arrow back icon Top Answers

Describe an unusual but interesting building you would like to visit: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • Where it is?
  • How it looks like?
  • Why you went there?
Show all 35 answers

Cue 1:Where it is?

  • Begin by mentioning the location of the building, including the city and country.
  • You can also add a brief context about why this location is significant or interesting.

Example

The building I would like to visit is the Lotus Temple, located in New Delhi, India. It is situated in a beautiful garden area, making it a serene place amidst the bustling city.

Cue 2:How it looks like?

  • Describe the architectural style and unique features of the building.
  • Use vivid adjectives to paint a picture of its appearance and surroundings.

Example

The Lotus Temple is designed in the shape of a lotus flower, with 27 free-standing marble petals. The white marble shines brightly under the sun, and the surrounding pools of water reflect its beauty, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

Cue 3:Why you went there?

  • Explain your motivation for wanting to visit this building, whether it's for its architecture, cultural significance, or personal interest.
  • You can also mention any experiences or feelings you hope to gain from the visit.

Example

I want to visit the Lotus Temple because I am fascinated by its unique architecture and the peaceful environment it offers. I have heard that it is a place for meditation and reflection, and I believe it would be a great opportunity for me to experience tranquility away from my busy life.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, the Lotus Temple is not just an architectural marvel but also a symbol of peace and unity. I am eager to visit it and immerse myself in its beauty and serenity.

    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. Candidates often fail to provide specific details about the building, which can lead to a lack of interest from the examiner.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Use descriptive adjectives and specific examples to paint a clear picture of the building's appearance and features.

    2: Ignoring the Cues

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

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Make sure to answer all the cues: location, appearance, and your reasons for wanting to visit the building.

    Overly Simple Language

    Using overly simple or repetitive language can make your response sound unprepared. Candidates may miss the chance to showcase their vocabulary and fluency.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Incorporate a variety of vocabulary and sentence structures to demonstrate your language skills and keep the response interesting.

    calendar icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 8

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 6.5

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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.

    All Answers

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

    Band 8

    To be perfectly honest, I have always been fascinated by architecture that breaks the mold and stands out from the crowd. One such building that has caught my attention and is high on my bucket list is the Lotus Temple in New Delhi, India. It's not just a place of worship but it's a stunning piece of architecture that looks like a blooming lotus flower, which is quite rare and unique. This architectural marvel is located in the heart of Delhi and has become a prominent landmark, attracting people from all the corners of the world, regardless of their religion or background. The building is shaped like a giant white lotus with 27 marble petals arranged in clusters. It has no traditional spires or domes like other temples. Instead, its design is inspired by nature and simplicity, which make it visually striking. The entire structure is surrounded by nine serene pools of water, adding to its peaceful aura. What makes it truly fascinating for me is the fact that it promotes unity, silence, and spirituality. I have read that inside the temple, no rituals are performed, visitors just sit quietly and meditate. I find that idea extremely powerful in today's fast-paced world. I would love to experience that serenity firsthand and explore how architecture can influence human emotions. All in all, the Lotus Temple is not just a building, it's a symbol of peace and harmony. Visiting it would be both an aesthetic delight and a soul-soothing experience, definitely an unusual yet enriching journey.

    Band >7

    I am talking about my interesting building, my interesting building is white house because it is located in America, United State of America, I am very interesting to go there, it is very beautiful building, there is many old structure like statues, white statues, this color is white so I like them, it is my dream because the US president is visit and live there, it is famous in my country, I like also, white house is also a powerful building in our world because the US president live here and this building is very famous in all over the world, I like very much.

    Band 7

    The building which I find very fascinating and interesting is Taj Mahal which is situated in Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh. I have got the opportunity to visit Agra once and witness the magic that Taj Mahal in itself is. Moreover not just the architecture but the kind of ambience that whole place, the compound of the Taj Mahal gives is nothing short of royal and as we know Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world and rightly so. I have been able to witness the magic in front of my eyes. The grand architecture, the intricate details and in addition to that the kind of craftsmanship that is visible on the walls of Taj Mahal is nothing short of magic. Taj Mahal also has a significant appeal among the masses due to the context and the story associated to it. Taj Mahal being one of the wonders or greatest proof of love and I believe that Taj Mahal is a symbol of love, rightly so and youth represents it.

    Band 7

    It's really surprising that you asked me this question. I was really hoping to speak about this particular building. The building that I would really like to visit one day is St. Peter's Basilica of Vatican City. Vatican City, as all you know, is the smallest country in the world, and it is the center of Roman Catholicism and the center of Catholic Christianity. In addition, St. Peter's Basilica is the largest and biggest church of the world, and the architecture of St. Peter's Basilica is remarkable and splendid. Similarly, the architects who built St. Peter's Basilica is renowned architects of the history. Eminent personalities like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and other great contemporaries during that time built St. Peter's Basilica. On the one hand, Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica is filled with so many conspiracies and greatest secrets of the history. But on the other hand, the paintings, architecture, the sculptures, and intricate details in architecture makes St. Peter's Basilica stand alone among other buildings. I'm planning to visit St. Peter's Basilica as soon as possible. The only factor that is hindering me is funding issues and time concerns, since I'm a working professional. To talk more about St. Peter's Basilica, the whole Vatican City is filled with bits and pieces of St. Peter's Basilica. The Sistine Chapel inside St. Peter's Basilica was the conclave of the Vatican.

