IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card · Books, media and culture

Describe a book that you recently read

The full cue card, a one-minute plan for its prompts, a sample answer by Lingo Copilot and the vocabulary for this topic.

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Describe a book that you recently read.

You should say:

what the book was about
why you decided to read it
what you liked or disliked about it

and explain what impact the book had on you.

How to plan your answer in 1 minute

A minute is short. Spend it on keywords for each prompt, in the order of the card:

0:00–0:10
Choose your answer
Decide on a book that you recently read. Pick something real that you know well, so the details come easily when you speak.
0:10–0:20
What the book was about
Write two or three keywords, not sentences: a name, a place, a time or a detail you can expand on.
0:20–0:30
Why you decided to read it
Write two or three keywords, not sentences: a name, a place, a time or a detail you can expand on.
0:30–0:40
What you liked or disliked about it
Write two or three keywords, not sentences: a name, a place, a time or a detail you can expand on.
0:40–0:55
And explain what impact the book had on you
Note one reason and one short example or story. This is the part you can keep developing until the examiner stops you at two minutes.
0:55–1:00
Check the order
Number your notes in the order of the prompts, then use them as a checklist while you talk.

Sample answer

Written for practice. Use it for ideas and phrasing rather than memorising it, then answer about your own experience.

Sample answer by Lingo Copilot · 255 words

Let me describe a compelling book I finished recently called 'When Breath Becomes Air' by Paul Kalanithi, a deeply absorbing memoir written by a neurosurgeon diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at thirty-six. The book traces his journey from an ambitious medical career to confronting mortality, exploring what makes life worth living when time's no longer guaranteed. I decided to read it after a colleague mentioned it during a conversation about books that had truly changed her perspective. She said it struck a chord with her in ways she hadn't expected, and her recommendation carried weight because she's quite critical of memoirs. The theme of finding meaning in the face of death intrigued me, particularly because I'd been grappling with questions about my own career priorities. What I appreciated most was the book's unflinching honesty. Kalanithi writes with elegant precision, never seeking pity yet conveying the emotional depth of his situation with extraordinary clarity. His reflections on purpose and legacy stand out from the crowd of self-reflective memoirs, and the vivid descriptions, whether of the operating theatre or his newborn daughter, transported me completely. If I had one criticism, it'd be that the book felt almost too brief, though that brevity is itself a poignant reflection of his curtailed life. The impact has been significant. It shed light on how easily we postpone what truly matters, assuming we've got unlimited time. I found myself rethinking daily habits and questioning whether my choices aligned with my deepest values. It's a cut above anything I've read this year.

Another sample answer (2 of 3)

Sample answer by Lingo Copilot · 242 words

Recently, I lost myself in a thought-provoking novel called 'Klara and the Sun' by Kazuo Ishiguro, which tells the story of an artificial friend observing the human world through a shop window and later from within a family home. The book works as a subtle allegory for loneliness, love, and what it means to be truly seen by another being. My motivation for picking it up was twofold. Firstly, Ishiguro's one of my favourite authors, and this was his first novel after winning the Nobel Prize, so I expected nothing short of his best work. Secondly, a review described it as a page-turner despite its contemplative pace, which seemed like an intriguing contradiction. The exploration of artificial intelligence through an emotional as opposed to technological lens also appealed to me. What struck me most was the gripping narrative voice. Klara's limited understanding of human behaviour creates a masterful contrast between innocence and insight, forcing the reader to read between the lines constantly. The character development was exceptional, revealing complexity through understated dialogue rather than exposition. However, I felt the ending left certain threads unresolved, which some readers might find frustrating though I found it deliberately satisfying. The book provided ample food for thought about our relationship with technology and the nature of consciousness. I've been recommending it to everyone, as it stands out from the crowd of contemporary fiction in both its depth and its insightful exploration of what makes us human.

