IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a book that you enjoyed reading because you had to think a lot: IELTS cue card with sample answer

An IELTS cue card for Speaking Part 2 with a Band 8 sample answer, the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it and the Part 3 follow-up questions the examiner can ask next.
  • 253 words
  • A film, book, song or programme
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a book that you enjoyed reading because you had to think a lot.

You should say:

  • →What this book was?
  • →Why you decided to read it?
  • →What reading this book made you think about?
  • →And explain why you enjoyed reading this book.

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

A film, book, song or programme

How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan

  1. 1

    Choose a book that genuinely challenged your perspective, not just a popular bestseller.

  2. 2

    Use the first minute to list specific concepts from the book that triggered deep thought.

  3. 3

    Ensure you link the book's content to your personal life to make the answer authentic.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8253 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

A few months ago, I picked up a copy of 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' by Daniel Kahneman. It had been gathering dust on my bedside table for ages, but I finally decided to dive into it during a long-haul flight to Tokyo. I’d heard so many people mention it in intellectual circles, and I was genuinely curious to understand the cognitive biases that govern our decision-making processes. The book explores the duality of our minds: System 1, which is impulsive and intuitive, and System 2, which is deliberate and logical. Reading it forced me to constantly pause and reflect on my own past choices. It made me scrutinise why I sometimes react emotionally to stressful situations rather than stepping back to assess the facts. I found myself thinking deeply about the nature of human rationality and how easily our perceptions can be skewed by mental shortcuts. Every chapter felt like a workout for my brain. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience because it felt incredibly empowering to gain a toolkit for understanding my own mental pitfalls. It wasn't just a passive reading experience; it was a collaborative process between the author's research and my own life reflections. By the time I landed, I felt as though I had developed a sharper lens through which to view the world. It was a challenging read, certainly, but the profound clarity it offered made every page worth the effort, as it fundamentally shifted my perspective on how we form opinions and make judgments in our daily lives.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • gathering dust

    something that has not been used for ages

  • long-haul

    a journey covering a very long distance

  • duality

    the state of having two opposite parts

  • scrutinise

    to examine something very carefully and thoroughly

  • skewed

    not accurate because it is unfairly influenced

  • mental shortcuts

    simple strategies people use to make quick decisions

  • empowering

    giving someone the confidence to take control

  • pitfalls

    hidden dangers or difficulties in a situation

6 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1What are the most popular types of children's books in your country?
  2. 2What are the benefits of parents reading books to their children?
  3. 3Should parents always let children choose the books they read?
  4. 4How popular are electronic books are in your country?
  5. 5What are the advantages of parents reading electronic books?
  6. 6Will electronic books ever completely replace printed books in the future?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a book that you enjoyed reading because you had to think a lot."?+

Choose a book that genuinely challenged your perspective, not just a popular bestseller.

How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+

You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

How is the cue card scored?+

Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.

Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

Keep practising

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