Describe a time when you saw something beautiful in nature
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 time when you saw something beautiful in nature.
You should say:
- what you saw
- where and when you saw it
- who you were with
and explain why it made such an impression on you.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
269 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
I'd like to describe a sunrise I watched in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, near Lake Issyk-Kul, two summers ago. I was on a camping trip with four friends, and the previous evening we had decided that we'd get up very early to see the sun come up over the lake.
We woke at about four-thirty, when it was still dark and quite cold. We wrapped ourselves in blankets, made a flask of hot tea and walked up a small hill behind the camp. There was no noise at all except the wind and, somewhere in the distance, a few birds. At first, the sky was just dark blue, but slowly a thin line of orange appeared above the mountains on the other side of the lake. Over the next half an hour, the colours kept changing: pink, gold and finally a soft yellow. The water below us reflected everything, so it looked as if the lake were on fire. Snowy peaks glowed in the distance.
Nobody said a word. It really took my breath away. I've seen sunrises in the city, but they are never like this, because there are always buildings, cars and lights in the way.
It made such an impression on me because it was so unspoilt, and it made me feel very small, but in a positive way. I felt in awe of nature, and I forgot about all my worries for a while. I took a photograph, but it can't capture what I felt. It encouraged me to spend more time outdoors, and I now try to go camping at least twice a year.
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 |
|---|---|
| stunning scenery | extremely beautiful landscape |
| take my breath away | to be so beautiful that you are amazed |
| the golden hour | the time just after sunrise or before sunset when light is soft |
| unspoilt | not damaged by human activity |
| a sea of | a huge amount of something spread out |
| in awe of | feeling great respect and wonder for |
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 sunrise or sunset in the mountains or by the sea
- A field of wildflowers or a snow-covered forest
- A night sky full of stars away from city lights
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat you saw
- 25 swhere and when you saw it
- 25 swho you were with
- 45 sand explain why it made such an impression on you.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Nature and the environment. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why do people enjoy spending time in nature?
- Do you think people in cities are losing touch with nature?
- How can governments protect natural beauty?
- Is it right to charge tourists to visit national parks?
- What can schools do to teach children about nature?
- How might climate change affect natural landscapes?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Experiences
- Describe a time when you cheered someone up
- Describe a time when you felt proud of yourself
- Describe a time when you were very busy
- Describe a time when you broke something that belonged to someone else
- Describe a piece of advice that you received and found useful
- Describe a time when you worked as part of a team
Part 1 topics on the same subject
Frequently asked questions
How should I describe an experience in an IELTS cue card?
Tell it as a story in the past: set the scene (when, where, who), what happened, how it ended. Then explain what you felt or learned. Past tenses used accurately are part of what the examiner is listening for.
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