C1IELTS-style · Band 7.0–8.0Speaking30 min

IELTS Speaking: Digital Currencies and the Future of Money

Digital currencies and the future of money

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Target: 7.0-7.5

Build-up: Vocabulary and Key Concepts

Unit: Digital currencies and the future of money

Estimated Time 15 Mins
💡

How to use this lesson

👨‍🏫 For Teachers

• Guide students through vocabulary build-up and collocation practice before moving to speaking tasks.

• Monitor AI feedback scores on all 4 criteria for each student response in the upcoming module.

🎓 For Learners

• Complete the vocabulary and pattern warm-ups first to build key language for your answers.

• Record your spoken answer for each Part 3 question, then unfold the model answer to review key phrases.

"Get your vocabulary and sentence structures ready before you speak."

📚 1. Core Unit Words

Review the 10 essential vocabulary terms for this topic:

blockchain
token
banknote
denomination
volatile
speculation
inflation
tamper
hoard
custody

Vocabulary Check (5 Questions)

1. Cryptocurrencies are notoriously __________, often experiencing massive price swings within hours.

____ a. banknote ____ b. volatile ____ c. custody ____ d. token

2. Advanced cryptographic security ensures that no unauthorized user can __________ with transaction records.

____ a. hoard ____ b. denomination ____ c. tamper ____ d. inflation

3. During times of economic uncertainty, people sometimes tend to __________ physical cash at home rather than invest it.

____ a. hoard ____ b. custody ____ c. blockchain ____ d. denomination

4. When investors buy assets purely in hope of selling them later at a higher price, it is called financial __________.

____ a. banknote ____ b. token ____ c. blockchain ____ d. speculation

5. Many users prefer commercial bank services because they want professional __________ of their financial funds.

____ a. inflation ____ b. custody ____ c. banknote ____ d. volatile

🔗 2. Key Topic Collocations

Match each collocation on the left to its correct meaning on the right:

Collocation
A
B
C
D
E
F

Definitions Reference:

A: continuous upward and downward shifts in market value

B: payment method recognized by law to satisfy a debt

C: official government-issued money not backed by a physical commodity

D: an instance of buying, selling, or transferring funds

E: property stored electronically that holds wealth

F: an item that maintains its purchasing power over time

1. fiat currency
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F
2. digital asset
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F
3. legal tender
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F
4. price fluctuation
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F
5. store of value
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F
6. financial transaction
____A ____B ____C ____D ____E ____F

🗣️ 3. Useful Sentence Patterns

Learn these 4 patterns to give balanced answers in IELTS Speaking Part 3:

Pattern 1

Many people regard ... as ...

Example: "Many people regard digital money as the future, while others see it as a passing fashion."

Why this works: It presents popular public opinion smoothly before offering a contrasting viewpoint.

Pattern 2

... was hailed as ...

Example: "The new payment app was hailed as a major breakthrough for small businesses."

Why this works: It uses natural passive phrasing to describe public enthusiasm or praise.

Pattern 3

While it is true that ..., one cannot deny that ...

Example: "While it is true that cash offers privacy, one cannot deny that digital wallets are far more convenient."

Why this works: It lets you agree with one point, then give a stronger point on the other side.

Pattern 4

The reason why ... comes down to ...

Example: "The reason why some citizens hesitate to adopt crypto comes down to a lack of trust."

Why this works: It names the main reason for a problem or for the way people behave.

Pattern Practice (Complete the sentences)

1. Complete the pattern: "Many analysts __________ modern cryptocurrencies as a high-risk asset class."

____

2. Complete the sentence: "When the national central bank digital coin launched, it __________ hailed as a game-changer for local transactions."

____

3. Complete the concession phrase: "While it is true that cards are fast, one cannot __________ that paper money gives users immediate physical control."

____

4. Complete the reason phrase: "The reason why elderly consumers prefer physical bills comes __________ to personal habit and familiarity."

____

🎲 4. Real-World Currency Facts (Guess the Number!)

Test your knowledge of digital currency adoption worldwide:

Fact Challenge 1

According to a 2023 survey by the Bank for International Settlements, what percentage of surveyed central banks were actively exploring a digital currency of their own?

____ 49% ____ 94% ____ 99%
Source Citation: Bank for International Settlements, 2024.
Fact Challenge 2

In which year did the Central Bank of The Bahamas begin the nationwide official release of its digital Bahamian dollar, known as the "Sand Dollar"?

____ 2018 ____ 2020 ____ 2022
Source Citation: Central Bank of The Bahamas, 2020.

Build-up Completed! 🎉

You are now ready to tackle the IELTS Speaking Part 3 practice questions in Module 2 using your voice.

Target: 7.0-7.5

Module 2: IELTS Speaking Part 3 Practice

Unit: Digital currencies and the future of money

Estimated Time 15 Mins

"Answer these 6 IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions using your voice."

1 Part 3 Discussion

Why do some people trust cash more than money in an app?

