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Describe a modern building that you find impressive

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 modern building that you find impressive.

You should say:

  • where the building is
  • what it looks like
  • what it is used for

and explain why you find it impressive.

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

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Band 8 sample answer

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

A modern building that I find very impressive is the Nur Alem Sphere in Astana, which was built for the international exhibition in 2017. It is a giant glass ball, and it is easily the most distinctive building in the city.

It stands about a hundred metres tall, and it has eight floors inside, each one dedicated to a different theme connected with energy of the future. From the outside, it looks like a huge glass globe, and at night it is lit up in changing colours, so it is visible from all over the area. I visited it two years ago with my family, and we went up in a glass lift to the top floor, from where you can see the entire city. Today it houses a museum, and visitors can see interactive displays about renewable energy and technology.

I find it impressive for various reasons. Firstly, the design is so bold and unusual, and I cannot think of any other building that looks like it. It really helps to give the city a unique identity. Secondly, it is not just an attractive object, but it also has a purpose, because it teaches visitors about sustainable energy and about how technology might develop. I think that combination of beauty and function is the sign of excellent architecture. Finally, it represents how far my country has developed in a short time, as the capital was little more than a small town thirty years ago. It makes me feel proud, and I always take foreign friends there when they visit.

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 striking designa design that attracts attention immediately
glass and steeltypical materials of modern buildings
cutting-edgeusing the most advanced ideas or technology
eco-friendlynot harmful to the environment
dominate the skylinebe the most noticeable structure in a city view
functional as well as beautifulboth practical and attractive

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 new airport terminal or railway station
  • A tall tower or business centre in the capital
  • A modern library, stadium or university building

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhere the building is
  2. 25 swhat it looks like
  3. 25 swhat it is used for
  4. 45 sand explain why you find it impressive.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. How is modern architecture different from traditional architecture in your country?
  2. Do you think skyscrapers are a good solution for crowded cities?
  3. Should new buildings be designed to fit in with older ones nearby?
  4. How important is it for modern buildings to be environmentally friendly?
  5. Why do some cities compete to build the tallest tower?
  6. What will buildings be like in fifty years?

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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