Cambridge IELTS 21 Speaking Test - 3 with Answer / Cambridge Book-21 Speaking Test -3 / IELTS Speaking- Cambridge Book-21 Test 3 Questions with Answers / IELTS Speaking - Cambridge Book's Answer

Cambridge IELTS 21 Speaking Test- 3

Speaking Part 1: Spending and saving money

• When you go shopping, do you usually pay for things by cash or by card?  

• Are you generally careful about how much money you spend?  

• Have you ever spent money on something you didn't need?  

• How important is it to you to save money for the future?  

Speaking Part 2

• Describe an interesting garden or park you have seen  

• You should say: where this garden or park is, how big it is, what you saw in this garden/park, and explain why you think this garden/park is interesting.  

Speaking Part 3: Homes and gardens & Gardening as a hobby

• What are the advantages of having a home with a garden?  

• How could people living in apartment blocks grow plants and vegetables?  

• How interested are people in your country in TV shows and magazines about gardens?  

• Do you think that gardening is a hobby mainly for older people?  

• What are the benefits for people of gardening as a hobby?  

• Will gardening be a more popular hobby in the future?  

Questions and Answers

Part 1: Spending and saving money

When you go shopping, do you usually pay for things by cash or by card?

I almost exclusively use a card or my smartphone for transactions nowadays. Carrying physical cash has become quite rare for me because digital payments are so much faster, more secure, and eliminate the hassle of dealing with loose change. It also makes tracking monthly expenses and budgeting infinitely easier through mobile banking apps.

Are you generally careful about how much money you spend?

I try to be quite disciplined, yes. Being mindful of personal finances is essential, especially when managing monthly expenses and saving up for long-term goals. I usually separate my income into essential spending, savings, and discretionary fun money so I don't accidentally overspend on impulse purchases.

Have you ever spent money on something you didn't need?

Oh, absolutely, I think everyone falls into that trap occasionally. A while ago, I bought a fancy multi-functional kitchen gadget online during a late-night sale, convinced it would revolutionize how I cook. In reality, I used it maybe twice before it ended up permanently tucked away at the back of a kitchen cabinet. It was a classic case of buying into clever marketing rather than actual utility.

How important is it to you to save money for the future?

It is profoundly important. Having a financial safety net provides a vital sense of security and peace of mind. Life is entirely unpredictable, whether it involves unexpected medical expenses, career transitions, or planning for future milestones. Putting money aside regularly ensures that you are prepared for whatever challenges or opportunities lie ahead.

Part 2: Describe an interesting garden or park you have seen

An extraordinary public space that left a lasting impression on me is Al Bidda Park, located right in the heart of Doha along the stunning waterfront Corniche.

In terms of scale, it is massive—spanning a huge area that connects major cultural and commercial zones of the city. It serves as one of the primary green lungs of the urban landscape, offering vast expanses of manicured lawns, winding pedestrian paths, shaded pergolas, and modern recreational playgrounds.

When you walk through the park, you see a wonderful cross-section of daily life. There are families picnicking under the shade of mature trees, children playing football on the grass, runners utilizing the specialized jogging tracks, and groups enjoying outdoor barbecues during the cooler winter months. The park also features native desert flora alongside lush imported plants, beautifully blending local ecology with modern landscape architecture.

I found this park exceptionally interesting because of how successfully it creates a peaceful, natural sanctuary amidst an ultra-modern, fast-paced metropolis. It proves that urban planning can effectively integrate vast green spaces to improve public well-being. Visiting it offers a wonderful escape from the relentless noise of city traffic, making it a brilliant space to unwind and connect with nature without ever actually leaving the city center.

Part 3: Homes and gardens & Gardening as a hobby

What are the advantages of having a home with a garden?

The primary benefit is having private outdoor space to relax, breathe fresh air, and disconnect from the stress of daily work. A private garden gives homeowners the freedom to cultivate flowers, grow organic vegetables, or provide a safe, natural play area for children and pets. It acts as a private sanctuary that significantly enhances your overall quality of life.

How could people living in apartment blocks grow plants and vegetables?

Urban apartment dwellers have to get quite creative with limited space. Utilizing balconies is the most common approach, where people can install vertical planters, railing flower boxes, or hanging pots to grow herbs like mint, coriander, and small vegetables like cherry tomatoes. Additionally, many communities now establish shared rooftop gardens or urban allotment spaces where residents can rent small plots to cultivate plants.

