IELTS cue card: describe a person you admire
An answer plan for the IELTS Speaking Part 2 task about a person you admire, with prompts for who they are, what they did, and why they matter to you, plus follow-up practice.
Speech10 cardsAbout 2 min to speakIntermediateAnyone
IELTS cue card: describe a place you would like to visit
Answer plan for the IELTS Part 2 topic about a place you would like to visit, using future and conditional forms to describe where it is, what you would do and why it appeals.
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The cards
- 1
The task
Describe a place you would like to visit in the future.
You should say:
- where it is
- how you know about it
- what you would like to do there
- and explain why you want to go there.
Original practice topic in the Part 2 style.
- 2
Plan in one minute
- Where: [city / region / country]
- Heard from: [friend, documentary, social media, school]
- Do: [two activities]
- Why: [personal reason]
A place you are genuinely curious about will make you sound enthusiastic.
- 3
Opening
"One place I've always wanted to visit is [place], which is in [the north of / a region of] [country]. I haven't had the chance yet, but it's at the top of my list."
- 4
Where it is and what it is like
- Location: "[It's on the coast, about two hours from the capital.]"
- Appearance: "[From the photos, it has narrow streets and colourful houses.]"
- Famous for: "[It's known for its markets / mountains / festivals.]"
Use "apparently" or "from what I've read" to show you have not been yet.
- 5
How you know about it
"I first heard about it when [a classmate showed me photos from her trip / I watched a travel show]."
"Since then I've [followed a few accounts / read about its history], and the more I learn, the more I want to go."
- 6
What you would do there
Use would and I'd love to:
- "First, I'd [walk around the old town and try the street food]."
- "I'd also love to [hike up to the viewpoint at sunrise]."
- "If I had enough time, I'd [take a boat to the nearby islands]."
- 7
Why you want to go
- Personal link: "[My grandparents came from that region.]"
- Interest: "[I'm fascinated by its architecture / wildlife.]"
- Contrast with home: "[It's completely different from the flat, busy city where I live.]"
- 8
Close
"I'm hoping to go [after I finish my studies / in the next few years]. I'm sure it will be an experience I'll never forget."
Mixing going to, will and would shows range.
- 9
Useful language
- it's on my bucket list
- a hidden gem, a tourist hotspot
- soak up the atmosphere
- picturesque, vibrant, unspoilt
- I've always been drawn to...
- 10
Part 3 practice questions
- What are the effects of tourism on local communities?
- Is it better to visit famous places or less-known ones?
- Why do people enjoy looking at travel photos online?
- Will virtual reality ever replace real travel?
How to use this template
Questions about places you would like to visit, live in or return to are among the most common Part 2 themes, and they test whether you can talk about something that has not happened yet. In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you get one minute to prepare and then speak for one to two minutes. These cards walk you through the four bullets and model the future and conditional forms the topic calls for: 'I'd love to', 'if I had time, I'd', 'I'm hoping to'. You describe the place, explain how you heard about it, picture what you would do and give a personal reason. Vocabulary and Part 3 questions about tourism finish the set. The topic is original practice material, not a past question.
Tips
- Because you have not been there, use hedging language: 'apparently', 'from what I've seen', 'I've heard that'. It sounds natural and accurate.
- Plan two specific activities rather than five vague ones. Detail beats lists.
- Do not slip back into the past tense when describing what you would do. Keep 'would' running through that card.
- A personal reason, such as family history or a long-held interest, makes the 'why' bullet much easier to extend.
- If you finish early, add what you would bring back or who you would take with you.
Make it fit
- For 'describe a city you have visited', change the 'would' sentences to past simple and add a memorable moment.
- For 'describe a place in your country you would recommend', swap 'how you know about it' for 'what visitors usually miss'.
- For 'describe a quiet place you like to go', focus the description card on sounds and atmosphere.
- For 'describe a building you would like to see', keep the structure and talk about design and history instead of activities.
Updated October 28, 2026