Describe a quiet place you like to go to
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 quiet place you like to go to.
You should say:
- where this place is
- how often you go there
- what you do there
- and explain why you like it
You will have one minute to prepare and should then speak for one to two minutes.
Band-8 model answer
The quiet place I'd like to talk about is a small public library not far from where I live. It's tucked away on a side street, and I don't think many people even know it exists, which is exactly what makes it work. From the outside it looks pretty ordinary, but inside it has these huge arched windows, wooden desks that have obviously been there for decades, and shelves that seem to muffle every sound. I try to go once or twice a week, usually on Saturday mornings before the rest of the world seems to wake up. What I do there varies — sometimes I bring a book, other times I go to work on something that requires proper concentration, like writing or planning. Occasionally I don't even open my laptop; I just sit near a window and let my mind wander for an hour or so. The main reason I love it is that it feels like a genuine break from the constant noise of everyday life. My phone doesn't ping every thirty seconds, nobody's trying to sell me anything, and the only sound is pages turning. In a way it's the one place where I can hear myself think, and I always leave feeling a lot lighter than when I arrived.
Why this answer scores band 8
- ✓Sensory detail without overwriting ('shelves that seem to muffle every sound')
- ✓Contrasts external ordinariness with internal specialness — a natural narrative technique
- ✓Idiomatic closing: 'hear myself think', 'a lot lighter than when I arrived'
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
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Describe a quiet place you like to go to — FAQ
How do you answer the 'Describe a quiet place you like to go to' IELTS cue card?
Spend your one minute of preparation noting a few keywords for each prompt (where this place is; how often you go there; what you do there; and explain why you like it), 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 quiet place you like to go to'?
Part 3 broadens the topic into a discussion. For this cue card, expect questions such as: Why do people need quiet time in their daily lives? Are cities becoming noisier? What can be done about it? Do you think it's harder to find quiet places now than in the past?