Scorify.uzThe cue card
Describe a long journey that you took.
You should say:
- where you went
- how you travelled
- who you travelled with
- and explain what you remember most about it
Band 7 sample answer
I would like to describe a long train journey from Tashkent to Bukhara that I took with my family two years ago. It lasted about five hours, but it felt much shorter because we enjoyed it so much.
We travelled on a modern high-speed train, which was clean and comfortable. My parents sat by the window and talked, while my brother and I played cards. Outside, we could see endless fields and small villages, and the landscape slowly changed from green to desert.
What I remember most is the food. We had bought bread, cheese and fruit before the trip, and a friendly passenger offered us tea from his flask. It was a simple picnic, but it tasted wonderful.
During the trip, I also met an elderly couple who were travelling to visit their grandchildren. They shared photos with us and gave my brother some sweets. Their kindness made the journey feel less like a trip and more like a gathering of friends, and I still remember their smiles.
I also remember arriving in Bukhara in the evening, when the old city was beautifully lit. That journey was tiring, but it is one of my favourite family memories.
About 198 words, roughly 2 minutes of natural speech.
Key vocabulary
- scenery — natural views
- endless — seeming to have no end
- tiring — making you feel tired
- on board — on a train, plane or ship
- passenger — a person travelling in a vehicle
- journey — a long trip
- unforgettable — impossible to forget
Tips for this cue card
- Include time, transport and companions.
- Describe one moment in detail.
- Use past simple and past continuous.
Part 3 follow-up questions
Is travelling by train better than by plane?
Idea: Trains are more relaxing and eco-friendly for short distances; planes are faster for long ones.
Why do people take long journeys?
Idea: For holidays, family visits and work.
How will transport change in the future?
Idea: More electric and high-speed options will appear.
More discussion questions with full answers: IELTS Speaking Part 3 topics.
Study guides
How Is IELTS Scored in Speaking and Writing? Criteria, Weighting and Rounding
The short answer first, then the Speaking and Writing criteria tables, how Task 1 and Task 2 combine and how the overall band is rounded.
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors Explained in Plain English
The IELTS Speaking test is marked on four criteria. Here is what each one means at bands 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, with short examples you can compare with your own answers.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: How Many Minutes to Speak (With a Practice Timer)
How long Part 2 lasts (1 minute to prepare, 1–2 minutes to speak), a practice timer, a four-step structure and a model answer.