I would like to talk about The Shard in London, which is perhaps the most striking building I have ever encountered. It is primarily a mixed-use skyscraper, housing a variety of high-end offices, a luxury hotel, and several restaurants, alongside a public viewing gallery at the very top. It is located right next to London Bridge station, looming over the south bank of the River Thames, making it an unavoidable focal point of the city skyline. Visually, it is quite unlike any other structure in the capital. It consists of several glass facets, or shards, which are designed to reflect the shifting light of the sky. Because of this, it often seems to change colour depending on the time of day, appearing almost silver on a bright morning or a deep, moody grey during a typical rainy London afternoon. It is shaped like a pyramid that tapers off into a jagged, ethereal point, which makes it look incredibly delicate despite its sheer mass. I find myself genuinely drawn to this building because of how it manages to blend modern architectural ambition with the historic fabric of the city. I love standing at the base and looking up at how the glass splinters the clouds; it feels almost futuristic. While many Londoners initially criticised it for being out of place among the traditional Victorian architecture nearby, I believe it adds a necessary layer of complexity to the urban landscape. It is not just a monument to corporate power, but a beautiful, ever-changing piece of art that reflects the dynamism of the city itself.
The cue card
Describe a tall building you like or dislike
You should say:
- →What it is used for
- →Where it is
- →What it looks like
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
A place
How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan
- 1
Choose a building you can easily describe using sensory details like colour or texture.
- 2
Use the bullet points as a chronological map to ensure you hit every required topic.
- 3
Draft a brief emotional connection to the building to make your closing argument more natural.
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
mixed-use
a building designed for several different purposes
looming
appearing as a large, often threatening, shape
facets
the flat, polished surfaces of a structure
tapers off
becomes gradually narrower towards one end
ethereal
having a light, delicate, or otherworldly quality
historic fabric
the physical elements of a historic environment
urban landscape
the visual appearance of a city environment
dynamism
the quality of being energetic and changing
4 questions
Part 3 follow-up questions
- 1How have modern skyscrapers changed the way people experience life in large cities?
- 2Do you think the height of a building should be restricted in historic city centres?
- 3What are the main social benefits of developing high-density vertical living spaces?
- 4How might the design of office buildings evolve to suit future work environments?
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 tall building you like or dislike"?+
Choose a building you can easily describe using sensory details like colour or texture.
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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