The cue card
Describe a change that would improve your local area.
You should say:
- what the change is
- how it could be made
- who would benefit from it
and explain why you think it would be an improvement.
You have one minute to make notes, then speak for one to two minutes.
Band 8–9 sample answer
Written by Abroadway as a model of natural, high-band speaking (not an official IELTS sample).
If I could change one thing about where I live, I'd restore the narrow canal that runs behind our road in Dhaka. Locals call it a khal, and my father says that when he was a boy, people used to wash clothes there and even catch small fish. Nowadays, sadly, it's more like an open drain, clogged with plastic bags and household waste, and it smells terrible for most of the year.
As for how it could be done, I think it would need cooperation at several levels. First, the city authorities would have to dredge it properly and stop both the illegal dumping and the encroachment by buildings along its banks, which has narrowed it considerably. Then a simple paved walkway with trees could be built along one side. But the most important part would be changing people's habits. Our local residents' association could organise regular clean-ups and put pressure on households to use proper rubbish collection rather than throwing waste over the wall, which is what many people do now.
A lot of people would benefit. Children in our area have nowhere to play except the street, so a green walkway would give them a safe space. Elderly residents, like my grandfather, could take their evening walks there instead of dodging rickshaws and motorbikes. Even the small shops along the road would probably get more customers if the area became pleasant to walk in.
The main reason I think it would be an improvement, though, is flooding. Every monsoon, our lane gets waterlogged after even moderate rain, sometimes knee-deep, because the water has nowhere to drain. A clean, flowing canal would carry it away much faster. So it isn't just about making the neighbourhood look nicer; it would genuinely make daily life healthier and safer for everyone who lives nearby.
Useful phrases from this answer
- clogged with
- blocked by something, so nothing can flow
- put pressure on
- try hard to make someone do something
- dodging
- moving quickly to avoid something
- waterlogged
- covered with water that cannot drain away
- at an astonishing pace
- extremely quickly
- never materialised
- never actually happened
- keeps pace with
- develops at the same speed as
- swallow up
- take over and completely replace something
Part 3 follow-up questions and answers
How have towns and cities in your country changed in recent years?
The most visible change is that cities, especially Dhaka and Chattogram, have grown upwards and outwards at an astonishing pace. Areas that were paddy fields or low-lying land not so long ago are now covered in apartment blocks and shopping centres. Infrastructure has improved in some respects; Dhaka now has a metro rail line and several flyovers, which have made certain journeys much quicker. On the other hand, open spaces, ponds and playgrounds have steadily disappeared, and traffic congestion remains severe. Smaller towns have changed too, with supermarkets, coffee shops and online delivery services appearing in places that felt quite rural not long ago.
Should local people have a say in how their area is developed?
Absolutely, I think they should, because they're the ones who will live with the results every day. Residents often know things that planners in an office don't, such as which roads flood during the monsoon or where children actually play. Involving them also tends to make projects more successful, since people are more likely to respect and maintain something they've helped to design. That said, consultation has its limits. Local people may oppose projects that benefit the wider city, like a new road or a waste-treatment plant, simply because they don't want it nearby. So I'd say they should have a genuine voice, but not an absolute veto.
Why do some people resist change?
Largely because change creates uncertainty, and most people find the familiar comforting, even when it isn't perfect. If someone has lived in the same neighbourhood for decades, a new development may feel like a threat to their memories and identity. There are often practical concerns too; people worry that change will raise their rent, disrupt their business or bring more traffic. In some cases, resistance is based on bad experiences, since they've seen promised improvements that never materialised. I'd argue that resistance isn't always negative, though. Sometimes it forces the authorities to think more carefully and to protect things that genuinely deserve to be preserved.
What are the disadvantages of rapid urban development?
The main problem is that infrastructure rarely keeps pace with construction. When buildings go up faster than roads, drainage and water supply can be expanded, the result is congestion, waterlogging and shortages. Rapid development also tends to swallow up green spaces and wetlands, which not only harms wildlife but also increases the risk of flooding and makes cities hotter. Socially, it can push poorer residents out to the edges as land prices soar, leading to informal settlements with poor sanitation. And there's a cultural cost too; older buildings and traditional neighbourhoods are often demolished without much thought, so cities lose part of their character and history.
How do you think cities will look in thirty years' time?
It's hard to predict, but I imagine cities will be greener and more technologically integrated, at least in wealthier countries. Electric vehicles and better public transport could make streets quieter and cleaner, and buildings may be designed to generate their own energy. In South Asian cities like Dhaka, though, I suspect the biggest pressures will be population growth and climate change, so we might see more emphasis on flood defences, raised walkways and heat-resistant design. If things go well, cities could become far more pleasant places to live. If planning doesn't improve, however, the gap between wealthy, well-designed districts and overcrowded areas could widen even further.
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