The cue card
Describe a journey that you remember well.
You should say:
- where you were going
- how you travelled
- who you were with
and explain why you remember this journey so well.
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).
The journey I remember best is an overnight trip I took by river launch from Dhaka to Barishal during my first year at university. Four of my classmates and I had decided to visit a friend's family who lived near Barishal, and since none of us had ever travelled by launch before, we agreed it would be much more of an adventure than taking the bus. We set off from Sadarghat, the main river terminal in Old Dhaka, early one evening, and I have to say the terminal itself was an experience. It was absolutely packed with porters carrying enormous bundles on their heads, hawkers selling everything from peanuts to newspapers, and passengers pushing their way onto dozens of brightly painted vessels.
We'd booked a small cabin, although in the end we hardly used it, because we spent most of the night on the open deck, drinking tea from a little stall on board and watching the lights of the city gradually fade away. As for who I was with, apart from my friend Tanvir, whose family we were visiting, there were three classmates I'd only known for a few months. By the time we arrived, though, it felt as if we'd known each other for years. I think there are two reasons why this journey has stayed with me so clearly.
The first is the scenery at dawn. I woke up just before six, and the river had become incredibly wide and calm, with mist hanging over the water and fishermen already out in their small wooden boats. It was one of the most peaceful sights I've ever seen. The second reason is that it was the first long trip I'd made without my parents, so it gave me a real sense of independence.
I've travelled by bus and even by plane since then, but none of those journeys has come close to that night on the river.
Useful phrases from this answer
- set off
- started a journey
- absolutely packed with
- extremely full or crowded with
- has stayed with me
- I still remember it clearly
- a real sense of independence
- a strong feeling of being free and able to manage alone
- come close to
- be almost as good as something
- the root cause
- the most basic reason behind a problem
- weak enforcement
- rules or laws not being applied strictly
- could well
- will quite possibly
Part 3 follow-up questions and answers
Why do people travel more now than they did in the past?
I think there are several reasons, but the main ones are cost and convenience. Budget airlines and better roads have made travel far more affordable than it was a generation ago, and booking a ticket or a hotel now takes a few minutes on a phone rather than a visit to an agent. Rising incomes in many countries, including Bangladesh, mean that more families can afford a holiday, even if it's just to Cox's Bazar or Sylhet. Social media plays a role too, because seeing friends' travel photos creates a desire to visit the same places. And of course many people now travel for work or study, since economies are far more connected than they used to be.
What are the main causes of traffic congestion in large cities?
In my view, the root cause is that too many people and vehicles are concentrated in a space that was never designed for them. In Dhaka, for example, most major offices, universities and hospitals are in the capital, so huge numbers of people travel into the same areas every day. Poor urban planning makes it worse: there aren't enough main roads, and the ones we have are shared by buses, cars, rickshaws and pedestrians all at once. Weak enforcement of traffic rules is another factor, since vehicles often stop wherever they like. And when public transport is unreliable or uncomfortable, anyone who can afford a private car will naturally use one, which only adds to the problem.
How can governments encourage people to use public transport?
The most effective way, I'd argue, is simply to make public transport better than the alternatives. If buses and trains are frequent, punctual, clean and safe, people will use them without needing to be persuaded. Metro rail is a good example, because it offers something cars can't, which is a predictable journey time regardless of traffic. Affordable fares matter too, especially for students and low-income workers. At the same time, governments can make driving less attractive, for instance through higher parking charges in city centres, although such measures tend to be unpopular unless good alternatives already exist. Safety is also crucial, particularly for women, who often avoid crowded buses for understandable reasons.
Is air travel harmful to the environment? What could be done about it?
Yes, I think there's little doubt that flying has a significant environmental impact, because planes burn huge amounts of fuel and release emissions high in the atmosphere. The difficulty is that air travel also brings real benefits, connecting families, supporting tourism and making international business possible, so simply telling people to stop flying isn't realistic. A more practical approach might be to invest in cleaner fuels and more efficient aircraft, and to improve high-speed rail so that many short flights become unnecessary. Governments could also tax frequent flyers more heavily than people who fly once a year to visit relatives. Ultimately, though, I suspect technology rather than changes in behaviour will make the biggest difference.
How do you think people will travel fifty years from now?
It's hard to predict, but I imagine travel will be cleaner, more automated and probably more shared. Self-driving electric vehicles could well become normal, which might reduce accidents and allow people to work or rest during their journeys. In big cities, I'd expect more people to rely on fast, integrated public transport networks rather than owning a car at all. For longer distances, very high-speed trains might replace many short-haul flights. There's also a chance that remote work and virtual reality will reduce the need for business travel. However, I don't think people's desire to physically visit new places will disappear, because experiencing somewhere in person is something technology can't fully replace.
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