A couple of years ago, my group of four friends and I decided to ditch the typical beach holiday and headed to the Svaneti region in Georgia. We arrived in late September, right as the leaves were turning a fiery shade of copper. We stayed in a remote guesthouse in Mestia, which felt like stepping back in time. The entire experience was incredibly authentic; we spent our days trekking through rugged, snow-dusted mountain passes, passing ancient stone defensive towers that had stood for centuries. One evening, we were invited by a local family to join their supra, a traditional feast. We spent hours sharing homemade khachapuri and local wine while listening to polyphonic singing that echoed against the valley walls. It was a sensory overload of rich aromas, vibrant music, and genuine warmth. What made this trip truly unusual was how disconnected we were from the modern world. There was no reliable mobile signal, no tourist traps, and barely any other foreigners in sight. We were forced to rely entirely on our internal compasses and the kindness of locals to navigate the landscape. Usually, when I travel, I have a rigid itinerary planned down to the hour, but here, we just followed the weather and our whims. It was a profound reminder of how refreshing it is to trade screens and schedules for raw human connection and the sheer scale of the wilderness. That level of isolation, combined with the unexpected cultural immersion, turned an ordinary hiking trip into a transformative adventure that none of us will ever forget.
The cue card
Describe an unusual experience of traveling. Describe a place you visited with your friends and you had a good time.
You should say:
- →Where you go?
- →When you go there?
- →Who you were with?
- →What you did do there?
- →Explain why it is unusual.
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
An experience
How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan
- 1
Note down the specific location and your companions to build a clear narrative framework.
- 2
Brainstorm one sensory detail for each bullet point to make your story sound authentic.
- 3
Dedicate the final thirty seconds of your talk specifically to the unusual aspect of travel.
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
fiery
having a bright, intense red or orange colour
polyphonic
music consisting of several independent melodic lines combined
sensory overload
too much stimulation from the surrounding environment
tourist traps
places that attract tourists to charge high prices
rigid
not able to be changed or adapted easily
whims
sudden desires or changes of mind for fun
profound
very great or intense in experience or feeling
immersion
deep mental involvement in a specific activity
6 questions
Part 3 follow-up questions
- 1Do you think the growth of international tourism is a good thing? Why (not)?
- 2What do you think people can learn from travelling to other countries? Why?
- 3Do people in your country travel more these days than in the past for holidays?
- 4What kind of places are popular for holidays amongst the youth of your country?
- 5Do you think the preference of destination for holidays changes with age?
- 6Do you think the trend of going on family holidays will increase in the future?
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 unusual experience of traveling. Describe a place you visited with your friends and you had a good time."?+
Note down the specific location and your companions to build a clear narrative framework.
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: an experience
- Describe a bad service you received in a restaurant/shop
- Describe a colourful cultural parade you saw
- Describe a community sports event you joined
- Describe a course or training you completed that helped you
- Describe a creative workshop you attended
- Describe a day trip to an historic monument
- All 705 IELTS cue cards 2026
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- IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions and answers
- IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions
- IELTS speaking predictions
- IELTS pronunciation practice
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