IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a person who loves to grow plants (e.g. vegetables, flowers) at home or in the garden

Describe a person who loves to grow plants (e.g. vegetables, flowers) at home or in the garden

You should say:

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

How to plan it in one minute

  1. Identify the person clearly and describe their specific garden setting to create a visual image.
  2. Detail the specific plants and methods to demonstrate your range of descriptive vocabulary.
  3. Focus your final minute on the personal emotional benefits to provide a thoughtful conclusion.

Band 8 model answer

I’d like to tell you about my uncle, Arthur, who is a dedicated horticultural enthusiast living in the countryside. He has transformed his rather modest backyard into a vibrant, sprawling sanctuary that looks more like a botanical garden than a simple vegetable patch. He grows a diverse array of flora, ranging from heirloom tomatoes and crisp kale to fragrant English roses that climb the trellis near his back porch. His technique is quite meticulous; he practises organic gardening, meaning he shuns synthetic pesticides entirely. Instead, he spends his mornings brewing his own compost tea and carefully monitoring the pH levels of the soil. He is also a master of seasonal rotation, ensuring the earth remains nutrient-rich throughout the year. It’s fascinating to watch him work because he has this uncanny ability to diagnose a plant’s health just by the colour of its leaves. He genuinely loves gardening because it provides him with a profound sense of tranquillity that he struggles to find elsewhere. For him, sinking his hands into the damp earth is a form of meditation; it helps him disconnect from the frantic pace of modern life and reconnect with the natural rhythm of the seasons. He often tells me that there is nothing more rewarding than nurturing a tiny seed into a flourishing plant that eventually ends up on the dinner table. It is this tangible connection to the cycle of growth and the quiet satisfaction of self-sufficiency that keeps him so passionate about his garden every single day.

251 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

Vocabulary from the answer

horticultural
Relating to the art or practice of gardening.
heirloom
An old variety of plant not used commercially.
trellis
A wooden framework used to support climbing plants.
meticulous
Showing great attention to detail and precision.
shuns
Persistently avoids, ignores, or rejects something.
uncanny
Strange or mysterious in an unsettling way.
tranquillity
The quality or state of being calm.
self-sufficiency
The ability to maintain oneself without outside help.

Part 3 questions that follow this card

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See the Part 3 guide.

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Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a person who loves to grow plants (e.g. vegetables, flowers) at home or in the garden"?

Identify the person clearly and describe their specific garden setting to create a visual image.

How long should my answer be?

Speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

Can I use this model answer in the exam?

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

More cue cards: a person