IELTS Speaking: shopping vocabulary & sample test parts 1, 2, 3

Shopping is a common topic in IELTS Speaking test preparation. Given its vastness, examiners may pose an arsenal of questions and stimulate discussion from diverse perspectives.

This article will provide ideas surrounding subtopics, such as the benefits of shopping and the pros and cons of online shopping. In addition, you’ll access sample answers, essential vocabulary, and scoring idioms.

In the first part of the exam, the examiner will ask you general questions about everyday topics, such as the shopping topic discussed in this article. Here are some questions you might encounter in IELTS Speaking Part 1:

Question: Do you enjoy shopping?

Yes, I do. Though I’m not a shopaholic, I still enjoy the activity itself so much. I have a taste for wandering around shopping malls and doing window shopping. Whenever I walk into a grocery store, The instant feeling of freshness always excites me.

Scoring vocabulary: 

• shopaholic (noun)

• have a taste for something (verb phr.)

• wander around somewhere (verb)

• window shopping (noun)

Question: How often do you go shopping?

I suppose every month, but I don’t plan ahead. Sometimes, I’m an impulse shopper, and it’s pretty compulsive. I don’t usually try to keep abreast of the latest fashion, but whenever I have my eye on an item, I buy it without a second thought.

Scoring vocabulary: 

• plan ahead (phrasal verb)

• impulse (adj)

• compulsive (adj)

• keep abreast of something (idiom)

• have one’s eye on something

• a second thought (idiom)

Question: Pros and cons of online shopping

Regarding the benefits of online shopping, we can get more inexpensive deals than buying at brick-and-mortar stores because items usually come to us directly from the manufacturers without intermediaries involved. Besides, shopping online helps us save a great deal of time and energy as we don’t waste time hitting stores or making a bargain. Moreover, online stores are usually high on Inventory, so that they can offer a far more excellent selection of colours and sizes. In other words, we have a more comprehensive range of options to purchase.

However, online shopping has several significant drawbacks. First, we don’t have the experience of actually seeing and touching the item that we consider buying. For example, we can’t try on clothes to see whether they look good on us, so they might not live up to our expectations. Second, the risk of fraud is quite high when buying stuff on the Internet. Sellers might send an item that doesn’t look like the one in the pictures or description.

Scoring vocabulary: 

• get inexpensive deals (noun phrase)

• brick-and-mortar stores (noun phrase)

• middlemen (noun)

• hit the stores (verb phrase)

• make a bargain (verb phrase)

• high on inventory (adj phrase)

• try on something (phrasal verb)

• look good on somebody

• live up to one’s expectations (verb phrase)

• fraud (noun)

In IELTS Speaking Part 2, the examiner will give you cue cards with 3-4 questions and instructions on how to answer them. Once you receive the question, you will have 1 minute to prepare and organise your thoughts and 2 minutes to speak until the examiner asks you to stop. You can refer to some sample answers for IELTS Speaking Part 2 below: 

Question: Describe a shopping centre you often go to.

Given this prompt, you can answer with the following ideas: 

• Where the shopping mall is located  

• How often do you go there 

• What the design and appearance of the mall are like 

• Explain why you often go to this shopping mall. 

The shopping centre I often go to is the Vincom Center located in Ho Chi Minh City. This shopping centre is located in the heart of the city, making it easily accessible by various modes of transportation.

I visit the Vincom Center about once a month, either to buy something I need or simply to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. The shopping centre is quite large, with several floors and many shops and services available. The first floor is typically devoted to fashion and clothing stores, while the second floor is often home to electronics, home appliances, and bookstores. Many restaurants, cafes, and fast food chains are located throughout the shopping centre, making it easy to grab a bite to eat while shopping.

The Vincom Center has a modern, sleek design with much natural light. The interior is well-maintained and clean, and plenty of seating areas are available for shoppers to rest and relax. There are also large screens displaying advertisements and information about the latest products and sales, adding to the dynamic atmosphere of the shopping centre.

