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Describe a neighbourhood or area where you would like to live

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 neighbourhood or area where you would like to live.

You should say:

  • where this neighbourhood is
  • what facilities it has
  • what the people there are like

and explain why you would like to live there.

Ready

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

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Band 8 sample answer

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

The neighbourhood where I would like to live one day is a leafy area in the north of my city called Yunusabad. I have friends who live there, and every time I visit them, I think about how nice it would be to have my own place in that district.

It is a mostly residential area with wide streets, plenty of trees and a lot of small parks. Within walking distance of almost any building, you can find a supermarket, a pharmacy, a few cafes and a clinic. There are also several good schools and a sports complex, which would be ideal if I have children one day. It is well connected too, with two metro stations and many bus routes, so you can reach the city centre in about twenty minutes. In the evenings, you see families walking their dogs and children playing outside, and the atmosphere is calm and safe.

As for the people, they seem friendly and fairly relaxed. My friend's neighbours often leave fruit and homemade jam outside each other's doors, and they greet one another by name, which is rare in modern apartment buildings. Many residents are young professionals and families, so there is a good mix of age groups.

I would like to live there because it combines the convenience of the city with a feeling of peace. I want my home to be somewhere I can relax after a busy day, and where I do not have to spend hours commuting. Property prices are rather high at the moment, but I hope that by the time I have a stable job, I will be able to afford a small flat there.

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
within walking distanceclose enough to reach on foot
well-connectedeasy to reach by public transport
a leafy suburba residential area with many trees
local amenitiesnearby services such as shops and clinics
safe and securefree from crime and danger
a friendly neighbourhoodan area where people are kind to each other

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 quiet, green area on the edge of the city with good schools
  • A lively central district with cafes and cinemas
  • The neighbourhood you grew up in and hope to return to

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhere this neighbourhood is
  2. 25 swhat facilities it has
  3. 25 swhat the people there are like
  4. 45 sand explain why you would like to live there.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Do people in your country know their neighbours well?
  2. Why do some people prefer to live in the same neighbourhood all their lives?
  3. What makes a good neighbour?
  4. Has the idea of community changed because of social media?
  5. How can local authorities improve neighbourhoods?
  6. Do you think neighbourhoods will be more or less important in the future?

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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