Describe a beautiful city: IELTS Exam Cue Card

Bhargavee Sisodia

03 Jul 2024

There are several reasons why the IELTS speaking exam may seem intimidating. It is quite common to experience speaking anxiety and nervousness throughout the IELTS speaking test. Making the most out of your IELTS preparation is the best way to overcome this. Hard work and practice are essential, and the more you practice responding to the different IELTS speaking topics, the more comfortable and confident you will feel. 

Your perspective on the day of the IELTS test will change as a result, and you'll perform at your highest level in the speaking exam. The only way to become fast enough to mentally jot down the answer in less than a minute is to practice enough IELTS speaking questions and take the IELTS exam sample test. 

The next crucial task in the speaking test is to finish the response in two minutes. You are also asked not to complete the response in below 1 minute. This is very difficult because you have to know how much to say in order to finish the answer on time and without going into too much detail.

Let's look at an IELTS practice test question as an example. "Describe a beautiful city." Using IELTS sample test answers as well as anticipated follow-up questions, you can gradually learn how to respond to the questions. This will give you a general concept of what to anticipate from the speaking test section.

You can improve your vocabulary and lessen your speaking anxiety by practicing the IELTS speaking questions while you prepare for the exam. It is crucial to comprehend the fundamentals of the IELTS speaking test style during your IELTS exam preparation as it will have a direct impact on your IELTS test scores.

IELTS sample test topic: Describe a beautiful city

Because you may immediately think of any city you have visited or speak about your hometown, this question on the IELTS speaking test is relatively easier to approach. Since you are already familiar with the city, you do not need to think about the points. All you need to do is mentally arrange the points you already know in the correct order.

• Start by introducing the city.
• Then, you can move ahead and talk about the location of the city.
• If it is your hometown, mention that, or if you have visited or heard about that city, mention when was that time.
• Mention some important places in the city.
• Talk through what the city is famous for.
• Talk about what you like the most about the city.
• Conclude your answer.

In order to help the examiner visualize what you have in mind, try to be as detailed and vivid as possible when responding to the topic during the speaking test. This will demonstrate your effective communication abilities. In addition, practice will help you become fluent and help you achieve the score you want on the IELTS exam. Understanding how to properly structure your response, prioritize flow, and concisely convey your ideas requires a great deal of practice and IELTS preparation.

IELTS speaking test sample answer 1: Describe a beautiful city

Introduction of the city:

One of the cities that is very close to my heart and I find very beautiful is Mumbai.

Location of the city:

It is located on the Western coast of India, with the Western Ghats on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other side.

How do you know the city:

My paternal aunt and her family are settled in Mumbai and thus, from my childhood days, we made it a point to visit Mumbai once a year.

Some important places in the city:

I have vivid memories of visiting famous places like the Gateway of India, Haji Ali Dargah, Shree Siddhivinayak, and Marine Drive.

What the city is famous for:

Mumbai represents the fast-paced city life no other city in India can depict. The never-ending street markets, mesmerizing beaches, and sky-scrapers never fail to amaze me. Mumbai is also famous for its food like Vada Pav and Pav Bhaji and I always ensure to dig my fingers in and enjoy the delicacy.

What do you like the most about the city:

Apart from the people in the city who are always calm and composed, there are a few places that I really love. One such place is Marine Drive. I can never have enough of sitting in Marine Drive and looking at the sea to meet the distant horizon. I enjoy a cup of tea and spend hours and if it rains, then it is always a plus. Another place that is very special for me is the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. I often visit the Bandra Band Stand and watch the sea link in all its glory.

Conclusion:

Mumbai is really the city of dreams. Every corner of the city speaks about chasing our wishes and fulfilling our dreams.

IELTS speaking test sample answer 1: Describe a beautiful city

Introduction of the city:

Varanasi is one of the most beautiful cities in my opinion and if given an opportunity I would love to visit there again and again.

Location of the city:

Varanasi is located in Uttar Pradesh on the bank of the river Ganga.

