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Part 2 cue card · Places · New for September–December 2026

Describe a city that you have been to and would like to visit again.

Describe a city that you have been to and would like to visit again.

You should say:

  • ·when you visited it
  • ·what you did there
  • ·what it was like

and explain why you would like to visit it again.

One minute to prepare, up to two minutes to talk. Then Part 3 asks the questions below.

Sample answers

Two answers to the same card

Same story, two levels. Both were written by Ashore, then checked against the public band descriptors in a separate pass. The bands are practice estimates, not official IELTS results.

A simpler answer

Checked at band 6.5 · 189 words

I'd like to talk about Chengdu, which I visited last October with two friends. We stayed there for four days during a short holiday. It was my first time in the city, and the weather was cool, so walking around was comfortable.

We visited a few popular places, including a large park and an old street. I tried some local food, especially hotpot, and we spent one afternoon in a tea house. We also walked around the city centre and took lots of photos. We didn't have a very busy plan, so we could stop whenever we saw something interesting.

Chengdu felt lively but also quite relaxed. The streets were busy, but people didn't seem to be in a hurry. There were many small restaurants and shops, and the food was very good. I liked that it was easy to find somewhere to sit and rest.

I'd like to go back because four days wasn't enough to see everything. I also want to try more local dishes and visit some places outside the centre. It was a nice trip, and I think another visit would be just as enjoyable.

  • Give a reason to return · “four days wasn't enough”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 7.5 · 253 words

Honestly, Chengdu is the city I'd most like to revisit. I went there last October with two friends and we stayed for four days, which was just long enough for a short break. It was my first visit, and the cool weather made it easy to walk around without feeling tired.

We kept our plans fairly simple. We visited a big park, where we sat for a while and watched local families exercising, and then wandered along an old street with traditional buildings and small food stalls. I tried hotpot for the first time; it was much spicier than I expected, but sharing it made the meal fun. One afternoon we went to a tea house, where we drank tea and played a simple board game. We also explored the city centre and took photos, but we left plenty of time to stop when something caught our eye.

What stood out was the balance. Chengdu felt lively, especially around the shops and restaurants, yet the pace was relaxed. People seemed happy to linger over a meal, and there were lots of comfortable places to sit down. The food was another highlight, since even ordinary meals tasted fresh and full of flavour.

I'd like to return because four days only gave us a quick impression. If I went back, I'd spend longer in the neighbourhoods and take a day trip outside the centre. Although I enjoyed the main sights, the slower everyday side of the city is what I'd most like to experience again.

  • Add a specific detail · “which was just long enough”
  • Make it concrete · “sharing it made the meal fun”
  • Contrast the atmosphere · “yet the pace was relaxed”
  • Use a natural conditional · “If I went back”
  • Add a concession · “Although I enjoyed the main sights”
Angles

2 ways to answer it

  1. 1Chengdu, where a short visit left you wanting more time for old streets and teahouses
  2. 2Qingdao, where seaside walks on a graduation trip made you want to return with your parents
Expressions

4 expressions that fit this card

only scratch the surface
see only a small part of something
take my time
do something without rushing
explore at my own pace
look around as slowly or quickly as I like
bring back good memories
remind someone of happy past experiences
Part 3

The questions that follow

After the long turn, Part 3 asks bigger questions on the same theme. Each one comes with two points you can build an answer from.

  1. 1

    What's the difference between the city and the countryside?

    • ·Cities concentrate services and jobs, while rural areas often offer more space.
    • ·Transport, income and community relationships matter beyond how busy a place feels.
  2. 2

    Some people say large cities are suitable for old people. What do you think?

    • ·Healthcare and public transport can make large cities convenient for older residents.
    • ·Costs and crowding can be difficult, so neighbourhood design is important.
  3. 3

    Do you think it is possible that all of the population move to cities?

    • ·Agriculture, resources and personal preferences will keep some people outside cities.
    • ·Cities cannot expand without limits and need services to keep pace.
  4. 4

    Do you think people in the countryside are friendlier than people in the city?

    • ·Smaller communities often have more familiar relationships.
    • ·A hurried city lifestyle does not necessarily mean people are less friendly.
Stories

One story, many cards

This card fits this story. Prepare the story once and you can bend it to every card listed with it on the season page.

  • A trip that went wrong

    A commute or short trip: the early start, the phone that died, the message nobody answered, what you did instead.

Say it out loud and get a band score