Describe a memorable journey you have made

The cue card

Describe a memorable journey you have made. You should say:

• where you went
• how you travelled
• who you were with
• and explain why it was memorable

You have 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1 to 2 minutes.

🎙 Practise this card with the examiner

Notes you could make in 1 minute

Write key words only, one line per bullet point:

• train, Sydney to Melbourne
• overnight
• my brother
• first trip together in years

Band 7+ sample answer

I'd like to describe a train journey I took from Sydney to Melbourne about two years ago. I went with my older brother, who had just finished his degree, and we decided to take the overnight train instead of flying, partly to save money and partly because we wanted an adventure.

We left Sydney in the evening and arrived in Melbourne early the next morning. We didn't have a sleeper cabin, just reclining seats, so honestly I didn't sleep very well. But I remember waking up at sunrise and seeing the countryside outside the window, with mist over the fields and kangaroos near the tracks, which was amazing.

The reason it was so memorable is that my brother and I talked for hours, about our childhood, our plans and our family, which we hadn't done for years because we're always so busy. A few months later he moved overseas for work, so looking back, that journey was the last long time we spent together. That's why it still means a lot to me.

🔊 Listen to the sample answer

About 173 words, or roughly 2 minutes at a natural speaking pace.

Useful vocabulary for this topic

• a once-in-a-lifetime trip
• the scenery flashed past
• to catch up properly
• an unforgettable experience
• to strike up a conversation
• it brought us closer

Why this answer works: it covers every bullet point, tells a short story with specific details (names, places, numbers), uses a range of tenses, and finishes with the "explain" point, which is where you show your best vocabulary.

Follow-up and Part 3 questions

Examiner's follow-up (Part 2): Would you like to make the same journey again?

Part 3 discussion questions:

• What are the most popular ways to travel in your country?
• Is it better to travel by car or by public transport?
• How might travel change in the future?
• Why do some people dislike travelling?

Answer Part 3 questions in 3–4 sentences: your view, a reason, an example, and the other side.

More cue cards

• Describe a book that you enjoyed reading
• Describe a skill you learned that is useful to you
• All 30 IELTS cue cards