How interested are people in your country in TV shows and magazines about gardens?

There is a dedicated niche of enthusiasts who follow landscaping and home improvement media, but it isn't a massive mainstream obsession compared to interior design or cooking shows. Given the regional climate, a lot of local interest in gardening focuses heavily on desert-hardy plants, indoor hydroponics, and advanced irrigation systems rather than traditional English cottage gardens.

Do you think that gardening is a hobby mainly for older people?

Historically, it has certainly been associated with retirees and older generations who have the time, patience, and settled properties required to maintain a proper garden. However, there has been a noticeable shift recently. Many younger adults and urban professionals are taking up indoor gardening and houseplant propagation as a therapeutic way to reduce screen fatigue and bring a touch of nature into their apartments.

What are the benefits for people of gardening as a hobby?

Gardening offers incredible psychological and physical benefits. Cultivating plants requires patience and gentle physical activity, which acts as a wonderful, low-impact form of exercise. Psychologically, nurturing living things and watching them grow provides a deep sense of accomplishment and acts as an effective, meditative antidote to anxiety and digital burnout.

Will gardening be a more popular hobby in the future?

I believe it will, largely driven by growing global movements toward sustainability, food security, and mental well-being. As people become more conscious of where their food comes from and look for offline hobbies to balance hyper-connected digital lifestyles, growing your own herbs and houseplants will likely continue to gain popularity across all age groups.

Comprehensive Vocabulary List

Word / Expression	Meaning	Meaning in Bangla	Example
Discretionary	Available for use at the discretion of the user; non-essential spending money.	ঐচ্ছিক বা নিজেদের ইচ্ছামতো খরচ করার টাকা	After paying my rent and bills, I put the rest of my money into savings and discretionary funds.
Impulse purchase	An impulsive or sudden decision to buy something without prior planning.	পূর্বপরিকল্পনা ছাড়া হঠাৎ কোনো কিছু কেনা	Buying that expensive jacket was a pure impulse purchase; I didn't even need it.
Financial safety net	Savings or financial backup set aside for emergencies.	আর্থিক নিরাপত্তার জাল বা সঞ্চয়	Having an emergency fund acts as a financial safety net during unpredictable times.
Manicured	(Of a lawn or garden) carefully maintained and neatly trimmed.	যত্নে ছাঁটা বা সাজানো (বাগান বা লন)	The hotel grounds featured beautifully manicured lawns and colorful flower beds.
Flora	The plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.	উদ্ভিজ্জ বা নির্দিষ্ট অঞ্চলের গাছপালা	The national park is home to a diverse variety of native desert flora.
Metropolis	A very large and densely populated industrial and economic city.	মহানগরী / প্রধান শহর	Tokyo is a bustling metropolis that never truly sleeps.
Unwind	To relax after a period of work or tension.	ক্লান্তি দূর করা বা আরাম করা	I like to listen to instrumental music in the evening to completely unwind.
Sanctuary	A place of safety, refuge, or great peace and quiet.	অভয়ারণ্য / শান্তির স্থান	Her bedroom became a quiet sanctuary away from the chaos of the city.
Vertical planters	Structures designed to grow plants upwards on walls or vertical surfaces to save space.	লম্বালম্বিভাবে গাছ লাগানোর কাঠামো	Apartment owners often use vertical planters on their balconies to save floor space.
Allotment	A plot of land rented for growing vegetables or fruit.	চাষবাসের জন্য বরাদ্দ করা ছোট জমি	Several neighbors share a community allotment where they grow organic vegetables.
Niche	A comfortable or suitable position in life or employment, or a specialized segment of a market.	নির্দিষ্ট ক্ষেত্র বা বিশেষ পরিসর	Organic gardening has grown from a small niche into a massive commercial market.
Desert-hardy	Capable of surviving in harsh, dry desert conditions.	মরুভূমির কঠোর আবহাওয়া সহ্য করতে সক্ষম	Landscapers prefer using desert-hardy plants to minimize water consumption.
Propagation	The breeding of specimens of a plant or animal by natural processes.	উদ্ভিদের বংশবিস্তার বা চারা তৈরি করা	She learned plant propagation by taking stem cuttings from her mother's houseplants.
Low-impact	Gentle on the joints; involving physical activity that does not strain the body.	কম শারীরিক ধকলযুক্ত (ব্যায়াম বা কাজ)	Swimming is a fantastic low-impact exercise for people recovering from injuries.