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

Describe a special day out that cost you little money/didn't cost you much.

Describe a special day out that cost you little money/didn't cost you much.

You should say:

  • ·when the day was
  • ·where you went
  • ·how much you spent

and explain how you feel about the day.

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 · 147 words

One special day out I remember was last October, when I went with my sister to a riverside park in our city. We left home in the morning and took the bus there. The weather was sunny, so we walked along the river and sat on a bench for a while. Later, we went to a small street nearby and had noodles for lunch. They were simple but very tasty. We also took some photos and looked around the shops, but we didn’t buy anything. I spent about 46 yuan in total. Most of it was for the bus and lunch, and we didn’t need to pay to enter the park. I felt really happy that day. It was nice to spend time with my sister, and we had a good time without spending much money. I still remember it because it was a relaxing day together.

  • Specific cost · “I spent about 46 yuan in total”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 7 · 203 words

Honestly, one of my favourite inexpensive days out was a Saturday last October. I went with my sister to a riverside park in our city, which is only a short bus ride from our home. We got there in the morning, when it was still fairly quiet, and walked along the river for nearly an hour. The weather was clear, so we took a few photos and sat on a bench to chat instead of rushing from one place to another. After that, we wandered through a little old street nearby and found a noodle shop for lunch. The food was simple, but it was hot and filling, and the portions were generous. I spent about 46 yuan altogether: roughly 10 on the bus and the rest on lunch. There was no entrance fee, and we didn’t buy anything in the shops. If we’d gone to a cinema or a restaurant, we probably would have spent much more, but we didn’t feel we were missing out. I felt relaxed and close to my sister by the end of the day. What made it special wasn’t the place itself; it was having time to talk and enjoy the afternoon without worrying about the cost.

  • Place detail · “only a short bus ride from our home”
  • Specific activity detail · “instead of rushing from one place to another”
  • Detail supports opinion · “the portions were generous”
  • Conditional contrast · “If we’d gone to a cinema”
  • Developed reflection · “What made it special wasn’t the place itself”
Angles

2 ways to answer it

  1. 1Cycling to the river with a roommate, packing sandwiches and only buying coffee
  2. 2A free museum day with a friend, followed by a long chat on the steps
Expressions

4 expressions that fit this card

on a tight budget
with very little money available
pack a picnic
prepare food to eat outdoors
cost next to nothing
cost very little
make a day of it
spend a whole day enjoying an activity
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

    Do people like to spend their leisure time out in your country?

    • ·Pleasant weather encourages people to eat out, walk or meet friends.
    • ·Others prefer staying home, depending on their workload and preferences.
  2. 2

    How do people spend their leisure time in your country?

    • ·Exercise, television, parks and meals with relatives are common options.
    • ·The amount of free time affects whether a longer outing is practical.
  3. 3

    How does technology affect the way people spend their leisure time?

    • ·Phones make booking activities easier and provide entertainment at home.
    • ·Notifications and recommendations can fill spare moments without providing much rest.
  4. 4

    Do you think only old people have time for leisure?

    • ·Students and workers have leisure time too, though it may be fragmented.
    • ·Retired people may have caring responsibilities, so age alone proves little.
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 close friend and a night out

    A friend since school: what they are like, a birthday or a night you spent together, a time you helped them.

Say it out loud and get a band score