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Describe a street you know well

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 street you know well.

You should say:

  • where the street is
  • what you can see there
  • how often you go there

and explain why this street is important to you.

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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

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

The street I know best is Navoi Street, which runs through the centre of my city and passes near both my school and my current university. I have walked along it almost every day for more than ten years, so I know it extremely well.

It is a long, wide street, lined with old plane trees that give a lot of shade in summer. On one side, there are traditional buildings from the Soviet era, with high ceilings and decorated windows, and on the other, there are newer shops, cafes and offices. In the middle of the street, there is a pedestrian zone with benches and a small fountain. In the mornings, it is busy with people hurrying to work, and in the evenings, it becomes more relaxed, with families strolling and street musicians playing the violin or guitar. There is also a bookshop, a bakery that I love and an old cinema that shows classic films.

This street is important to me because it is full of memories. When I was a teenager, I used to walk down it with my friends after school, buy snacks and sit by the fountain. Later, I had my first part-time job in one of the cafes there. Even now, when I walk along it, I notice small changes, such as a new shop or a repainted wall, and it reminds me of how time passes. It also gives me a feeling of belonging to my city. Wherever I live in the future, I think this will always be the street I picture when I think of home.

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
lined withhaving something along both sides
a pedestrian zonean area where cars are not allowed
street vendorspeople who sell things outdoors
lively and colourfulfull of activity and bright colours
a landmarka well-known feature that helps identify a place
traffic congestiontoo many vehicles on the road

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

  • The street where you grew up
  • A pedestrian street in the city centre where you walk in the evening
  • The street on which your school or university is located

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhere the street is
  2. 25 swhat you can see there
  3. 25 show often you go there
  4. 45 sand explain why this street is important to you.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. How have streets in your country changed over the past few decades?
  2. Should city centres be closed to cars?
  3. What are the advantages of pedestrian streets?
  4. Why are some streets famous all over the world?
  5. Do you think street names should be changed to reflect modern times?
  6. How can streets be made safer for children and elderly people?

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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