    Band 7

    An unusual but interesting building which I had visited recently is a fish building which is located at Attapur in Hyderabad. This building is unusual because it is designed in the shape of a fish which is very unusual for a building to be seen. I went there to visit my uncle who works there as a researcher in fish and sea waters. I found the building unusual because of its shape and design. It looks as a ship from the outside but when we go inside and see the surroundings of the building we may get fascinated by all the architectural advances and all the materials which were used in the building are very different from what we commonly use in a building. And in addition to that, there is a terrace on the building which helps us to see the bridge which is in front of the building and we can view a full view of the city from the top of that building. So there are many gardens which are surrounded

    Band 7

    One unusual yet fascinating building I would like, I would love to visit is the Lotus Temple in New Delhi, India. I have seen many photos and documentaries about it and it always leaves me in awe because its unique architectural design. The building is shaped like a blooming lotus flower made up of 27 massive marble petals arranged in clusters to form the structure. It has no straight lines or sharp corners which makes it quite different from traditional buildings. Surrounded by lush green gardens and pools of water, the atmosphere around it feels very peaceful and serenity. What makes it even more interesting is that it's Baha, house of worship, open to people of all religions and there is no idol or ritual inside. It's a place meant purely for meditation and silence which I find incredibly beautiful. I want to visit this place not only because of its rare design but also for the spiritual energy it seems to carry. I feel like a place that, I feel like a place where one can disconnect from the noise of the world and connect deeply with inner peace. I think visiting it would be a truly unforgettable experience.

    Band 7

    Today I would like to tell you about a true unique structure that has always fascinated me. The 100 Travasser House in Wienia, Austria. This residential building designed the missionary architect Friedrich Friedrich Friedrich Friedrich in Hudenstowari is unlike anything you ever faced, completed in the mid-1980s. It's not merely a building but a vibrant, living sculpture. You will find seven floors, a deliberated choice by the architect to make residents feel they are walking on a nature train, and undulating lines that delify conventional straight edges. Its exterior is a royalty of color, with bright reds, blues, and yellows, adorning with mosaics and ceramic tiles, giving it a playful, almost vilemious fate that truly sets apart the thousands of trees and shrubs that grow from balconies and even on the rooftop. Green oasis in the urban landscape, creating a lush. I am drawn to this building because of this radical rejection of traditional architect norms. Its profound commitment to integrate nature into urban life is a stark contrast to the often norms and integrating nature into urban living. I would really like to share my experience when I visit there and its architectural designs.

    Band 7

    An unusual building which I would like to visit again is UNESCO world heritage site building in Paris. I went there because I was attending a symposium as a representative of India. The building visit is unusual for many people because you need or require UN permission or green card to enter the building. So I got the privilege of entering the building and I want to enter again. It has so many significance including it is the oceanographic division globally and headquarters where many people are making policy briefs regarding ocean governance since my subject is oceanography and I work in science communications. Visiting this building and potentially getting a job there would help enhance my career goals.

    Band 7

    An unusual but interesting building that I would like to visit is the Marina Bay Sands. It is located in Singapore and is one of the major attractions that locals as well as tourists are extremely interested in understanding. So the reason that I would like to visit this particular building is because what captivates me the most about this building is that there are three main blocks over which a boat-like structure is balanced. There's an infinity pool at the edge of this port which has an extremely breathtaking view from it. I've heard my friends go on and on about this particular building but I've never had the chance to actually go up to the top floor. So that is why it is a place where I'd like to go and discover. It is surrounded by other tourist attractions so it gives a much better view of the entire landscape. It is

    Band 6-7

    In India, there are many types of buildings and forts here, traditional and historical buildings. I talked about one of them, my favorite place, it is in Brindavan, it is in UP, in the state of UP, it is traditional temple of Radhakrishan, I am obsessed by it, it is like a heaven on earth, it is very beautiful, white color temple and creative things around, there is many type of another temples, there is a Nithi one, it is specially located around the temple, it is specially for Radha and Krishna, Radha and Krishna memories, I am going there because I experienced the love between Radha and Krishna, I believe that everyone who is going there and take wishes from us, Radha and Krishna blessed everyone and gives their loved ones, so I want to go there.
    1 2 3 4
    ielts logo

    Get the IELTS Prep App

    Star rating icon

    4.2

    1M+ Installs

     app download banner image

    Get the app link on your phone

    +91

    Or download app from

    google play storeapp store
    master ielts speaking ad