Another sample answer (3 of 3)

Sample answer by Lingo Copilot · 243 words

What I'd like to discuss is an important work I recently finished: 'The Remains of the Day' by Kazuo Ishiguro, a novel about an English butler named Stevens who takes a road trip through the countryside while reflecting on decades of service to a lord whose political sympathies proved deeply questionable. Beneath its restrained surface lies a powerful criticism of misplaced loyalty and suppressed emotion. I chose this book after seeing it on multiple literary lists and hearing a podcast host describe it as having spare prose that conceals enormous feeling. Having always been drawn to absorbing stories with morally complex protagonists, I felt compelled to read it. The acclaim it'd received, including the Booker Prize, only reinforced my curiosity. The book's greatest strength is Ishiguro's masterful command of an unreliable narrator. Stevens's dignified, measured voice gradually reveals the poignant truth of a life sacrificed to duty at the expense of personal happiness. The emotional depth of the final chapters caught me off guard, as decades of repressed feeling surfaced in a single devastating conversation. What I found especially insightful was how the novel examines self-deception without ever judging its protagonist. The story struck a chord with me on a personal level I hadn't anticipated. The impact has been quietly transformative. It left no stone unturned in exposing how we construct narratives to avoid confronting our regrets. I've been thinking about it for weeks, and its message will stay with me for years.

Useful vocabulary

compellingadjective: evoking strong attention or admiration; powerfully engaging from start to finish
thought-provokingadjective: stimulating careful consideration or reflection on deep or complex topics
engrossingadjective: absorbing all of one's attention and interest so that other concerns fade away
insightfuladjective: showing an accurate and deep understanding of a person, situation, or subject
protagonistnoun: the leading character in a story, around whom the central conflict revolves
nuancedadjective: characterised by subtle distinctions and careful attention to fine details or shades of meaning
allegorynoun: a story in which characters and events symbolise broader themes, ideas, or moral principles
catharticadjective: providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions
eloquentadjective: fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing; powerfully expressive in language
juxtapositionnoun: the placement of two contrasting elements side by side to highlight their differences
seminaladjective: strongly influencing later developments; groundbreaking in its contribution to a field or genre
poignantadjective: evoking a keen sense of sadness, regret, or tender sympathy
didacticadjective: intended to teach or instruct, on occasion in an overly moralistic or preachy manner
magnum opusnoun: the greatest single work produced by a writer, artist, or composer over the course of their career
denouementnoun: the final resolution of the main dramatic complication in a literary work

Useful collocations

vivid imagery
The author's vivid imagery transported me straight to the rain-soaked streets of post-war London.
gripping narrative
The gripping narrative kept me on the edge of my seat through every unexpected twist and revelation.
underlying theme
The underlying theme of redemption wove through every chapter, binding the disparate storylines together.
character development
The character development was so meticulously crafted that I felt as though I had aged alongside the protagonist.
turning point
The turning point of the novel arrived midway, shattering every assumption the reader had built up to that moment.
literary merit
Beyond its commercial appeal, the novel possesses genuine literary merit that warrants critical scrutiny.
moral ambiguity
The author embraced moral ambiguity, refusing to cast any character as purely virtuous or entirely villainous.
critical acclaim
The book received widespread critical acclaim, earning nominations for several prestigious literary awards.
emotional depth
The emotional depth of the final chapter caught me off guard, reducing me to tears on a crowded train.
unreliable narrator
The unreliable narrator is deployed masterfully, ensuring that every revelation recontextualises everything that preceded it.
open your eyes
That book really opened my eyes to what life is like in other parts of the world.
best-selling author
She's now a best-selling author, but her first book was rejected twelve times.
vivid descriptions
The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was actually in 1920s Paris.
cover to cover
I read it cover to cover in one sitting because I was so engrossed.
stand the test of time
Great literature stands the test of time and remains relevant decades later.

Part 3 questions on this topic

In the test, Part 3 continues with wider questions linked to your Part 2 topic. Questions from our question bank:

Do you think reading is becoming less popular among young people?
How has technology changed the way people read?
Should schools encourage reading for pleasure more?

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