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Describe a place that has a special meaning to you

IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card 331 with Model Answer:

Describe a place that has a special meaning to you.

You should say:
  • what kind of place it is and where it is
  • what it looks like
  • what memories you associate with it
and explain why that place has a special meaning to you.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]


Model Answer 1:
This is quite an interesting topic as it brings back some very special memories in my heart. After all, a special place has to have some special memories, attached to it, doesn’t it?

This special place, I want to talk about today, is a “river shoreline” which was not too far from the village where I grew up as a child. In fact, the people of my village would need to walk only about 6/7 minutes to reach that river and its shore. This river shore wasn’t exactly sandy, like a sandy sea beach, but it wasn’t made of some kind of “sticky clay” either. In other words, the soil there was a perfect mixture of sand and moisturized clay which was perfect for walking and playing. But, the best thing about this river shore to me was that it was completely flat with spots of grasses here and there. To me, it was a perfect landscape, which drew me again and again, up until the time I stepped outside of my village.

Anyway, there are just so many memories associated with it. One of those memories was that it was on this river shore that my dearest late grandfather taught me how to ride a bicycle. Besides, in this place, I used to have numerous running races with my grandfather and other children of my age, only to confirm a bitter truth again and again that I was never a good sprinter! Many a time, I used this place as my “hideout” also in case my parents ever chastised me badly.

There are just too many nice memories like the ones I just mentioned above which I would probably never forget. In fact, I managed to make some of my life-long friends from this very place when I was a child. This place has a special meaning to me also as it helped me develop a very special bond between me and my dearest grandfather who had taught me the value of enjoying life at every opportunity – a pleasant lesson which I still hold very dear to my heart.

Model Answer 2:
Thank you very much for this great topic. To me, "Riyadh" is a special place, which is a global city and the capital of Saudi Arabia. It has an enriched history beginning from the pre-Islamic era. I have a special attachment to this city, and I consider it very special.

"Riyadh" is a spacious city that has several districts and municipalities under its authority. A wide number of commercial, entertainment, shopping and dining facilities are available there. The night view of the city is stunning. There are some prominent landmarks and tourist facilities there that attract a large number of people every day. This is like an oasis in the desert and truly a beautiful city.

I have many happy memories in this city, and this is the city where I have spent some of my happiest days in life. So this is perhaps the most important place for me as a person. I was born and brought up in Riyadh and still live here. Besides, I can recall my school and college days here which were filled with excitement and happiness. While living in the old part of this majestic city, I used to travel downtown of the city with my friends and schoolmates. The happy memories still linger in my brain, and I often remember how innocent and carefree those days were.

I like this city for many reasons. The most important thing about the city is that it is my birthplace where I also spent my childhood and teenage days. So, I have a different type of attraction to it. The modern facilities and the living standard of the city also make it a special place for me. Wherever I go, and whichever city I travel to, I feel a special bond with my birthplace.


Idea generation for this Cue Card topic:  

"Describe a place that has a special meaning to you." 

Most of us have our preference for places that attract us where we want to go back over and over again. Here are a few other hints to help the IELTS test takers to answer this cue card topic.

1. Marine Drive in Mumbai is the place that attracts me the most. I have been born and brought up near this boulevard and have observed the changes that shaped this place. Marine Drive is special to me as it reminds me of a wide place where I used to sit with my friends and spend hours after hours. I also have many other happy memories related to this place which would always be special to me.

2. Photography is an art and I am trying to be a professional photographer. I travel to different places to get photos. Rainbow Mountains in China is my favourite place to get some extraordinary photos. Actually, the mountain is known as Danxia landscapes, which is a perfect place for photography. The striking mountain, colours and surrounding environment have made it a heavenly place for me.

3. I have visited many cities in the world but none of them is as appealing as Amsterdam is. This capital city of the Netherlands is adorned with a wide canal system and I am in love with the stunning lakes the city has. The city owns an enriched historical background. And I also met with my beloved wife in this city when I migrated here from Malaysia. Life is going on since then and I want to spend the rest of my life in this city.

4. My honeymoon, which took place around six months ago, at Cat Ba island in Vietnam was extraordinary. It was different from most honeymoon destinations, and I loved this place very much. We camped on the rocky island and explored it as long as we could. I heartily enjoyed sunrises and sunsets from the island which thrilled me to a great extent. I would like to go back to the island in the future whenever I get a chance.

5. I love skiing, and 'Sochi', in Russia, offers me the best opportunity and a perfect gateway to enjoy this activity with some like-minded people. I eagerly wait for the season, and whenever winter comes, I jump off to the ski resorts. Krasnaya Polyana Mountain Cluster is a memorable place for me. Last year, I enjoyed some of the best times of my life there. I love this place for its outstanding skiing facilities.

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