Students who appear for the IELTS exam have to clear four sections- reading, speaking, writing, and listening. Each of them has sub-segments, and one task of the IELTS speaking section includes a long speech on a cue card topic followed by answering questions on the same. Learn more about it from gradding experts in this blog. You can also find some examples along with follow-up questions for the topic- "Describe a crowded place you have visited." However, if you are confused or need any assistance, feel free to contact our experts!
Table of Contents
The most common thing that students fear the most in the IELTS exam is the speaking section for the long answer task. IELTS is a popular language proficiency test that is globally recognized and accepted by renowned universities. Thus, many students opt for it. But, when it comes to preparation, they face a challenge with the IELTS speaking section. It is basically divided into three parts:
The second task turns out to be the toughest as in this, they get& an& IELTS cue card and have to speak on it for 2 minutes but in a properly structured manner. Students who cannot give their best here often end up losing their grades. So, now, let's look at how to answer the cue card in the next section!
In the cue card round once you get the topic, you’ll be given one minute to prepare yourself for the given task, after which you will have to speak for around 1-2 minutes.& During that minute, it's crucial to jot down notes on the topic you're given. The examiner will assess your response based on four key criteria: fluency, coherence, grammar, and pronunciation. By the end ofIELTS Speaking Part 2, the examiner will have a general idea of your band score. This blog also includes sample responses for the cue card topic "Describe a Crowded Place You Have Visited".&
When answering the cue card "Describe a Crowded Place You Have Visited," organize your response around these questions:
Take a look at the image below to see an example of how your cue card looks like during the IELTS exam.
I've been to many places that are crowded but none of them match with the multitude& at a cricket stadium where my favorite cricket player, MS Dhoni plays the match. I would like to share my escapade of a match when I visited the stadium to watch my favorite play and it was a completely new and elevated& experience.
When MS Dhoni came to Visakhapatnam for a match, I happened to be in the same city for some other reason and providentially& got my hands on the tickets. I didn't miss the opportunity and fulfilled one wish on my bucket list.
It was in the year 2023 when I went to meet my cousin in Visakhapatnam. We were merrymaking when I saw a post on Instagram that a friend of mine wanted to sell his tickets as he had some emergency to attend and I happened to watch that post and get those in time. It was a thunderbolt& moment for me.
I went to this match with my cousin, along with hundreds of other people. The stadium was thronged& with people from different places—national and international. Many had placards, banners, mascots, and more. Many were in yellow and blue, supporting their favourite cricket players.
It was a wholesome experience to feel the energy, watch the person you admire in person, play his best, and vibe with all. Though it was unforeseen& it turned out to be the best experience. The crazy hooting of fans, the rush at the food stalls, the long wait at washrooms, the traffic jam after the match, everything was like a haze but a worthy moment of my life.
In conclusion, watching a match at a stadium is a crazy experience, especially when popular players are participating, but nothing gives you the right vibe than this. So, it is a different, jittery and satisfying experience.
{{IELTS_speaking_mock_test}}
An experience I've encountered in a crowded place is a local train in Mumbai. I've seen trains with all seats occupied and even went to the railway station a couple of times, but there is nothing like the cramped& Mumbai locals.
I had this experience on a Mumbai local train during my travel from Belapur to Andheri. Both stations were also crowded, but the local trains seemed way too congested.
It was a Friday evening in August month when I was traveling from a friend's place to a popular merchandise& in the market area when I had this experience. I was traveling to find a good market for shopping when I took a local train to reach faster and at an economical price.
My friend, who wanted to shop for herself, chaperoned me as well. So, we decided to shop in Andheri, which is a popular place for fashionistas. One easy way to get there is to catch a local.
It was a tremendous experience. Being from a city without even a metro, I found the crowd quite staggering& locally. There were people climbing up and down even before the train halted. And there were people on the train who were going to different places for disparate reasons. Some were returning from school, college, jobs, and the market, while some were going to parties, shopping, or hanging out. There were also a few vendors with their paraphernalia.
In conclusion, Mumbai locals are not just an experience, it's a comprehension of how fast-paced our lives are and what a rush we are in. Though it's crowded and congested, it's beautiful and memorable to watch people of all ages getting along, running against time and behind something only they know about.
I had an experience of extreme crowds at a renowned hospital in my area during the Covid outbreak in the second wave. It was quite a scary, disheartening moment when I had this experience, and it filled me back with hope.
It was one of the acclaimed hospitals in Jaipur near the outer end of the city where I had this experience. It was 15 kilometers away from my home at that time.
It was during the month of May 2021 when the second wave of COVID-19 hit, and everyone seemed vulnerable and less immune compared to the previous wave, and my mother got sick. Due to her dropping oxygen levels, she was hospitalized, and I was paying visits when I saw the huge crowd at the hospital.
I was there with my mother, uncle, and aunt. We went to admit my mother to the hospital since she was positive, her oxygen levels were dropping, and she had to be given immediate medical assistance. So, my uncle and aunt accompanied me to admit my mom and fulfill the formalities and procedures at the hospital.
