IELTS Speaking P.2 Topic: Describe a house or apartment you would like to live in.

[Maybo]

This is for the speaking practice. Please correct it and make it colloquial.

Describe a house or apartment you would like to live in. (Source)

You should say:

• where it is / Where it would be
• what you would (like to) do there
• who you would (like to) live there with

and explain why you would like to live in this place.

My response:

Since I was a child, I've wanted to live in my grandparents' house in Shanghai with my family. The house's located in the suburb so it's quiet yet still quite connected to the city downtown. The house's big and spacious. The backyard's so huge that I could grow anything and become self-sufficient. I might plant some vegetables and fruits. I love gardening! In Hong Kong, I can only grow some small plants on my balcony. Also, I love Shanghai cuisine, such as hot and sour soup, smoked fish and steamed crab. It's hard to find authentic Shanghai cuisine in Hong Kong. Therefore, if I lived in my grandparents' house, I would learn how to cook from them and eat the food every day. Most importantly, they own a Chow Chow dog. I love him very much. It's adorable and fluffy. Every time I see him, he greets me with an enthusiastic lunge and wagging tail. My grandparents often send me his photos but I do hope that I can have a more close contact with him. It would be great that if I could live with him

 

[jutfrank]

It's good, but you could speak for a bit longer.

 

[Maybo]

It's good, but you could speak for a bit longer.

Is it good enough to get a band 8? If not, what do I need to work on more?

 

[Tarheel]

That's not a contraction I would use. Also, what do mean by "in the suburb"? What do mean by "connected to downtown"? That they can drive there?

Note that that word is almost never used in the singular. (My phone suggested "suburbs".)

 

[Maybo]

That's not a contraction I would use.

Which part are you referring to?

"in the suburb"

In the suburban area.

What do mean by "connected to downtown"? That they can drive there?

Yes. Also there are railway and bus stations nearby which are connected to downtown.

 

[Tarheel]

Perhaps:

The house is located in the suburbs.

Or you could say it's outside of town.

 

[jutfrank]

Is it good enough to get a band 8? If not, what do I need to work on more?

I'm not going to give you a band score. Obviously, I can't hear what you sound like when you speak.

What you've written here is good but it does sound a bit like something that you've written rather than spoken. If you talk for a bit longer, you're more likely to give the examiner better vocabulary to judge you on.