Describe a place in your town or city that has changed

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:

• the old port area near my home
• before: empty warehouses, unsafe at night
• now: park by the water, cafés, a cycle path
• rents went up, old fish market closed
• mostly like it, but miss the market + its people

Band 7–8 sample answer

A place in my city that has changed a lot is the old port area, which is about twenty minutes' walk from where I grew up.

When I was a child, it wasn't somewhere you'd choose to go. There were rows of empty warehouses, broken windows, and very few people around after dark. My parents told me not to walk there alone. The only lively part was a small fish market in the early mornings, where my grandfather used to take me on Saturdays.

Over about the last ten years, it's been completely redeveloped. Most of the warehouses were turned into offices, flats and cafés, and the area along the water became a long park with a cycle path. In the summer there are open-air concerts and it's full of families and joggers until late at night. It's honestly hard to recognise it from my memories.

My feelings about the change are mostly positive, but a little mixed. It's obviously much safer and more pleasant, and it gave the city a place to enjoy the sea that it didn't have before. On the other hand, rents in the area have gone up a lot, and the fish market closed because the sellers couldn't afford the new prices. That market was part of the character of the place, and the people who'd worked there for decades weren't really part of the new plan. So I like what it's become, but I wish it had been done in a way that kept some of what was already there.

About 256 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

• redevelop — to change an area by building new things
• lively — full of activity and energy
• mixed feelings — both positive and negative feelings
• gentrification — when an area becomes richer and poorer residents are pushed out
• the character of a place — the special qualities that make it different
• hard to recognise — changed so much it is difficult to identify

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.

What are the main causes of change in cities?

Population growth is the main one — more people need more housing and transport. Economic changes matter too: when industries close, old areas are left empty and later redeveloped. And increasingly, tourism and investment from outside change what city centres look like.

Should local people have a say in development projects?

Definitely. Local people know how an area actually works — where children play, which shops matter, where traffic is a problem. Projects that ignore residents often look good on paper but fail in practice. Consultation should be genuine, though, not just a formality after decisions are made.

Is it better to live in the city centre or the suburbs?

It depends on your stage of life. The centre suits young people who want to be near work and nightlife and don't need much space. Families often prefer suburbs, with more room and quieter streets. The ideal would be suburbs with good public transport, so they don't depend entirely on cars.

How can cities grow without losing their character?

By protecting the things that make each area distinct — historic buildings, local markets, small businesses — while building new housing in a way that fits in. Cities that let developers build anything anywhere tend to end up looking the same as everywhere else.

More cue cards about places

• Describe a place where you like to relax
• Describe a city you would like to visit
• Describe a natural place you have visited
• Describe a building you find interesting
• Describe a café or restaurant you often go to
• Describe a crowded place you have been to

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