Describe a Long Car Journey You Went On: IELTS test Cue Card

Bhargavee Sisodia

15 Jul 2024

The speaking test of the IELTS exam, which evaluates your capacity for spontaneity, self-expression, and communication, is one of the trickiest sections. The IELTS speaking test issues here are not with your vocabulary or English language proficiency, but rather with your ability to quickly come up with a response to the IELTS speaking questions.

The IELTS speaking test consists of three portions. The first requires you to introduce yourself and briefly outline your background. The most crucial portion of the IELTS speaking exam is the cue card round, in which you must present a two-minute monologue on a subject the examiner has chosen at random.

It is your responsibility to prepare for this portion of the IELTS speaking test by practicing as many IELTS speaking topics as you can throughout your IELTS preparation. The "follow-up questions" phase is the final portion of the speaking test, during which the examiner will ask you questions based on the details you gave in your response.

You will gain a better understanding of the format of the IELTS speaking test follow-up questions the more you practice answering sample test questions. You should be able to predict the kinds of follow-up questions that will be asked for each of the IELTS speaking questions by the time you finish your IELTS exam preparation.

Overall, taking the IELTS practice test and reviewing enough IELTS exam sample papers are indispensable. This is going to be your key to getting an incredible score on the IELTS exam. You can refer to our website for the IELTS sample test questions. In this particular blog, you will find us discussing the topic “Describe a Long Car Journey You Went On.”

IELTS sample test topic: Describe a Long Car Journey You Went On

Let's now understand how to tackle this topic. You must first comprehend the question's significance, and thus, if you're unsure, go back and review the topic to make sure you grasp it. The next stage is to consider a car journey you took that was considerably long. Once you figure out which journey you want to talk about, mentally break down the points you want to cover. Once you've decided which point you want to go into more detail on, break up your response into manageable chunks and write it down on the paper you'll be given for the speaking exam. 

You can start with the place where you were going when the journey happened and who were your companions. You can then move on to describing the journey and what you felt about it. You can talk both about the negatives and positives, on whether you liked it or not. You might also make a list of the points in each section. To help you better comprehend the flow, let's look at a few sample responses to the question, “Describe a Long Car Journey You Went On.”

IELTS practice test sample answer 1: Describe a Long Car Journey You Went On

Introduction:

One of the enjoyable car journeys I went on was from Mumbai to Goa.

When did you take the journey and with whom?

Me and my cousins decided to take a trip to Goa and thus, we all met at my uncle's house in Mumbai to start our ride. Two of my elder cousin's brothers took turns driving the car and we were five people in total. This was last Christmas and we had the best time of our lives.

Describe the journey:

We started our journey early in the morning before sunrise at about 4:30 and it took us almost 15 hours to reach Goa. We took a little more time than usual because we had taken a couple of breaks for breakfast and lunch. We took the highway and avoided the coastal road since it took us a shorter time. We took our breaks in Pune and Kolhapur and on the way saw the beautiful views of Nipani Ajar and Amboli Ajar roads. Although the entire stretch was not a wide four-lane highway, but it was scenic and full of greenery. We took a couple of shorter breaks as well to stop by and click some pictures.

Your feelings about the journey:

It was my first ever long car journey and it absolutely felt surreal. My father has always told me that car journeys are the best and that we should take a long one at least once in life to experience the feel of it, and that day I realized why he said that. Also, I feel it was not just about the view, but also about the company. My cousins and I are very close and almost like best buddies, and thus, having to spend the journey with them made it even more special.

Conclusion:

Since then, we have decided to plan more road journeys for any getaway and I am eagerly waiting to make the next plan soon.

IELTS practice test sample answer 2: Describe a Long Car Journey You Went On

Introduction:

Driving from Shimla to Manali is one of my fondest memories and that car journey is something I will remember throughout my life.

When did you take the journey and with whom?

We visited Himachal Pradesh in December 2015. Our entire family was together and we were 10 people. We took two cars, 6 seaters each, and traveled on the road through the hilly terrains.

Describe the journey:

It took us 8-9 hours to reach Manali and we had started in the morning after our breakfast. By the time we reached Manali, the sun was already down. The journey was beautiful as we moved from one mountain to the other. We could see the valley of the river Beas and the various hydroelectric plants and crossed some beautiful mountain bridges. The best part about the journey was stopping at small shops and having noodles. It was freezing cold, and the hot noodles with tea were a cherry on the cake.

Your feelings about the journey:

Although we did face some challenges during our journey as a couple of my family members have motion sickness and they felt uncomfortable, we took breaks in between so that they can rest and take in some air. Leaving aside this challenge, the entire journey was totally worth the experience. Mountains are my favorite and the experience of having to watch the majestic snow-clad hills with their peaks sparkling in the sunshine is a picture to behold. Also, it was a family trip after a long time, and thus, the time spent with them during the journey, with our favorite music playing in the car, and us munching on snacks while singing, was a wonderful moment.

Conclusion:

The journey was totally worth it and I am glad we decided to do it by car instead of taking a public bus. 

IELTS test next step: Follow up questions

A part of the follow-up questions comes after the IELTS speaking topics section. Here, in response to your monologue from the IELTS speaking test, the examiner will ask you a few follow-up questions to gauge your conversational skills. To grasp the variations of the often asked IELTS speaking questions and their follow-up questions in the IELTS speaking follow-up questions section, you must review the IELTS speaking questions numerous times. In this section, you can go through the follow-up questions for the topic "Describe a Long Car Journey You Went On" based on the above two sample answers.

IELTS exam preparation: Follow-up questions

Question 1: Do you like to drive if you are going on a long car journey?

Answer: Yes absolutely. However, I do not drive for more than 4-5 hours at a stretch, and usually any companion takes turns to drive. Or, I take a break in between and rest for a while. While I enjoy driving and it relaxes me a lot, I think safety should be our priority. Driving can make us fatigued and it is very important to keep our reflexes at an all-time high and stay alert. So whenever I am sleepy or tired during a long drive, I take a rest or ask my fellow traveler to take the wheels.

Question 2: What is the one thing that is absolutely necessary for you during a long car journey?

Answer: Music. Listening to music is anyway a favorite pastime and any car ride be it long or short, I cannot do without music. I have a playlist for my travel times, especially during long car journeys, and when I am on vacation, I like to listen to music and enjoy the view. For me, everything about the journey is incomplete without good songs playing in the car.

Question 3: What is the next place you want to travel on-road which might take a longer time?

Answer: I want to take a road trip by car from Kolkata to Darjeeling. It will almost take 15-16 hours if I drive at a stretch; however, I plan on taking breaks in between for the much-needed rest. I have heard from a lot of friends that the view is amazing and the roads are in very good condition. Also, the Terai Duars plain comes in the way and the roads in the middle of the Duars Forest are stunning. It is a treat to the eyes to drive through the greenery and I am looking forward to it.

Conclusion

Our skilled teachers at D-VIVID can provide you with the answers to frequently asked IELTS speaking questions, including IELTS sample test questions and answers. With our collection of IELTS exam sample papers and customized IELTS practice test questions, you can improve your overall command of the English language, have a better understanding of the format of the major sections of the IELTS exam, and plan your approach based on the marking schemes. During the entirety of your IELTS preparation, our leading experts will assist you and address any queries you may have regarding the test. D-VIVID is unquestionably the greatest option for you to prepare for the IELTS test. So, seize the opportunity to succeed immediately and get in touch with us to ace the IELTS test.