B2IELTS-style · Band 5.5–6.5Speaking30 min

IELTS Speaking: Sanitation and Public Hygiene

Sanitation and clean toilets

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Target: 6.0-6.5

Unit: Sanitation and Clean Toilets

Module 1: Vocabulary, Collocations & Sentence Foundations (30 Minutes)

IELTS Speaking Parts 2 & 3

💡 How to use this lesson

👨‍🏫 For Teachers:

Guide learners through the 30-minute build-up activities to introduce core topic vocabulary and facts.

Check answers together after each section and encourage students to read complete sentences aloud.

🧑‍🎓 For Learners:

Start with the vocabulary and collocation exercises to get familiar with key ideas.

Practice writing and saying the useful sentence patterns before moving on to the speaking tasks.

Part 1 Vocabulary Review

Review essential words related to sanitation and hygiene facilities.

Target Word Pool:

sanitation plumbing sewer septic flush latrine cubicle cholera

1. Public health officers say good ___ includes clean toilets, safe waste disposal and hand washing.

____

2. The system of pipes and fixtures fitted in a building for water supply and waste removal is called ___.

____

3. An underground pipe network used to carry off wastewater and refuse is known as a ___ system.

____

4. A ___ tank is an underground chamber where sewage is collected and decomposed by bacteria.

____

5. Always remember to press the lever to ___ the toilet after using public restrooms.

____

Part 2 Collocation Matching

Match each target collocation on the left with its matching definition (A–F).

Definitions Key:

A: unclean environments that can cause illness
B: a network of underground pipes carrying wastewater away
C: use a rush of water to wash waste away
D: not having clean facilities to dispose of human waste
E: an underground container where waste is treated naturally
F: a sudden spread of a severe bacterial intestinal infection
Collocation
A
B
C
D
E
F
1. lack of sanitation
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F
2. flush the toilet
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F
3. septic tank
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F
4. sewer system
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F
5. dirty conditions
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F
6. cholera outbreak
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F

Part 3 Useful Sentence Patterns

Learn how to build high-scoring sentences for IELTS Speaking Parts 2 and 3.

1

Pattern: "... protects us from ..."

Why this works: Use this sentence to explain how good hygiene shields communities from health hazards.

Example:

"Good sanitation protects us from dangerous diseases."

2

Pattern: "They provided ... with ..."

Why this works: Use this structure to talk about actions taken by authorities or organizations.

Example:

"They provided local schools with clean toilets."

3

Pattern: "... helps to keep ..."

Why this works: Use this phrasing to describe the positive ongoing result of regular maintenance.

Example:

"Regular cleaning helps to keep public markets safe."

4

Pattern: "Without ..., people face ..."

Why this works: Use this to show the problems caused by a lack of basic facilities.

Example:

"Without proper plumbing, people face serious health risks."

Practice Sentence Patterns

1. Complete the sentence: "Proper waste management protects children ___ severe illnesses."

____

2. Complete the sentence: "The city council provided rural communities ___ modern sanitation facilities."

____

3. Complete the sentence: "Disinfecting shared cubicles daily helps ___ keep public restrooms safe."

____

4. Complete the sentence: "Without clean running water, families ___ (face / faces) high risks of cholera outbreaks."

____

Part 4 Did You Know? (WHO Facts)

Guess the global statistics from World Health Organization reports.

Fact Quiz #1 WHO Data

According to WHO data, how many people worldwide still lacked safely managed sanitation in 2024?

____ a. 0.34 billion people ____ b. 3.4 billion people ____ c. 34 billion people
📌 Source citation: WHO 2026 Report
Fact Quiz #2 WHO Data

According to the same WHO report, how many people still practised open defecation globally in 2024?

____ a. 35 million people ____ b. 354 million people ____ c. 3,540 million people
📌 Source citation: WHO 2026 Report
Target: 6.0-6.5

Module 2: IELTS Speaking Part 2

In this part, you will speak for up to two minutes about a clean place in your town.

Individual Long Turn (3-4 mins)
⏱️ Topic Card Instructions
1 min preparation 90-120 secs speaking

Describe a street, a market or a school in your town that is kept clean.

You should say:

  • where it is
  • who looks after it
  • how you can tell that it is clean

and explain why a clean place matters to you.

Your Response

Take 1 minute to plan, then record your response for 90 to 120 seconds.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💬 View Model Answer & Notes Show / Hide

Well, to be honest, I'd like to talk about the main street near my local market in town. It's a busy road, but somehow it's always kept spotlessly clean by the locals.

