IELTS Speaking Part 2: environment problem

Describe a problem that affects the environment in the area where you live.
You should say

- what the problem is
- what causes it
- and explain what you think could be done to solve it

Remember, the question asks you to talk about a problem in your local area, so don't choose 'global warming'. These topics would be better:

• Air pollution caused by traffic and factories.
• Building new roads, houses, factories etc. destroys natural areas.
• Increasing amounts of litter and household waste.

Try searching for these topics on the Internet. I did a quick search for "litter on streets" and found this article.

Comments

[Mohamed]

Thanks Simon for your effort.

I just gave my ielts speaking test.Do we have to answer questions naturally as we would do in a normal question/answer session?

Some people say you need to keep talking until the examiner stops you and I find that unnatural.

I did speak in a normal way covering the questions well as I would do in a normal situation.

[Simon]

Hi Mohamed,

It's only in part 2 that you should try to keep speaking until the examiner stops you (after 2 minutes). In parts 1 and 3, it should be like a normal conversation.

[MT]

Hello Simon,

Will my score be adversely affected given that I just speak for one minute? Is it necessary to speaking for as long as two minutes even if I don't have much to say?

BTW, I sent an email message to you (@gmail.com) to ask some other things. Hope I can have your reply. =)

Thanks Simon!
MT.

[SImon]

Hi MT,

It's ok to speak for only one minute - they won't deduct marks. But if you say more, you have a better chance of impressing the examiner. I'd try to keep speaking if I were you.

[Kevin]

Hello Simon, I find numerous native speakers using the word "like " a lot . The word "like" in their context was used to give them more time to think . Is it ok to use it like I use "hmm "or "uhmm" . Thank you and I hope I explained clearly.

[Simon]

Hi Kevin,

Yes, some native speakers use 'like' a lot (normally young people). It's ok to do this, but it can become annoying if you do it too much.

[Hang]

Hi Simon,

Do you agree that in Speaking Part 1, we should not start the answer with Yes/No even for Yes or No question? My teacher told me that but I think different though...
How do you think this below answer?

Example: Is there any change in your hometown recently?
Yes, there are a lot of changes in my hometown, for example...

[Simon]

Hi Hang,

I agree with YOU that you SHOULD say 'yes' or 'no' first - that would be the most natural way to answer.

Your answer is good.

[Hang]

Thank you very much, Simon. I was relieved to read your answer :)

[Lilly]

Hi Simon and everone,

Firstly i d love to say that thank you very much Simon. I really really appriciate your work and please never stop doing this job.

Secondly, according to Simon's suggetion, i have a preparation that i d love to share to everyone. Please all comments are welcome!

I’d like to tell you about one of the most serious problems which has a huge impact on my city’s environment is the increasing amounts of litter on streets.
Litter is most commonly from fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s, KFC’s restaurants, followed by Subway and a number of coffer brands. Fast food makes up a quarter of all rubbish found on the streets.
I think there are some solutions that help to cope with this issue. Firstly, for the fast food companies, they have to play a more active role in delivering an anti- litter message at the point of sale. For example, they can reduce the unnecessary packaging, make eating inside their restaurant a more attractive option to encourage customers to eat in rather than taking packaging out on to the streets, or encourage customers to use a bin, and offer money off to people who returned packaging and provide more bins. Secondly, the government should also set up some campaigns to cope on reducing litter, which includes raising ppl’s awareness of the negative effect that litter influences on the city’s perception as well as the environment, as the result it can encourage people to dispose of waste correctly.

Thanks in advance!

[rax]

hi simon,

I have an exam on 14th January and I have a problem of speaking. so I want to know what are the ways I can improve it better way and get my desire result