# Describe a place in the countryside you visited: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Places

Describe a place in the countryside that you visited.

You should say:
- where it is
- when you went there
- what you did there
- and explain how you felt about this place

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

## Band 7 sample

The place I want to describe is the village where my grandparents live. It's in the hills, about five hours by bus from the city where I grew up, and the last part of the journey is on a very narrow road with lots of sharp bends.

I've been there many times, but I'm going to talk about the visit I made two summers ago, after my final exams. I stayed there for nearly three weeks, which was the longest time I'd spent there since I was a child.

Life in the village is very different from the city life. Most people are farmers, so everybody wakes up very early, and I found myself doing the same. In the mornings I helped my grandfather in the fields. He grows rice and some vegetables, and he also has two cows and a few goats. Honestly, I wasn't very useful at first, but he was patient to me. In the afternoons I usually went for long walks along the river, or I sat on the roof and read books, because the internet connection was quite weak there.

I felt really peaceful during that trip. In the city there is always noise, traffic and pollution, but in the village you can hear birds and the sound of water, and the air is so fresh. I also felt closer to my grandparents, because we had time to talk properly, which we never do on the phone. The only thing I didn't like so much was the insects at night. But overall, it was one of the most relaxing times of my life, and I'm planning to go back again next year if I can.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer is relevant and personal, and each bullet is covered with useful detail. The speaker shows good range ("sharp bends", "found myself doing the same", "talk properly") and handles past perfect correctly. There are a couple of typical slips that do not affect meaning: an unnecessary article in "very different from the city life" (rather than "from city life") and a wrong preposition in "patient to me" (rather than "patient with me"). The description of feelings relies on general words like "peaceful" and "relaxing". For Band 8, the speaker would need more vivid, precise and idiomatic description.

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

## 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.