IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a modern train station you often use: IELTS cue card with sample answer

An IELTS cue card for Speaking Part 2 with a Band 8 sample answer, the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it and the Part 3 follow-up questions the examiner can ask next.
  • 257 words
  • A place
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a modern train station you often use

You should say:

  • →where this station is located
  • →what it looks like and what facilities it has
  • →how often you use it and where you travel to
  • →and explain why you find this station convenient or pleasant to use

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

A place

How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan

  1. 1

    Jot down the station name/city and its main architectural feature (e.g. glass roof).

  2. 2

    Note 2-3 specific amenities like digital screens, cafes, and contactless gates.

  3. 3

    List your typical travel route and one reason it feels hassle-free.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8257 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I'd like to talk about the central railway terminus in my home city, which underwent a massive redevelopment about three years ago. It sits right on the edge of the downtown commercial district, so it's incredibly easy to reach whether you're walking from the office towers or catching a local tram.

Visually, it's really striking. The architects designed a sweeping, curved glass roof that lets in loads of natural daylight, so the main concourse never feels dingy or cramped like older stations often do. In terms of amenities, it's practically like a mini shopping centre. There are several artisan bakeries, a couple of quiet coffee kiosks where you can plug in a laptop, and clear digital departure boards mounted at almost every corner. The ticket barriers are fully contactless, which keeps foot traffic moving smoothly even during the morning rush.

I probably pass through there two or three times a week, mostly to commute to a neighbouring university town for lectures, though I also take longer intercity trips from there when I visit my family over the holidays.

What I appreciate most about this station is just how stress-free it makes travelling. In the past, catching a train meant standing in a massive queue for a paper ticket and waiting on a draughty platform. Nowadays, you can grab a warm drink, sit in a bright waiting lounge with reliable public Wi-Fi, and step onto the platform just a couple of minutes before departure. It has turned what used to be a tedious chore into something genuinely relaxing.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • terminus

    the final stop or main station at the end of a line

  • redevelopment

    the process of rebuilding or modernising an area or building

  • concourse

    a large open area inside a station or airport for passengers

  • dingy

    dark, dull, and rather dirty or run-down

  • foot traffic

    the movement of people walking through a particular place

  • draughty

    letting in uncomfortable currents of cold air

  • tedious chore

    a boring, repetitive task that requires unwelcome effort

  • contactless

    working via digital sensor without needing physical contact

5 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1Why do governments invest so heavily in high-speed rail networks?
  2. 2How does the quality of public transport affect where people choose to live?
  3. 3What problems can occur when modernising old transport hubs in historic cities?
  4. 4Do you think private cars will eventually become obsolete in major cities?
  5. 5What are the benefits of integrating retail spaces into transport stations?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. Read Band 8 answers to these Part 3 questions: public transport infrastructure and urban living.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a modern train station you often use"?+

Jot down the station name/city and its main architectural feature (e.g. glass roof).

How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+

You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

How is the cue card scored?+

Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.

Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

Keep practising

More cue cards: a place

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