IELTS Speaking Part 2 — Describe a city you would like to visit. • which city it is • how you know about it • what you would do there • and explain why you want to visit it

Practice speaking on this topic for 1–2 minutes using the bullet points above. You have 1 minute to prepare your answer.

IELTS Speaking — Part 2

Describe the following

You will have 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1–2 minutes.

Describe a city you would like to visit

which city it is
how you know about it
what you would do there
and explain why you want to visit it

1 min prep · 1–2 min speaking

Practice with a timer — just like the real exam Preparation time — make notes now Speaking time — speak out loud! Done — check your sample answers below

How to Structure Your 2-Minute Answer

~15s

Open — introduce the subject

Name who or what immediately. "I'd like to talk about..." Don't pause looking for words.

~20s

Context — how you know it / background

Give a short frame of reference so the examiner understands your connection to the topic.

~35s

Description — concrete details

This is the core of your answer. Use specific examples, vivid language, and avoid vague generalities.

~40s

Why it matters — feelings or impact

The examiner awards marks for fluency and range here. Expand on your opinion or reaction.

~10s

Close — a brief reflection

One sentence to wrap up naturally. Avoid trailing off. "That's why I'll always remember..."

Reported in recent exams

May–August 2026

Part 3 — Follow-up Questions

Why do people enjoy visiting big cities?
In your view, has tourism done more good or more harm to the cities you know?
Is travelling to a foreign city better than travelling within your own country?

Sample Answers (1)

6.0 Band

Speaking

part-2

The city I would like to visit is Tokyo, which is the capital of Japan. I have wanted to go there for a long time and hopefully one day I will be able to. I know about Tokyo from many sources. I watch a lot of Japanese movies and anime and I also follow some Japanese travel YouTubers. They show the city in different seasons and it always looks very beautiful and very different from where I live. My friend also went there last year and he said it was the cleanest city he ever saw. If I went to Tokyo, I would do many things. First I would visit Shibuya crossing because everyone says it is so busy and crowded. Then I would go to a sushi restaurant and try real Japanese food because I love sushi. I would also like to see Mount Fuji from outside the city, maybe by train. Also I want to visit the old temples in the area called Asakusa. The reason I want to visit Tokyo is that it has a mix of old and new. There are very modern buildings with technology, but also old temples and traditions. I think this is interesting. I also heard that Japanese people are very polite which I would like to experience. So yes, Tokyo is the city I really want to visit one day.

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Useful Vocabulary for This Topic

These words and phrases appear in the band-graded sample answers above. Using varied vocabulary is one of the four IELTS speaking criteria.

mix of old and new old temples really want to visit busy and crowded one day

Describe a city you would like to visit

How to Structure Your 2-Minute Answer

Part 3 — Follow-up Questions

Sample Answers (1)

Useful Vocabulary for This Topic

Related Cue Cards Travel topic