Last Updated on July 19, 2025
“Describe a place where there was a lot of noise” is a common cue card in IELTS Speaking Part 2. In this article, you’ll find sample answers, essential vocabulary, common follow-up questions from Part 3, and an explanation of what this topic assesses.
This cue card helps test your ability to describe a vivid scene, use sensory language, and explain the impact of environmental factors on your experience.
Learn how to answer “Describe a place where there was a lot of noise” with IELTS sample answers, Band 9 vocabulary, tips, follow-up questions & structure.
Cue Card Topic Breakdown
You will have:
- 1 minute to prepare
- 1–2 minutes to speak
Describe a place where there was a lot of noise
You should say:
- Where this place was
- What kind of noise it was
- Why you were there
- And how you felt about the noise
Why This Cue Card Matters
This cue card helps examiners assess your ability to:
- Tell personal stories with fluency and coherence.
- Use descriptive language to evoke a scene.
- Express your reactions and feelings to an environment.
- Organize your thoughts into a clear narrative.
A Bustling Railway Station: Describe a Place Where There Was a Lot of Noise
Where was this place?
I am thinking of a place in Mumbai at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), also known as the Mumbai Rail Station, which is a hectic and famous railway station located in India. I went there some half a year ago.
What sort of noise was it?
The sound there was simply stupefying and mazy. There was always the loud voice over the speakers when the trains came and went, the rattling of train brakes, the noise all the people chatting with their thousands of voices, the rumbling of the luggage carts, the wholesalers yelling their products: “Chai garam!”” the clamor of a large multitude (hot tea!), and the general din. it was a loud and continual humming, with sharp sounds that might be termed piercing.
Why you were there?
I had gone to receive a friend who was coming in via Delhi. I had never been to CSMT on a peak hour, and I was really overwhelmed by the number of people and the crowded environment.
What did you think about the noise?
I was pretty disorientated and even felt a little anxious since the noise was overwhelming. I could scarcely hear myself think, not to mention talk. Nevertheless, after some time, I began to think of it more as a colorful background music of the city, rather than chaotic noise. It was a frenzied but interesting experience that really brought out the vibes of Mumbai. I was a little drained and also impressed with the magnitude of activity.
A Construction Site Next to My Home: Describe a Place Where There Was a Lot of Noise
Where this place?
This was literally adjacent to my building at Bengaluru. It is roughly one year back that a residential complex of large scale began coming up on the open plot that borders my society.
What noise was it?
The sounds majorly involved machines and factory sounds. it was the churning of concrete mixers, the hammering of heavy equipment, the drilling of heavy equipment, the frequent honking of truck horns as material was brought in, the incessant boom of excavators. It was an incessant, rumbly moan frequently relieved by a high scream.
Why were you there?
I was not literally there, as being on the site, but I was living next to it. The peaceful place that my home always used to be, particularly at the time of the day when we used to work suddenly became the centre of this everyday industrial symphony.
And what was your feeling toward the noise?
I was very frustrated and annoyed. This was interfering with my work-from-home routine, and could barely focus in the day. It also interfered with my sleep time because the noise was likely to begin early in the morning. I attempted to wear earplugs, yet it was impossible to filter those vibrations. At the beginning, it was also the feeling of continuous irritation and wishing to be left in peace and quiet, but in the course of time, I came to a sort of acquiescence.
A Live Cricket Match in a Stadium: Describe a Place Where There Was a Lot of Noise
Where was this place?
I will speak about the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore during a T20 cricket match a few months back. It was a league match hence the electrified atmosphere.
What was the noise?
This was mainly the human-made noise and it was a colossal wave of sound by tens of thousands fans. Crowd noise on each boundary or each wicket, continuous cheering and chanting of the teams, the sounding of the vuvuzelas and trumpets, shouts of the crowd shouting slogans and overall gasping or groaning after a near miss. It was moving, vibrating sound world which was so high-pitched at coupling points.
Why were you there?
My presence in the game was as a spectator, a big cricket fan, who had come along with a group of friends. Our tickets were in the stands precisely in the spot where the biggest cheering took place. I had anticipated this experience over a long time.
What about the sound? How did you feel about it?
First there was the thrill of exhilaration. The sound was not only loud but it was also contagious and offered a lot of excitement on the status of the game. It enabled me to feel that I was actually in something big. I was so hoarse during the end of the match because of shouting with them. As much as I was ringing in my ears after it ended, I was experiencing an extreme feeling of happiness shared with the crowd and shared communal power. It was an amazing evening which I did not exchange with a peaceful night.
A Lively Street Market: Describe a Place Where There Was a Lot of Noise
Where this place was?
The place was the local street market (haat) near my grandmother’s village in rural Bihar. I visited it last summer, and it’s held once a week.
What kind of noise it was?
