Describe a shop that you like to go to
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 shop that you like to go to.
You should say:
- where the shop is
- what it sells
- how often you go there
and explain why you like going to this shop.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
243 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
I would like to describe a small stationery and book shop near my university. It is called Paper Corner, and it is run by a middle-aged couple who have owned it for more than fifteen years.
The shop is quite narrow, but it is packed with things. They sell notebooks, pens, art supplies and greeting cards, and at the back there is a section of second-hand books, including a few in English. I go there roughly twice a month, usually when I need something for a project or just want a break between classes. Often I do not plan to buy anything, but I end up leaving with a new pen or a small notebook, because everything is so well chosen.
There are several reasons why I like it. First, the owners are very kind and know their customers. The husband always asks how my studies are going and recommends books that he thinks I would enjoy. This personal touch is something you never get in large chains. Second, the prices are reasonable, and they give small discounts to students. I have also found some really unusual items there that I have never seen in bigger stores, such as handmade bookmarks and old maps. Finally, the atmosphere is calm and slightly old-fashioned, with soft music and the smell of paper. I think it is a dying type of business, so I try to support it whenever I can, rather than ordering everything online.
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 |
|---|---|
| a wide range of products | many different kinds of items |
| reasonably priced | not too expensive |
| browse around | look at things without buying immediately |
| helpful staff | shop workers who give useful assistance |
| a bargain | something bought for less than its usual price |
| window shopping | looking at goods in shop windows without buying |
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 small bookshop with a friendly owner
- A large sports shop where you buy equipment
- A traditional market stall or family-run grocery near your home
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhere the shop is
- 25 swhat it sells
- 25 show often you go there
- 45 sand explain why you like going to this shop.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Shopping habits. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Do people in your country prefer shopping online or in shops?
- How have shopping habits changed over the last twenty years?
- Why are small independent shops closing in many places?
- Do you think advertising makes people buy things they do not need?
- What are the advantages of shopping in a big shopping centre?
- Will physical shops disappear in the future?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Places
- Describe your favourite room in your home
- Describe a zoo, safari park or nature reserve where you saw animals
- Describe a place you went to for a special occasion, such as a celebration or an anniversary
- Describe a crowded place that you have been to
- Describe a historic place that you have visited
- Describe a place where you go to relax
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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