Describe a place where you often meet your friends
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 often meet your friends.
You should say:
- where the place is
- how often you go there
- what you do together there
and explain why you choose this place to meet.
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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
263 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
The place where I most often meet my friends is a small square near the old university building in the centre of my city. It has a fountain in the middle, a few benches and some trees, and it has been our favourite hangout since we were in school.
We usually meet there on Friday evenings or Sunday afternoons, although in summer it can be almost every day. The square is between three popular streets, so there are plenty of options if we get hungry. There is a street stall on the corner that sells excellent ice cream and a bakery that makes warm pastries. Normally we sit on the benches by the fountain, talk about our week, share news and listen to music from a small speaker. Sometimes someone brings a guitar, and we sing, quite badly. If the weather is bad, we simply move to a nearby cafe.
There are a few reasons why we choose this place. First, it is convenient for everyone, because it is close to the metro and lies roughly halfway between our homes. Second, it is free, which matters when you are a student with a limited budget. Third, we have so many good memories there. It is where we celebrated finishing exams, where one of us announced he was moving abroad, and where we have had countless long conversations. Even though there are fancier places in the city, none of them feels as familiar or comfortable to us. I think that in ten years we will still meet there when we are all in town.
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 |
|---|---|
| hang out | spend time together casually |
| a favourite hangout | a place where friends often meet |
| chat for hours | talk for a very long time |
| a convenient location | a place that is easy to reach |
| have a laugh | have fun together |
| stay in touch | keep in contact with someone |
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 bowling alley, arcade or board-game cafe
- A particular bench or square in your neighbourhood
- A friend's flat where everyone gathers at weekends
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhere the place is
- 25 show often you go there
- 25 swhat you do together there
- 45 sand explain why you choose this place to meet.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Friendship and socialising. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- How do young people in your country usually spend time with friends?
- Is it easier to make friends now than it was in the past?
- Do you think that social media has improved or damaged friendships?
- Why are some friendships stronger than others?
- What is the best age to make lifelong friends?
- Are there differences between how men and women spend time with friends?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Places
- Describe a zoo, safari park or nature reserve where you saw animals
- Describe a train station or an airport that you have been to
- Describe a modern building that you find impressive
- Describe a noisy place that you have been to
- Describe a place near water, such as a lake, river or the sea, that you have visited
- Describe a place in the countryside that you have enjoyed visiting
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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