The noise was a vibrant mix of human activity and animal sounds. There were vendors loudly calling out their prices for fresh produce, vegetables, and handicrafts, negotiations between buyers and sellers, the cackling of chickens, the bleating of goats, the laughter of children playing, and the general buzz of hundreds of people interacting. It was a constant, lively chatter, occasionally punctuated by a rickshaw bell or a bicycle horn.
Why you were there?
I went there with my grandmother to buy fresh vegetables and some local crafts. It’s a traditional weekly market, and she loves the atmosphere, so I accompanied her to experience it firsthand.
And how you felt about the noise?
At first, it felt a little overwhelming because I’m used to quieter urban environments. However, I quickly found it to be incredibly charming and authentic. The noise wasn’t harsh or irritating; rather, it was the sound of community and livelihood. It felt energetic and alive. I actually enjoyed the lively chaos, as it truly reflected the culture and spirit of the rural Indian market. It was a memorable and unique auditory experience.
Follow-Up Questions: Describe a Place Where There Was a Lot of Noise
What type of sound is normally associated with your city?
In the vast majority of the cities in India, there is a combined effect of traffic noise (honking, engines), which mingles with human chatting, building works, and sometimes you can hear the distant sounds of the religious music or the celebrations. There are also times when vendors shouting out their products will contribute to overall noise.
Do you believe there is more noise today than there was in the old days?
Absolutely. As urbanization and industrialization comes fast, there is just a lot of noise. Cars, transportation, building, growth of the population, extensive usage of personal electronic gadgets, all this leads to a significantly increased level of noise as opposed to decades ago.
How do people get affected by noise?
There are different undesirable impacts brought about by noise. With extended exposure it may result in hearing loss, stress, sleep disturbance and irritability. It is also known to slow down concentration, efficiency and in worst-case scenarios, lead to heart diseases or other vices.
What can be done to curb noise pollution?
There are measures that can be introduced in reducing noise pollution. They are urban planning including green zones and noise barriers, favoring public transport and using electric vehicles, control of the construction hours, noise restrictions in industries and generating events and the preference to apply noise reducing materials into constructions.
Vocabulary to Use for This Cue Card
| Word/Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Deafening | Extremely loud | The roar of the crowd was absolutely deafening. |
| Cacophony | A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds | The market was a cacophony of voices and vehicle horns. |
| Bustling | Full of activity and noise | The bustling city street was alive with sound. |
| Din | A loud, unpleasant, prolonged noise | The constant din from the construction site was unbearable. |
| Piercing | Loud, high-pitched, and sharp | A piercing siren suddenly cut through the night. |
| Overwhelming | So great or intense as to be irresistible | The sheer volume of noise was utterly overwhelming. |
| Disorienting | Making someone lose their sense of direction or feel confused | The unexpected bang was very disorienting. |
| Vibrant | Full of energy and enthusiasm; lively | The stadium had a vibrant and noisy atmosphere. |
| Resigned acceptance | Accepting something unpleasant because one cannot change it | After months, I felt a sense of resigned acceptance about the noise. |
| Auditory assault | An unpleasantly loud or aggressive sound or series of sounds | The jackhammer created an auditory assault on my ears. |
IELTS Cue Card Topic:
- Describe the Scene of a Hospital
- Describe a Skill You Want to Learn
- Describe a Speech You Gave
- Describe an important day in your life
- Describe a Difficult Decision You Made
- Describe a Historical Building You Have Been To
- Describe an Item of Clothing Someone Gave You
- Describe an Invention That Is Useful In Daily Life
Summary
| Section | Key Points |
| Cue Card Breakdown | Focus on the location, type of noise, your reason for being there, and your personal reaction to it. |
| Sample Answers | Four examples covering different noisy environments (station, construction, stadium, market). |
| Vocabulary Bank | Phrases to describe various kinds of noise and emotional responses. |
| Follow-Up Questions | Explores broader themes of noise pollution, its effects, and urban living. |
| Related Topics | Linked with cue cards involving places, feelings, and environmental factors. |
Final Thoughts
This IELTS cue card is an excellent chance to show your skill in using descriptive language and creating a scene using your voice. Do not forget to give a clear impression to the examiner by telling the type of noise, why the noise was present and what feelings you had. You will be scoring well with a well-described answer!
FAQs
What kind оf place can I talk about?
You can talk about any place that was noisy: a concert, a busy street, a factory, a market, a celebration, оr even a school playground.
Should I describe only negative feelings about the noise?
Not necessarily. Noise can be positive (e.g., concert, festival) оr negative (e.g., construction). Describe your genuine feelings, whatever they were.
How can I make my description оf noise more interesting?
Use specific adjectives (e.g., “piercing,” “rumbling,” “cacophony”), compare іt tо other sounds, and describe its impact оn you оr others.
Do I need tо mention exact dates оr times?
No, approximate times (“a few months ago,” “last summer”) are perfectly fine. The focus іs оn the experience itself.
Is іt okay іf I don’t like noisy places?
Yes, it’s fine tо express a preference for quiet. The examiner іs assessing your ability tо describe the place and your feelings, not your personal preference for noise levels.
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