Describe an environmental law you would like your country to introduce: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card and Part 3 Questions
Part 2 cue card
Describe an environmental law you would like your country to introduce
You should say:
- What law it should be
- Why people should follow the law
- Whether the law will be popular
- How you feel about this law
You will have one to two minutes to talk about this topic.
Preparation status: Predicted topic cycle. This independent practice resource is not an official IELTS paper, and the questions in your test can be different. How topics are labelled.
Part 3 discussion questions
Move one question at a time: listen, answer, compare and retry. The complete question text remains in the page HTML for accessibility and search.
- 01How does technology affect the law?
- 02What kinds of rules do schools in China have?
- 03Will there be a law that is universally accepted?
- 04What environmental laws does your country already have?
See the topic before you speak
Use the images as idea prompts. Describe what you notice, connect it to your experience, then answer the real question.
Model answers, heard side by side
Start with the simpler answer, switch bands to hear how the same task can be developed, then record a personal response. These are teaching examples, not official answers or score guarantees.
Part 2 — Model Answer
Part 2 cue-card response
I'd like the government to ban single-use plastics such as straws, plastic cutlery and shopping bags, and also introduce a deposit-return scheme for bottles. People should follow it because it would cut down on litter and make recycling easier. If there's a small refund for returning bottles, many people will do it. The law might be unpopular at first with some shops and busy customers because it's a change, but I think people would accept it over time. I would support this law and help explain how the deposit scheme works to friends and neighbours.
One environmental law I'd like to see is a nationwide ban on single‑use plastics combined with a deposit‑return scheme for bottles and containers. The ban would prohibit items like plastic straws, cutlery and shopping bags, while the deposit would give consumers a small refund when they return bottles to collection points. People should follow this law because it creates a clear incentive to reduce waste — returning a bottle for a refund is immediate and tangible — and it forces businesses to find reusable alternatives, which cuts production emissions. I think the law would be fairly popular over time; at first some convenience stores and customers might grumble, but public support tends to grow once infrastructure like reverse-vending machines and refill stations are in place. For example, countries that introduced deposits saw recycling rates rise sharply within a few years. Personally, I'm enthusiastic about it: it feels like a practical, fair measure that addresses both litter and resource use, and it's something everyone can participate in without major lifestyle change. I'd be happy to support campaigns that explain how to use return points and encourage local shops to stock low-waste options. The law could be phased in with clear deadlines and small fines for non-compliance to ensure enforcement.
Part 3 — Model Answers
How does technology affect the law?
Technology changes laws because new gadgets create new problems. For example, phones and the internet make privacy issues and cybercrime more common, so laws need to catch up. Technology also helps the law work better: police can use cameras and databases to find people. But often the law is slower than tech, so there is a gap.
Technology affects the law in two big ways: it creates new kinds of behaviour that need regulation, and it provides tools for enforcing rules. Think about smartphones, social media and AI — they raise questions about privacy, misinformation and algorithmic bias that existing statutes didn't foresee. At the same time, courts and police now use digital evidence, bodycams and data analytics, which changes how cases are proved and investigated. That combination makes the legal system more technically complex, and it calls for adaptable, principle-based regulation rather than rigid, device-specific rules.
What kinds of rules do schools in China have?
Schools in China usually have strict rules. Students often wear uniforms, must be on time, and generally are expected to respect teachers. Many schools limit the use of mobile phones during lessons. There are also rules about homework and exams, and sometimes rules about hairstyles or dress.
Chinese schools typically operate with a fairly structured set of rules: uniforms and punctuality are emphasised, mobile phones are often banned in lessons, and academic discipline is taken seriously, especially around exam periods. There are also codes on behaviour, hygiene and sometimes appearance, because schools see these as important for collective order and focus. At the same time, many schools encourage extra-curricular activities and moral education, so rules can also cover teamwork and community service.
Will there be a law that is universally accepted?
I don't think there will be a law that everyone likes. Different countries have different values and priorities, so what is acceptable in one place may be rejected in another. Even international agreements often have exceptions.
A universally accepted law is unlikely because legal norms reflect cultural values, economic realities and political systems, which vary widely. Even on issues with near-global concern, like climate change, countries negotiate compromises rather than identical rules, and enforcement differs. We do see soft consensus in international treaties and human-rights instruments, but turning those into a single, universally accepted domestic law would be extremely difficult.
What environmental laws does your country already have?
In my country we have several environmental laws. There are rules to control air and water pollution, laws about waste disposal and protected areas for wildlife. There are also limits on emissions for factories and cars. These laws aim to reduce pollution and protect nature.
My country already has a range of environmental laws: statutory limits on air and water pollution, waste-management regulations, protected-area designations for important habitats, and vehicle emissions standards. There are also planning rules that require environmental impact assessments for big projects, and incentives for renewable energy. Enforcement can be patchy, but these laws provide a framework that has helped improve air quality in towns and increase the amount of land under formal protection.
How to answer Describe an environmental law you would like your country to introduce IELTS Speaking questions
For the Describe an environmental law you would like your country to introduce cue card, use the preparation minute to build a route through the talk. Choose a clear subject, add two specific moments or details and end with why it matters. Then use the linked Part 3 questions to practise broader explanation and comparison.
Cue-card prompts:
- What law it should be
- Why people should follow the law
- Whether the law will be popular
- How you feel about this law
- Opening: identify the person, place, object or event.
- Development: describe two details or moments in a logical order.
- Extension: explain a reason, result, comparison or problem.
- Reflection: finish with why the subject is memorable or important.
Question-by-question approach
| Practice question | Useful answer move |
|---|---|
| How does technology affect the law? | Describe the process or difference in a clear order and add a result. |
| What kinds of rules do schools in China have? | Name the thing first, then describe a specific feature or example. |
| Will there be a law that is universally accepted? | Give a direct answer, one reason and a short example without memorising a script. |
| What environmental laws does your country already have? | Name the thing first, then describe a specific feature or example. |
Vocabulary focus
Useful language already demonstrated in the model answers includes algorithmic bias, digital evidence, principle-based regulation, punctuality, moral education, extra-curricular, soft consensus, domestic law. Learn the meaning and a natural word partnership, then use each item in a different answer instead of copying a complete script.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Giving a memorised response that only partly answers the question.
- Adding difficult vocabulary without checking meaning or collocation.
- Restarting after every error instead of correcting briefly and continuing.
- Reading the model answer before recording your own first attempt.
Describe an environmental law you would like your country to introduce practice FAQ
How should I use the Describe an environmental law you would like your country to introduce cue card preparation minute?
Write keywords for an opening, two or three details and a final reflection. Do not try to write complete sentences.
Do I have to cover every cue-card bullet?
The prompts help you organise the talk. Covering them is useful, but a coherent one-to-two-minute response matters more than mechanically ticking off each line.
How are Part 3 questions connected to Part 2?
They develop the same broad theme through reasons, comparisons, social effects or future possibilities, so answers normally need more explanation than Part 1.