I often go to the Vincom Center because it is a convenient one-stop shop for everything I need. The shopping centre has a great selection of both local and international brands, and I can usually find what I am looking for at a reasonable price. Additionally, the shopping centre is a great place to meet friends and spend time, as there are always plenty of things to do and see. Whether shopping, eating, or just enjoying the atmosphere, I always have a great time at the Vincom Center.

Scoring vocabulary: 

• shopping center (noun)

• modes of transportation (noun)

• fashion and clothing stores (noun)

• sleek design (noun)

• latest products (noun)

• dynamic atmosphere (noun)

• electronics (noun)

• natural light -

• one-stop-shop

Question: Describe a website you have bought something from

Well, to tell you the truth, I am not quite a shopaholic; therefore, browsing endless shopping websites is not my cup of tea. However, there is this one website that I visit pretty often whenever I feel an overwhelming urge to search for something. That is Oopsie Studio. It is pretty popular among youngsters in my country. It provides tons of options to satisfy customers’ preferences. Although I am not a big fan of online shopping, I have made some purchases on this website before, and to be honest, I have mixed feelings about my experiences with it. I used to purchase a few shirts from this website during the pandemic, when everything was out of reach, even going shopping for a shirt. Therefore, I got lost in this paradise of uniquely designed shirts for customers my age. After browsing hundreds of different designs, I finally got my eyes on this shirt, which had a cute logo of Mr. Bean’s teddy bear in front of it. I immediately put it in my virtual shopping cart, but before I could complete a series of confirmations and transactions to make it mine, it was sold out. I was down in the dumps. 

Consequently, I had to pick a new one, and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It is still my favourite shirt now, as it makes me feel comfortable in my own skin. The fabric is of good quality and is the perfect length for my liking. Speaking of my past experiences with the website, they varied from time to time. On the one hand, there is one outstanding remark that I really love about this website: that it has a clear interface, making it easier and more convenient for customers, especially first-timers, to explore and enjoy its products. On the other hand, the system is not so professionally designed that it breaks down easily, causing discomfort for customers while using it.

Scoring vocabulary: 

• shopaholic (noun)

• one’s cup of tea (idiom)

• feel the urge (verb phrase)

• youngster (noun)

• have mixed feelings about something (verb phrase)

• out of reach (phr.)

• get my eyes on something (v)

• down in the dumps (adj)

• as a consequence

• a blessing in disguise (noun)

• feel comfortable in my own skin (verb phrase)

• for one’s liking (verb phrase)

• on the one hand (phr.)

• on the other hand /ɒn ði ˈʌðə hænd/ (phr.)

In IELTS Speaking Part 3, the examiner will expand on how to talk about shopping to help you develop your ideas through individual questions. In this part, you should use advanced vocabulary and present your ideas concisely. You can refer to the following sample answers for the IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Question: What risks would you take when shopping online? Why?

Shopping online can involve certain risks. Firstly, there is the risk of financial loss as your payment information can be easily stolen by hackers if the website does not have proper security measures in place. Secondly, personal identity theft can occur if your personal information is revealed or leaked. Finally, a lack of consumer protection can make it difficult to get a refund for goods delivered late or not at all.

Scoring vocabulary: 

• risks (noun): nguy cơ

• financial loss: mất tiền

• security measures (noun): biện pháp bảo mật

• identity theft (noun): bị đánh cắp danh tính

• consumer protection (noun): bảo vệ người tiêu dùng

Question: Will large shopping malls continue to be popular despite the growth of internet shopping?

Frankly speaking, shopping malls have been going through hard times since the increasing popularity of online retailing. However, I think that this should not be declared a death sentence for physical stores; rather, it should be an opportunity for them to evolve. Malls should consider integrating themselves back into city dwellers’ lives to serve the need for window shopping or just as a place to unwind on weekends. Additionally, they could shift their focus to families with children, investing in recreational places for children while parents browse the shops.

Scoring vocabulary: 

• declare (verb)

• evolve (verb)

• integrate (verb)

• city dwellers (noun)

• unwind (verb)

• recreational places (noun)

• browse (verb)

Vocabulary related to going shopping 

Vocabulary about different types of stores

Expressive phrases on the topic of shopping

Popular idioms on the topic of shopping

Read more: How to use idioms in the IELTS Speaking test 

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