Describe a long walk that you went on
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 long walk that you went on.
You should say:
- where you went
- who you went with
- what you saw and did along the way
and explain how you felt at the end of the walk.
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.
I'd like to describe a long hike that I did last autumn in the Chimgan mountains, near Tashkent. A group of six friends and I had been planning it for months, but we kept postponing it because of work, so when we finally found a free Saturday, we were all very eager.
We set off at around seven in the morning from a small village and followed a marked trail up through a forest of walnut trees. The air was cool and fresh, and the leaves had started to turn gold and red. The first two hours were fairly easy, and we chatted and took lots of photos. After that, the path became steeper and rockier, and we had to climb carefully. At around midday, we reached a small plateau with a clear stream, where we sat down and ate our packed lunch: bread, cheese, boiled eggs and apples. A shepherd who was walking past with his sheep gave us a friendly wave.
The final part was hard, but the view from the top was breathtaking. We could see long valleys, snow-covered peaks in the distance and a thin river shining far below. We stayed there for about half an hour, mostly in silence.
By the time we returned to the village, it was almost dark, and my legs were aching. I felt tired but completely satisfied. The walk had cleared my head after a stressful month, and I felt very close to my friends, who had encouraged each other all day. I'd happily do it again, but next time, I'll bring better shoes.
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 |
|---|---|
| go for a stroll | to walk slowly for pleasure |
| hiking trail | a path used for long walks in nature |
| breathtaking views | extremely beautiful scenery |
| aching legs | legs that hurt after exercise |
| off the beaten track | away from popular routes |
| clear my head | to relax and think clearly |
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 day-long hike in the mountains with friends
- A walk through a historic city while travelling
- A charity walk or a pilgrimage-style route
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhere you went
- 25 swho you went with
- 25 swhat you saw and did along the way
- 45 sand explain how you felt at the end of the walk.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Walking and exercise. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why is walking good for people's health?
- Do people walk less today than in the past?
- How could cities be made more pleasant for walkers?
- Is it better to exercise alone or with others?
- Why do some people prefer to walk in nature rather than in a gym?
- Will people walk even less in the future?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Experiences
- Describe something you did for the first time that you will always remember
- Describe a time when you forgot something important
- Describe a time when you were stuck in a traffic jam
- Describe a time when you made a complaint
- Describe a time when you were very surprised
- Describe a time when you found something that belonged to someone else
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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