Describe a memorable journey you have taken
The full IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card, a band-8 model answer you can learn from, the Part 3 questions that follow, and examiner strategy. Free, no sign-up.
Describe a memorable journey you have taken.
You should say:
- where you went
- who you went with
- what happened during the journey
- and explain why it was memorable
You will have one minute to prepare and should then speak for one to two minutes.
Band-8 model answer
One journey that really stands out for me was an overnight train trip I took across the mountains with two of my closest friends a couple of years ago. We were travelling from the coast up to a hill station, and we'd deliberately chosen the slow train rather than flying, mainly to save money but also for the experience. What made it so memorable was that almost nothing went to plan. The train was delayed for hours, the carriage was freezing, and at one point we genuinely thought we'd missed our stop. But instead of ruining the trip, all of that somehow brought us closer together — we ended up staying awake most of the night, sharing snacks with strangers and watching the sun come up over the valleys, which was absolutely breathtaking. Looking back, it's a perfect example of how the difficult moments often become the best stories. I think it stuck with me because it taught me that the journey itself can matter far more than the destination, and the three of us still bring it up whenever we get together.
Why this answer scores band 8
- ✓Narrative past tenses sequenced smoothly, including past perfect ('we'd deliberately chosen')
- ✓A reflective conclusion that answers 'why it was memorable' with insight
- ✓Natural discourse markers: 'What made it so memorable was…', 'Looking back…'
Part 3 follow-up questions
After the cue card, the examiner discusses the topic in more depth. Practise these aloud too — Part 3 is where the highest bands are won or lost.
Examiner strategy for this cue card
Practise this answer out loud in a real Speaking test
Record a full IELTS Speaking test with Part 1, 2 and 3 and get instant AI feedback on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Describe a memorable journey you have taken — FAQ
How do you answer the 'Describe a memorable journey you have taken' IELTS cue card?
Spend your one minute of preparation noting a few keywords for each prompt (where you went; who you went with; what happened during the journey; and explain why it was memorable), then speak for the full two minutes. Cover each point briefly but give most of your time to the final 'explain why' prompt, where the marks are. A full band-8 model answer is shown on this page.
How long should the IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?
You should talk for up to two minutes without stopping. It is better to keep going and cover the topic in depth than to finish early — the examiner will stop you when the time is up.
What Part 3 questions follow 'Describe a memorable journey you have taken'?
Part 3 broadens the topic into a discussion. For this cue card, expect questions such as: How has the way people travel changed over the last few decades? Why do some people prefer road or rail travel to flying? Do you think people value the destination or the journey more?