Describe an enjoyable day out in the countryside that you had.
You should say
- where you went on this day out
- who you were with
- what you did
- and explain why you enjoyed the day
Here's my sample answer for the task above. I've tried to use most of the phrases from this lesson.
I’m going to describe a recent trip to a lovely place called the Tissington Trail. The Tissington Trail is a path or track that follows the route of a former railway line through beautiful countryside in the county of Derbyshire, here in the UK. The old railway line was taken up many years ago, and it was transformed into a recreational trail that is ideal for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
I went to the Tissington Trail because we had some family members, my brother and sister-in-law and their daughter, staying with us over the weekend. They had come up to Manchester from London, and they wanted my wife and me to take them somewhere where they could breathe in some fresh countryside air and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
To reach the trail we had to park in Tissington itself, which is a charming, picturesque village. We hired some bicycles there and set off along the trail. It was an easy ride because the trail is mostly flat, with just a few gentle dips and inclines, and we were able to enjoy the stunning scenery as we passed through areas of woodland, a dramatic limestone ravine, and grassy meadows that were covered with colourful wild flowers.
The part of the day that I enjoyed the most was when we cycled through a historic railway tunnel on our bicycles. The tunnel has been fitted with a sound installation that plays eerie steam train noises as you pass through it; we all loved the idea that the sounds transport you back in time, and that you feel like you’re on an old steam train with its whistles and clunking machinery. It was a really nice day out, and we all enjoyed relaxing in the village tearoom at the end of our bike ride.
Dear Simon,
I have followed your blog for a couple months, and it is really useful and help me a lot.
However, recently I met a question, and I am really struggle with it. I have no idea how to build this type of question in you four paragraph strategy.
could you please give me some hint?
Here is the question:
Some people prefer to live in a house, while others feel that there are more advantages to living in an apartment. Are there more advantages than disadvantages of living in a house compared with living in an apartment?
Posted by: Wang | October 06, 2017 at 11:11
@ Wang
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=advantages+than+disadvantages+*&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t2%3B%2Cadvantages%20than%20disadvantages%20%2A%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Badvantages%20than%20disadvantages%20in%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Badvantages%20than%20disadvantages%20to%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Badvantages%20than%20disadvantages%20for%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Badvantages%20than%20disadvantages%20arise%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Badvantages%20than%20disadvantages%20from%3B%2Cc0
Thus: "... more advantages than disadvantages to living in a house compared to living in an apartment."
I wonder whether this is a real IELTS question, or culled from some dreadful guide.
There really is some excellent advice on how to formulate your answers on this site. All you have to do is click on "IELTS Writing Task 2" in the left sidebar.
Posted by: Oleg70 | October 07, 2017 at 00:53
In British English, "flat" is often used as a noun to mean "apartment" - which often suggests something more upmarket.
http://etymonline.com/index.php?term=flat&allowed_in_frame=0
http://etymonline.com/index.php?term=flat&allowed_in_frame=0
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=apartment%3Aeng_us_2012%2Capartment%3Aeng_gb_2012%2Cflat_NOUN%3Aeng_gb_2012%2Cflat_NOUN%3Aeng_us_2012&year_start=1960&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Capartment%3Aeng_us_2012%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Capartment%3Aeng_gb_2012%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cflat_NOUN%3Aeng_gb_2012%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cflat_NOUN%3Aeng_us_2012%3B%2Cc0
Posted by: Oleg70 | October 07, 2017 at 01:35
@Oleg70
hi I know this website is useful.I learn everything about IELTS form this blog, but i have no idea why you post those graph website
about your question yes this is a real question from CAMBRIDGE 7 GENERAL TRAINING A
hoping someone can give me some advice
Posted by: Wang | October 07, 2017 at 08:06
Wang
See comment by Milad (and examiner) here:
http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2014/08/ielts-writing-task-2-can-you-see-the-problem.html
Posted by: Oleg70 | October 08, 2017 at 06:51
@ Oleg70
WOW!!! thank you for you help, I finally can make sure whether i should mention my own opinion or not. There are so many sample of the essay topic on other websites, and some with writer's opinion, some without. however they all claim their essay have band 8~8.5, which was the reason why i am so confused.
best of luck with you
all the best
Posted by: Wang | October 09, 2017 at 13:36
Don't you think the sample answer is too long to speak in 2 minutes?
Posted by: Huong | October 19, 2017 at 09:35
I did the Tissington trail a couple of years ago on a tandem with my wife! Nice example.
Posted by: Michael Chambers | November 12, 2017 at 13:26
Hi Simon,
I have some questions about this sample answer.
1. They wanted my wife and "I" to take them somewhere ......
Why not using "me"?
2.colourful wild flowers
Can we say wild colorful flowers?
3.when we CYCLED through a historic railway tunnel ON OUR BICYCLES.
Is it repetitive for the meaning, since "cycle" already points out riding on a bike?
4. the soundS transport you back in time...
Is "sound" countable? using plural?
Thanks.
Posted by: Felicia | November 28, 2017 at 11:14
This answer is unreasonably long and unexpected. How come we in 2 minutes come up with such story in-depth?
Posted by: Raheb | July 01, 2018 at 20:08
Good questions Felicia.
1. Well noticed! It should be 'me'. I've changed it.
2. 'wild flowers' is the noun phrase, and 'colourful' is the adjective describing those wild flowers. It sounds funny the other way around.
3. Yes, it's repetitive, but this is typical of normal speech.
4. Yes, 'sound' can be countable. e.g. I heard many sounds.
...
Rehab,
The aim is to give you an 'ideal' sample answer that you can learn from. I doubt my answer would be as good if you put me in an exam situation, but I think you can learn more from a good model answer.
Posted by: Simon | July 12, 2018 at 16:27