Describe a Place You Have Visited — Cue Card

Updated 2 July 2026 · 2 min read · ieltspractice.app

Place cue cards appear in many forms: a place you visited, a city you would like to see, a quiet place, a noisy place. They are all answered the same way, so learning one well prepares you for all of them. The trick is to make the examiner see the place through your description. Here is a full Band 9 sample to show you how.

The cue card

Describe a place you have visited that you found memorable. You should say: where it is, when you went there, what you did there, and explain why it was memorable.

During your minute of preparation, picture the place clearly. If you can see it in your mind, the words come far more easily.

A Band 9 sample answer

I would like to describe a small fishing town called Mirissa, on the south coast of Sri Lanka, which I visited about two years ago with a couple of close friends.

We had gone there mainly to see the whales, so we set off before dawn on a tiny boat, and I still remember how cold and quiet it was until suddenly a blue whale surfaced just metres away. Later we spent the afternoon doing very little, just eating grilled fish and watching the fishermen mend their nets.

What made it so memorable was the contrast between that thrilling morning and the slow, easy afternoon. It reminded me that a good trip is not about doing as much as possible, but about a few moments you never forget. I would go back tomorrow if I could.

Why this answer works

It uses the senses — the cold, the quiet, the whale surfacing — so the listener can almost picture it. Sensory detail is the fastest way to make a place description come alive.

It also has a clear reason at the end, tied to a small reflection. That reflection shows range and keeps the answer from being just a list of activities.

Part 3 follow-up questions

Typical Part 3 questions include: Why do people like to travel? Has tourism changed your country? Do you prefer travelling alone or with others?

These are general discussion questions, so widen your answers beyond your own trip and give balanced views with reasons.

Useful language for describing places

Location: nestled on the coast, in the heart of the city, a stone's throw from.

Atmosphere: bustling, tranquil, off the beaten track, breathtaking. A couple of these, used naturally, do more for your score than a long memorised list.

Quick check

Test yourself — tap an answer to see if you are right.

1. What brings a place description to life?

2. Part 3 questions about travel expect you to:

3. A smart preparation strategy for place cue cards is to:

Frequently asked questions

Can I describe a place from a film or a photo?

The task asks for a place you have visited, so choose somewhere you have actually been. You can invent small details, but the place itself should be real to you so it is easy to describe.

What if my English for describing scenery is weak?

Keep it simple and use your senses: what you saw, heard and felt. Plain, clear description scores better than rare words used incorrectly.

Should I memorise one place for every place question?

Having one flexible place ready is smart, because most place cue cards can be answered with the same location. Just adapt it to the exact question you are asked.

How do I fill two minutes about one place?

Describe a specific moment there, not just general facts. A single vivid memory gives you plenty to say naturally.