Describe a place where you go to relax
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 place where you go to relax.
You should say:
- where this place is
- how often you go there
- what you do there to relax
and explain why this place helps you relax.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
253 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
When I want to relax, I usually go to a small tea house near my grandparents' neighbourhood. It is a family business that has been there for years, and it has become something like my second living room.
The place is not fashionable at all. It is a low wooden building with a shaded terrace, and in summer the owner puts low tables under a big mulberry tree. They serve green and black tea in traditional pots, along with sweets and fresh bread. I go there roughly once a week, normally on Saturday afternoon, when I have finished the main tasks of the week. I take a book or sometimes a notebook, order a pot of tea and stay for an hour or two. Occasionally my grandfather joins me, and we play a few rounds of backgammon, which he always wins.
The reason it helps me relax is partly the setting. It is quiet, there is no loud music, and the tree gives you shade and a gentle sound when the wind moves the leaves. Another reason is the slow rhythm of the place. Nobody hurries you, and the owner never asks you to leave, even if you order only a single pot of tea. I leave my phone in my pocket, so for a while I do not think about assignments or messages. Honestly, even a short visit is enough to take my mind off any problem, and I usually walk home feeling lighter and much more patient than when I arrived.
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 |
|---|---|
| unwind | relax after a period of work or stress |
| take my mind off | stop thinking about something worrying |
| soothing | making you feel calm |
| let off steam | release energy or stress |
| a change of scenery | being in a different environment for a while |
| feel at ease | feel comfortable and not worried |
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 spot on the roof or balcony of your home
- A swimming pool or sports club
- A friend's or grandparents' house where you feel safe
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhere this place is
- 25 show often you go there
- 25 swhat you do there to relax
- 45 sand explain why this place helps you relax.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Stress and relaxation. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- What do people in your country usually do to relax?
- Why do some people find it difficult to relax?
- Is stress a bigger problem today than it was in the past?
- Do you think employers should give workers time to relax during the working day?
- How does spending time in nature affect people's mood?
- Should schools teach students how to relax and manage stress?
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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