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Describe the best holiday you ever had. v.1

Describe the best holiday you ever had. v. 1
Describe the best holiday you ever had. You should say: when and where you had it how you reached there what you did, and with whom you spent the holiday and explain why it was so special. [You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish. ] Model Answer 1: Holidays come and go in our lives. While some of those holidays feel really “special” to us, the others make us feel really “disappointed”.   However, today, I would like to talk about one such holiday which I would call the “best” one of my life. It was about 6 years ago when I was studying in the final year at my university, and things were getting tough as far as the classes and assignment tasks were concerned. Besides, an “unusually” hot summer, “unusual” for the time of the year in my country, made the things even tougher. So, I was desperately looking for a holiday. But, “where would I go” was the first question that came into my mind. However, after giving some thoughts, I finally decided that I would visit one of my cousins, having almost the same age as me, who was living far, far away from my hometown in one of the most beautiful countrysides of my country called (. . . say the name of a place. . . ) with my loving aunt. So, the next day, I took a non-stop train and arrived at my cousin’s place after travelling for almost 16 hours or so. After arriving there, the first thing, my cousin wanted me to do, was to visit the lake and swim in its crystal clear water to “cool” myself down. The next couple of days, of course, we mostly walked through the meadow while enjoying the mesmerizing beauty of the countryside, followed by bird-hunting and having a picnic in the bush. It was arguably the best holiday of my life and so special mainly because it allowed me to enjoy the beautiful nature of my country, while breathing some fresh air also at the same time, which just couldn’t be found at a 5-star luxury hotel in a city, even after costing a “fortune. Besides, sometimes, doing the “simplest” things in life is what really makes us feel happy, when everything else fails, like reuniting with some very special family members, who love you so dearly, or listening to the chirping of some special birds at early dawn without actually ever getting out of your bed.   Model Answer 2: The best holiday of my life was the vacation I had with my parents and sisters two years ago. I work in the capital city and visit my hometown 2-3 times a year. My hometown is a 7-hour drive from my current city. That time I got a week’s holiday and planned to surprise my family members. I reached home at around 1. 00 am and my parents and siblings were delighted and quite surprised at the same time to see me. They were excited when they heard that I had got a vacation for the whole week. My mother called my elder sister the next day and she came to visit us on the same day with her children. The next day we went to watch a movie in the theatre and we ate dinner in a Thai restaurant. We return home late at night and then played cards together. My nephew and niece kept me busy all day long and I spent some exciting time with them. Next day we went to a nearby picnic spot and that was a very pleasant experience. We cooked our own food and I personally prepared the grilled fish item, which, to our surprise, was delicious. We played outdoor games, ran in the fields and swam in the water. This was a truly great day that I enjoyed thoroughly. Since my vacation was getting over, my parents planned to visit our grandparents’ (parents of my father) house. Though our grandparents both had passed away a few years ago, we still cherished our time in this very house and enjoyed our stay there. The next morning, we drove to my grandparents' house. It was a bit tough for the car to accommodate all the luggage and us and yet we decided to travel together in a car. We drove for several hours and discussed so many things we have not discussed for a long. It was nostalgic and yet exciting! In the evening we reached to our grandparents’ house where two of my uncles and their families live in. Later on, we went to visit the nearby river and enjoyed the open and fresh air. In the evening we returned home and had our family dinner. Our two days’ stay at my grandparents' house passed very pleasantly and quickly. I returned to our home the next day, and the day after that I returned to my city (where I live and work) by train. This holidays I had with my family is a memorable one, and the best I ever had, as I scarcely get a chance to meet and spend time with all of my family members together whom I love and miss dearly.     Similar Cue Card topics: Your ability to talk about this Cue Card Topic would enable you to talk about the following Cue Card Topics as well: Describe a vacation you recently had. Describe something interesting you did recently. Describe your idea of an ideal holiday. Describe a picnic or recreation you recently had. Describe an outdoor meal you recently enjoyed. Describe a holiday you spent with your friends.
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
Describe
the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
best
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
holiday
you ever had. You should say: when and where you had it how you reached there what you did, and with whom you spent the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
holiday
and
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
explain
why it was
so
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
special
. [You will
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
have to
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
talk
about the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
topic
for one to two minutes. You have one minute to
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
think
about what you are going to say. You can
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
make
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
some
notes to
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
help
you if you wish.
Loose punctuation mark.
]


Model Answer 1:
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
Holidays
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
come
and go in our
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
lives
. While
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
some
of those
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
holidays
feel
really
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
“special”
to us, the others
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
make
us feel
really
“disappointed”.
Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
 
However
,
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
today
, I would like to
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
talk
about one such
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
holiday
which I would call the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
“best”
one of my life.

It was about 6 years ago when I was studying in the final
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
year
at my university, and things were getting tough as far as the classes and assignment tasks
were concerned
.
Besides
, an “
unusually
” hot summer, “unusual” for the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
time
of the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
year
in my country, made the things even tougher.
So
, I was
desperately
looking for a
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
holiday
.
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
But
, “where would I go” was the
first
question that came into my mind.
However
, after giving
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
some
thoughts, I
finally
decided that I would
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
visit
one of my cousins, having almost the same age as me, who was living far, far away from my hometown in one of the most
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
beautiful
countrysides of my country called (.
Don't put a space before the full stop
.
Don't put a space before the full stop
.
This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
say
the name of a place.
Don't put a space before the full stop
.
Don't put a space before the full stop
.
Loose punctuation mark.
)
with my loving aunt.
So
, the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
next
day, I took a non-
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
stop
train and arrived at my cousin’s place after travelling for almost 16 hours or
so
. After arriving there, the
first
thing, my cousin wanted me to do, was to
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
visit
the lake and swim in its crystal
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
clear
water to “cool” myself down. The
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
next
couple of days,
of course
, we
mostly
walked through the meadow while enjoying the mesmerizing beauty of the countryside, followed by bird-hunting and having a picnic in the bush.

