Describe a natural place you have visited

In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you get this card, one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to speak. Below: the notes a strong candidate might make in that minute, a natural Band 7–8 answer, the words that make it work, and the Part 3 discussion the examiner usually moves on to.

The cue card

One-minute notes

Notes in the preparation minute should be keywords, not sentences — one line per bullet, plus the one detail that makes your story yours. Something like:

• a waterfall in the mountains, 3 hrs from my city
• went last spring with my cousin
• forest path, 2-hour hike, river, the waterfall itself
• swam in freezing water; no phone signal
• remember: total silence except water; felt tiny

Band 7–8 sample answer

I'd like to describe a waterfall in the mountains about three hours from where I live. I went there for the first time last spring with my cousin, who's much more of an outdoor person than I am.

To get there, you leave the car in a small village and walk for roughly two hours along a path through a forest. Most of the way, you're following a river, and it gets louder and louder as you go up. Then, quite suddenly, the trees open up and there it is: water falling maybe thirty metres into a deep green pool, surrounded by rocks covered in moss.

We stayed there for most of the afternoon. My cousin insisted that we swim, which I agreed to only to stop her complaining. The water was so cold that I lasted about ten seconds. After that we just sat on the rocks, ate our sandwiches and didn't say much. There was no phone signal at all, which at first made me slightly anxious and then, after an hour or so, felt like a huge relief.

The reason I remember it so well is the feeling of being somewhere much bigger than me. In a city, everything is built at human scale and everything is trying to get your attention. There, the only sound was the water, and I felt very small in a way that was strangely calming. I've been back once since then, and I'm already planning to go again this year.

About 249 words — roughly two minutes at a relaxed pace. Notice what it does: one specific story instead of general statements, every bullet covered, natural spoken linking rather than "firstly… secondly…", and the "why" part of the card answered properly at the end — that is where many candidates run out of things to say. Use it to see the structure; don't memorise it. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and your own story will always sound more fluent.

Useful vocabulary

• an outdoor person — someone who loves nature and outdoor activities
• open up — used for a view: to become wide and visible
• breathtaking — extremely beautiful or impressive
• unspoilt — not damaged by tourism or building
• a huge relief — a strong feeling of calm after stress
• at human scale — built in a size that relates to people

Part 3: questions and model answers

After your two minutes, the examiner moves to a discussion linked to the card's topic. These questions are more abstract: give an opinion, a reason and an example, and it's fine to say "it depends" — as long as you explain on what.

How can countries protect natural areas?

By turning the most valuable areas into protected parks, with real enforcement rather than just signs. Funding matters too — rangers, clean-up programmes and research cost money. And involving local communities is important, because if they benefit from protecting nature, they become its strongest defenders.

Is economic growth compatible with protecting nature?

I think it can be, but only if growth is measured more intelligently. Renewable energy and eco-tourism, for example, create jobs without destroying the environment. The problem is that the cheapest short-term option is often the most damaging one, so governments need to change the incentives.

Should there be limits on visitors to natural sites?

In popular places, yes. When thousands of people visit a fragile area every day, paths erode and wildlife disappears. A booking system or a daily limit seems fair — it's better than letting a place be ruined so that nobody can enjoy it in the future.

Do children today spend enough time outdoors?

Generally, no. Many children spend most of their free time indoors on screens, partly because parents worry about safety. That's a pity, because playing outside builds confidence, physical health and a connection with nature that's hard to develop later in life.

More cue cards about places

• Describe a place where you like to relax
• Describe a city you would like to visit
• Describe a building you find interesting
• Describe a place in your town or city that has changed
• Describe a café or restaurant you often go to
• Describe a crowded place you have been to

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