Every single morning, a dedicated sanitation crew comes by with broad brooms and trash carts to clear away all the fallen leaves and food wrappers. They really keep it in order before the shops even open for customers.

You can easily tell it's clean because there are never any bad smells or piles of garbage lying around, and people actually use the bins on the sidewalk. Everything looks as clean as a whistle, even after a crowded weekend.

I guess I've always felt that way about clean places because walking down a tidy street just puts me in a good mood. Um, plus, staying away from dirty environments protects us all from getting sick, so it really matters for my everyday health and peace of mind.

Why these phrases work:

spotlessly clean

A natural collocation meaning completely clean without any marks or dirt.

sanitation crew

Specific topic vocabulary for workers who clean public streets and spaces.

keep it in order

A natural spoken phrase meaning to maintain cleanliness and tidiness.

as clean as a whistle

An informal spoken idiom describing something that is exceptionally tidy.

I've always felt that way

A conversational phrase used to transition into expressing a personal value naturally.

Target: 6.0-6.5

Module 3: IELTS Speaking Part 3

Now let's move on to Part 3, where we discuss broader ideas and share our thoughts on sanitation.

Two-Way Discussion (4-5 mins)
Question 1 of 4

Why are some streets and markets much cleaner than others?

🏙️

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💬 View Model Answer & Notes Show / Hide

Well, to be honest, I think it comes down to two main things: local awareness and regular care. In my neighborhood market, the shopkeepers make a habit of sweeping up after themselves every afternoon, so trash never piles up. But in other places, people just don't seem to care as much. Also, when local authorities look after public spots and put out plenty of trash bins, it really encourages everyone to join in. So yeah, it's mostly about individual habits and basic maintenance.

Why this works:

to be honest

A natural spoken filler used to express a genuine personal opinion.

make a habit of

Meaning to regularly do something until it becomes a routine action.

look after

A very common phrase meaning to take care of a place.

join in

A simple spoken phrase meaning to take part and help.

Question 2 of 4

Should people pay a small fee to use a public toilet if the money keeps it clean?

🪙

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💬 View Model Answer & Notes Show / Hide

Personally, I'd say yes, as long as the fee stays very small. I mean, nobody likes paying, but if a tiny charge ensures the place stays well-maintained and fully stocked with soap and paper, it's a fair deal. Honestly, I'd rather pay a little than hold it until I get home. I remember visiting a park toilet once where paying a small coin meant the facility was spotlessly clean and safe. In the long run, paying a little saves people from dealing with filthy, broken restrooms.

Why this works:

well-maintained

Kept in good condition through regular repairs and cleaning service.

fair deal

An arrangement that is reasonable and acceptable to both parties involved.

spotlessly clean

Extremely clean, completely free of any dirt, stain, or bad smells.

in the long run

Over a long period of time, looking ahead.

Question 3 of 4

Who should pay for toilets and clean water in poor areas, the government or the people who live there?

🚰

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💬 View Model Answer & Notes Show / Hide

I've always felt that the government should foot the bill for the main infrastructure, because clean sanitation is a basic necessity, not a luxury. Local residents in poor areas often can't afford basic plumbing. However, community members should also help out by helping maintain the facilities once they're built. Poor families already have enough to worry about, you know, and a bill like that is too much. So really, both sides need to work together, but the initial funding has to come from public funds.

Why this works:

foot the bill

A common spoken idiom meaning to pay the expenses for something costly.

basic necessity

Something essential that everyone requires to live a healthy life.

can't afford

A very common spoken phrase meaning you do not have enough money for something.

help out

A simple spoken phrase meaning to give some help.

work together

A plain, common phrase for cooperating towards the same goal.

Question 4 of 4

How can schools teach children to keep the areas they share clean?

🏫

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💬 View Model Answer & Notes Show / Hide

I reckon the best way is for teachers to lead by example and get students involved directly. Instead of just giving lectures, schools can set aside time each afternoon for kids to tidy up their own classrooms and playgrounds together. When children work as a group, they learn to take pride in their school. Honestly, kids copy what they see, so that matters a lot. It's also great when teachers make it a priority to reward good habits, like putting rubbish straight into the right bins.

Why this works:

lead by example

To show others how to behave by demonstrating the target behavior yourself.

set aside time

To reserve a specific slot of time in a daily schedule for a particular activity.

take pride in

To feel satisfaction and personal responsibility about the condition of something.

make it a priority

To treat a goal or habit as important and worthy of immediate attention.

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