Table of Contents
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Old Buildings
Sample Answer 1
1. Have you ever seen some old buildings in your city?
Well, yes, but not many. You know, there is a well-preserved and truly magnificent ancestor shrine near the place where I work and it’s totally different from other modern buildings where I live. So I suppose you know, the architecture of the design is quite exquisite, which adds a character to our city.
2. Do you think we should keep old buildings in cities?
Well, it’s imperative to protect them because they are very important to a country’s tourism industry. You know, historical buildings, especially those proclaimed as World Heritage or what tourists want to visit.
Plus, they gave us an insight of local culture, history and tradition.
3. Do you prefer living in an old building or a modern house?
Without a doubt. I definitely prefer to live in a modern building with some well–furbished facilities so that I would have a spacious living room and I could spend quality time with my family members.
But if I lived in an old building, maybe I need to spend a huge amount of money to renovate it and I don’t think it’s necessary to do things like that.
4. Are there any old buildings you want to see in the future? Why?
Why yes, I’d love to see some Gothic architecture of churches in European countries, especially Spain. I’d ever seen them on movies and you know, the design of the architecture are just quite impressive to me. So after Covid 19, I’d like to pay a visit there.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
| well-preserved | B2 | Adjective | Kept in excellent condition over a long period of time; not damaged or deteriorated | The well-preserved temple in the city centre attracts thousands of visitors each year. |
| magnificent | B2 | Adjective | Extremely impressive, beautiful, or grand in appearance | The magnificent cathedral took over a hundred years to build and remains a symbol of the city. |
| exquisite | C1 | Adjective | Extremely beautiful and delicate; of exceptional quality and refinement | The exquisite carvings on the temple walls reflect centuries of skilled craftsmanship. |
| adds character to | B2 | Phrase | Gives a distinctive or interesting quality to something; makes a place feel unique and memorable | Old buildings with unusual architecture often add character to otherwise modern city centres. |
| imperative | C1 | Adjective | Absolutely necessary or essential; of the utmost importance | It is imperative that we preserve historical buildings before they are lost to development. |
| tourism industry | B2 | Collocation | The sector of the economy concerned with providing services to visitors and travellers | Historical buildings are one of the most important assets a country has for its tourism industry. |
| proclaimed as World Heritage | B2 | Phrase | Officially recognised and declared by UNESCO as a site of outstanding global cultural value | The ancient town has been proclaimed a World Heritage site and attracts millions of visitors annually. |
| give us an insight into | B2 | Phrase | To provide a deeper understanding or knowledge of something | Old buildings give us a valuable insight into how people lived, worked, and worshipped in the past. |
| well-furnished | B2 | Adjective | Equipped with good quality furniture and fittings; properly and attractively set up | She prefers modern apartments because they tend to come well-furnished and ready to move into. |
| spacious | B2 | Adjective | Having plenty of room; large and with ample space for comfortable living | She chose the apartment because it had a spacious living room ideal for entertaining guests. |
| spend quality time | B2 | Collocation | To spend meaningful, enjoyable time with someone, giving them your full attention | A large living room gives the family a comfortable space to spend quality time together. |
| renovate | B2 | Verb | To repair and improve a building, making it look new or more functional | They spent a year renovating the old house before it was fit to live in. |
| gothic architecture | B2 | Collocation | A medieval European style characterised by pointed arches, tall spires, and elaborate stone decoration | The gothic architecture of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the most recognisable in the world. |
| pay a visit | B2 | Phrase | To go somewhere in order to see it or spend time there; to visit a place or person | She has always dreamed of paying a visit to the ancient temples of Kyoto. |
Sample Answer 2
1. Have you ever seen some old buildings in your city?
Absolutely. I’ve seen some historical relics and traditional buildings here in my city. I think some of them are well–preserved. Because my city actually also boasts its history, and it has probably more than thousands of years here. And we have still some old buildings that were actually protected. They have been there for maybe centuries. For example, some cathedrals and churches, and also the ancient temples here. Even there are some buildings that have been a living place for some renowned and famous people in history.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
| historical relics | C1 | Collocation | Objects or structures that have survived from the past and hold historical significance | The museum houses a remarkable collection of historical relics dating back over two thousand years. |
| well preserved | B2 | Adjective | Kept in excellent condition over a long period; not significantly damaged or deteriorated | The ancient fortress is well preserved and gives visitors a vivid sense of life in medieval times. |
| boasts | B2 | Verb | To possess something impressive or noteworthy that deserves recognition or admiration | The city boasts a rich cultural heritage that draws tourists from all over the world. |
| ancient temples | B2 | Collocation | Religious or ceremonial structures built in ancient times, of great historical and cultural value | The ancient temples scattered across the city are protected by the government as national heritage sites. |
| renowned | C1 | Adjective | Known and admired by many people, especially over a wide area; widely celebrated | Several of the old buildings in the city were once home to renowned scholars and artists. |
