin to resent the newcomers, leading to disagreements and also a general sense of division between the local and non-local people in the city.