Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
House/apartment that someone you know lives in - Cue Card # 467
- Details
- Last Updated: Thursday, 10 April 2025 06:18
- Written by IELTS Mentor
- Hits: 267389
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Individual Long Run - IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]
Describe a house/apartment that someone you know lives in.
You should say:
- whose house/apartment this is
- where the house/apartment is
- what it looks like inside
and explain what you like or dislike about this person’s house/apartment.
[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
[Examiner: All right? Remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don't worry if I stop you. I'll tell you when the time is up. Can you start speaking now, please?]
Model Answer 1:
Since settling down in one of the affluent suburbs of my city, my cousin Eric had invited me many times to visit his place, but because of a rather busy schedule on my side, I just couldn’t keep his request until very recently. In fact, I managed to visit his place only a few weeks ago, and I would like to take this opportunity to describe his house here.
Anyway, even though, I am calling it a “house”, it looks and feels more like a “luxury villa”, as far as I am concerned. The single building structure, or the actual residence, could be found there standing only on an area of 2000 square feet, but the empty space, surrounding the building, is probably as large as an average football stadium.
By the way, the whole area is surrounded by a 6-foot-tall boundary with two entrances – one in the front and the other at the back. There is a swimming pool just in front of the villa and a bit farther away from it, a beautiful garden can also be seen. I could also see at least 6 bay widows to ensure maximum light entering the house and 4 sculpted balconies around it, offering the villa a rather classy and elegant look. Inside the building, there are 4 large bedrooms, one kitchen and a huge living area, and all of them have wooden floors on them. However, inside the rooms, which are conveniently located at a fair distance from each other in order to ensure maximum privacy, I didn’t really see many types of furniture, but the colour of its interior painting was simply stunningly beautiful.
Well, I really liked the villa, mainly because it was very spacious and it had all the elements of luxury. Besides, the villa is located at a safe distance from the main roads so that no noise from vehicles can be heard. Finally, I also like the fact that the villa was made with a very nice and uncommon design in an octagon shape.
Model Answer 2:
Introduction:
I would like to talk about the house of my aunt, who lives in the countryside in a small village. Her house is a beautiful example of a traditional rural dwelling. As soon as I looked at the topic, I knew that I'd have to describe this house which is one of the most gorgeous houses I have ever been to.
Whose house/apartment this is:
As I mentioned, it is the house of my aunt, who is a retired teacher. She lives there with her husband and her two cats. Her name is Olivia, and she is the elder sister of my mother.
Where the house/apartment is:
The house is located in a small village surrounded by fields and trees. It is about a two-hour drive from the city. The name of the village where this house is located is called Cornwall.
What it looks like inside:
The interior of the house is cosy and warm. The walls are painted in a light cream colour, and the wooden floors have a nice dark polish. The furniture is all old and traditional, with a big wooden table in the kitchen and comfortable armchairs in the living room. The bedrooms are upstairs, and they have sloping roofs with little windows that let in the sunlight.
And explain what you like or dislike about this person’s house/apartment:
What I like the most about my aunt's house is the peacefulness and serenity that surrounds it. The views from the windows are breathtaking, and you can hear the birds singing in the morning. Moreover, the house is always warm, even in the coldest days of winter. However, one thing that I dislike is that the internet connection is not very strong, and it can be quite frustrating at times.
Sample Answer 3: (House in Sheffield, England)
Well, at first, I was a bit flummoxed by this topic. I suppose that’s because it is easy to take for granted the sorts of accommodation people live in, and not really pause to think about it all that much. I have moved around a lot for work, and so try not to get too attached to houses or flats I’ve rented as I am never sure how long I might be in them. The location of the accommodation is usually the most important thing for me when I’m choosing where I live, and so I don’t really tend to judge other people’s living situations as they too can be precarious. However, now you have given me the topic to talk about, I can think of one example of where a friend lives that immediately comes to mind.
So, this friend of mine is someone who I’ve known for years. She is married and shares her home with her husband and two almost grown-up children. They are quite a sporty household, interested in lots of activities like walking, cycling, running and music. Both her sons play in student bands. My friend also runs her own business (mail-order cookies) from the basement of her home, so it’s quite a busy household!
The house is in Nether Edge, which is an established residential suburb in the south-west of the City of Sheffield, England. This is in colloquial terms quite a ‘posh’ area of Sheffield! It is a relatively affluent area with wide tree-lined streets and lots of little boutique shops, delicatessens and even its own well-established amateur theatre in the area. The houses tend to be Victorian, built of solid stone. The grandest houses have their own walled gardens and are packed with ‘original features’ like large windows, beautiful old fireplaces, picture rails and wooden floorboards.
