Animals are a possible topic in part 2 of your IELTS Speaking test. Your animal cue card might tell you to ‘Describe a place with animals.’
On this page, we’ll talk about how to give a great answer to this question, including three example answers (go straight to the answers here).
First, let’s look at what you can talk about and useful vocabulary for this animal topic.
Places With Animals
When answering the question, it’s best to think of one place you know well, or one place you’ve been to and can remember well. Then simply describe that place as you remember it.
With that in mind, here are some places where you might find animals:
- Your home (pets)
- Pet store
- Zoo
- Safari park
- Aquarium
- Wildlife sanctuary
- National park
- Game reserve
- Farm
- Petting zoo
- Aviary
- Botanical garden
- Nature reserve
- Bird sanctuary
- Marine reserve
- Reptile house
- Insectarium
- Animal rescue center
- Wildlife rehabilitation center
- Circus
- Ranch or rodeo
Focus on Using Interesting Vocabulary
In part 2, don’t focus on trying to use complex grammar. Instead, focus on how to keep talking for two whole minutes.
This means writing down lots of ideas for things to talk about.
Also, focus on using interesting vocabulary.
So, while you’re preparing your answer, note down any unusual, interesting animal-related words you can think of.
Here are some words that might be used to describe animals:
- Tame
- Wild
- Furry
- Scaly
- Majestic
- Endangered
- Elusive
- Playful
- Ferocious
- Slithery
- Cunning
- Solitary
- Gregarious
- Elegant
- Fierce
- Lively
- Graceful
- Curious
- Agile
- Poised
- Magnificent
- Furry
- Adorable
- Cute
- Loyal
- Lovable
- Mischievous
- Affectionate
- Cuddly
- Devoted
- Gentle
- Helpful
- Intelligent
- Protective
- Well-behaved
- House-trained
Tell a Story
The easiest way to answer questions like these is to remember an experience you had and tell the story.
This allows you to say a lot and also shows that you can use the past tense well.
During your part-2 answer, always try to tell at least one story. You can prepare many stories while practicing for the test.
If you can’t think of a story with a place with animals, then just talk about anywhere with animals. You could also say if you’d like to visit that place or not.
Example Answers
Now let’s look at three possible cue cards and answers to this question. See what ideas and words you can borrow for your own answer.
Animals Cue Card 1
Describe a place with animals.
You should say:
- Where this place is
- What kind of animals you can see there
- How often you go there
And say why you like it or dislike it there.
Well, I’m lucky enough to live near a beautiful park with lots of wildlife. It’s one of my favorite places to go, and I visit as often as I can. There’s always something new to see, and I never get tired of exploring all the different paths and trails.
One of the things I love most about the park is all of the birds. There are so many different species, and it’s always a treat to see them up close. I’ve spotted everything from colorful parakeets to majestic hawks. I especially love the woodpeckers – they’re such funny little birds, with their distinctive drumming and bright red heads.
But it’s not just birds that you can see at the park. There are all sorts of animals as well. I’ve seen rabbits, squirrels, and even the occasional deer. It’s always a thrill to spot one of these creatures, and I never get tired of watching them go about their business.
The insects are fascinating too. I love seeing all the different types of butterflies and moths, and I’ve even spotted a few rare species that I’ve never seen before. The dragonflies are especially cool – they’re so vividly colorful and fast, and it’s always a challenge to get a good photo of them.
I usually go to the park with my friends or family, and we always have a great time. We like to bring a picnic and relax on the grass, or go for a hike and explore all the different paths. Sometimes we even bring our dogs, and they always have a blast sniffing around and chasing after squirrels.
Animals Cue Card 2
Describe a place with animals.
You should say:
- What that place is
- What kind of animals you can find there
- If you’ve been to that place
And say why you like or dislike that place.
I live in a sizable city and our local zoo is one of the biggest attractions in town. It’s always been a favorite spot of mine to visit, and I recently had the chance to go again with my family.
This was about two months ago. We arrived at the zoo early in the morning, just as it was opening. We bought our tickets and made our way through the gates, eager to see all of the animals. I remember the first stop on our list was the monkey exhibit. We watched as the playful primates swung from tree to tree, chattering and screeching at each other. It was like a circus show, and we couldn’t stop laughing at their antics.
Next, we headed over to the big cat exhibit. We saw a pride of lions lounging in the sun and a few majestic tigers pacing back and forth in their enclosures. It was awe-inspiring to see these powerful animals up close, but it also made me feel a little uneasy to think about how they would fare in the wild.
After that, we made our way to the elephant enclosure. Elephants are my favorite animal, and I was excited to see them in person. They were so huge and magnificent, and it was amazing to watch them roam around.
We spent the rest of the day at the zoo, stopping at various exhibits to see all sorts of animals. We saw flamingos, giraffes, and even a few exotic birds. It was a hot day, but we didn’t mind because we were having such a great time.
Animal Cue Card 3
Describe a place with animals.
You should say:
- What animals you find in that place
- If you want to visit that place
- If you’ve been there before
And say why the animals are in that place.
I’m going to talk about aquariums. Aquariums are places where people can go to see all sorts of marine life up close. They’re usually filled with tanks and tanks of water, each containing a different type of fish or other sea creatures. Some aquariums even have special exhibits where visitors can touch or interact with the animals in some way.
I remember going to an aquarium when I was a child on vacation with my family. It was one of the highlights of the trip, and I still have fond memories of it to this day. The aquarium we visited was located right beside the beach, and it was a hot summer day when we went.
As soon as we walked in, we were immediately struck by the cool, damp air. It was a welcome relief from the heat outside, and it made the whole experience even more enjoyable. We spent hours wandering through the aquarium, marveling at the colorful fish and other aquatic lifeforms. There were so many different species, and each one was more beautiful than the last.
One of my favorite exhibits was the coral reef tank. It was like a whole other world under the water, with a dazzling variety of exotic fish swimming around. The bright colors were mesmerizing, and I could have stayed there for hours just watching them.
We also got to see a few sea turtles up close, which was a real treat. They were so graceful and peaceful as they swam around their tank. I remember feeling a sense of awe and wonder as I watched them. It was a very memorable moment for me.
Now… Your Turn!
Give this question a go yourself.
First, get a pencil and a piece of paper ready.
Then turn on your voice recorder and imagine you are in the real test.
Ask yourself to ‘Describe a place with animals.’ And look at one of the cue cards above.
For one minute, write down ideas of things to say. Also, write down any interesting vocabulary you can use.
Then, start speaking! Try to keep going for two minutes straight without pause.
Afterward, listen to your recording and notice any mistakes you made or things you forgot to say.
Repeat the whole process, improving a little each time.
This is a wonderful way to get ready for a band-7 score in part 2 of your IELTS Speaking test.
