Cue Card Sample
Describe a tourist attraction you enjoyed visiting - Cue Card # 777
- Details
- Written by IELTS Mentor
IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
Describe a tourist attraction you enjoyed visiting.
You should say:
- what this tourist attraction is
- when and why you visited it
- what you did there
and explain why you enjoyed visiting this tourist attraction.
[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.]
Model Answer 1:
After changing my job about a few years ago, I didn’t really get a chance to take any long vacations or holidays because I was just too busy to enjoy one. But, I was lucky to have some time off from my job about a couple of months ago, and that’s when I decided to visit a nice tourist destination.
This tourist destination, of course, is not located in any foreign country, rather it sits very comfortably right here in my beautiful country on its northwest part. I have always wanted to visit this beautiful and exotic place, but I just couldn’t make it since my busy schedule didn’t exactly allow me to have my wish up until a few months ago. When I got a vacasion from my office, I wanted to use it to visit a beautiful place, and as planned, I took the opportunity and visited this tourist spot with my family.
Moving forward, this tourist destination is situated by one of the biggest natural forests of my country which also happens to host a beautiful lake. While the majestic view of the green natural forest and crystal clear water of the beautiful lake captivate the hearts and minds of thousands of tourists, mostly foreigners, the main attraction of this place, in my humble opinion, is probably the grand sightings of deer fights. In fact, I think that the majority of the tourists, including me, mainly came to enjoy the impressive show of the “hormonally-charged” male deer, surrounded by many female deer, as if the male deer are desperately trying to court the female deer. By the way, even though, tourists of all ages can be found in this beautiful place, miles away from the hustling and bustling of city life, the majority of them, including me, are on the young side. I went there to spend some quality time at a beautiful and relaxing environment which would be close to nature, and that's exactly what I did.
Anyway, I enjoyed visiting this tourist attraction because it was so calm and peaceful where one can easily find his or her peace. Besides, getting to exchange views with many foreign tourists there was really very refreshing since it allowed me to learn and understand many aspects of their lives. Finally, I liked visiting this tourist destination because it made me feel very connected to mother nature – a connection which I was missing all these years.
Model Answer 2:
What this tourist attraction is:
One of the tourist attractions that I enjoyed visiting was the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall is a series of walls and fortifications that were built along the northern borders of China to protect against invasions. It is one of the most iconic structures in the world, and I was fortunate enough to visit it a few years ago. For this excellent topic, I will share my experience with you.
When and why you visited it:
I visited the Great Wall during the summer months, which is one of the best times to visit as the weather is warm and pleasant. I decided to visit the wall because I had heard so much about it and had always wanted to see it for myself. I also wanted to learn more about the history and significance of the Great Wall.
What you did there:
When I arrived at the Great Wall, I was struck by the sheer size and magnitude of the structure. It was amazing to see how it snaked its way across the mountains and valleys, and I felt a sense of awe and wonder as I stood there taking it all in. I decided to take a cable car up to one of the highest points on the wall, as I wanted to get a bird's eye view of the surrounding landscape. I then walked along the wall for several hours, exploring the different watchtowers and taking in the incredible views.
And explain why you enjoyed visiting this tourist attraction:
What made visiting the Great Wall so enjoyable was not just the physical beauty of the structure, but also the sense of history and culture that surrounds it. It was fascinating to learn about the different dynasties and emperors that contributed to its construction over the centuries and to see how it has become such an important symbol of Chinese identity and pride. Being able to experience such an iconic tourist attraction firsthand was truly an unforgettable experience that I will always treasure.
Sample Answer 3:
I like to travel whenever I get the chance and have the means to afford the costs. As a student, I can not afford much time and money to travel as frequently as I otherwise would have; yet, I do not miss travelling to a few nice places at least twice a year. For this topic, I would like to share my experience of travelling to a lovely beach, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in our country.
The name of this tourist destination is "Sky Blue Beach" - a natural beach with mesmerising views located near a famous ocean in our country. It offers a diverse range of activities for tourists of all ages, and you can just idly lay on the beach and enjoy the clear blue sky, crystal clear sea water, synchronised tide and ebb, and listen to the music of the gentle breeze all day long without worrying about other things!