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Model Answer (Click to unfold after recording) ▼

"Well, honestly, it's hard to say, but I think it mostly comes down to physical control. When you hold paper banknotes in your wallet, you know exactly what you have right in front of you. With digital wallets or apps, um, there's always this lingering fear that a technical glitch or a sudden outage could leave you completely stranded at the checkout counter. For instance, last month my uncle tried to buy groceries during a system maintenance window and his app just froze. So, while apps are convenient, physical cash is still hailed as a reliable fallback that never depends on battery life or internet connection."

Useful Expressions & Notes:

• comes down to: the main underlying cause or reason for something

• right in front of you: directly visible and immediately accessible

• hailed as: publicly praised or recognized as a solution

• reliable fallback: a dependable secondary option when standard systems fail

2 Part 3 Discussion

Would you keep your savings in a digital currency that changes price every day?

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Model Answer (Click to unfold after recording) ▼

"Personally speaking, I definitely wouldn't risk my hard-earned savings in something so volatile. I mean, if the value shifts dramatically overnight, you could lose half your purchasing power before breakfast. I'd lean towards keeping my core funds in a traditional bank account or another stable store of value. A friend of mine put a small portion of his salary into a speculative digital coin last year, and he spent every single day worrying about sudden price drops. So, while high-risk tokens might be exciting for quick speculation, they're simply far from ideal for long-term financial security."

Useful Expressions & Notes:

• I'd lean towards: tend to prefer or choose one option over another

• store of value: an asset that maintains purchasing power over time

• far from ideal: not at all suitable, desirable, or perfect

3 Part 3 Discussion

Should a government be able to see every payment its citizens make?

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Model Answer (Click to unfold after recording) ▼

"Well, it really depends on how you look at it. While it is true that total oversight helps authorities track criminal financial transactions and stop tax evasion, one cannot deny that every individual deserves a basic right to privacy. If officials monitor every tiny transfer, say buying a morning coffee or giving cash to a family member, it feels extremely invasive. I remember when my local café had a card scanner outage and everyone had to pay in cash. So, while regulatory oversight is necessary to prevent fraud, total surveillance feels like a step too far for ordinary citizens."

Useful Expressions & Notes:

• while it is true that: used to admit one point before you disagree

• one cannot deny that: emphasizing a strong counter-argument that cannot be ignored

• a step too far: an extreme measure that exceeds acceptable boundaries

4 Part 3 Discussion

Is it fair when some people get rich quickly from new digital coins while others lose their money?

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Model Answer (Click to unfold after recording) ▼

"Honestly, it does seem quite unfair on the surface, but that's just how speculative financial markets work. You see, early investors who take huge risks often reap massive rewards, whereas everyday buyers who jump in late often end up getting burned. Last year, my neighbor bought into a trendy token right at its peak and lost half his investment in two days. Many analysts regard digital money as a wild frontier where regulation is scarce. So, while it's tough to watch inexperienced people lose their hard-earned money, the reason why market prices swing so wildly comes down to speculation."

Useful Expressions & Notes:

• getting burned: suffering a sudden and unpleasant financial loss

• regard digital money as: view or classify digital currency in a certain manner

• comes down to: is fundamentally caused by or attributed to

5 Part 3 Discussion

What would make you accept a new kind of money in your local shop?

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Model Answer (Click to unfold after recording) ▼

"Well, for me personally, the biggest factor would definitely be rock-solid stability and trust. I mean, if a local bakery or grocery store wants me to pay with a new payment token, I'd need to know that its value won't drop by ten percent by tomorrow morning. It would also have to be recognized as legal tender by local authorities so I know it's legally backed. I actually chatted with my local baker recently, and he said he'd only take app payments if transaction fees were zero. So, I'd only use it if it were fast, safe from fraud and free of extra fees."

Useful Expressions & Notes:

• I'd need to know that: stating an essential personal condition before accepting something

• legal tender: money that the law says you must accept as payment

• rock-solid: completely reliable, with no doubt about it

6 Part 3 Discussion

Who should protect people when a digital payment system fails: the bank, the government or the user?

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Model Answer (Click to unfold after recording) ▼

"To be honest, I strongly believe the primary responsibility lies with financial institutions and government regulators. When users put their money into digital accounts, they hand over custody to professionals, expecting proper security against fraud or network crashes. I remember a few months ago when my cousin's online banking app went down during a transfer, and the bank reimbursed her promptly. The user shouldn't have to carry the risk if the system gets tampered with or suffers a major outage. While consumers should keep passwords safe, central bodies must guarantee safety when systems fail unexpectedly."

Useful Expressions & Notes:

• hand over custody: place physical or financial responsibility with a licensed entity

• reimbursed her promptly: paid her back quickly

• tampered with: illegally accessed, modified, or altered by malicious third parties

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Lesson Complete!

Great job completing both modules of this IELTS Speaking Part 3 lesson. Review your AI evaluation scores on Fluency, Lexical Resource, Grammar, and Pronunciation to target areas for continuous improvement.

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