Ashore for webTry a mock test
Part 2 cue card · Places · Retained in September–December 2026

Describe a place you would like to visit in your free time.

Describe a place you would like to visit in your free time.

You should say:

  • ·where it is
  • ·what you will do there
  • ·how long you will stay there

and explain why you would like to visit it.

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 · 186 words

I'd like to visit the botanical garden on the edge of my city. It's not very far from where I live, and I can get there by bus in about forty minutes. I haven't been there for a few years, so it would be nice to go again when I have a free weekend.

When I get there, I'll walk around the different gardens and look at the flowers and trees. There is also a greenhouse, and I want to see the plants inside because I don't know much about them. After walking, I can sit beside the pond and have a drink. I probably won't plan too many activities, because I just want to take it easy.

I think I will stay for about four or five hours, so I can take my time and not feel rushed. If the weather is good, I might have lunch there as well. I'd like to visit because my normal week is quite busy, and the garden seems like a calm place. It would help me relax, and I could enjoy being outdoors without travelling a long way.

  • Place and transport · “I can get there by bus”
  • Give a simple reason · “because I just want to take it easy”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 7.5 · 261 words

Honestly, I'd like to spend a free day at the botanical garden on the outskirts of my city. It's about forty minutes away by bus, so I wouldn't need to make a big trip of it. I went there a few years ago with a friend, but I only remember the wide paths and the pond, which is why I'm curious to see it again at a slower pace.

Once I'm there, I'd wander through the different sections and take a closer look at the flowers and trees. The greenhouse is probably the part I'm most interested in, since it has plants that don't grow naturally in our local climate. I don't know a lot about gardening, but I enjoy noticing the shapes and colours. After a bit of walking, I'd find a bench beside the pond, have a drink, and just watch people passing by. I wouldn't try to fit in too many activities; the point would be to have an unhurried afternoon.

I'd stay for around four or five hours, which should be long enough to see the main areas without feeling worn out. If the weather turned bad, I could spend more time in the greenhouse instead, so the visit would still be worthwhile.

The main reason I'd choose this place is that my working week can feel quite full-on, and I need somewhere peaceful to switch off. Even though it's close to home, it feels separate from my usual routine. I'd come back feeling rested, and I could enjoy being outdoors without spending the whole day travelling.

  • Specific location · “on the outskirts of my city”
  • Relative clause · “which is why I'm curious”
  • Conditional sentence · “If the weather turned bad”
  • Precise description · “somewhere peaceful to switch off”
Angles

2 ways to answer it

  1. 1A wetland park outside town, with a whole day for boardwalks and birdwatching
  2. 2A seaside town you keep postponing, for two days of seafood and coastal walks
Expressions

4 expressions that fit this card

get away from it all
take a break from daily pressures
have some time to spare
have some free time
take a leisurely stroll
walk slowly for pleasure
stay for a couple of days
remain somewhere for about two days
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

    Why do you think some people choose not to travel abroad?

    • ·Cost and limited time can make domestic destinations more practical.
    • ·Unfamiliar language and surroundings can make staying closer to home more relaxing.
  2. 2

    Do you think a gap period in life is important?

    • ·A pause can help people reconsider their direction rather than continue automatically.
    • ·A gap needs practical and financial preparation and may not suit everyone.
  3. 3

    Do people prefer short breaks or longer holidays?

    • ·Short breaks are easier to arrange, while longer holidays allow a slower pace.
    • ·Work, budget and distance influence the choice rather than one universal preference.
  4. 4

    How can people make time for travel?

    • ·Planning and coordinating with family can work better than waiting for a quiet period.
    • ·Nearby trips can be worthwhile without taking a long period off work.
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 green spot in your city

    A park or riverside you go to: who you go with, what you do there, a rule that keeps it clean or should.

Say it out loud and get a band score