A complete model answer and preparation guide for this IELTS Speaking cue card topic. Includes key vocabulary, follow-up questions, and examiner-approved response strategies.
Originally published September 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, you will see a sample cue card question, high-level answer and feedback.
Model Answer
I’d like to talk about my idea of a perfect vacation. As I live in Spain, I normally like to visit cities when I go on vacation, to soak up some different types of culture. Of course, there is plenty of culture here on this lovely little piece of paradise, but every now and again I need to leave and visit a busy bustling city. My perfect vacation would probably lead me to New York.
I have visited New York once and I can’t wait to return, the noise, the lights and the non-stop energy of the city makes it a great place to go. I would visit the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and The Met Museum to see both traditional and modern art, before planning my way through the city. Visiting Central Park, 5th Avenue to window shop, Times Square, The Rockefeller Centre and even the Statue of Liberty. There are other places I would like to visit, which include the Natural History Museum, the sex and the city tour and to see a Broadway show. I would also like to see the restaurant close to Times Square that is decorated like a 1950’s diner, where the waiters and waitresses get up on the tables to sing. I have heard they are all amazing and the experience is one that you will never forget.
When I visit again, I will take my husband as he has never been before. he really enjoys travelling and seeing new places, he enjoys looking at famous architecture, so I know that he will want to visit the Empire State building and ground zero, where the twin towers used to be. We could also sample the food whilst in the city, with breakfast in art deco diners, lunch from small cafes in the park and dinner in a different place every night.
This would be my idea of a perfect vacation because it allows us to have a different lifestyle for a week, which is a refreshing change from the quiet, but stunning place we live in now. I like to feel inspired from my vacations, visiting places that give me ideas and make me feel energised. New York is such an amazing city that you can feel the buzz around you of people living their lives. Visiting a busy city like this, makes a vacation feel exciting and full of energy, which is ideal in my perspective.
Feedback
This is a strong answer, as there are examples given of what, where, who and why. The topic has been fully discussed, with additional information added that was not prompted by the bullet points.There are various tenses and structures used, for the past and present. There is also evidence of collocations being used and a high level of vocabulary.
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If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
A complete model answer and preparation guide for this IELTS Speaking cue card topic. Includes key vocabulary, follow-up questions, and examiner-approved response strategies.
Originally published September 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, you will see a sample cue card question, high-level answer and feedback.
Model Answer
I’d like to talk about how I like to travel to my parents home during the winter. I currently live in Spain and during the winter I like to travel home to visit my parents in the UK. They live in the North of England, so it is often very cold in the winter there. With temperatures getting below zero, you need to wear your warm clothes and make sure that you have the heating on when you are in the house. With living in Spain now, the temperatures in the winter are much warmer than in the UK. You can still sit outside for a coffee in December or January on a sunny day.
I like to visit my parents and in December it snows, with heavy thick snowflakes and a full pinkish, grey sky, the snow can get quite deep. I like to get dressed up in a big thick coat, woolly hat and scarf, put on my Wellington boots and go for a long walk in the snow. It is really pretty and awe inspiring to see everything covered in thick layers of white snow, with an eerie feeling too, as the streets are deserted and everything is quiet. Then after the walk when I return home again, I like to sit and drink tea or hot chocolate by the fire with the dogs and watch some English TV shows. They always have a good programme of viewing in December, with the run up to Christmas.
I really like to visit my parents home during the winter, not only to see them and spend time with them but to enjoy the winter weather. Going for long walks in the countryside or on the beach is really refreshing in the cold weather. You can feel like you have lots of energy after walking your dogs through a forest, so wrapped up in winter clothes so that only your face is exposed.
Being from somewhere that has a regular cold temperature with a vast difference in the seasons is great. I keep my winter wardrobe of a winter coat and wellington boots at their house, as I don’t really need them in Spain. The weather here is never as cold as there unless you travel to places that are high up in the mountains. Winter for me is never the same anywhere else, I always want to go home to get the full frosty experience.
Feedback
This is a strong answer, as there are examples given of what, where and why. The topic has been fully discussed, with additional information added that was not prompted by the bullet points.There are various tenses and structures used, for the past and present. There is also evidence of collocations being used and a high level of vocabulary.
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
A complete model answer and preparation guide for this IELTS Speaking cue card topic. Includes key vocabulary, follow-up questions, and examiner-approved response strategies.
Originally published September 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, you will see a sample cue card question, high-level answer and feedback.
Model Answer
I’d like to talk about a job that I think is very important for everyone all over the world and that is the role of people in the medical profession. Doctors, nurses and all of the specialists that make up the healthcare systems have such an important role in society. They heal, nurture and save the lives of many people on a daily basis. Without these professionals, many people would suffer and medicine would not be moving forward at the rate it is today.
