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Describe a historical building you have been to: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • Where it is?
  • What it looks like?
  • What it is used for now?
  • What you learned there?
  • And how you felt about this historical building.
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30 unique answers with expert feedback

Show all 30 answers

Cue 1:Where it is?

  • Begin by mentioning the city and specific location of the building.
  • Include any notable landmarks or features nearby to give context.

Example

The historical building I visited is the Red Fort, located in the heart of Delhi. It's situated near Chandni Chowk, a bustling market area known for its vibrant culture and street food.

Cue 2:What it looks like?

  • Describe the architectural style and materials used in the building.
  • Mention any distinctive features that make the building unique.

Example

The Red Fort is an impressive example of Mughal architecture, with its massive red sandstone walls and intricate carvings. The main entrance, called the Lahore Gate, is adorned with beautiful floral patterns and gives a glimpse of the grandeur inside.

Cue 3:What it is used for now?

  • Explain the current function of the building, such as a museum or tourist attraction.
  • Mention any events or activities that take place there.

Example

Today, the Red Fort serves as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination. It hosts various cultural events and exhibitions, especially during national holidays like Independence Day.

Cue 4:What you learned there?

  • Share any historical facts or insights you gained during your visit.
  • Reflect on how this knowledge impacted your understanding of history.

Example

During my visit, I learned about the rich history of the Mughal Empire and the significance of the fort in India's struggle for independence. It was fascinating to see how the fort has witnessed many important events in Indian history.

Cue 5:And how you felt about this historical building?

  • Express your emotions and thoughts about the building and its history.
  • Mention any personal connections or reflections you had while visiting.

Example

I felt a deep sense of pride and nostalgia while exploring the Red Fort. Standing in such a historic place made me appreciate my country's heritage and the sacrifices made for our freedom.

Conclusion

  • Summarize your overall experience and feelings about the historical building.
  • Mention the importance of preserving such sites for future generations.

Example

In conclusion, visiting the Red Fort was a memorable experience that deepened my appreciation for India's history. It is vital to preserve such historical buildings so that future generations can learn from and cherish our rich cultural heritage.

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

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your answer less engaging and informative. Candidates often fail to provide specific details about the building, which can lead to a lack of clarity.

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Tip

Use descriptive adjectives and specific details to paint a clear picture of the building. Mention colors, shapes, and unique features.

2: Ignoring the Cues

Not addressing all the cues can result in an incomplete answer. Candidates may focus too much on one aspect and neglect others, which can affect their score.

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Tip

Structure your response by addressing each cue in order. This ensures a comprehensive answer and helps you stay organized.

Lack of Personal Reflection

Failing to share personal feelings or insights can make your response less engaging. Candidates often miss the opportunity to connect their experiences with the historical significance of the building.

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Tip

Include your emotions and thoughts about the building. Explain what it meant to you and how it impacted your understanding of history.

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All Answers

Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

Band 6-7

Kerala is always well known for its serene beauty, lush green and historical places. So one of the main attractions in our country that urges tourists to be here is historical buildings. And one of the historical buildings which I visited recently is Vivekananda rock. So it shows the culture and tradition of India. Also it depicts the history of the famous philosopher Vivekananda who was the former founder of Shri Shankara Shantiniketan school. And various number of schools and education societies. I found the visit as appealing one because it gave me more knowledge about Vivekananda's work and his life. Also I visited there during the last summer. And it is built like in an island. So all the four parts of the island is covered with water. And we had to travel by boat. My friends and I went there for a vacation. So we all had a good time. And it helped us to be there calmly away from all the showers and stresses in our life. And it was a real pleasure.

Band 6-7

The historical building which I have been to in my past visit to Delhi, it's one of the most famous monument in India and it even comes in UNESCO world heritage site. It's none other than the Taj Mahal which is located in Delhi, Agra. Talking about that place or the monument, it's a beautiful and very pleasant looking structure. One can easily spot it through far away distance as it's a beautiful white marble structure which is quite pleasant and aesthetic to eyes. The people more often visit this place to see the old architecture and the amount of the work which has been implemented. In the recent time, the monument or the structure is used to attract many tourists and it's a famous tourist spot. After visiting this structure, I felt that it's quite a beautiful structure, the amount of hard work and the detailing work which has been done in that past time which was beautiful.