The house my friend lives in is a beautiful rambling Victorian home. It has many original fireplaces with black hearthstones and attractive tiles along the sides of the open fire grates. There are wooden floors a-plenty, high ceilings and the house goes up three floors high as well as down into the basement. She has converted this area into a lovely kitchen for her business on one side of the basement, the other side has racks of bikes carefully stored away in the dry. In the walled garden, she can keep a few chickens – which is a relatively rare privilege in what is almost a city location. Because the house is usually a hive of activity, the kitchen is always a warm and friendly place where you can sit at the large kitchen table and catch up on gossip over a cup of coffee. From the hallway, there is a large reception room where in winter you can snuggle up in front of a roaring open fire on one of the two squidgy sofas placed in there for guests. The house has great character, a little bit of faded grandeur perhaps, but it is really impressive.
What do I like about the property? Well, it’s gorgeous, I love the quirkiness of the Victorian property, and the luxury of a real fire and the original features are stunning. It is a busy household where there is always something going on and a warm welcome too, it isn’t just the architecture of the building and the possessions within it that make it an attractive property, it is the family within it! In my dreams, I’d love to live in a property like this, however, the reality could be a bit different. In the meantime, I feel very lucky that my friend is so willing to welcome me and others to come and visit her there and enjoy it too.
[Lucy Marris (2016): Careers Adviser (UK), TEFL teacher (Vietnam)]
Model Answer 4:
My younger sister, who is married to a doctor, lives in a large apartment and this is quite an elegant apartment in my opinion. For this cue card topic, I would like to talk about this apartment which is located in the northern part of the (…say the city name here…).
My sister’s name is Emmy and his husband is a renowned doctor. They bought this apartment 2 years ago and live there with their only son Christopher. The apartment is on the 3rd floor of a six-storied building which is located in the 2nd lane of the (… say the area name here…). It is only 20 minutes' walking distance from my house. On average, I visit my nephew and sister twice a month.
The whole apartment is more than 2600 square feet and has 4 bedrooms and one dining room. The verandahs are quite large and my sister had put several flower pots there which have enhanced the beauty of the whole apartment. The apartment is comparatively spacious and the white coloured indoor looks new to me. The rooms all have attached bathrooms with them and most of the furniture was bought from the most renowned and branded shops. My sister has an 'interior design' diploma and she has put every effort into making her own house look beautiful. From a neutral point of view, I would say she is a talented interior designer as she has been quite successful in making the interior of her own house impressive. The large wooden furniture, the modern and sophisticated design of most of the furniture and handpicked wall frames give a rich impression to a guest who visits this apartment.
I like this apartment because it has got a large space, unlike many other apartments I have visited. The rooms give complete privacy to the house members as they are not adjacent to each other. The interior of the apartment is quite attractive. Moreover, my sister, as an interior designer has designed it perfectly. The apartment gives me the impression of beauty and comfort. For these reasons, I love this apartment.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card / Cue card topic:
People live in different types of houses and apartments based on their location, lifestyle, economic conditions, and preferences. Below are some ideas that you can use to describe a house or apartment you have visited.
1. A Luxury Apartment in the City:
You could describe your cousin’s modern apartment in a high-rise building in the city centre. It has sleek furniture, large glass windows with a skyline view, and smart home features. The apartment is well-lit and spacious, but you might not like the noise from the busy streets below.
2. A Cozy Countryside Cottage:
You might talk about visiting your grandmother’s countryside cottage. It has wooden interiors, a large fireplace, and a beautiful garden filled with flowers. The house feels warm and inviting, but it may be far from modern conveniences like shopping centres or public transport.
3. A Traditional Family House:
Maybe your best friend lives in a traditional two-story house with a big backyard. The house has classic furniture, family portraits on the walls, and a large kitchen where family gatherings happen. While it feels homely and nostalgic, it might lack the modern features of new apartments.
4. A Minimalist Studio Apartment:
You could describe your colleague’s compact studio apartment. It has a simple design with space-saving furniture, a small kitchen, and a cozy bedroom corner. The place is easy to maintain, but it might feel a bit cramped if more than one person lives there.
5. A Beachfront Villa:
You may have visited an uncle who owns a beachfront villa. The house has large balconies facing the ocean, bright interiors, and an open living area that lets in fresh sea air. It feels like a dream house, but maintaining a home near the sea can be expensive and challenging.
These are some possible ideas that can help you describe a house or apartment in detail. You can choose any of these types of homes or think of a different one based on your personal experience.
A few more Ideas to talk about this topic:
Topic: Describe a house/apartment that someone you know lives in.
