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Describe a place that you would like to visit in the future

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 that you would like to visit in the future.

You should say:

  • where this place is
  • how you found out about it
  • what you would like to do there

and explain why you want to visit 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

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

A place I am dreaming of visiting is Japan, and in particular the city of Kyoto. It has been at the top of my travel list for several years, and I hope to go there once I finish my degree.

I first became interested in it when I came across a documentary about traditional Japanese gardens and temples. After that, I started watching videos and reading blogs by people who had been there. I also have a friend who spent a semester in Osaka, and her photographs made me even more curious. If I get the chance, I would like to stay for at least two weeks. I want to walk through the old streets in the Gion district, visit the famous bamboo forest early in the morning before the crowds arrive, and see the temples in autumn, when the leaves turn red. I would also like to take part in a tea ceremony and try as much local food as possible, especially fresh noodles and sushi.

I want to go there for a few reasons. First, I am fascinated by the mix of tradition and modern technology, because Japan seems to be a country where you can see both side by side. Second, I think it would be a wonderful way to broaden my horizons and learn about a culture that is very different from mine. And finally, everyone who has visited tells me how polite and organised the people are, which I find very appealing. It will be expensive, so I am saving a little each month.

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
top of my bucket listthe thing I most want to do in my life
a dream destinationa place you have always wanted to go
immerse myself in the cultureexperience local customs fully
broaden my horizonslearn new things and widen my experience
a once-in-a-lifetime tripa journey you will probably only make once
come acrossfind or meet by chance

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 country with a culture very different from your own
  • A natural wonder such as the northern lights or a rainforest
  • A famous place connected with your studies or your hobby

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhere this place is
  2. 25 show you found out about it
  3. 25 swhat you would like to do there
  4. 45 sand explain why you want to visit this place.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Why do people enjoy visiting places they have never been to before?
  2. Do you think travelling is more popular among young people than among older people?
  3. How do people usually choose their holiday destinations nowadays?
  4. What are the advantages of travelling abroad rather than in your own country?
  5. Do you believe virtual tours could replace real travel one day?
  6. How can travel change the way people think?

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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