IELTS Speaking: Describe a Website for Second-Hand Goods

In IELTS Speaking, topics like “Shopping” or “Websites” are quite familiar. However, recent exam trends have shifted toward more specific and socially relevant niches. One such prompt is: “Describe a website where people can sell or buy second-hand or recycled items.”

This article will help you master high-scoring vocabulary, essential sentence structures, and provide a detailed sample answer from Mr. Quoc Thinh—an 8.5 IELTS instructor at ECE—to help you confidently conquer this topic.

High-Scoring Vocabulary & Structures for Second-hand Shopping

To achieve a high band score, you need to use precise terminology related to e-commerce and second-hand goods rather than relying on generic shopping vocabulary.

Topic Vocabulary

Advanced Structures

Using these transition phrases will make your speech more coherent and help you express your personal opinions clearly:

• One noticeable feature of this website is…
• What really makes it stand out is…
• From a seller’s perspective,…
• In my opinion, one major challenge is…

Strategy for Part 2

A strong Speaking Part 2 response usually follows this logical flow:

Introduction: What is the website? How did you find out about it?

Products: What kind of items does the website specialize in?

Highlights: Why is it different from other platforms (e.g., Shopee, Amazon)?

Personal Assessment: Pros and cons (Why do you like or dislike it?).

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample Answer

Prompt: Describe a website where people can sell or buy second-hand or recycled items.

Sample Answer:

An online marketplace I would like to talk about is Chotot. One noticeable feature of this website is its branding, which is clearly reflected in its name. In Vietnamese, “Cho Tot” can be understood as “a market with good and affordable prices.”

Although this platform is not as well-known as some global competitors, it is hard to ignore in the local market. What really makes it stand out is its strong focus on second-hand items, which differentiates it from many other online shopping platforms that mainly promote brand-new products.

One unique selling point of this website is that users can sell almost any kind of pre-owned goods you can think of, ranging from household furniture to even pets. From a seller’s perspective, the process is quite accessible, as only a small fee is required to list an item. This flexible approach is particularly attractive to users and helps the platform maintain a large number of active listings.

However, in my opinion, one major challenge for such a website is maintaining trust. Since buyers cannot inspect items before purchasing, the actual condition of the products does not always match the sellers’ descriptions. There have been cases where buyers received unusable items, or worse, were scammed and ended up with empty boxes.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Online Shopping & Recycling

Part 2 topics often expand into broader issues in Part 3, such as shopping habits, online risks, and the future of retail.

1. What kinds of things do people in your country often buy from online shops?

Basically, almost anything. Thanks to modern logistics and delivery services, sellers can package and deliver all kinds of products straight to customers’ doorsteps. That said, clothing is by far the most popular category on online shopping platforms. In fact, people’s shopping habits have shifted from buying clothes in physical stores to shopping online in recent years.

2. Do you agree that prices should be lower on internet shopping sites than in shops?

Definitely. This is mainly because online business owners don’t have to pay for physical stores, facilities, or large numbers of staff. On top of that, delivery costs are relatively low and often subsidised by online platforms. This is why lower prices have become the norm for online shoppers.

3. What risks do people take when shopping online?

There are a few potential risks that online shoppers need to consider. First, there’s the risk of being scammed if the product does not match the seller’s description. Second, delivery may take longer than promised. Therefore, if customers need an item urgently, they should check carefully with the seller beforehand.

That being said, many platforms nowadays have introduced policies to better protect buyers. Refunds and compensation can usually be claimed quite easily if scams or delivery delays occur.

4. Will large shopping malls continue to be popular in the future?

Yes, I think large shopping malls will still hold their position in the market. Despite the growth of online shopping, malls have clear advantages such as central locations, high foot traffic, and being ideal spaces for flagship stores or large-scale events. Because of these benefits, many businesses are still willing to accept the high rental costs of mall spaces.

5. Do you think some businesses will only operate online in the future?

From my perspective, this trend is inevitable. The benefits of operating online are simply too attractive for businesses to ignore. Without paying for physical locations, companies can invest more in improving products or boosting sales. A clear sign of this is the increasing number of physical stores that have been closed or returned in recent months.

Advice from Mr. Quoc Thinh

For this topic, you don’t need to search for an obscure website. Choose platforms you are familiar with in Vietnam (such as Chotot or Facebook liquidation groups) so you have more vocabulary and genuine feelings to draw upon when describing them. Most importantly, know how to integrate the topic vocabulary into your speech naturally. Good luck!