Hey there, welcome back to IELTS on Fire – your daily five-minute boost for real IELTS results. I’m Teacher Phil, and today we’re lighting up a classic Speaking Part 2 topic: describing a place you love.

If you want to boost your fluency and sound natural in your next test, this episode is for you. You’ll get a Band 8–9 style sample answer, some powerful phrases to steal, and a quick practice challenge. Ready? Let’s dive in.

Describe a place you love to visit.

You should say:

• Where it is
• When you usually go there
• What you do there
• And explain why you love this place

Imagine you’re handed this cue card in the real exam. Listen carefully to my answer, then we’ll break it down and see how you can use the same approach.

Okay, let me tell you about a place I absolutely love: the Botanical Gardens in my city.

It’s located just on the edge of town, and I try to visit at least once every couple of weeks, especially when I need a break from my busy schedule. Usually, I go there on Sunday mornings, when it’s quiet and the air feels fresh.

What I love to do there is just wander around the different sections – there’s a beautiful rose garden, a small lake with ducks, and even a cozy little café where I grab a coffee. Sometimes I bring a book and just sit on a bench, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

The main reason I love this place is because it helps me clear my mind. It’s like a little oasis in the middle of the city, and being surrounded by nature always lifts my mood. I also find that after spending some time there, I feel recharged and ready to tackle the week ahead. Honestly, I can’t think of a better way to unwind.

So, for me, the Botanical Gardens isn’t just a park – it’s my go-to spot whenever I need to relax or get inspired.

"Let me break down why this answer works.

First, I started with a clear introduction and answered all the bullet points. I used natural transitions like ‘What I love to do there…’ and ‘The main reason I love this place…’ to keep my ideas connected.

Here are three useful phrases you can take for your own answer:

• ‘I absolutely love…’
• ‘It’s like a little oasis in the middle of the city.’
• ‘Whenever I need to relax or get inspired…’

These phrases make your language sound vivid and personal. They’re native-level collocations that show emotion and help you sound fluent. Notice how I varied my sentence lengths and used details to paint a picture, instead of just listing facts.

Try using at least two of these phrases in your next answer. It will instantly make your speaking more dynamic and natural."

Now it’s your turn. Think of a place you love – but choose a different one from mine. Set a timer for one minute and describe it out loud, hitting all the bullet points from today’s cue card. Focus on using at least two of the phrases we talked about.

Pause the podcast now, give it a go, and remember: your fluency isn’t born, it’s built. Let’s build it together."

That’s it for today’s IELTS on Fire. Come back tomorrow for another quick boost and more real IELTS strategies. Until then, keep practicing – and let’s set your English on fire.