Describe a time when you were in a very noisy place
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 were in a very noisy place.
You should say:
- where you were
- what caused the noise
- what you did about it
and explain how the noise affected you.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
268 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
I'd like to describe a time when I tried to study in a very noisy place. About a year ago, I rented a flat in a busy part of the city, and I didn't realise that a construction project was about to start in the building next door. I moved in on a Saturday, and everything was calm. On Monday morning, however, I was woken up at seven by a deafening drilling sound.
The noise continued all day: drills, hammers, heavy trucks and workers shouting to each other. I was preparing for an important professional exam at that time, so I needed to study at home for several hours every day. But the noise was so loud that I couldn't hear myself think. I tried closing the windows, but it made little difference. I even put a pillow against the wall, which wasn't a good idea.
In the end, I found a few solutions. First, I bought a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and listened to calm instrumental music, which helped a lot. Second, I began going to the public library in the mornings, when the construction work was at its loudest, and studied at home in the evenings. I also spoke to the building manager, who told me that the works would last about four months.
The noise affected me quite badly at the beginning: I was tired, irritable and had headaches. But I adapted. The experience made me appreciate peace and quiet and think carefully about the area before renting a home. Now, I always visit a place at different times of day before signing a contract.
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 |
|---|---|
| deafening | extremely loud |
| drown out | to cover a sound with a louder one |
| noise pollution | harmful or annoying levels of noise |
| can't hear myself think | it is so noisy that thinking is difficult |
| peace and quiet | a calm and silent situation |
| earplugs | small items put in the ears to block noise |
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 crowded restaurant or a market
- A building site next to your home or workplace
- A concert, wedding or football stadium
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhere you were
- 25 swhat caused the noise
- 25 swhat you did about it
- 45 sand explain how the noise affected you.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Noise and quiet. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why are cities so noisy?
- Is noise pollution a serious problem?
- How can people reduce noise in their homes?
- Do some people work better in noisy places?
- Should there be laws against loud music at night?
- Why do many people enjoy quiet places?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Experiences
- Describe a time when you had to use a foreign language
- Describe a time when you forgot something important
- Describe a difficult decision you had to make
- Describe a time when the weather was very bad
- Describe a time when you had to wait for something
- Describe a time when you broke 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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