Describe a collection that you or someone you know has
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 collection that you or someone you know has.
You should say:
- what the collection is
- how it was started
- how it is kept
and explain why the collection is important to the person.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
268 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
I'd like to talk about my grandfather's collection of coins. He has been collecting them for more than fifty years, and it's the thing he is proudest of in his life.
The collection includes around two thousand coins from different countries and periods. Some are very old, like a silver coin from the time of the Silk Road, and others are modern coins from Europe, Asia and America. He started when he was a teenager, after his own grandfather gave him a single old coin found in the garden. From that moment, he got hooked. Over the years, he has bought coins at markets, swapped them with other collectors and received some as gifts from friends who travelled abroad. He keeps them in special albums with transparent pockets, arranged by country and date, and each one has a small label written in his careful handwriting. The albums are stored in a wooden cabinet in his room, and he takes them out to show anyone who is interested.
The collection is important to him for several reasons. First, it's his main hobby, and he spends many hours every week cleaning, sorting and studying his coins. It keeps his mind active, now that he's retired. Second, each coin is a piece of history, and through them he has learned a great deal about geography and economics. Finally, it's a source of pride and a way to connect with people, because collectors from all over the country visit him. He tells me that he hopes I'll continue it, and honestly, I'm starting to find the stories behind each coin quite fascinating.
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.
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Useful vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| rare items | things that are not easy to find |
| add to the collection | get another item for it |
| a passionate collector | someone who is very enthusiastic about collecting |
| mint condition | in perfect condition |
| a labour of love | effort done for the joy of it |
| swap with other collectors | exchange items with others |
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
- Stamps or coins collected by a grandfather
- Postcards or magnets from different countries
- A set of toy cars, books or vinyl records
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat the collection is
- 25 show it was started
- 25 show it is kept
- 45 sand explain why the collection is important to the person.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Hobbies and collecting. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why do some people enjoy collecting things?
- What are the most common things people collect in your country?
- Is collecting a hobby that is becoming less popular?
- Can collecting be a good way of earning money?
- Do you think children should be encouraged to collect things?
- How has the internet changed the world of collecting?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Objects
- Describe an electronic device that you would like to have in the future
- Describe a device or gadget that saves you time in your daily life
- Describe an old object that you have kept for a long time
- Describe a piece of furniture in your home that is important to you
- Describe a plant that you have at home or that you like
- Describe a painting, sculpture or other piece of art that you like
Part 1 topics on the same subject
Frequently asked questions
How should I describe an object in an IELTS cue card?
Say what it is and how you got it, then talk about how you use it and one moment when it mattered. Objects run out of description fast, so the story around the object is what fills the two minutes.
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