IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a place with a lot of trees: 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.
  • 253 words
  • A place
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a place with a lot of trees

You should say:

  • →Where this place is
  • →What kind of trees it has
  • →How you feel when you go there
  • →And explain why you like visiting this place

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

    Note down three sensory details like smell, sound, or light to make the description vivid.

  2. 2

    Use the bullet points as a chronological guide to ensure your story flows logically.

  3. 3

    Briefly mention a specific time or season to ground your description in a real experience.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8253 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

A place that immediately springs to mind is the ancient woodland bordering the village of Oakhaven, located about an hour’s drive from the city centre. It is a sprawling, semi-wild forest that has remained largely untouched for centuries. The area is dominated by majestic, towering oak trees, some of which are hundreds of years old, their gnarled branches draped in thick, velvety moss. Interspersed among these giants are slender silver birches and a dense undergrowth of ferns that turn a vibrant, lush green during the spring months. Whenever I venture into these woods, I am instantly struck by a profound sense of tranquillity. The air feels incredibly crisp and smells faintly of damp earth and pine needles, which is a welcome departure from the smog and noise of my urban neighbourhood. There is a hushed quality to the atmosphere, broken only by the rhythmic tapping of woodpeckers or the rustling of leaves underfoot. I make it a point to visit this place at least once a month because it serves as my personal sanctuary. Life in the city is often relentless, and this woodland offers me a rare opportunity to disconnect from digital distractions and recalibrate my thoughts. Walking along the winding dirt trails, I find that my anxiety levels plummet, and I gain a much-needed perspective on my daily struggles. I am genuinely drawn to this place because it allows me to reconnect with nature, providing a meditative environment where I can simply exist without the pressure to be productive or reachable.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • sprawling

    spreading out over a large area in untidily

  • gnarled

    rough and twisted, especially with age

  • interspersed

    scattered among or between other things

  • tranquillity

    a state of being calm and peaceful

  • relentless

    constant, intense, and showing no signs of stopping

  • recalibrate

    to adjust or change one's thoughts or attitudes

  • plummet

    to fall straight down at high speed

  • sanctuary

    a place of refuge or safety and calm

5 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1What role does society play in shaping our attitudes towards this?
  2. 2Has the way people view this changed over the years?
  3. 3How do you think it will develop in the future?
  4. 4What are the benefits and drawbacks?
  5. 5Do you think the government should be involved in regulating this area?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a place with a lot of trees"?+

Note down three sensory details like smell, sound, or light to make the description vivid.

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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