A place that immediately springs to mind is the ancient woodland bordering the village of Oakhaven, located about an hour’s drive from the city centre. It is a sprawling, semi-wild forest that has remained largely untouched for centuries. The area is dominated by majestic, towering oak trees, some of which are hundreds of years old, their gnarled branches draped in thick, velvety moss. Interspersed among these giants are slender silver birches and a dense undergrowth of ferns that turn a vibrant, lush green during the spring months. Whenever I venture into these woods, I am instantly struck by a profound sense of tranquillity. The air feels incredibly crisp and smells faintly of damp earth and pine needles, which is a welcome departure from the smog and noise of my urban neighbourhood. There is a hushed quality to the atmosphere, broken only by the rhythmic tapping of woodpeckers or the rustling of leaves underfoot. I make it a point to visit this place at least once a month because it serves as my personal sanctuary. Life in the city is often relentless, and this woodland offers me a rare opportunity to disconnect from digital distractions and recalibrate my thoughts. Walking along the winding dirt trails, I find that my anxiety levels plummet, and I gain a much-needed perspective on my daily struggles. I am genuinely drawn to this place because it allows me to reconnect with nature, providing a meditative environment where I can simply exist without the pressure to be productive or reachable.
The cue card
Describe a place with a lot of trees
You should say:
- →Where this place is
- →What kind of trees it has
- →How you feel when you go there
- →And explain why you like visiting this place
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
A place
How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan
- 1
Note down three sensory details like smell, sound, or light to make the description vivid.
- 2
Use the bullet points as a chronological guide to ensure your story flows logically.
- 3
Briefly mention a specific time or season to ground your description in a real experience.
Model answer
Band 8 sample answer
Say it out loud and get a band
Record this card with the AI examiner: one minute of prep, two minutes to speak, then a band for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation with the words that cost you.
Say it and get a band free →8 words
Useful vocabulary for this cue card
sprawling
spreading out over a large area in untidily
gnarled
rough and twisted, especially with age
interspersed
scattered among or between other things
tranquillity
a state of being calm and peaceful
relentless
constant, intense, and showing no signs of stopping
recalibrate
to adjust or change one's thoughts or attitudes
plummet
to fall straight down at high speed
sanctuary
a place of refuge or safety and calm
5 questions
Part 3 follow-up questions
- 1What role does society play in shaping our attitudes towards this?
- 2Has the way people view this changed over the years?
- 3How do you think it will develop in the future?
- 4What are the benefits and drawbacks?
- 5Do you think the government should be involved in regulating this area?
Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Frequently asked questions
How should I start the cue card "Describe a place with a lot of trees"?+
Note down three sensory details like smell, sound, or light to make the description vivid.
How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+
You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.
How is the cue card scored?+
Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.
Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+
Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.
Keep practising
More cue cards: a place
- Describe a beautiful place to visit in your country
- Describe a beautiful waterfall in a forest
- Describe a big city you would like to visit
- Describe a bookshop you like visiting
- Describe a boring place
- Describe a busy outdoor swimming pool
- All 705 IELTS cue cards 2026
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- IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions and answers
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