# Describe a place in your city you like to visit: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Places

Describe a place in your city that you like to visit.

You should say:
- where it is
- what it looks like
- what you do there
- and explain why you like to visit it

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

## Band 5 sample

I want to talk about one park in my city. It name is City Park and it is near to my house, maybe ten minutes walking.

The park is very big and very green. There are many trees and many flowers. In the middle there is one small lake and some people they feed the fish in the lake. Also there is a playground for children and there are many benches. In morning time the park is very nice because the weather is cool and not so much people.

I go there two or three time in a week. Usually I go with my friend in the evening. We walk around the lake and we talk about many things, about study, about family, about everything. Sometime we sit on the bench and eat snacks like peanuts. In weekend there is many people, many family come with children, so it is little bit crowded. Some people do exercise and yoga also.

I like to visit this park because it is very peaceful. In my city there is too much traffic and too much noise, but in the park it is quiet and the air is fresh. When I go there I feel relax and happy. Also it is free, we don't need to pay money for enter. Before, when I was child, my father also take me to this park, so I have many good memory there.

So this is the place I like to visit in my city. I like it very much.

**Examiner notes.** This answer communicates the basic message and keeps going, which is enough for Band 5, but it is repetitive ("very big and very green", "many trees and many flowers") and depends on "and", "also" and "so". Errors are frequent: "It name is", "two or three time", "there is many people", "I feel relax" and "my father also take me". To reach Band 6, the speaker would need fewer basic errors, more variety in description (for example "surrounded by tall trees"), and a few longer sentences joined with "which" or "because".

## Band 6 sample

The place I want to describe is a food street in the old part of my city. It is around five kilometres from my house, near the main bus station, so it is quite easy to go there by bus or motorbike.

The street is quite narrow and it is full of small stalls on both side. In the evening all the stalls turn on their lights, so the whole street looks very colourful and lively. There are many kinds of food, for example momos, chaat, kebabs and different sweets. The smell of the food is really strong and you can smell it from the end of the street. It is usually very crowded, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

Normally I go there with my cousins or my college friends, maybe twice in a month. We usually walk from one end to the other and try different snacks from different stalls. My favourite is a small shop which sells hot jalebi. It is run by an old man and he has been there since more than thirty years. Sometimes we also just sit and watch the people, because there are always something interesting happening.

I like to visit this place for a few reasons. Firstly, the food is delicious and also cheap, so it is good for students like me. Secondly, it has a very friendly atmosphere, and the shopkeepers know us now, so they always talk with us. Finally, I think this street shows the real culture of my city, which you can't find in modern shopping malls.

So that's why I enjoy going there whenever I get free time.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 6 answer is clearly organized and gives some vivid detail ("the whole street looks very colourful and lively"), plus a relative clause or two. The reasons are relevant but listed mechanically with "Firstly", "Secondly" and "Finally", and words like "different" and "very" repeat. Errors include "on both side", "twice in a month", "since more than thirty years" and "there are always something". For Band 7, the speaker would add less common vocabulary such as "bustling" or "a local institution", link ideas more flexibly, and produce more error-free complex sentences.

## Band 7 sample

I'd like to talk about a small hill on the edge of my city, which locals simply call the viewpoint. It's about twenty minutes from my flat by scooter, and you have to climb around three hundred steps to reach the top.

At the bottom there's a little temple and a couple of tea stalls, but once you start climbing it becomes surprisingly quiet. The path is lined with old trees, and there are a few benches along the way where people stop to catch their breath. At the top there's a flat, open area with a low stone wall, and from there you get a panoramic view of the whole city: the river, the old town with its crowded rooftops and, on a clear day, mountains in the distance.

I usually go there on weekend mornings, sometimes on my own and sometimes with a friend. I tend to walk up fairly early, before it gets too hot, and then just sit on the wall with a cup of tea and watch the city slowly wake up. Occasionally I bring a book, although to be honest I spend more time looking at the view than reading.

The main reason I like going there is that it gives me a break from the pace of city life. My week is usually packed with classes and part-time work, so it's nice to have somewhere I can switch off for an hour or two. I also find that seeing the city from above puts things into perspective; problems that feel huge during the week seem a lot smaller up there. And of course, the climb itself is good exercise, which is a bonus.

So it's a simple place, but it means a lot to me.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer paints a clear picture by moving from the bottom of the hill to the top, then explains the appeal with a well-chosen image: problems "seem a lot smaller up there". Collocations like "catch their breath", "panoramic view" and "packed with" are used accurately, and sentences with "once", "before" and "although" are error-free. The language is still fairly safe. To reach Band 8, the speaker would use more precise and less predictable expressions and develop the reasons with subtler links, instead of adding the last one as "a bonus".

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

## Part 3 follow-up questions

1. Why do people in cities need public spaces such as parks and squares?
2. How have the places where young people spend their free time changed in recent years?
3. Should local governments spend more on protecting historic buildings or on building new facilities?
4. Does tourism improve or damage the places people visit?
5. What could be done to make cities more pleasant places to live?

## 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.