1. Well, the house I've in mind belongs to Mr Samuel and is located at the northeast corner of the main street of Suborm Street where I live. The house has a grandeur look. It has modern furniture and the interior is superbly decorated. In fact, I was greatly amazed at the look the first time I visited it! I like the house because it is beautiful and spacious. It has a very nice garden in front of it, and all the rooms are capacious. The small yet beautiful swimming pool is something I really liked.
2. Richard, one of my friends, took me to his apartment last month. In fact, I went there to get some books. The apartment is located near the Central Station. It was a small apartment – around 700 square feet. And the inner environment was not so good. I felt suffocated after entering the apartment. And I also did not like the apartment because it was not well organized.
3. Living in a small apartment could be beneficial and Patrick has proved it. He lives in the opposite apartment of mine here in Japan. He is a foreign businessman struggling to settle in Japan. He has nicely decorated his apartment. In fact, he is all set to get married to his fiancé and so, decorated his apartment quite nicely. The furniture and other necessities are set in the right place. And I like the apartment for the outstanding colour combination. He has combined different shades together which makes it look wonderful.
4. Mary lives with her parents in a large house here in Germany. The house is located in a prime location in Munich. This is an extraordinary house. The inner part of the house is divided into separate sections and the number of rooms is more than I imagined. The house was built a long ago by her forefathers and still bears the testimony of the past days. I like the house for several reasons and the large and spacious corridors are one of them. There are ample spaces too for recreation in large yards.
5. The majority of the houses in India are smaller nowadays, and when I went to meet Mr Arvind at his house, I was disappointed to see the house's condition. The house was located in a corner of the new street in Mumbai. It did not have a good look. In line with the outer part, the inner side was almost wrecked. In fact, it needed a renovation.
Part 3: Details Discussion
Discussion topics: Different types of home:
Q. What kinds of home are most popular in your country? Why is this?
Q. What do you think are the advantages of living in a house rather than an apartment?
Q. Do you think that everyone would like to live in a larger home? Why is that?
Discussion topics: Finding a place to live:
Q. How easy is it to find a place to live in your country?
Q. Do you think it’s better to rent or to buy a place to live in? Why?
Q. Do you agree that there is a right age for young adults to stop living with their parents? Why is that?
The answers to these part 3 questions: Speaking Sample 101 - Part 3: Details Discussion
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card / Cue card topic:
When describing someone else's house or apartment, it is helpful to use descriptive language related to interior design, layout, location, and personal impressions. Using advanced vocabulary can help you convey your ideas more clearly and earn a higher band score in the IELTS Speaking test. Below is a selection of useful words and phrases with example sentences to enhance your response:
Residential area – A part of a city where people live.
Example: The apartment is located in a quiet residential area, away from the city’s noise.
Spacious – Having a lot of space inside.
Example: The living room was incredibly spacious with high ceilings and large windows.
Minimalist décor – A style of interior design that uses minimal furniture and simple colours.
Example: I really liked the minimalist décor in her apartment; it felt peaceful and uncluttered.
Well-ventilated – Having good airflow.
Example: The house was well-ventilated and filled with natural light during the day.
Open-plan design – A layout without many internal walls.
Example: The apartment had an open-plan design that made the kitchen and living room feel larger.
Cosy atmosphere – A warm, comfortable, and pleasant feeling in a space.
Example: Despite being small, the flat had a very cosy atmosphere that I enjoyed.
Balcony view – The scenery visible from a balcony.
Example: What I loved the most was the stunning balcony view of the mountains.
Cluttered – Untidy or filled with too many things.
Example: The only downside was that the rooms felt a bit cluttered with too much furniture.
Interior design – The way the inside of a home is decorated and arranged.
Example: The interior design featured a mix of modern and vintage elements.
Natural lighting – Light that comes from the sun through windows.
Example: One thing I appreciated was the natural lighting that made the space feel bright and cheerful.
Fully furnished – Having all the furniture already provided.
Example: The apartment was fully furnished with modern appliances and stylish furniture.
Wall-to-wall carpet – Carpet that covers the entire floor of a room.
Example: The bedrooms had soft wall-to-wall carpet that made them feel warm and inviting.
Functional layout – A practical and convenient arrangement of rooms and furniture.
Example: The house had a very functional layout, making it easy to move from one room to another.
Personal touches – Small details that reflect a person’s style or personality.
Example: She had added personal touches like family photos and handmade decorations throughout the home.
If you prepare for the topic "Describe a house/apartment that someone you know lives in", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe the house or apartment where you live or used to live.
2) Describe a beautiful house you have visited.
3) Describe a house or apartment you would like to live in.
4) Describe a house that someone you know has recently bought.
5) Describe a time when you enjoyed visiting the house of a relative or friend.
6) Describe a place where you lived for a short period of time.
7) Describe something you own which is very important to you.
Report