It was
arguably
the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
best
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
holiday
of my life and
so
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
special
mainly
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
because
it
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
allowed
me to enjoy the
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
beautiful
nature of my country, while breathing
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
some
fresh air
also
at the same
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
time
, which
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
just
couldn’t
be found
at a 5-star luxury hotel in a city, even after costing a “fortune.
Besides
,
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
sometimes
, doing the “simplest” things in life is what
really
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
makes
us feel happy, when everything else fails, like reuniting with
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
some
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
very
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
special
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
family
members, who
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
love
you
so
dearly
, or listening to the chirping of
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
some
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
special
birds at early dawn without
actually
ever getting out of your bed.
Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
 
Model Answer 2: The
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
best
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
holiday
of my life was the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
vacation
I had with my
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
parents
and sisters two years ago. I work in the capital city and
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
visit
my hometown 2-3
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
times
a
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
year
. My hometown is a 7-hour drive from my
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
current
city. That
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
time
I
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
got
a week’s
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
holiday
and planned to surprise my
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
family
members. I reached home at around 1. 00 am and my
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
parents
and siblings
were delighted
and quite surprised at the same
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
time
to
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
see
me. They
were excited
when they heard that I had
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
got
a
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
vacation
for the whole week. My mother called my elder sister the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
next
Use a comma before 'and' if it connects two independent clauses (unless they are closely connected and short).
day and
she came to
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
visit
us on the same day with her children. The
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
next
day we went to
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
watch
a movie in the
Use a comma before 'and' if it connects two independent clauses (unless they are closely connected and short).
theatre and
we ate dinner in a Thai restaurant. We return home late at night and then played
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
cards
together. My nephew and niece
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
kept
me busy all day long and I spent
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
some
exciting
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
time
with them.

Next
day we went to a nearby picnic spot and that was a
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
very
pleasant experience. We cooked our
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
own
food and I
personally
prepared the grilled fish item, which, to our surprise, was delicious. We played outdoor games, ran in the fields and swam in the water. This was a
truly
great day that I
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
enjoyed
thoroughly
.

Since my
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
vacation
was getting over, my
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
parents
planned to
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
visit
our grandparents’
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
(parents
of my father)
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
house
. Though our grandparents both had passed away a few years ago, we
still
cherished our
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
time
in this
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
very
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
house
and
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
enjoyed
our stay there. The
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
next
morning, we drove to my grandparents'
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
house
. It was a bit tough for the car to accommodate all the luggage and
Use a comma before 'and' if it connects two independent clauses (unless they are closely connected and short).
us and
yet
we decided to travel together in a car. We drove for several hours and discussed
so
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
many
things we have not discussed for a long. It was nostalgic and
yet
exciting!

In the evening we reached to our grandparents’
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
house
where two of my uncles and their
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
families
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
live
in. Later on, we went to
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
visit
the nearby river and
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
enjoyed
the open and fresh air. In the evening we returned home and had our
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
family
dinner.

Our two days’ stay at my grandparents'
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
house
passed
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:
very
pleasantly
and
quickly
. I returned to our home the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
next
day, and the day after that I returned to my city (where I
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
live
and work) by train. This
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
holidays
I had with my
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
family
is a memorable one, and the
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
best
I ever had, as I
scarcely
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
get
a chance to
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
meet
and spend
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
time
with all of my
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
family
members together whom I
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
love
and miss
dearly
.
Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
   
Similar Cue
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
Card
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
topics
: Your ability to
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
talk
about this Cue
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
Card
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
Topic
would enable you to
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
talk
about the following Cue
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
Card
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
Topics
as
well
:
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
Describe
a
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
vacation
you
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
recently
had.
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
Describe
something interesting you did
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
recently
.
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
Describe
your
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :
idea
of an ideal
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
holiday
.
Three successive sentences begin with the same word. Consider rewording the sentence or use a thesaurus to find a synonym.
Describe
a picnic or recreation you
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
recently
had.
Three successive sentences begin with the same word. Consider rewording the sentence or use a thesaurus to find a synonym.
Describe
an outdoor meal you
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
recently
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
enjoyed
.
Three successive sentences begin with the same word. Consider rewording the sentence or use a thesaurus to find a synonym.
Describe
a
You use this word too often, consider replacing it with
holiday
you spent with your friends.
21Linking words, meeting the goal of 7 or more
91Repeated words, meeting the goal of 3 or fewer
16Mistakes

IELTS speaking Describe the best holiday you ever had. v. 1

Speaking
  American English
8 paragraphs
970 words
5.5
Overall Band Score
Coherence and Cohesion: 5.5
  • Structure your answers in logical paragraphs
  • ?
    One main idea per paragraph
  • ?
    Include an introduction and conclusion
  • ?
    Support main points with an explanation and then an example
  • Use cohesive linking words accurately and appropriately
  • ?
    Vary your linking phrases using synonyms
Lexical Resource: 5.5
  • Try to vary your vocabulary using accurate synonyms
  • Use less common question specific words that accurately convey meaning
  • Check your work for spelling and word formation mistakes
Grammatical Range: 5.5
  • Use a variety of complex and simple sentences
  • Check your writing for errors
Task Achievement: 5.0
  • Answer all parts of the question
  • ?
    Present relevant ideas
  • Fully explain these ideas
  • ?
    Support ideas with relevant, specific examples
Labels Descriptions
  • ?
    Currently is not available
  • Meet the criteria
  • Doesn't meet the criteria
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