# Describe a foreign culture you like: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Experiences

Describe a foreign culture you like.

You should say:
- which culture it is
- how you learned about it
- what you find interesting about it
- and explain why you like it

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

## Band 7 sample

I'd like to talk about Japanese culture, which I've been interested in since I was a teenager.

At the beginning I learned about it through anime and Japanese films, like a lot of young people in my country. But later, when I was in high school, we had an exchange student from Japan called Yuki who stayed with my family for three months. She taught us a lot of things, for example how to cook some simple Japanese dishes, and she explained many customs that I only saw on screen before.

What I find most interesting is how much attention people pay to small details. Yuki told me that even the way you wrap a present or give someone your business card is important, and you should do it with both hands to show respect. I also find the seasonal festivals fascinating. In spring, people go to parks to have picnics under the cherry blossom trees, and they call it hanami. I think it's a beautiful idea to celebrate nature like that.

The main reason I like this culture is that it combines very old traditions with the modern technology. In photos you can see ancient temples right next to huge modern buildings, and somehow it all works together. Also, I really admire the politeness. Yuki was always very considerate of other people, and she said this is something that children learn from a very young age.

I have to say I've never actually been to Japan, so my knowledge is still quite limited. But I'm saving money at the moment and I hope to visit in the next couple of years, ideally in spring so I can see the cherry blossoms myself.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer is coherent and relevant, and the exchange student gives the talk a personal source of knowledge. Vocabulary is good for the topic ("customs", "seasonal festivals", "considerate of other people"), and the speaker sensibly admits the limits of their knowledge. However, the ideas stay fairly general, linking leans on "also", and there are typical slips: a missing past perfect in "customs that I only saw on screen before" (rather than "had only seen") and an unnecessary article in "with the modern technology" (rather than "with modern technology"). Band 8 adds more precise, idiomatic language and a deeper personal reason for liking the culture.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-a-foreign-culture-you-like).

## 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.