Describe a place you've travelled to that you'd recommend to others
IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card with a full sample answer, a Band 9 model of the two-minute long turn.
The cue card
Describe a place you've travelled to that you'd recommend to others
You should say:
- what place it was
- why you went there
- what you did there
- how you felt about it
Sample answer
A place I would wholeheartedly recommend to others is the coastal town of Batumi, in neighbouring Georgia, which I visited during a summer holiday a couple of years ago.
I decided to go there mainly because I'd heard so many glowing reviews from friends who had been. They described it as a vibrant seaside resort with a unique blend of old and new, and since it was only a short trip from my country, it seemed like the perfect destination for a relaxing yet exciting getaway. I was also keen to experience a different culture without having to travel too far.
During my stay, which lasted about five days, I packed in a wide range of activities. I spent lazy afternoons strolling along the beautiful pebble beach and swimming in the Black Sea, which was wonderfully refreshing. In the evenings, I explored the charming old town with its cobbled streets and elegant architecture, and I wandered along the lively seaside boulevard, which was full of restaurants, cafes and street performers. I also sampled the delicious local cuisine, particularly the famous Georgian cheese bread, which was absolutely mouth-watering.
As for how I felt about the trip, I was genuinely delighted with every moment of it. The town had such a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and I was struck by how the modern skyscrapers sat so harmoniously alongside the historic buildings. The relaxed pace of life, the stunning sea views and the friendliness of the locals made it feel like a real home away from home.
The reason I'd strongly recommend Batumi to others is that it truly offers something for everyone — beautiful beaches, rich history, delicious food and a buzzing nightlife, all in one place. Whether someone is looking to unwind or to explore, they would not be disappointed. I left with wonderful memories and a firm intention to return one day, and I'm sure anyone who visits would feel exactly the same.
322 words — roughly 2–3 minutes at a natural speaking pace.
Reading a model answer is not the same as saying one. The sample above shows what a strong Part 2 answer sounds like. What it cannot tell you is how yours sounds — whether you hesitate, repeat the question back, or run out of things to say at forty seconds.
You can record an answer to this exact question and get it marked on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and pronunciation — the same four criteria the examiner uses.
Common questions
How long should I speak for in Part 2?
Between one and two minutes. The examiner stops you at two, so aim to still be talking at the ninety-second mark rather than finishing early — running out at forty seconds is the most common problem in this part.
What do I do with the one minute of preparation time?
You get one minute and a pencil and paper. Most candidates waste it writing full sentences they then read aloud, which sounds flat. Note a few keywords against each bullet instead, so you have four things to say and can speak naturally from them.
Do I have to cover all four bullet points?
They are prompts, not a checklist, and you are not penalised for skipping one. In practice they are the easiest way to fill two minutes, so covering them is usually the simplest way to keep going.
Does it matter if the story is not true?
No. You are assessed on your English, not on whether the events happened. Inventing detail is fine and often easier than recalling a real memory under pressure.
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.