The cue card
Describe a park or garden that you enjoy visiting.
You should say:
- where it is
- what it looks like
- what people do there
and explain why you enjoy going there.
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 place I'd like to describe is Ramna Park, which is right in the heart of Dhaka, a short rickshaw ride from where I study. It's surrounded by some of the busiest roads in the city, so it feels almost like an island of calm in the middle of all that traffic.
In terms of what it looks like, the park is built around a long, curving lake, and there's a paved walking track that loops all the way round it. Most of the space is shaded by enormous old trees, and in spring a few of them burst into bright red and orange flowers. There are wooden benches along the water, a small play area for children and a couple of open lawns that are usually looking rather worn by the end of the dry season.
As for what people get up to there, it really depends on the time of day. Early in the morning it's full of joggers, groups of elderly men doing stretching exercises and people walking briskly while chatting on the phone. By the afternoon it's quieter: students sit under the trees with their notes, couples stroll along the lake and families bring snacks. And on Pohela Boishakh the whole area is packed with people dressed in red and white, listening to music and welcoming the new year.
The main reason I keep going back is that it gives me a break from the constant noise of the city. I've got into the habit of walking there before my morning classes, and I've noticed that on the days I go, I'm calmer and far more focused. It's also one of the few places in Dhaka where I can hear birds rather than horns, which is something I've really come to treasure.
Useful phrases from this answer
- an island of calm
- a peaceful place surrounded by busy, noisy activity
- get up to
- do (often used for free-time activities)
- got into the habit of
- started doing something regularly
- come to treasure
- slowly started to value something very much
- boxed in
- feeling trapped, with not enough open space
- trade-off
- a balance where you gain one thing but lose another
- defeats the purpose
- makes something useless for its original aim
- non-negotiable
- must happen; cannot be changed or argued about
Part 3 follow-up questions and answers
Why are public parks important in towns and cities?
I'd say they matter because they're one of the few spaces in a city that are genuinely open to everyone, regardless of income. A wealthy family might have a private garden or a club membership, but for most people a public park is the only place where they can exercise, let their children run around or simply sit outside without paying. Beyond that, parks have a practical role: trees provide shade, help to cool the surrounding streets and soak up rainwater that would otherwise flood the roads. So I'd argue they're not a luxury at all; they're part of a city's basic infrastructure, just like roads or drainage.
Are there enough green spaces in the cities of your country?
Honestly, no, at least not in the bigger cities. Dhaka in particular has grown so rapidly that a lot of open land has been built on, and many neighbourhoods have nothing more than a small playground, if that. Smaller towns tend to be better off because they're surrounded by fields and rivers, so people don't feel quite so boxed in. That said, I think the problem isn't only the quantity of green space but access to it. Some parks are locked for much of the day or poorly maintained, so even where green space technically exists, ordinary residents can't make full use of it.
Should land in cities be used for parks or for new housing?
It's a difficult trade-off, but I don't think it has to be one or the other. Cities clearly need more affordable housing, and it would be unfair to block new homes simply to protect a lawn. However, if every empty plot is turned into apartment blocks, you end up with a city that's unpleasant and unhealthy to live in, which rather defeats the purpose. In my view, the sensible approach is to build upwards in well-planned areas and make sure every new housing project includes some shared green space. Protecting the large existing parks should be non-negotiable, though, because once they're lost, they're almost never recovered.
How do green spaces affect people's mental health?
I'd argue the effect is largely positive, although it's hard to measure precisely. Being among trees and open sky seems to slow people down; you breathe more deeply and your attention isn't constantly being pulled in different directions by traffic and advertising. Parks also encourage gentle exercise, which most people find lifts their mood, and they create chances for casual social contact, like chatting to a neighbour on a bench. For someone who lives alone or works long hours indoors, that combination can make a real difference. Of course, a park isn't a cure for serious mental illness, but it can certainly help people cope with everyday stress.
Who should be responsible for keeping public parks clean and safe?
Primarily the local authorities, since they own the parks and collect taxes partly to maintain public spaces. They should be paying for proper cleaning staff, lighting and security guards, especially in the evenings when parks can feel unsafe. Having said that, I don't think responsibility ends with the government. If visitors drop litter or damage plants, no amount of public funding will keep a park in good condition. So to some extent it's a shared duty: the authorities provide the basic services, while residents, schools and local organisations can help by volunteering for clean-up days and, more simply, by treating the park as if it were their own garden.
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