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Part 2 cue card · Places · Retained in September–December 2026

Describe a tall building you like or dislike.

Describe a tall building you like or dislike.

You should say:

  • ·where it is
  • ·what it looks like
  • ·what it is used for
  • ·whether you have been inside

and explain why you like or dislike 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 · 171 words

I'd like to talk about a tall building I like in Shenzhen. It is in the city centre, not far from a large metro station and a shopping area. I first noticed it when I was going to meet a friend nearby.

It is a modern glass building with many floors. The outside is blue and grey, and it looks quite simple. During the day, it reflects the sky, so it can look bright. At night, there are lights on some floors, which makes it easy to see from the road.

It is mainly used as offices. There are also a few cafes and small shops on the lower floors, so people can get lunch or a coffee there.

I've been inside a few times because my friend works in the building. I went up to his office and saw the city through the windows. I like the building because it looks clean and modern, but it doesn't feel too unusual. It also makes that part of the city look lively.

  • Explain the visit · “because my friend works in the building”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 7.5 · 244 words

Honestly, the tall building I like is an office tower in the centre of Shenzhen, a short walk from a metro station and a busy shopping area. I first paid attention to it when I was meeting a friend nearby, and now I can pick it out whenever I pass through that part of town.

It has a blue-grey glass exterior and a very clean shape, without lots of decorative details. In the daytime, the windows reflect the sky, so the colour seems to change with the weather. At night, a few floors are lit up, which makes the tower stand out along the road without being too flashy.

Most of the building is used for offices, but there are some small cafes and shops on the lower floors. That’s handy for the people who work there; they can grab lunch or a coffee without going far. My friend has an office upstairs, so I’ve been inside a few times. I remember looking out through the big windows and seeing the city spread out below. The lobby was simple and bright, rather than overly grand.

I like the tower because it feels modern but still fits into an ordinary part of the city. If it were just a glass box with no shops or public activity around it, I probably wouldn’t find it very appealing. Instead, the ground floor feels connected to the streets, and the building gives the area a lively, recognisable feature.

  • Add location detail · “a short walk from a metro station”
  • Describe appearance · “the colour seems to change with the weather”
  • Explain practical use · “That’s handy for the people who work there”
  • Develop with a condition · “If it were just a glass box”
Angles

3 ways to answer it

  1. 1Shanghai Tower: watching clouds drift below you from the observation deck
  2. 2Your city's new landmark office tower: its evening light show over the river
  3. 3A new block of flats opposite your family home: it blocked your bedroom's sunlight
Expressions

5 expressions that fit this card

tower over
be much taller than something
a bird's-eye view
a view from high above
a landmark
a famous, easy-to-recognise building
an eyesore
something ugly to look at
block out the light
stop sunlight getting in
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 cities build so many tall buildings?

    • ·Land is limited, so cities grow upwards
    • ·A landmark tower boosts the city's image
  2. 2

    Would you prefer to live in a high-rise flat or a low building?

    • ·High floors have better views and less noise
    • ·Waiting for lifts is slow, and power cuts are a nightmare
  3. 3

    What problems can very tall buildings cause?

    • ·Evacuation is difficult in a fire
    • ·They block light and make streets feel gloomy
  4. 4

    Should governments limit the height of new buildings?

    • ·It protects the skyline of historic districts
    • ·Height limits could push housing prices up
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 busy street or market

    A shopping street, mall or night market: the noise and crowds, a building you notice, something you saved up for there.

Say it out loud and get a band score