I visited this attractive destination almost a year ago just after my semester break. A few friends planned to visit this heavenly place just after we completed our fifth semester at the university, and I did not want to miss the chance to spend some quality time away from the hustle and bustle of city life. I thought it would be refreshing and invigorating, and I was proven right. Just after I reached there, I thought I was taken to the fairyland!
I enjoyed the view the most. It was like nothing else that I had ever experienced. The serene nature of the surroundings, gentle breeze of the coast, the vast ocean, the soft sandy beach, the blue sky and the vast openness blew away my mind. I also enjoyed some local foods, tried a boat ride, enjoyed some music concerts at night, and has some barbecue parties with my friends.
I believe I relished visiting this tourist attraction because it was a marvellous beach area with lots of things to see and do. I enjoyed a relaxing, soothing and peaceful vacation after a long and the experience was so charming that I liked it a lot. This was the first time when I realised how nature holds so many different kinds of beauty that could equally thrill and excite us.
Part - 3: Details Discussion:
Discussion topics: Different kinds of tourist attractions
Q. 1) What are the most popular tourist attractions in your country?
Answer: Well, with enormously huge territory and a long history, my country, China, has just so many popular tourist attractions that one can see and explore. Some more popular tourist attractions are, of course, the Great Wall of China in Beijing, the Giant Panda Breeding Center in Chengdu (some prefer to call it “China’s national treasure” also), the Terracotta Army in Xi’an (2000 years old underground army), and the yellow mountains near Shanghai. Besides the jade dragon snow mountains and Victoria Harbour are also very popular with some tourists.
Q. 2) How do the types of tourist attractions that younger people like to visit compare with those that older people like to visit?
Answer: Young people and older generations have different mindsets and different ways of doing things, and therefore, it is only natural that they will choose different tourist destinations. For example, older people would generally prefer to go to such tourist spots where they can relax, being quiet and laid back, and spend some quality time with their families and friends. On the other hand, young people would prefer to visit those places where they would be able to have more fun, try new things, and become a bit adventurous while doing things like skydiving and mountain hiking.
Q. 3) Do you agree that some tourist attractions (e.g. national museums/galleries) should be free to visit?
Answer: Well, nothing comes “free” in this world since someone in somewhere has to pay for it in one way or another. Having said that, however, some tourist attractions like national museums and galleries should be free to visit, in my humble opinion, because museums and art galleries have an important role in preserving a nation's history and heritage for its new generations. Free access to these places would ultimately encourage more people to find out about their country and help promote the feelings of national solidarity and cultural identity among them.
Topic: The importance of international tourism
Q. 4) Why is tourism important to a country?
Answer: Tourism impacts a country in significant ways. First, because of tourism, the economy of a country gets diversified while also generating more revenues and job opportunities at the same time. Besides, it also helps promote cross-cultural awareness among the citizens of countries while also improving the brand image of those countries at the same time. Finally, tourism can also help our mother nature through conservation and by creating nature-based tourism which encourages authorities to protect forests, lakes, coastlines, state parks, wildlife and gardens.
Q. 5) What are the benefits to individuals of visiting another country as tourists?
Answer: There are just too many benefits of visiting another country. First of all, it allows us to do and discover new things which perhaps would never be possible otherwise. In fact, when you are travelling to another country, there is hardly any dull moment since it allows you to break from the mundanity of everyday life. Besides, it also helps us to become familiar with the history, culture and language of a different country in a more intimate fashion. Finally, foreign travel can also open up opportunities for experiencing new climates, terrains, plants, and animal life.
Q. 6) How necessary is it for tourists to learn the language of the country they're visiting?
Answer: It certainly helps to learn the language of a country in which a person is visiting, but is it absolutely necessary? The answer is, no, it is not absolutely necessary since the basic human needs of a person, no matter where he/she lives or travels, are pretty much the same. In other words, one person doesn’t really need to learn a foreign language if he or she needs to communicate something because these “communication” things can also be done through some signs or expressions when needed. Moreover, if we plan to learn a language first before visiting the country where it is spoken, we might end up never visiting it!
Report