IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe someone who enjoys spending time in nature

A Band 8 model answer with the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it, and the Part 3 questions that follow.
  • 265 words
  • A person
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe someone who enjoys spending time in nature

You should say:

  • →who this person is
  • →what kinds of outdoor activities they do
  • →how often they spend time outdoors
  • →and explain why you think they love being outside so much

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

A person

How to plan it in one minute

  1. 1

    Name & relation: Uncle Julian, landscape designer / hillwalker.

  2. 2

    Activities & frequency: hiking trails, allotment gardening, out 4-5 days weekly.

  3. 3

    Reasons: stress relief, screen-free head space, passion for local wildlife.

Model answer

Band 8 model answer

Band 8265 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I'd like to talk about my uncle, Julian, who is an absolute outdoor enthusiast. He's in his late fifties now and works part-time as a landscape designer, so his entire routine pretty much revolves around the open air. I've known him all my life, obviously, but over the last decade or so, his passion for nature has become even more noticeable.

Whenever he has a spare moment, Julian is outside. He's an avid hillwalker and birdwatcher, so on weekends he regularly heads off to national parks to trek along rugged coastal paths or climb peaks. Even during the working week, he spends his evenings pottering around his allotment, tending to his vegetables and fruit trees. Rain or shine, he's out there; he always says there's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.

I'd say he spends at least four or five days a week engaged in some sort of outdoor pursuit. If he's forced to stay indoors for an extended period, say because of a severe storm, you can visibly tell he gets quite restless and fidgety.

As for why he loves being outside so much, I think it boils down to two main things. Firstly, it's his way of unwinding. He finds modern urban life quite overstimulating, with all the screens and traffic, so heading into the countryside gives him head space and helps him decompress. Secondly, he has a deep fascination with the natural ecosystem. He's endlessly curious about flora and fauna, and being outdoors allows him to observe wildlife in its natural habitat, which brings him genuine peace and contentment.

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8 words

Vocabulary from the answer

  • outdoor enthusiast

    a person who loves open-air activities

  • revolves around

    has someone or something as its main focus

  • avid

    showing keen interest or enthusiasm

  • rugged

    rough and uneven terrain

  • pottering around

    doing casual, unhurried tasks in a relaxed way

  • fidgety

    restless and unable to sit still

  • boils down to

    is essentially caused by or summarised as

  • decompress

    relax and release physical or mental stress

5 questions

Part 3 questions that follow this card

  1. 1Why do many people nowadays seem to prefer indoor leisure activities?
  2. 2How have children's outdoor habits changed compared to past generations?
  3. 3What factors encourage local communities to make better use of public parks?
  4. 4Do you think future city planners will place a higher priority on green spaces?
  5. 5What are the drawbacks of extreme outdoor sports compared to gentle recreation?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. Read Band 8 answers to these Part 3 questions: nature and outdoor habits across generations.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe someone who enjoys spending time in nature"?+

Name & relation: Uncle Julian, landscape designer / hillwalker.

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.

Keep practising

More cue cards: a person

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