Describe a crowded place you have visited: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When you went there
With whom you went there
And explain how you felt about being there?

17 unique answers with expert feedback

What do you think causes people to visit crowded places like Chamundi Hills?

I believe people are drawn to crowded places for various reasons, such as the beauty of the location, cultural significance, or the desire to experience something unique. In the case of Chamundi Hills, its spiritual importance and scenic views attract many visitors, especially families.

How do you usually feel in crowded environments?

I often feel anxious in crowded environments. While I enjoy socializing, large crowds can be overwhelming for me. The experience at Chamundi Hills highlighted my claustrophobia, making me realize that I prefer quieter places where I can relax and enjoy my surroundings without feeling suffocated.

What measures do you think can be taken to manage crowds in popular tourist spots?

To manage crowds in popular tourist spots, authorities can implement timed entry tickets, limit the number of visitors, and improve crowd control measures. Additionally, promoting less popular times to visit or alternative locations can help distribute visitors more evenly and enhance the overall experience.

Band 6-7

00:00

So, the crowded place that I have ever visited would be I would say Bangla Sahib Gurudwara which is situated in New Delhi, the capital city of India. Every time I visit Bangla Sahib, it's so crowded that you can barely get to see, you can barely get to enter the temple as well because the queue is so long that it takes about five to six hours to just view the temple from inside. The Bangla Sahib is basically located in the central Delhi. It's quite near the Red Fort. I personally worship and follow Sikhism. So for me, it's a place where I feel peace and calm but some or the other way, I can't go there every time because I feel it's very overpopulated, lots of people from different parts of India, from different parts from Punjab and even from abroad. They come on a daily basis just to visit the Bangla Sahib because the kind of place it has built and it was built I think in the 17th century. So the importance of Bangla Sahib, it's truly incredible. The kind of experience that I personally had the last time was we were just standing in the long queue and we waited for eight hours where we had the langar. It has all the facilities inside it where you can have langar, where you can do different type of donations as well but it took us eight hours to just enter in the temple. So it was pretty hectic. It was so...

Follow up questions

What do you think makes Bangla Sahib so popular among visitors?

I believe Bangla Sahib's popularity stems from its spiritual significance, beautiful architecture, and the sense of community it fosters. Many people come for worship, while others are drawn by the historical value and the peaceful atmosphere it offers amidst the bustling city.

How do you feel about visiting crowded places like Bangla Sahib?

While I appreciate the spiritual experience and the sense of belonging, I often feel overwhelmed by the crowds. It can be exhausting to wait for hours, but the feeling of peace I get once inside makes it worthwhile, even if the journey is tiring.

Have you ever visited any other crowded places? How do they compare?

Yes, I've visited places like the Taj Mahal and various festivals in India. Each has its own charm, but Bangla Sahib stands out due to its spiritual ambiance. The crowds at these places vary; some are more manageable, while others can be just as overwhelming as Bangla Sahib.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

I prefer a balance between both. Crowded places are fun for socializing and experiencing events, but I also enjoy quieter places for relaxation and reflection. Each has its own charm, depending on my mood and what I want to do.

Show all 17 answers

Cue 1:When you went there

Mention the specific time or occasion when you visited the crowded place.
Provide context about why you chose to go there at that time.

Example

I visited the famous Connaught Place in Delhi last December during the Christmas season. The festive decorations and the holiday spirit drew me there, as I wanted to experience the vibrant atmosphere.

Cue 2:With whom you went there

Introduce the people you were with and your relationship to them.
Explain why you chose to go with them, highlighting any shared interests.

Example

I went there with my college friends, Riya and Aman. We all love exploring new places, especially during the festive season, so it was a perfect outing for us to enjoy the celebrations together.

Cue 3:And explain how you felt about being there

Share your emotions and thoughts while being in the crowded place.
Discuss any memorable experiences or interactions that stood out to you.

Example

Being in Connaught Place was exhilarating! The energy of the crowd was infectious, and I felt a sense of joy and excitement. We enjoyed street food, shopped for gifts, and even joined a group of people singing carols. It was a delightful experience that made me appreciate the festive spirit of the city.

Conclusion

Example

Overall, visiting Connaught Place during the holiday season was an unforgettable experience. The crowd, the decorations, and the company of my friends made it a perfect outing, and I left with wonderful memories that I cherish.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.