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Describe a city where you would like to live in the future

Try the card on the exam timer first, then read the band-8 sample answer and the Part 3 questions that follow it.

Practice it like the exam

Part 2 · Candidate task card

Describe a city where you would like to live in the future.

You should say:

  • where this city is
  • what you know about it
  • what you think life there would be like

and explain why you would like to live in this city.

Ready

1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.

Recordings stay in this tab and are never uploaded.

Band 8 sample answer

267 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.

The city I would like to live in one day is Toronto in Canada. I have never been there, but one of my teachers studied in Canada and often told us about it, and I have also read quite a lot online.

From what I know, Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. People from almost every country live there, so you can find food, festivals and shops from all over the globe. It is also located on a huge lake, so there are beaches and parks inside the city, even though it is a major business centre. The public transport is supposed to be reliable, and the universities are among the best in the world. I imagine life there would be fast and busy during the week, with a lot of work or study, but there would also be plenty to do at weekends, such as going to concerts, sports matches or simply walking by the water. The winters are extremely cold, which would be a challenge for me, but I think I would get used to it.

The main reason I would like to live there is my career. I hope to work in software, and Toronto has a growing technology sector with many opportunities for young graduates. Another reason is that it is known as a safe and tolerant place, where newcomers are welcomed. I would also like to improve my English in a natural environment. So if I get the chance to study there, I will definitely take it, even if it means missing my family for a while.

What to notice

  • It takes the points on the card in order, so the examiner can follow it.
  • Each point gets a specific detail or a short story, which is what keeps a talk going for two minutes.
  • The "explain" line at the end gets the most time, because that is where you give an opinion and show your range of language.

We wrote this answer for practice; it does not come from IELTS. Take its structure and phrases and tell your own story, because examiners notice memorised answers.

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Useful vocabulary

PhraseMeaning
a high standard of livingcomfortable life with good services and income
public transport networkthe system of buses, trains and metros
career prospectschances of developing in your job
multicultural societya community with many cultures living together
work-life balancea healthy division between work and free time
a sense of communityfeeling connected to the people around you

Plan it in one minute

Choose what to talk about in the first ten seconds, then write two or three key words for each point. Full sentences take too long to write and to read back.

Who or what you could talk about

  • A calm, green city that is good for family life
  • A major business centre that offers excellent job opportunities
  • A university city with a young and creative population

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhere this city is
  2. 25 swhat you know about it
  3. 25 swhat you think life there would be like
  4. 45 sand explain why you would like to live in this city.

Part 3 questions

In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Where people choose to live. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.

  1. What things do people consider when they decide where to live?
  2. Why do many young people move from villages to big cities?
  3. Is it better to live in a city or in the countryside, in your opinion?
  4. How does the cost of living affect people's choice of city?
  5. Do you think people will work from anywhere in the future, rather than living near their jobs?
  6. What can governments do to encourage people to live outside capital cities?

Frequently asked questions

How should I describe a place in an IELTS cue card?

Choose a place you have actually been to. Give its location quickly, then describe it with your senses: what you saw, heard and did there. Close with how you felt or why you would go back. A real visit gives you details that sound natural.

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