The cue card
Describe a place you would like to visit in the future. You should say:
- where it is
- how you know about it
- what you would do there
- and explain why you want to go there
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:
- Tasmania, Cradle Mountain
- friend's photos
- hike, wildlife, cabin
- nature, quiet
Band 7+ sample answer
The place I'd really love to visit is Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, in the south of Australia. I've lived in Sydney for a couple of years now, but I still haven't made it down there, which is a bit embarrassing.
I first heard about it from a friend at work who went last summer. She showed me her photos, and honestly, I couldn't believe how beautiful it was: a huge, jagged mountain reflected in a perfectly still lake, with mist hanging over the trees. It looked almost unreal.
If I went, I'd definitely do the walk around Dove Lake, which I think takes two or three hours, and I'd love to see some of the local wildlife, especially wombats, because apparently they just wander around near the paths. I'd probably stay in one of those small wooden cabins with a fireplace and spend the evenings reading and doing absolutely nothing.
The main reason I want to go is that my life is quite hectic at the moment. I'm working full time and studying, so I rarely get a chance to switch off. I think a few days somewhere completely quiet, with no traffic and hardly any phone signal, would do me a world of good. It's been on my bucket list for a while, so I'm hoping to go next autumn, when it's a bit cooler and less crowded.
About 229 words, or roughly 2 minutes at a natural speaking pace.
Useful vocabulary for this topic
- breathtaking scenery
- off the beaten track
- a bucket-list destination
- to unwind
- unspoilt wilderness
- to get away from it all
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): Do you think you will visit it soon?
Part 3 discussion questions:
- Why do people enjoy travelling to other countries?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism for local people?
- How has travel changed in the last twenty years?
- Should famous places limit the number of visitors?
Answer Part 3 questions in 3–4 sentences: your view, a reason, an example, and the other side.
More cue cards
- Describe a person who has inspired you
- Describe a book that you enjoyed reading
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Frequently asked questions
How long should my answer to 'Describe a place you would like to visit in the future' be?
Speak for up to 2 minutes; the examiner will stop you. That's roughly 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The sample answer on this page is about 229 words.
Can I memorise this sample answer?
No. Examiners are trained to recognise memorised answers, and it can lower your score. Use the sample to see the structure and borrow a few phrases, then talk about your own experience.