Describe a concert or live music event you enjoyed
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
Describe a concert or live music event you enjoyed.
You should say:
- who performed
- where and when it took place
- what the performance was like
and explain why you enjoyed it.
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
246 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
A concert that really stands out in my memory was a performance by a Kazakh folk-rock band in Almaty last spring. I'd been listening to their songs for years, and when I saw that they were coming to a theatre near my home, I bought tickets immediately, because I knew they'd sell out quickly.
The concert took place on a Friday evening in a large hall which holds about two thousand people. When we arrived, there was already a long queue, and the atmosphere outside was lively. Inside, the band started with an energetic song that I knew well, and the whole audience started singing along. They mixed traditional instruments, like the dombra, with electric guitars and drums, which created a sound I'd never heard live before. In the middle of the show they played a slower, quieter piece, and it was so beautiful that the entire hall went silent.
At the end, the crowd refused to leave, clapping until the band came back for an encore of two more songs.
I enjoyed it so much for several reasons. First, the music itself was excellent, and the acoustics in the hall were perfect. Second, being surrounded by thousands of people who loved the same songs created a real sense of togetherness. I went with my younger brother, and we talked about it all the way home. Listening to a recording simply isn't the same; you feel the music in your chest. I'd happily go again tomorrow.
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.
Getting ready for IELTS?
Useful vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| live performance | music played in front of an audience |
| sold-out show | an event with no tickets left |
| sing along | to sing together with the performer |
| the crowd went wild | the audience reacted with great excitement |
| acoustics | how sound behaves in a space |
| encore | an extra song played after the main show |
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 pop or rock band you had loved for years
- A classical or traditional music evening
- A free open-air concert in a park
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swho performed
- 25 swhere and when it took place
- 25 swhat the performance was like
- 45 sand explain why you enjoyed it.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Live music. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why do people pay to see live music when they can listen online?
- What kinds of music are most popular among young people in your country?
- Should the government support music education in schools?
- Do you think concerts are too expensive these days?
- How has technology changed the way people listen to music?
- Can music help people from different cultures understand one another?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Events
- Describe a cultural performance that you watched, such as a traditional dance or theatre show
- Describe a charity event that you took part in or know about
- Describe a fireworks display or light show that you watched
- Describe an event that you took part in at school or university
- Describe a reunion or farewell party that you attended
- Describe a surprise event that you organised or that someone organised for you
Part 1 topics on the same subject
Frequently asked questions
How should I describe an event in an IELTS cue card?
Set the scene with when, where and who was there, then walk through what happened in order. Finish with why it was memorable. If you were not at a big event, a small one you remember well works better.
Getting ready for IELTS?
More free IELTS tools
All free toolsWriting topic generator
Write to Task 1 and Task 2 prompts with a timer and a word counter.
IELTS band score calculator
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
IELTS score converter
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
University IELTS requirements
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.