Band 6-7

okay so today we're talking about a historical building right so the thing is I have always visited historical buildings when I was very little like Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar and India Gate even though I live in Delhi but still I haven't been there for like years so today I'm going to tell you about a Sundar Nursery Burj like it's a Sundar Burj in Sundar Nursery it's a park actually garden beautiful garden which there there's a tomb there that is not very big but it's beautiful from inside and well there are many tourists there these days especially when there is any festival coming or there there are markets there and it's an amazing place you can go for like picnics and if you just wanna you know sit by the lake and read a book and yeah there is a lake there and it's beautiful there well apparently because not many people know about this Sundar Nursery till now but well people are getting to know there too so yeah okay so there is a beautiful cafe called fab cafe there we can eat all sorts of breakfast foods there and it's amazing like one time I was with my brother he he was at the exam center and I just left him there and came into the nursery and had my morning breakfast there of course morning breakfast and I had fruit salad with chia seeds with iced tea and it was epic because there is this fountain and the voice of lake voice of water actually it is great like so great you really want to go there

Band 6-7

So, one of the recent historical buildings that I went to was in Milan. It was the St. Patrick's Cathedral. It is one of the oldest and the biggest cathedrals in the world and was built in the 15th century. It was white in color and had beautiful arches and was a massive structure. As you enter inside, there are stained glasses with paintings of the biblical story around it. It also boasted of marble flooring which just enhanced the entire structure completely. When you enter, you see different seats. You see massive seats and a number of seats all spread out so people can sit down and pray. The seats itself are old benches that were again made from wood of extremely good and high quality. When you walk around, on different sides, you see different paintings that are there. One of the most impeccable things that I saw was the paintings on the dome which is again one of the largest paintings hand-worked by none other than Michelangelo who has hand-worked and hand-painted everything on top. It was truly one of the most impeccable and beautiful looking structures that I have seen and I would love to keep visiting it again. It was beautiful and it was calm when I entered it.

Band 6-7

I visited the Basilica of Bom Jesus during a college trip to Goa last year and it is located in old Goa where the basilica church is the magnificent structure made of stones and its façade has some kind of style architectural style with intricate carvings and large windows arched windows inside the church it has a serene atmosphere with beautiful altars and ornate decorations the church is significant because it holds the mortal remains of Saint Francis Xavier it also represents Goa rich history and Portuguese it was built in the 17th century and my visit to the Basilica of Bom Jesus is not only educational but also very memorable it gave me a deeper appreciation for history and architecture it's a place I'd like to revisit when yeah

Band 6

Hi, so historical building I have been is Mahabalipuram temple. So at first there is a best place because there are various statues and curvatures. So it is like best view for tourists. So and I went to that place I think only once. So after sightseeing those statues the next place is that lighthouse in Mahabalipuram temple. So yeah and the most highlighted thing is that there are variety of shops. So we can buy things at a low cost and after finishing this shopping and sightseeing we can go to beach because that beach is situated near to Mahabalipuram temple. So yeah so in beach we can have some some chit chat and we can play in that sea. So and then after that we can have some sea food yeah. So it's the best unforgettable moment in my life. Thank you.

Band 6

This historical building I've been to is Charminar, which is in Hyderabad, the capital of Talamana. Charminar is the heart of the Pearl City and this was constructed by the Mughals and Nizams while they were ruling Hyderabad. It looks stunning, it has the Mughal architecture and it is now used as a tourist attraction in Hyderabad. I've learnt a lot being in that building because it taught me the religious significances. I feel like home there, it just brings pride to the city I was brought up in. I love the kind of environment it has, there's a lot of shopping, a lot of food to try over there. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the place had to be closed because of religious conflicts.

Band 6

A couple of years back I visited Red Fort which is situated in Delhi. This is the very historical place as it was built by Mughal King Akbar and this fort was used for the residence of the kings and their family servants other than that all the ministers were also used to stay there and all the clerical work and ministry work was taken place in the there are two different set.

Band 6

The most astounding historical monument I have ever seen is the big temple which is located in Thanjavur. It was built by the king Rajaraja Chola 1500 years back. So it was a miracle that even at that time there was no rocks around Thanjavur. But it makes us surprised that how he has brought the rocks to Thanjavur. Another thing is it was built without any cement or other things. So they used a technology like insert hold technology which was... we cannot imagine that how the people at that time used the technology that even the modern world doesn't have. Definitely it was a miracle. Now the big temple is attracting the people, many people around the world. Many people are visiting Thanjavur to see the beauty of this monument. It was a very great historical monument.

Band 6

This is an interesting question. I mean it's very intriguing. I would like to talk about the place which is in Karnataka. The place name is Halebidu and this place has the history for about 200 years and beyond that. This is a very beautiful place. Once you enter the entrance you'll just see the beautifully sculptured monuments everywhere. You know you can't, the thing is people can't you know predict how it has been done. I was just mesmerized when for the first time I saw the monuments and everything. This historical building, it holds the history of the Krishna Raja who used to be king, king named Krishna Raj Aras who used to be in the place. During his period he has made his citizens to construct this. It's a very beautiful, you'll get, you'll feel very serene there and I always usually go there once in a year and it feels like home to me and I usually love going there with my family. We enjoy the whole sceneries, they take beautiful pictures and also we have this conversation and we like ask, there will be a guide there and we ask him what is the history and he guides us, he tells the history and listening to the history I was taken back. It's such a beautiful place that everyone should at least visit in their lifetime.
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