IELTS Cue Card: Describe an exciting book that you recently read
You should say:
- When did you read it?
- What type of book is it?
- What is it about?
- Why did you find it useful?
Band 8 Sample Answer
(When did you read it?) It is a well-known fact that books are best friends. Some people get motivated while reading books, and others read to drain the stress and anxiety. I am an avid reader, and out of all the books I’ve read, the one which I loved was ‘The Wings of Fire’ by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. (What type of book is it?) My sister gifted me the book on my birthday as she knew that I was fond of reading autobiographies. And this book by Dr. Kalam had a great influence on me and still inspires me, and I began devouring it on the same day. The book explains how Kalam started his career and became the best rocket Engineer. (What is it about?) The book is about his journey, accomplishments, and about he managed to overcome his obstacles. He describes his presidential post as a piece of luck, and his achievement as a rocket Engineer was because of sheer hard work. Throughout the book, one thing that stands out is Kalam’s positive thinking and his secret to success hidden in his ability to ignore negative things. That is why he had contributed and accomplished a lot in his life. (Why did you find it useful?) Kalam’s journey in the book inspires us to achieve our dreams by beating all the odds. A fable in the book emphasizes the importance of family, relatives, and friends in helping accomplish each other’s goals and turning dreams into realities.
Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking Part 2
Anxiety(noun): a feeling of worry or nervousness.
Eg: John’s anxiety reduced on coming out of the hospital.
Avid reader: a reader who is eager to get hold of the latest books.
Eg: John is an avid reader. He has read almost every novel.
Autobiography: an account of a person’s life written by that person.
Eg: Rose gives a vivid description of her childhood in her autobiography.
Influence: the capacity to have an effect on the character of someone.
Eg: Her mother’s influence on her is very obvious.
Accomplishments: something that has been achieved successfully.
Eg: Her accomplishments were praised by her family.
Piece of luck: something that happens by chance that helps to achieve success.
Eg: He considers his HR post as a piece of luck.
Beating all the odds: to succeed despite struggling a lot.
Eg: She beat all the odds to win the league.
Fable: a short story conveying a moral.
Eg: She reads fables to her daughter.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions (Discussion)
Do people in your country like to read books?
Yes, a majority of people in my country love reading but not all of them have the same interests. Some of them opt for novels, while others read magazines to idle away their leisure time. And then there are students who don’t get enough time out of their textbooks to read anything else.
What kinds of books are most popular in your country?
Well, everyone has different tastes and preferences. But romantic novels, autobiographies, fashion and lifestyle magazines are very popular in my country. Textbooks are much in demand as well, considering the huge population that my country has.
Do you think reading is important?
Reading is essential as it develops our imagination and builds vocabulary and language skills. With reading, we can also dive into other people’s imagination and think of ideas that might not be true. This activity also improves our brain functioning and allows us to think logically and intellectually.
Do you think children should be encouraged to read?
Definitely, Yes. Children should start reading books and newspapers to enhance their knowledge and develop their reading skills, creativity, and all-round personality. More than gifting them gadgets or other things, parents should stock up books for them.
Do you think gifting a book is a great option?
Books are great options for gifts as they can be preserved and read in leisure. But if the books are hand-written, it’s even better as it has an emotional value. Gifting somebody a book from their favourite author can bring a wide smile on their face instantly.
Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking Part 3
Opt for: to choose
Eg: I am going to opt for humanities in my 11th standard.
Idle away: to spend time doing nothing
Eg: On weekends, I prefer to idle away than spend my time working on anything.
Leisure: free time
Eg: I like playing online games during my leisure time.
Preferences: choices
Eg: My preferences are different from my siblings.
Enhance: improve
Eg: Practising daily can enhance your reading and writing skills.