Doctors and other people in the medical profession require years of training at university before getting ‘hands on’ training in hospitals or GP practices. Many years of study and training is required for the very skilled, often continuing to study all through their career. For example, surgeons who specialise in niche areas will continue to study and teach even after they are fully qualified. The type of people that want to be in the medical profession are those who want to help people, academic and motivated. Some choose this profession as a way to solidify their career prospects and know that once qualified, their careers will grow in strength, making them secure financially. They also have huge job satisfaction knowing that every day they are helping others.
The skilled workers in the medical profession can help the country by providing a service that benefits the people who live there. By offering a good healthcare system, the country will be considered as a leader in government systems, with the quality of health care provided for free. Private medical care offered to those who can afford it is often supplied and uses doctors who specialise in certain areas, who work between all healthcare providers.
The role of doctors and nurses is really important in all areas of the profession, as society needs them. They are often overworked and underpaid for what they do, always giving and going that extra mile because they truly care for the well-being of others. In my opinion, society would crumble without this service and many people would not be taken care of or healed by those with the knowledge and skills to do so.
Feedback
This is a strong answer, as there are examples given of why and how this type of job is important. The topic has been fully discussed, with additional information added that was not prompted by the bullet points.There are various tenses and structures used, for the past and present. There is also evidence of collocations being used and a high level of vocabulary.
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
Expert tips and strategies for this part of the IELTS Speaking test. Includes sample responses and key vocabulary for Band 7+.
Originally published August 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
This post will look at strategies for giving a high-level part 2 answer.
In part 2 the examiner will give you a cue card that could ask you to talk about any subject. this will normally include something about your daily life and own experiences. The talk you give should be honest and show the examiner your ability to use English well.
When giving your talk, try to make sure that it is not too short – use the 1 minute allowed to make notes to your advantage, looking at the keywords and using them as prompts.
Strategy
When working on a strategy for answering part 2, you need to think about how to extend your answer as much as you can, so that you don’t run out of ideas and things to say.
Include the following in your answers, so that you can develop more ideas as well as including the bullet points on the cue card (if you want);
Introduce the topic – I’d like to talk about……
Give some background information (describe it in physical terms)
The Past – say something about what you used to do / something you saw last year, etc (depending on the topic)
Give your thoughts and feelings
Include an example
Say something about the future – What will you do in the future / where would you like to visit, etc (depending on the topic)
If you practice with past cue cards and find yourself running out of ideas while talking, look at your notes and refer back to an earlier point, expand on it and keep talking, while you think of other things to say.
Cue Card Example
The bullet points on the cue card above ask obvious questions about the topic. However you don’t need to follow this to just the bullet points on the card, you can say whatever you want about the chosen topic. Some students follow the bullet points and get a high score, while others have said they ran out of ideas.
Here are some ideas/questions to answer, that you could include when making notes and planning your answer for this cue card >>
Introduce the activity (what it is) extend your answer and explain.
The location (where) – explain
Have you always done it? (When) have you just started doing it recently?
Describe – give a good description of the activity (include here who you do it with)
Give your opinion (why you like to do it).
Will you continue to do it in the future?
Model Answer
I’d like to talk about walking my dog, we recently rescued a dog who was found by our neighbour by the side of the road. At the time he was only around 4 weeks old and quite ill, he was covered in fleas, had a belly full of worms and various skin conditions. He soon became healthy after many vet visits and now has grown into a large healthy dog, who has a routine of walks at certain times every day to burn off his energy. We started his walking routine slowly when he was little, as he was scared of the park at first. He soon loved to go there and looks really happy with the freedom he has to be able to venture out on his own.
I normally walk him around my village in the morning before work for around 45 minutes. Then in the afternoons after work at around 7 pm we will visit the park, so he can run free. He loves to be able to run around and explore the park, meeting up with other dogs and playing. He enjoys running after people jogging and cycling, showing them that he can go faster than them. He also likes to have his photograph taken with tourists when they are posing next to monuments in the park.
In my opinion, walking with my dog is great exercise, as we walk together (or run) daily for at least 2 hours. This is good for both of us, as he can burn off his energy and I can also keep fit. I also think that getting away from my desk and breathing in the fresh air is beneficial for my health and to clear my mind. It helps to keep my mental health in check, by taking these walks and having the time to think about things. I will continue to walk my dog every day, taking him with me to various locations on the island, as he also enjoys the beach and the town park, but these areas are busy in the summer months, so he will have to wait until the autumn.
Feedback
This is a high-level answer, as there are concrete words being used to tell a story (the story of the dog and the relationship to the activity). Words and phrases are used to describe thoughts and feelings. The bullet points have been covered with the extra information given, which extends the answer.
Practice
Practice as much as you can with past cue cards and develop a good strategy for answering in 1-2 minutes. Practice with your speaking partner or native speaking IELTS teacher, who will help you to improve.
Have you been practising? Does this strategy help you? Let us know in the comments >>
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
