Describe a park or garden you like to visit
Describe a park or garden you like to visit.
You should say:
- where it is
- what it looks like
- what people do there
And explain why you like visiting it.
Practise this cue card with a timer Use it in a full mock
One-minute preparation plan
Use the senses, what you see, hear and smell, to make the description vivid.
| Cue card point | What to note (keywords only) |
|---|---|
| Where it is | 1–2 specific details: a name, a place, a time, or an example |
| What it looks like | 1–2 specific details: a name, a place, a time, or an example |
| What people do there | 1–2 specific details: a name, a place, a time, or an example |
| And explain why you like visiting it. | Your main reason plus how it affected you—save 30 seconds for this |
Sample answer
I'd like to describe a botanical garden on the edge of my city, which I've been visiting since I was a child.
It covers a large area on a gentle hill, about twenty minutes by bus from the centre. Near the entrance there's a big glass greenhouse full of tropical plants, where it's always warm and humid, even in winter. Further in, there are rose gardens, a small lake with ducks, and winding paths through a section planted with trees from different continents, each with a little sign explaining where it comes from.
People use it in lots of ways. In the mornings you see joggers and elderly people doing tai chi on the lawn. At weekends it's full of families having picnics, and art students often sit sketching the flowers.
I like visiting it because it's the most peaceful place I know in the city. When I'm stressed, an hour walking there really clears my head. I also love how it changes with the seasons, so even though I've been hundreds of times, it never feels exactly the same.
About 180 words, roughly two minutes at a natural pace. This is an original example written for SpeakingIELTS to show structure and vocabulary—use it for ideas, not as a script to memorise. Real test cards are worded differently, and examiners notice rehearsed answers.
Useful words and phrases
- covers a large area
- warm and humid
- winding paths
- sit sketching
- clears my head
- changes with the seasons
Try using three of these in your own answer. For more topic vocabulary, see the vocabulary helper.
Part 3 follow-up questions
After this cue card, the examiner moves to a Part 3 discussion on the same theme. Give an opinion, a reason and an example for each.
- Why are parks important in cities?
- Should cities build more parks instead of housing?
- How do people's leisure activities differ in cities and the countryside?
- Who should pay for the maintenance of public parks?
- Do children spend enough time outdoors nowadays?
Practise these Part 3 questions
Check your own answer
Record yourself, then listen once and ask: did I cover every point, keep talking for close to two minutes, link ideas clearly, and explain my reasons at the end? The self-evaluation checklist covers all four speaking criteria.