It was very disheartening to see so many patients of different age groups lying on floors, benches, stairs, and everywhere else. They were waiting for beds, oxygen cylinders, or doctors to arrive. It was a chaotic ambiance, which was quite scary. It still makes me anxious thinking about how the medical department and healthcare handled everything.
In conclusion, it was a situation that left me to value small things in life, appreciate what I've, and prioritize things in life. The crowd and chaos were scary but watching people stand for each other even in the toughest times, was hopeful. The selfless service of the healthcare was impressive and respectable.
Now that you’ve looked into the samples of Cue cards for the IELTS speaking section, you need to prepare for the follow-up questions.
{{IELTS_band_calculator}}
Now, let’s take a quick look at the lexical resources of the difficult terminology used in the above three samples along with their right definitions. So, let’s check it out!
Lexical Resources |
Definition |
Multitude |
A large number of people |
Escapade |
It is an act or event involving excitement |
Elevated |
A top-level or of very much experience |
Providentially |
In a way something happened when needed and without planning |
Merrymaking |
Having fun or celebrating |
Thunderbolt |
Surprising or shocking |
Throng |
Completely or densely packed with people |
Unforeseen |
Something not expected beforehand |
Jittery |
It is a feeling of nervousness, anxiety and excitement |
Encounter |
Unexpected feeling or an experience |
Cramped |
A very narrow but crowded area |
Congested |
So packed with people that it is difficult to move |
Merchandise |
Goods to be sold by promoting them in retail |
Chaperone |
A person who accompanies you |
Tremendous |
Inspiringly awe |
Staggering |
Deeply shocking or astonishing |
Disparate |
Divergent or different |
Paraphernalia |
Items needed for a particular person or any activity |
Comprehension |
It is the ability to understand |
Outbreak |
Sudden occurrence of something unexpected |
Acclaimed |
Popularly known and praised |
Vulnerable |
Exposed to possible harm |
Immediate |
On the spot or swift |
Chaotic |
In a state of confusion and disorder |
After giving the long answer in the IELTS speaking part 2, the applicant appears for the third task, which includes follow-up questions from the interviewer on the previous topic. So, here are some sample questions along with answers to help you understand it better.&
Yes, obviously! I would love to go to more cricket matches if I could get a chance to see my favorite players ace the game live. The lively environment and the energetic vibe in the place just set the mood and made me feel more refreshed.
I don't prefer it in general if it takes a longer time. But, if it's for a few minutes, I am fine traveling and adjusting to the crowd as it can save me more time and money compared to other means of transport which are way too expensive.
No. I wouldn't prefer going to such places unless it's absolutely necessary because the situation and ambiance make me feel weakened and scared. They give me a fear of helplessness.
There might be some problems in visiting such places like long queues, traffic jams, long sitting hours, too much noise and distraction from the actual match. But, it can be ignored if you feel the match is worth that.
The main concern is safety. Sometimes, it's somebody falling from the train; other times, it's someone stealing something. If it's about women, there is always someone gazing or touching and making one uncomfortable irrespective of how strict things get.
There is a high risk of spreading infections and viruses to others. There is also a probability of delayed assistance as there might be a shortage of medical help. Also, it can be risky for patients as they might not get proper attention compared to less crowded places.
One main reason is to watch their favorite players in action, and the other is to like the sport. Cricket is always popular among people of all age groups in India, and thus, matches are obviously crowded.
One main reason is that it's economical. Another is that it takes less time, and trains are comparatively more frequent than any other means. Also, there are ample stops for everyone to get up or down at their preferred location.
It's because they cannot find many options within their budget, location, or reference. Also, it is possible that it is popular and provides better health compared to others. They can also be willing because they know it has the best professionals.
This might give you good clarity on how to prepare and answer the IELTS speaking section cue card. If you're preparing for this exam and need any help, then, follow the tips shared by professionals in the next section!
Here are a few tips shared by the gradding experts for your IELTS speaking part 2& cue card answer. You can follow these carefully for better grades.
Follow these simple tips to get better at this section. However, if you are stuck with anything else or need expert help, our experts are always here to help you!
In this blog, you read about the cue card topic, "Describe a crowded place you have visited" from the IELTS speaking section. You can also learn about other cue cards from our blog section. Moreover, if you need any assistance with your IELTS exam preparation or for any other language proficiency test, reach out to us. We've been assisting students in fulfilling their dreams for ages and can help you, too! Wish you luck.
You should always DO this while answering the IELTS cue card topic:
A few things to be careful about when answering the IELTS cue card topic are:
You can follow these tips to stay calm while answering this section:
Take a moment to think and try reframing the question. If you still don't understand, ask him to repeat politely. However, if you don't know the answer, don't lie or make up; be honest about it.
You can always try to score better and can achieve them if you follow these simple ways:
We are available in :
BangaloreAhmedabadJaipurHyderabadKeralaPuneChandigarhMumbaiGurgaonChennaiKolkataTrivandrumNoidaKochiCalicutKottayamKollamThrissurIndoreUdaipurdisclaimer:logos and other registered trademarks of universities used on this platform are held by their respective owners. Gradding does not claim ownership or association on them, and their use is purely for informational and illustrative purposes.