IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe an open-air or street market that you enjoyed visiting: 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.
  • 253 words
  • A place
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe an open-air or street market that you enjoyed visiting.

You should say:

  • →Where the market is?
  • →What does the market sell?
  • →How big the market is?
  • →And explain why you enjoyed visiting this market.

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

    Note down three distinct sensory details to help describe the atmosphere vividly.

  2. 2

    Use a logical sequence: location, products, size, and then personal reasons.

  3. 3

    Don't worry about covering every single stall; focus on your personal highlights.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8253 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I’d like to talk about the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok, which is honestly one of the most exhilarating places I have ever visited. It is situated in the northern part of the city, easily accessible by the Skytrain, and it serves as a massive cultural hub for both locals and tourists alike. Regarding what is sold there, the variety is quite staggering. You can find everything from exquisite hand-crafted ceramics and vintage clothing to exotic spices and unusual pets. It is essentially a labyrinth of thousands of stalls, covering over thirty acres of land, so it feels like a small city in itself. Navigating through the narrow alleyways is an experience that requires a good sense of direction, as it is incredibly easy to lose your way amidst the density of vendors. I particularly enjoyed visiting this market because of the sheer sensory overload. The atmosphere is vibrant and chaotic in the best way possible; you have the tantalising aroma of grilled satay wafting through the air, mixed with the sound of local musicians playing nearby. There is a genuine sense of authenticity that you simply cannot replicate in a sterile shopping mall. I spent hours just wandering aimlessly, haggling with friendly shopkeepers over the price of a linen shirt, and enjoying a refreshing coconut ice cream under the sweltering heat. It felt like a true immersion into the local lifestyle, and the thrill of unearthing a hidden treasure among the piles of goods made the entire visit incredibly memorable and rewarding.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • exhilarating

    making you feel very happy, animated, and excited

  • staggering

    so shocking or large that it is surprising

  • labyrinth

    a complicated, confusing network of paths or passages

  • sensory overload

    when your senses are overwhelmed by too much

  • wafting

    passing or causing to pass easily through air

  • sterile

    lacking in imagination, interest, or any original character

  • haggling

    bargaining to reach an agreement on a price

  • unearthing

    discovering something hidden by careful and diligent searching

6 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1Do people in your country enjoy going to open-air markets that sell things like food or clothes or old objects? Which type of market is more popular? Why?
  2. 2Do you think markets are more suitable places for selling certain types of things?
  3. 3Do you think young people feel the same about shopping at markets as older people?
  4. 4What do you think are the advantages of buying things from shops rather than markets?
  5. 5How does advertising influence what people choose to buy? Is this true for everyone?
  6. 6Do you think that any recent changes in the way people live have affected general shopping habits? Why is this?

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 an open-air or street market that you enjoyed visiting."?+

Note down three distinct sensory details to help describe the atmosphere vividly.

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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