IELTS Speaking Part 2 - Cue Card
Describe a statue in your city
You should say:
- Where it is
- What it represents
- When it was built
and explain how you feel about the statue
Ideas for the Answer
1. IDEAS
You can talk about…
- Statues of people, animals, mythical beings, gods…
Statues are normally life-like, so they show some life form. Don’t confuse this with a sculpture that can be any kind of creative object.
- A statue in your hometown or where you live.
If your city doesn’t have one, you could talk about a statue in another city, or a city where you have lived before.
- An outdoor statue (in parks, in squares, on mountains, at the entrance of buildings)
- A statue in a museum
- Statues made of stone, bronze, wood, ice, metal
Do not describe
- A building
- A bridge
- A museum
- A painting
- A decoration in your house
- A sculpture
TIPS:
- Try googling statue + name of your city, you might be surprised to see some statues you didn’t know existed. You can then talk about one you like.
- Remember, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know the facts (e.g. date it was made), what is important is your English.
- Try describing the statue to a friend who hasn’t seen it, and see if they can imagine it clearly.
How to use this sample answer
- Close your eyes and listen
- Listen again, pause and repeat short phrases.
- Listen again and shadow (say the words at the same time but without pausing)
- Listen again and read
- Note useful words, chunks and phrase
2. SAMPLE ANSWER
Click arrow to read script
Well, actually there are a lot of statues to chose from in my city.
There is one that I do like very much which is a really striking statue down by the bay.
In fact, there are 4 statues grouped together in one mini-exhibition.
The statues are all of boys stood on the promenade looking out to sea.
They are all life-size, and standing in different postures.
My favourite one is the one of a boy who is about to dive into the water.
The feeling of movement is just so incredibly life-like.
I think the artist has carved out the bodies and facial features with remarkable detail and realism.
You could be forgiven for thinking they were real.
In fact, most tourists are taken by surprise when they see them from a distance, they look like real boys, so they are shocked to see these nude boys about to jump into the sea.
The statues are actually made of bronze and the colour is hard to describe, it’s kind of brown but over the years, and with the weather I suppose, it has become a dirty green colour.
I am not too sure of the history of the statues, but I think they are generally considered to have artistic and aesthetic value, rather than commemorating some special event.
I guess they represent the local people and lifestyle.
In a way, I guess they honour the youth of the town, and celebrate the role the sea plays in there.
Watch the cartoon version here.
3. LANGUAGE
a really striking (adj.) statue = It gets your attention because it is unusual
A mini-exhibition (n.) = a small exhibition (a place to display something, often art)
They are all life -size (adj.) = the same size as in real life
life-like (adj.) = realistic
the artist has carved (v.) out the bodies = cut in order to create a shape (usually from wood)
facial (adj.) features (n.) = traits of the face
You could be forgiven for thinking (idiomatic expression) they were real = you might think they were real.
The statues are actually made of bronze = The material of the statue is bronze
They are generally considered to have aesthetic (adj.) value = People think their value lies in their beauty.
commemorating (v.) some special event = honouring some special event
11 thoughts on “IELTS Speaking Model Answer – Statue in Your City”
That’s superb content.
Thank you so much!
Hey Keith, I am confused, where is the “How you feel about the statue” in your answer?
You don’t have to answer every bullet point in your answer. Those are just for guidance and to give you ideas.
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Thank you so much for this comment Ana!
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The content is amazing.The listening track, the script, and the cartoon version all imprint it on one’s mind. Learning is fun with Keith, believe me.
You are my inspiration, Sir.
Stay blessed, live long.
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Thanks for your feedback – I am pleased you like the videos.
Good luck!
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Helena
Thank you so much Helena. I am pleased the content is useful for you. Keep studying and practicing and you will reach your goals. Best wishes, Keith