# Describe a beautiful city in your country: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Places

Describe a beautiful city in your country.

You should say:
- which city it is
- where it is
- what it is famous for
- and explain why you think it is beautiful

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

I'd like to talk about Pokhara, which is a city in the middle of Nepal, to the west of Kathmandu. It's quite a long bus ride from the capital, but you can also fly there in less than an hour, which is much faster but more expensive.

Pokhara is famous for a few things. First, it has a big lake called the Phewa Lake, and in the middle of the lake there's a small island with a temple on it, so people take a wooden boat to visit it. Second, it's famous for the mountains, because on a clear day you can see the Annapurna range from the city, including a mountain called Machhapuchhre, which is also known as Fishtail because the top looks like the tail of a fish. And it's also the starting point for a lot of trekking routes, so there are always tourists with big backpacks walking around. Some people also go paragliding there, but I was too scared for trying it, honestly.

The reason I think it's beautiful is mainly the combination of the lake and the mountains. When I went there with my family, we woke up very early and went to a viewpoint called Sarangkot to watch the sunrise. The snow on the mountains turned pink and then gold, and the lake below was completely still, like a mirror. I'd never seen anything like it before. Also, the city is much more calm and clean than Kathmandu, so you can relax there.

I think everyone who visits Nepal should go to Pokhara at least once, because it shows the natural beauty of my country in one place.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer gives accurate, relevant information about the city and a vivid personal moment at sunrise, which brings the description to life. Phrases like "on a clear day", "starting point" and "completely still, like a mirror" show good range. The structure relies on "First ... Second", and some typical errors remain: "much more calm" (rather than "much calmer"), "called the Phewa Lake" (lake names don't take "the") and "too scared for trying it" (rather than "too scared to try it"). For Band 8, the speaker would use more precise and evocative vocabulary throughout and link the facts and feelings more smoothly.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-a-beautiful-city-in-your-country).

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.