# Describe a place with beautiful views: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Nature

Describe a place you visited that has beautiful views.

You should say:
- where it is
- when you went there
- what you could see there
- and explain why you liked the views

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

## Band 7 sample

The place I'd like to describe is Nagarkot, a small hill station on the edge of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. It's quite famous for its views of the Himalayas, especially at sunrise.

I went there about two years ago with a group of friends from university, just after our exams finished. We took a bus from Kathmandu, which took around two hours because the road is very winding, and we stayed one night in a small guesthouse near the top of the hill.

The main reason people go there is to see the sunrise, so we woke up at about five in the morning and walked up to a viewpoint in the dark. It was really cold, and I remember regretting that I didn't bring a thicker jacket. But when the sun started to rise, it was absolutely worth it. First, the sky turned orange and pink, and then the light slowly reached to the snow-capped mountains on the horizon, one peak after another. Below us, the valley was covered with a thick layer of cloud, so it felt like we were standing above the sky.

I liked the views for a few reasons. Firstly, I had never seen such big mountains so clearly before, and it made me feel very small. Secondly, everything was very quiet. Even my friends, who are usually very noisy, stopped talking and just watched. And also, I think sharing that moment with close friends made it more specially. I took lots of photos, but honestly none of them really capture how beautiful it was in real life.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer is clear and well organised, with a good description of the sunrise and the setting. Vocabulary is appropriate with some less common items ("hill station", "winding", "snow-capped", "on the horizon"). There are two typical errors: "reached to the snow-capped mountains" (rather than "reached the snow-capped mountains") and the adverb in "made it more specially" (rather than "more special"). The reasons are listed with "Firstly", "Secondly" and "And also". For Band 8, the speaker would need more vivid, idiomatic description and smoother linking between ideas.

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

## 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.