Describe a place you have been to where things are expensive IELTS Cue Card
IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC
Describe a place you have been to where things are expensive
You should say:
- Where the place is
- What the place is like
- Why did you go there
- What you buy there
- And explain why you think things are expensive there
Sample 1
I have visited many places in India, but the place I am going to talk about is Shimla. It is a hill station three to four hours from my house. It is costly. Shimla is a lovely and beautiful place with hills; summer and winter are covered with snow.
I went there around December, an auspicious time to visit. Shimla looked beautiful, demonstrating the natural beauty of a hill station and why people adore it. However, the place was costly.
I was travelling around Mall Road, and things were so expensive that they needed to be competitive. The things I could get near my house at rupees hundred were being sold at one thousand rupees. The packet of a Maggi, which cost around 20 rupees near my home, was sold at 60 rupees there. I don’t know why it is so expensive.
The main reason could be the lower water level, as the hill stations have severe water and sewage problems. People must bring tankers from the plain areas towards the hill stations for the water, as the water there gets frozen quickly.
So it is challenging to survive there. I think things were expensive there but worth it according to that location, as people also have to gain some profits. And it is tough to make those things there, which are crafts. The most expensive things were the poetry and the crafts sold there, as they were very much overpriced.
I bought a simple painting of a dancing girl there, which was perfect. It was around 1500 rupees, but after months, I roamed Chandigarh and found the same painting for 600 rupees. I was shocked and had been thinking about why I spent money there, but I think it was an excellent experience to visit Shimla and a perfect place.
Sample 2
The expensive place I went to was in Bangalore. Its name was the Phoenix Mall of Asia. It’s the biggest mall in Bangalore. It is a big mall that looks wonderful from inside and outside, but the things there are costly.
Once, we bought a bottle of water, which cost us nearly a hundred rupees. Everything cost a lot, and we spent many rupees there only. It’s a big and good place to visit.
I suggest everyone visit there, but the things there are costly, and the mall would be great if they reduced the prices. Everyone would be going there, and it would be a good mall with parking.
I went there with my family members when I was in Bangalore during my summer vacation, and I would revisit it if I got a chance because I like that mall. The price is the only problem. Once again, I would go there and roam around.
Follow-ups
Here are some examples of follow-up questions that the examiner might ask during your speaking part 3 related to the cue card: “Describe a place you have been to where things are expensive.”
1. Why do some people still use cash?
It is unequivocal that digital transactions have become integral to our lives. In my country, India, people use UPI for various transactions, and even small vendors like those who sell groceries also use UPI transactions. However, there is a section of society that still uses cash, and it is because not all people are technology savvy, and many people are also fearful of cyber fraud. That’s why they prefer cash instead of digital transactions.
2. Will the payment be paperless in the future?
Yes. Payments will be paperless in the future because the world is moving towards digitalization. Paper currency has various flaws. The essential one is that it is pretty challenging to track who holds how much money. In the case of digital transactions, it is fairly easy for the government to know the series of transactions. That’s why digital currency is the future.
3. What do you think of the view that time is as essential as money?
Yes, time is as essential as money because it is a vital, precious, and limited resource. Whether rich or poor, you have the same 24 hours a day. So, time is as important as money, and it is our bounden duty to use it prudently.
4. Is choosing a job with a high salary or with more time off is more important?
We should choose a job with a higher salary because the primary purpose is to earn money. After all, if we have enough money, 70-80% of our jobs will be done.
If we get reasonable remuneration, we can invest in various products like fixed deposits and mutual funds. When our investments grow, we can take a bit off from our jobs to travel and spend time with our family.
5. How important is it to have a variety of payment options?
In the modern era, various payment options are very important because not all vendors accept digital payments when you shop.
So, in that case, you also need to have cash. In some cases, organizations take cheques instead of digital payments. That’s why a chequebook is also important. In most cases, vendors prefer digital transactions. So, it would help if you had your UPI, credit card, debit card, and everything in place.
6. Why are things more expensive in some places than in others?
This is because land and labour costs are high in some places and low in others. For example, cities have high land and labour costs, making things more expensive. However, that’s different in the villages.
