Describe a family picnic or outdoor outing that 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 family picnic or outdoor outing that you enjoyed.
You should say:
- where you went
- who was with you
- what you did there
and explain why you enjoyed it.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
249 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
I'd like to describe a picnic that my family had last May, in the foothills of the mountains outside Almaty. It had been a long, stressful winter, and as soon as the weather became warm, my father suggested that we spend a whole Sunday outdoors.
There were seven of us: my parents, my sister and her two children, my grandmother and me. We left home early in the morning and drove for about an hour. My mother had packed an enormous basket with sandwiches, boiled eggs, fruit and a thermos of hot tea, and I'd brought a football for the kids. We found a quiet spot beside a small stream, with tall grass and wildflowers around it, and spread out some blankets under a big tree.
The children immediately ran off to look for frogs and splash in the water, while the rest of us sat in the shade, chatting. After lunch, my father and I played football with the kids, and then we went for a short walk up the hill. From the top, you could see the whole valley, which was amazing. In the afternoon, my grandmother fell asleep under the tree, and everybody else just lay back and watched the clouds.
I enjoyed it because it was peaceful and simple. There were no screens, no meetings, and no rush, just fresh air and family. We came back home tired but cheerful, with slightly sunburnt faces, and I slept better that night than I had in weeks.
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
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| spread out a blanket | to lay a cloth on the ground to sit on |
| fresh air | clean, cool air outdoors |
| escape the city | to leave the city for a while |
| pack a lunch | to prepare food to take with you |
| quality time | time spent giving full attention to others |
| unwind | to relax after stress |
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 picnic by a river or lake with cousins
- A spring outing to see wild flowers
- A barbecue in the countryside with neighbours
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhere you went
- 25 swho was with you
- 25 swhat you did there
- 45 sand explain why you enjoyed it.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Outdoor leisure. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why do many people enjoy spending time outdoors?
- Do city dwellers have enough access to green spaces?
- How is spending time in nature good for people's health?
- What do families in your country usually do at weekends?
- Should schools organise more outdoor trips?
- Will people spend more or less time outdoors in the future?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Events
- Describe a family gathering that you remember well
- Describe a celebration that you experienced in another country or culture
- Describe a concert or live music event you enjoyed
- Describe an event you attended where you met many new people
- Describe an important day in your life
- Describe a traditional ceremony or custom that you took part in
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.
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