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Describe a place near water, such as a lake, river or the sea, that you have visited

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 place near water, such as a lake, river or the sea, that you have visited.

You should say:

  • where it is
  • when you went there
  • what you did there

and explain how you felt about being in this place.

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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

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

A place near water that I will never forget is Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. I went there two summers ago with a group of university friends, and we stayed in a small guest house right by the shore for a week.

The lake is enormous, and it is surrounded by mountains whose tops stay white with snow even in July. The water is so clear and blue that at first I thought I was looking at the sea. During the day we swam, played volleyball on the beach and took a boat trip to a quiet bay, where the water was perfectly still. One afternoon we hired bicycles and rode along the shore to a tiny village, where an old woman sold us fresh bread and homemade jam. In the evenings we sat around a small fire, talked and watched the stars, which looked much brighter than they do in the city.

Being there made me feel completely relaxed. Normally I am rather stressed by deadlines and my phone, but there was almost no signal near the guest house, which turned out to be a blessing. I slept better than I had for months, and I came home feeling refreshed and strangely more patient. It also made me realise how beautiful the region around us is, and that you do not need to go abroad for a wonderful holiday. I have promised myself that I will return every summer if I can, and next time I want to bring my parents.

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
crystal-clear waterwater so clean that you can see through it
the shorethe land along the edge of a sea or lake
a gentle breezea light, pleasant wind
soak up the sunenjoy lying in the sunshine
a stunning viewa very beautiful scene
feel refreshedfeel rested and full of energy

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 lake in the mountains where you went camping
  • A seaside town you visited with your family in summer
  • A riverside walk in your own city that you enjoy at sunset

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhere it is
  2. 25 swhen you went there
  3. 25 swhat you did there
  4. 45 sand explain how you felt about being in this place.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Why do so many people like spending their holidays near the sea?
  2. Are water sports becoming more popular in your country?
  3. What are the dangers of building too many hotels near beaches and lakes?
  4. How can we protect rivers and seas from pollution?
  5. Do you think people who live near water are happier than those who do not?
  6. Why do many cities in the world grow up beside rivers?

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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