IELTS cue card: describe a person you admire
An answer plan for the IELTS Speaking Part 2 task about a person you admire, with prompts for who they are, what they did, and why they matter to you, plus follow-up practice.
Speech9 cardsAbout 2 min to speakIntermediateAnyone
IELTS cue card: describe a book or film you enjoyed
An IELTS Speaking Part 2 plan for talking about a book or film: what it is about, when you read or watched it, what stood out and why you would recommend it.
Free to use, edit, print and study. No account needed: your set stays on this device.
The cards
- 1
The task
Describe a book or film that you enjoyed.
You should say:
- what it was called and what kind of story it is
- when you read or watched it
- what it is about
- and explain why you enjoyed it.
Original practice topic in the Part 2 style.
- 2
Plan in one minute
- Title and genre: [___ / thriller, comedy, documentary, novel]
- When: [with whom, where]
- Plot in one line: [___]
- Why: [a character, a message, a scene]
Pick something you know well enough to summarise without notes.
- 3
Opening
"I'd like to talk about [title], which is a [genre] [by / directed by] [creator]. I [read / watched] it [last year] and it's stayed with me ever since."
If you forget the creator's name, simply say "by an author from [country]". Nobody marks you on facts.
- 4
When and where
- "I [watched it at the cinema with my brother / read it on a long flight]."
- "I chose it because [a friend recommended it / I liked the cover / it was trending]."
- "I didn't expect much, but [___]."
- 5
What it is about
Summarise in three sentences only:
- Who: "[It follows a young woman who...]"
- Problem: "[She has to...]"
- Without spoilers: "[I won't give away the ending, but...]"
Use the present simple for plots: "she travels", "he discovers".
- 6
A scene or moment
"The part I remember most is when [___]."
"It was so [moving / tense / funny] that [I couldn't put it down / the whole audience laughed]."
A single scene gives detail and emotion in a short time.
- 7
Why you enjoyed it
- Characters: "[The characters felt like real people.]"
- Message: "[It made me think about how we treat older people.]"
- Style: "[The music / writing / photography was stunning.]"
Close: "I'd recommend it to anyone who likes [___]."
- 8
Useful language
- gripping, thought-provoking, heart-warming
- the plot twist, the main character, the setting
- it's based on a true story
- I couldn't put it down
- it lived up to the hype / it exceeded my expectations
- 9
Part 3 practice questions
- Do people read fewer books now than in the past?
- Why are films based on books so popular?
- Should children's screen time be limited?
- What can people learn from fiction?
How to use this template
Books, films, series and stories are a favourite area for IELTS Speaking Part 2, and many candidates run out of ideas after summarising the plot. This set fixes that by giving the plot only one card and spreading the rest of your two minutes across when you saw it, one memorable scene, and the reasons you enjoyed it. You have one minute to prepare, so the planning card shows the four key words to note down. Model sentences help you use the present simple for the story and past tenses for your own experience, which is a good way to show grammatical range. The final cards hold genre vocabulary and Part 3 questions. The topic is original practice material.
Tips
- Keep the plot summary short. Examiners are listening to your English, not checking whether the story is interesting.
- Avoid naming dozens of characters. Use 'the main character' or 'her best friend' after the first mention.
- It is fine to choose something from your own country. Briefly explain the title in English if it does not translate.
- Give an opinion with a reason, then an example. That pattern also works for every Part 3 question.
- Do not memorise a full script. Examiners can tell, and it often sounds flat; speak from the key words instead.
Make it fit
- For 'describe a TV series', mention how many seasons and whether you binge-watched it.
- For 'describe a book you would like to read', change the cards to what you have heard about it and why you are curious.
- For 'describe a story from your childhood', add who told it to you and how it made you feel then and now.
- For 'describe a song or piece of music', replace the plot card with when you first heard it and what it reminds you of.
Updated October 28, 2026