When you made a journey by aeroplane or train

IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card 464 with Model Answer:

Describe a time when you made a journey by aeroplane or train.

You should say:

• what type of journey it was
• when it was
• how was the journey

and explain whether you liked it or not.

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

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Sample Answer 1:

Introduction:
Travelling is an integral part of life and is necessary to explore new places, cultures and people. In my life, I have travelled by various modes of transportation, but the most memorable one was my journey to Mumbai by train. For this topic, I will be talking about this interesting and memorable train journey.

What type of journey it was:
It was a great journey. The journey was made by train, and it was from my hometown to Mumbai, which is about 1500 km away. The train was one of the fastest express trains, and it took around 24 hours to reach Mumbai.

When it was:
I made this journey around two years ago. It was a planned trip, and I went to Mumbai to attend a friend's wedding ceremony.

How was the journey:
The journey was comfortable and enjoyable. I boarded the train in the morning and got a window seat, which allowed me to enjoy the picturesque view throughout the journey. The train was equipped with all the necessary amenities, including a pantry car, comfortable seats, and clean toilets. The train passed through several tunnels, bridges and hills, which made the journey even more exciting.

And explain whether you liked it or not:
I liked the journey very much. It was a unique experience that provided me with an opportunity to relax and enjoy the scenic beauty of nature. The train journey was much more comfortable than travelling by air, as I had enough space to move around, socialize with people and witness the beauty of different states of India. It was an unforgettable journey that I still cherish, and I hope to undertake such a journey again in the future.

Model Answer 2:

Science has revolutionised human civilisation and touched every aspect of our life including how we commute or travel. We now fly like birds in the sky, and it reduces the time required for travelling to an amazingly great extent. Moreover, a trip by air is both thrilling and relaxing. Thank you for giving me a chance to talk about a journey that I made by air.

I have travelled by air many times, but the excitement of experiencing it for the first time when I was just 11 years old is still vivid in my mind. My parents took me to visit my maternal aunt who used to live in a distant city from ours, and we flew to this aunt's city which brought a rare opportunity for me to travel by air and experience the journey on an aeroplane.

On that day, we reached the airport well ahead of our schedule. After the necessary formalities, we went inside the aeroplane, and after 20 minutes or so, the plane took off. Luckily, I got a seat beside a window. The aeroplane moved along the ground for a few minutes and then flew into the air. We passed over rivers, roads, and towns. I could see white clusters of clouds, and they seemed so near - as if I could touch them! Everything on the ground appeared so small and distant. Except for the first and last few minutes - at the time of taking off and landing, the flight was so smooth or at least this was what I felt. In less than 2 hours, we reached the destination which could otherwise take 18/20 hours on the road.

I definitely liked the journey. It was so exciting an experience that I still remember it. As a young kid, everything was new and thrilling to me about this journey.