How do you know the city:

This year in February, we had a family trip to Varanasi and this was the first time I had the opportunity to be there. It will always be one of my most memorable trips.

Some important places in the city:

We visited all the well-known places like the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Assi Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, and Sarnath, and the vibe of the city is so spiritual that it fills our hearts with positivity.

What the city is famous for:

Varanasi is famous for the Vishwanath Temple and the beautiful Ganga Aarti. We did the puja and attended the aarti. Also, the city is known for its handwork and the beautiful Benarasi Sarees are world-famous.

What do you like the most about the city:

The one thing that I loved the most about the city was watching the Ganga Aarti from the boats in the Ganges. In the evening right after sunset, we booked a boat and watched the beautiful Aarti. The pandits did the Aarti and the visual was a treat to watch. The mantra chanted echoes in the evening air and it gave me continuous goosebumps. After it was done, we went for a boat ride and the guide showed us the famous ghats like the Manikarnika, Dashashwamedh, Prayad, and Meer Ghat. Each Ghat had a different story to tell.

Conclusion:

The spirituality of the city left a mark in my heart that will be ever-lasting. I will for sure visit Varanasi again to fill my soul with the much-needed calm.

IELTS speaking test - Follow-up questions

IELTS speaking topics and questions do not conclude the IELTS test cue card section. The following section of the IELTS speaking test consists of follow-up questions. Based on your responses in the speaking subjects section, you will be asked a few follow-up questions in this portion. It is strongly advised that you get ready for the IELTS speaking test, commonly referred to as the segment with follow-up questions. 

Question 1: What do you prefer: a city life or a village life?

Answer: Since I was born and raised in a city, I prefer city life. However, the soothing vibe of a village is still something that cannot be compared with the hustle of the city. While yes, I would prefer settling in a city but whenever I am seeking a gateway, I plan a trip to a village. The greenery and the cast field, which are missing in the cities give me a sense of peace.

Question 2: What is the one thing about city life that you do not like?

Answer: The traffic. It is the first thing that comes to my mind and I absolutely hate that aspect of city life. It is a hassle to transport and we always need a considerable buffer time while judging the amount of time we will need to reach a certain place. Moreover, most of the time there is chaos and too much noise during the rush traffic hours.

Question 3: Any city that you plan to visit in the near future?

Answer: Kolkata is one city that I plan on visiting next month. My uncle has recently shifted there due to his work transfer. He has told me that the city is known for its mouth-watering food and the calm vibe. Also, I am eager to take a boat ride at Princep Ghat and visit the Victoria Memorial.

Question 4: Do you like cities with historical significance?

Answer: Absolutely, history is something that has always piqued my interest. Cities like Agra and Lucknow which have historical significance and stories to tell, are something that I always find interesting to visit. My latest visit was Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh which has a historical significance of 5000 years.

Question 5: What is one thing that you like about city life?

Answer: Accessibility is one thing that I like about city life. We have access to not only our necessities but also to the luxuries and every entertainment we need. There are many theatres, shopping complexes, and Amusement parks, along with the necessities of educational institutes, good housing, and medical facilities.

Conclusion

Making engaging and genuine anecdotes to support your points of view is the key to being successful in the IELTS speaking test. Remember that communicating is equally as important as having good language skills if you want to score well on the IELTS exam. You can practice speaking on the IELTS test by going through the IELTS exam sample papers on our website, looking over the answers, and learning new words. You should study for the IELTS exam with a dedicated partner if you want to improve your score. D-VIVID is your trusted partner for IELTS preparation thanks to our customized programs for each student and our extensive database of IELTS sample test questions and answers covering a variety of IELTS speaking topics. At every step of your IELTS preparation, you can also decide to get advice from our team of experienced teachers. Our specially designed IELTS sample test will help you with time management, speaking practice, and comprehending the importance of each section of the test. Come along and learn with us as we embark on your IELTS exam preparation journey together right now.