IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a place you would like to visit in your free time: IELTS cue card with sample answer

An IELTS cue card for Speaking Part 2 with a Band 8 sample answer, the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it and the Part 3 follow-up questions the examiner can ask next.
  • 248 words
  • A place
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a place you would like to visit in your free time

You should say:

  • →Where it is
  • →What you will do there
  • →How long you will stay there
  • →And explain why you would like to visit it

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

A place

How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan

  1. 1

    Choose a place you can genuinely describe with sensory details like sight, sound, and taste.

  2. 2

    Quickly jot down the four bullet points to ensure you address every requirement during the talk.

  3. 3

    Focus on your personal connection to the place to make the narrative flow more naturally.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8248 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

If I had the luxury of time, the one place I would absolutely love to escape to is the Lake District in North West England, specifically a secluded village called Grasmere. It is nestled right in the heart of the national park, surrounded by rolling hills and mirror-like tarns. I have read so much about its literary history, particularly its connection to William Wordsworth, that I feel a strong pull to experience that tranquil atmosphere myself. I intend to spend about a week there, just enough time to properly disconnect from the frenetic pace of city life. During the day, I would lace up my hiking boots and tackle some of the local fells, like Helm Crag, to get a panoramic view of the valley below. I would also spend hours wandering through the village, stopping at local tearooms for a slice of traditional gingerbread and browsing the independent bookshops. The main reason I am so drawn to this place is the profound sense of stillness it offers. Living in a metropolis, I find it quite challenging to find a moment of true silence, so the idea of waking up to nothing but the sound of sheep and the rustle of leaves is incredibly appealing. I want to spend my evenings by a roaring fireplace with a good novel, allowing myself the mental space to reflect and recharge. It feels like the perfect antidote to the constant digital noise we are all subjected to in our daily routines.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • secluded

    hidden away from people and very quiet

  • fells

    the high, barren hills in Northern England

  • frenetic

    fast, energetic, and often wild or uncontrolled

  • tarns

    small mountain lakes formed in glacial hollows

  • panoramic

    a view of a wide surrounding area

  • antidote

    something that relieves or prevents bad effects

  • metropolis

    a very large and busy capital city

  • recharge

    to regain energy after being very tired

4 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1How does the rise of digital technology influence the way people choose their holiday destinations?
  2. 2Do you think that the commercialisation of natural beauty spots is inevitable in modern society?
  3. 3In what ways might the pattern of global tourism shift over the next few decades?
  4. 4Is it important for governments to preserve remote areas from mass tourism development?

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 you would like to visit in your free time"?+

Choose a place you can genuinely describe with sensory details like sight, sound, and taste.

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

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