Describe a place where you can enjoy a beautiful view
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 can enjoy a beautiful view.
You should say:
- where this place is
- what you can see from there
- when you usually go there
and explain why you enjoy the view.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
267 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
There is a hill on the edge of my city called Kok-Tobe, which I think offers the best view in the area. It is a popular place for locals and tourists, and I try to go there at least once a month, ideally in the early evening.
You can reach the top by cable car, which takes about five minutes and is an enjoyable experience in itself, or by a long road for people who prefer to drive or walk. At the top, there is a wide platform with railings and several benches, and from there you can see the entire city spread out below you. In the distance, there are snow-covered mountains, and closer to you, the rows of buildings, parks and streets form a kind of map. At sunset, the sky turns orange and pink, and then the lights of the city begin to come on one by one, which looks extremely beautiful.
I enjoy the view for a number of reasons. First, it gives me a different perspective on my daily life. From above, the city looks calm and organised, and the problems that seem so serious at ground level feel much smaller. Second, it is a place where I can think clearly. I sometimes go alone with a cup of tea and just watch the sky change. And third, it is simply wonderful for photographs. I have taken hundreds of pictures there, though none of them ever completely captures how it feels to be there. Every time I take visitors to this place, they say the same thing: it takes their breath away.
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 |
|---|---|
| overlook | have a view over something from above |
| a bird's-eye view | a view from high above |
| the skyline | the outline of buildings against the sky |
| golden hour | the time soon after sunrise or before sunset when light is warm |
| take your breath away | be so beautiful that you are amazed |
| as far as the eye can see | to the farthest point visible |
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 hill or viewpoint over your city at sunset
- The balcony of a high-rise flat
- A mountain pass or lakeshore during a trip
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhere this place is
- 25 swhat you can see from there
- 25 swhen you usually go there
- 45 sand explain why you enjoy the view.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Scenery and photography. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why do people like taking photographs of beautiful scenery?
- Does taking photos of a view spoil the experience of seeing it?
- How can countries protect their most famous views from over-tourism?
- Do you think people living in cities appreciate nature more than people living in the countryside?
- Why are properties with a good view usually more expensive?
- What kinds of views are most popular with tourists?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Places
- Describe a place you went to on holiday when you were a child
- Describe a place where you do exercise or sport
- Describe a tourist attraction in your country that you would recommend to visitors
- Describe a library that you have been to
- Describe a neighbourhood or area where you would like to live
- Describe a restaurant where you had a good meal
Part 1 topics on the same subject
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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