The cue card
Describe a quiet place where you like to spend time.
You should say:
- where it is
- how often you go there
- what you do there
and explain why you like spending time in this place.
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 quiet place I'd like to describe is, rather surprisingly, in what must be one of the noisiest cities anywhere. It's the rooftop of the seven-storey building where my family lives, in Mirpur, in the north-west of Dhaka. Most people in our building only go up there to hang out their washing or check the water tank, so for much of the day it's practically deserted. I go up there most mornings, usually just after Fajr, when the sky is still turning from grey to pale orange.
I'd say I manage it five or six days a week, except during the heaviest monsoon downpours, when it's more sensible to stay indoors. What I do there is fairly simple. Some mornings I just sit on an old plastic chair with a cup of tea and watch the city slowly wake up: the first rickshaws ringing their bells down below, pigeons circling over the neighbouring roofs, and the occasional kite left tangled on a television aerial from the evening before. Other times, I take a notebook and plan my day, or I revise vocabulary for my exams, because for some reason things seem to stick in my head better up there.
My mother has also started growing chillies and tomatoes in some old paint buckets, so I've somehow been put in charge of watering them. The reason I'm so attached to it is that it's the only place where I can genuinely hear myself think. Our flat is small and there's always something going on, whether it's the television, visitors or my little brother practising the harmonium. On the roof, for about an hour, nobody needs anything from me.
Having that short spell of stillness before the chaos of the day begins helps me stay calm and focused, and I really notice the difference on days when I skip it.
Useful phrases from this answer
- practically deserted
- almost completely empty of people
- monsoon downpours
- very heavy rain during the rainy season
- stick in my head
- be easy to remember
- hear myself think
- have enough quiet to think clearly
- short spell of stillness
- a brief period of calm and quiet
- digital detox
- a period of time without using phones or the internet
- city dwellers
- people who live in cities
- within walking distance
- close enough to walk to
Part 3 follow-up questions and answers
Why do people need quiet places in their lives?
I'd say quiet places give people a chance to recover mentally. Modern life involves constant stimulation, from traffic and crowds to phone notifications, and the brain doesn't get much opportunity to rest or process what's happening. Spending even a short time somewhere peaceful lets people reflect, make decisions more calmly and simply notice how they're feeling. Quiet spaces are also essential for certain activities, such as studying, praying or creative work, which require deep concentration. In crowded cities like Dhaka, where many families share small homes, a quiet corner can be quite rare, which is probably why places like libraries, mosques and parks are so highly valued.
Do young people value quiet time as much as older people do?
On the whole, probably not, although I think that's starting to change. Young people tend to have more energy and often enjoy being surrounded by friends, music and activity, so silence can feel boring or even uncomfortable to them. Many also fill every spare moment by scrolling on their phones. Older people, by contrast, have usually learnt from experience how valuable a peaceful moment can be. That said, I've noticed that more young people are becoming aware of burnout and mental health, and things like meditation apps or a weekend digital detox are quite fashionable now, which suggests they're beginning to appreciate quiet time in their own way.
Is it harder to find peace and quiet in cities now than it was in the past?
In most rapidly growing cities, I'd say yes. Dhaka is a good example: in my parents' childhood, many areas still had open fields, ponds and quiet residential lanes, but much of that has since been replaced by high-rise buildings and busy roads. There are simply far more people, vehicles and construction projects now, and noise from generators, horns and loudspeakers is almost constant. On the other hand, some modern cities have deliberately created quiet spaces, like pedestrianised streets and green parks, and noise-cancelling headphones have given individuals a way to escape. Overall, though, real peace and quiet has become something city dwellers have to actively seek out.
How does noise pollution affect people's health?
From what I understand, the effects can be quite serious, even if they're less visible than those of air pollution. The most obvious problem is hearing damage, particularly for people like traffic police or factory workers who are exposed to loud noise for hours every day. But constant noise also seems to raise stress levels, which may contribute to things like high blood pressure and headaches. Poor sleep is another major issue, because people living near busy roads or construction sites often find it hard to rest properly at night. And for children, I'd imagine a noisy environment makes it much harder to concentrate at school, which could affect their learning.
What can town planners do to make cities less stressful places to live?
I think they could start by prioritising green spaces. Parks, tree-lined streets and protected lakes give residents somewhere to relax and also help reduce heat and noise. Better public transport would make a huge difference too, since long, unpredictable journeys in traffic are one of the main sources of daily stress, at least in a city like Dhaka. Planners could also separate noisy industrial areas from residential ones more strictly, and design neighbourhoods where schools, shops and clinics are within walking distance. Finally, I'd argue they should involve local residents more in decisions, because people often know far better than officials which parts of their area cause the most frustration.
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