2. Do you think we should keep old buildings in cities?
Well, some of them, I guess, you know, like the buildings with some history, historical stories or the formal residence of some celebrities, because they have the, you know, the history and they show, represent some certain period. But some other old buildings, actually, they blocked away or just make our life inconvenient. I think maybe the government should do something to move them away.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
| formal residence | B2 | Collocation | The official home or dwelling of a prominent or notable person | The old mansion was the formal residence of a well-known general and is now open to the public. |
| celebrities | B2 | Noun | Famous and widely known people, especially in entertainment, sport, or public life | Buildings that were once the homes of celebrities tend to attract a great deal of public interest. |
| represent a certain period | B2 | Phrase | To stand for, symbolise, or embody a particular era or phase in history | Old architecture often represents a certain period in a city’s development, making it culturally valuable. |
| make daily life inconvenient | B2 | Phrase | To cause difficulty, disruption, or trouble in people’s everyday activities and routines | Rundown buildings in busy areas can make daily life inconvenient by blocking roads or reducing usable space. |
3. Do you prefer living in an old building or a modern house?
Personally, I would go for a modern house. For one thing, old buildings always give me a creepy feeling — I’ve seen a lot of films about ghosts, so I worry an old building might be haunted. For another, I prefer the interior decoration of modern houses — the simple, clean style with black and white tones and minimal ornament. It’s simply a matter of personal preference.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
| creepy | B2 | Adjective | Causing an unpleasant feeling of unease or mild fear; strange in a disturbing way | She refused to stay in the old cottage because it gave her a creepy feeling she couldn’t shake. |
| haunted | B2 | Adjective | Believed to be visited by ghosts or supernatural beings; associated with paranormal activity | The abandoned mansion at the end of the street is rumoured to be haunted by its former owner. |
| decoration | B2 | Noun | The style and arrangement of furnishings and ornamental features inside a building | She completely redesigned the decoration of her living room with a modern, minimalist theme. |
| ornament | B2 | Noun | A decorative object or feature used to make something look more attractive | The room had very little ornament — just clean lines, neutral colours, and a few carefully chosen pieces. |
| personal preference | B2 | Collocation | An individual’s own taste or choice based on what they personally like or find appealing | Whether you prefer old buildings or modern homes is entirely a matter of personal preference. |
4. Are there any old buildings you want to see in the future? Why?
Yes, many of them — I’m really interested in taking pictures of these old architectures. I find myself touched by the background story behind each building. Off the top of my head, I would say the Cathedral of Milan — a very classical Gothic building. I’ve seen pictures of it online and it is truly impressive and marvellous. After the pandemic, I would love to travel to Italy and pay it a visit.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
| taking pictures of | B2 | Phrase | Photographing something; capturing images of a subject using a camera | She loves taking pictures of old buildings because each one tells a unique story through its design. |
| touched by | B2 | Phrase | Emotionally moved or affected by something; feeling a sense of warmth or sentiment | She was deeply touched by the background story of the ancient temple and its significance to locals. |
| background story | B2 | Collocation | The history, context, or narrative behind something or someone | Learning the background story of an old building makes visiting it a far more meaningful experience. |
| off the top of my head | C1 | Idiom | Without careful thought or preparation; from immediate memory, spontaneously | Off the top of my head, the most impressive old building I want to visit is the Cathedral of Milan. |
| classical Gothic | B2 | Collocation | Relating to the medieval European architectural style with pointed arches, tall spires, and ornate stonework | The cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of classical Gothic architecture in the world. |
| impressive | B2 | Adjective | Evoking admiration through size, quality, or skill; having a strong and positive impact on the viewer | The sheer scale of the cathedral is impressive, drawing visitors from every corner of the globe. |
| marvellous | B2 | Adjective | Causing great wonder or delight; extraordinarily good or beautiful | The intricate stonework of the building is truly marvellous and a testament to the craftsmanship of its era. |
| pay it a visit | B2 | Phrase | To go somewhere in order to see it; to visit a particular place in person | She hopes to travel to Italy one day and pay the famous cathedral a visit in person. |
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Credits
Image : Photo by Kelly George Hiles on Unsplash
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