Describe a book that you would like to read in the future
Try the card on the exam timer first, then read the band-8 sample answer and the Part 3 questions that follow it.
Practice it like the exam
Describe a book that you would like to read in the future.
You should say:
- what the book is
- what you know about it
- when you plan to read it
and explain why you want to read it.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
279 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
A book that has been on my reading list for a long time is War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. I know it's famous for being enormous, with over a thousand pages, and that's partly why I haven't got round to it yet. But I've finally decided that I'm going to read it during the next winter holidays.
What I know about it is that it's a Russian novel set during the Napoleonic wars in the early nineteenth century. It follows several aristocratic families and shows how their lives are changed by the war. Some of the characters, like Pierre and Natasha, are said to be among the most memorable in all literature. I've also heard that it combines personal stories with long reflections on history and society. I once read a short summary and watched a television adaptation, but I'm sure it can't be the same as the original.
I plan to read it slowly, perhaps twenty or thirty pages a day, so it would take me a couple of months. I'll probably buy a good edition with notes and a list of characters, since I've heard it's easy to get lost among the many names.
There are several reasons why I want to read it. First, it's a literary classic that is respected all over the world, and I feel that every well-read person should at least try it. Second, I would like to learn more about the history of the region, and fiction helps me imagine real life in those days. Third, I want to challenge myself. After mostly reading light novels recently, I think a demanding book would improve my concentration and widen my vocabulary.
What to notice
- It takes the points on the card in order, so the examiner can follow it.
- Each point gets a specific detail or a short story, which is what keeps a talk going for two minutes.
- The "explain" line at the end gets the most time, because that is where you give an opinion and show your range of language.
We wrote this answer for practice; it does not come from IELTS. Take its structure and phrases and tell your own story, because examiners notice memorised answers.
Getting ready for IELTS?
Useful vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| on my reading list | among the books I plan to read |
| critically acclaimed | praised by experts |
| a literary classic | a highly respected old book |
| get round to | eventually find time for |
| widely translated | available in many languages |
| a gripping read | a book that holds your attention |
Plan it in one minute
Choose what to talk about in the first ten seconds, then write two or three key words for each point. Full sentences take too long to write and to read back.
Who or what you could talk about
- A classic novel you have not finished
- A book on a topic you want to understand
- A novel by a favourite author
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat the book is
- 25 swhat you know about it
- 25 swhen you plan to read it
- 45 sand explain why you want to read it.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Reading and literature. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why do some people read the same book many times?
- Should schools make students read classic literature?
- Do you think reading is a good way of learning about other cultures?
- Why do some books become famous worldwide?
- How might reading habits change in the future?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Plans and wishes
- Describe a change that you would like to make in your life
- Describe a holiday that you would like to take with your family
- Describe something expensive that you would like to buy in the future
- Describe a foreign country where you would like to work or live for a while
- Describe your dream home, the house that you would like to live in one day
- Describe a place where you would like to live in the future
Part 1 topics on the same subject
Frequently asked questions
How do I talk about future plans in an IELTS cue card?
Say what you would like to do, why, and how you would go about it. Mix future forms: "I'm planning to", "I'd love to", "if I had the chance, I would". A plan you really have gives you more to say than an invented one.
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