Part 2 band 8 sample — Describe a memorable journey

Cue card

Describe a memorable journey you have taken. You should say:

• Where you went
• Who you went with
• What you did during the journey
• And explain why this journey was memorable

Band 8 sample answer (2 phút)

"I'd like to talk about a road trip I took with my younger sister through northern Vietnam three years ago — it was one of those experiences that genuinely shifted my perspective on travel.

We started in Hanoi and drove a small motorbike up to Ha Giang, which is right on the Chinese border. The journey itself took about a week, weaving through these incredibly winding mountain roads that the locals call the 'happiness road' — it's narrow, often unpaved, and the drops on either side are pretty terrifying if you think about them too much.

During the trip, we did a mix of things. We stayed in homestays with local H'mong families, who fed us amazing meals and shared stories about their traditions. We trekked through rice terraces, swam in mountain streams, and probably most memorably, we got caught in a sudden storm that forced us to take shelter in a tiny village for two days. The villagers welcomed us like family even though we couldn't speak each other's languages properly.

What made it memorable wasn't really the destination — it was how the journey stripped away all the comforts I'd been taking for granted. Living without reliable electricity, eating whatever was offered, sleeping wherever there was space — it reset my sense of what I actually need to be happy. My sister and I, who hadn't spent extended time together since childhood, also rediscovered our friendship in those moments. Even now, when work stresses me out, I think back to that storm-bound village and remember that the best moments often come from the unplanned ones."

Word count: ~340 words. Delivery time: ~2 minutes.

Annotation

Structure

• Opening (1 sentence): introduces topic naturally, hints at deeper meaning ("shifted my perspective")
• Bullet 1 (Where + who, 2 sentences): setting + companion
• Bullet 2 (What, 3 sentences): specific activities with variety (homestays, trekking, unexpected storm)
• Bullet 3 (Why memorable, 4 sentences): deeper reflection — stripped comforts, sister bond, lasting impact
• Closing: connects to current life