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Describe a place where you have watched or played a sport, such as a stadium, court or pool

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 where you have watched or played a sport, such as a stadium, court or pool.

You should say:

  • where the place is
  • what it looks like
  • what sport you did or watched there

and explain how you felt about spending time at this place.

Ready

1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.

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Band 8 sample answer

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

The sports place I would like to describe is the swimming pool at the sports centre near my house, where I have been going twice a week for the past two years. It is a public pool, and it was built a few years ago with money from the city council.

It is a modern indoor pool with eight lanes, a separate area for children and a small gym next door. The water is always clean, and the temperature is comfortable, and there is lots of natural light because one wall is made of glass. I normally go on Tuesday and Friday evenings after university. First I swim for about forty minutes, doing lengths of front crawl and breaststroke, and then I spend a few minutes in the sauna. On Saturdays, my friends and I sometimes play water polo in the shallow end, although we are not very good at it and mostly just laugh.

I enjoy spending time there for several reasons. Firstly, swimming is a perfect way to release stress, because when you are in the water, you can only concentrate on your breathing and movements, so you cannot think about exams. Secondly, it has improved my health. I used to have back problems from sitting at a desk all day, and the doctor recommended swimming. Now I rarely feel any pain. Finally, the place is friendly. I have got to know several regulars, including an elderly man who swims every day and always gives me advice about my technique. I feel energetic when I leave, and I always sleep well afterwards.

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
state-of-the-art facilitiesthe most modern equipment and buildings
cheer on the teamshout encouragement to the players
a sell-out crowdan audience with all tickets bought
keep fitstay healthy through exercise
a friendly matcha game played for fun, not for a prize
adrenalinea hormone that makes you feel energetic and excited

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 local football pitch where you play with friends
  • A large swimming pool where you take lessons
  • A famous stadium you visited as a fan

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhere the place is
  2. 25 swhat it looks like
  3. 25 swhat sport you did or watched there
  4. 45 sand explain how you felt about spending time at this place.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Why do people enjoy watching sport as much as playing it?
  2. Should governments spend money on building big stadiums?
  3. How can sport bring people from different backgrounds together?
  4. Do you think professional athletes are paid too much?
  5. What is the value of sport for children at school?
  6. Are there any sports that you think will become more popular in the future?

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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