Part 2 cue card
Describe a place you visited that had a strong impact on you.
You should say:
- Where it is
- When you went there
- What you did there
- And explain why it had such an impact on you
Source practice test: IELTS Speaking Test 1
Band 9 model answer
Expert-level long turn
I would like to describe my visit to Munnar, a hill station in the state of Kerala in southern India. It is famous for its rolling tea plantations and cool climate, which is quite a contrast to the heat of most Indian cities.
I went there about a year ago with my family during a long weekend, mainly to escape the city for a few days. We stayed in a small homestay run by a local family, which made the whole trip feel much more personal than a hotel would have.
While we were there, we walked through the tea estates early in the morning when the mist was still hanging over the hills, visited a small tea factory to see how the leaves are processed, and simply spent a lot of time doing nothing, which was exactly what I needed.
The reason it had such a strong impact on me is that it completely reset my mindset. I had been feeling burnt out from work, and being surrounded by that much greenery and silence made me realise how rarely I switch off. Ever since that trip, I have made a conscious effort to spend more time outdoors, so in a way a three-day holiday changed a long-term habit.
Why this scores Band 9
- Fluency and Coherence: a smooth, well-sequenced narrative that addresses every bullet and finishes with a clear, reflective explanation of the impact.
- Lexical Resource: vivid, natural collocations ('rolling tea plantations', 'mist hanging over the hills', 'burnt out', 'switch off') used appropriately.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: controlled use of past tenses, past perfect ('I had been feeling') and relative clauses, with no errors that distract the listener.
- Pronunciation is judged live; a high-scoring speaker would also pace the story and stress key words, which text cannot show.
Band 6 sample answer
Competent but limited response
I want to describe a place called Munnar. It is a hill station in Kerala, in the south of India. It is famous for tea gardens and the weather is very cool there.
I went there last year with my family for three days. We wanted a small holiday because the city was very hot and we were tired.
There we did many things. In the morning we walked in the tea gardens and the view was very beautiful. We also visited a tea factory and saw how they make tea. And we relaxed a lot and took many photos.
This place had a big impact on me because it was very peaceful and green. I was very stressed before because of my work, but after this trip I felt fresh and happy. Now I try to go to nature more often because of this experience.
Why this sits around Band 6
- Fluency and Coherence: the story is easy to follow and covers all the bullets, but the linking is basic ('There', 'also', 'because') and a few sentences are short and listy.
- Lexical Resource: adequate descriptive language ('very beautiful', 'peaceful and green') but repetitive intensifiers ('very') and little precise vocabulary.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: simple past tense is handled correctly, yet there is little complexity and almost no variety in sentence structure.
- The answer stays relevant throughout, which supports a solid Band 6, but the limited range holds it below Band 7.
Part 3 discussion questions
Why do people enjoy visiting new places?
I think it comes down to a basic human curiosity. Visiting somewhere unfamiliar breaks our routine and exposes us to different food, customs and scenery, which can be genuinely refreshing. For many people it is also a chance to step outside their comfort zone and discover that they are more adaptable than they thought.
Do you think tourism can ever have a negative effect on a place?
Definitely. When a destination becomes too popular, you often see overcrowding, rising prices for locals and environmental damage to fragile sites. Venice is the classic example. That said, well-managed tourism can fund conservation and create jobs, so the key is regulation rather than banning visitors altogether.
Should young people be encouraged to travel more?
I would say yes, within reason. Travelling young builds independence and broadens your perspective in a way that classrooms cannot. The caveat is cost and safety, so I think structured options like student exchanges are ideal because they offer the benefits of travel with a degree of support.
Useful vocabulary for this topic
- a hill station:
- a cool town in the hills, popular for holidays in South Asia
- to switch off:
- to stop thinking about work and relax
- to be burnt out:
- exhausted from too much work or stress
- off the beaten track:
- away from the usual tourist routes
Can I talk about a place I visited a long time ago?
Yes. The examiner is assessing your English, not checking facts, so any place works as long as you can describe it in detail and explain the impact. Choose somewhere you genuinely remember well, because specific details make the long turn easier to sustain for two minutes.