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Describe a musical instrument that you can play or would like to learn to play

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

Part 2 · Candidate task card

Describe a musical instrument that you can play or would like to learn to play.

You should say:

  • what the instrument is
  • what it looks and sounds like
  • how you got interested in it

and explain why you like this instrument.

Ready

1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.

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Band 8 sample answer

270 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.

The instrument I would love to learn to play is the piano. I had a few lessons when I was little, but I stopped after a year, and now I regret it. I hope to start again as soon as I have a stable schedule.

The piano is a large instrument with eighty-eight black and white keys. It can sound gentle and dreamy in a slow piece or powerful and dramatic in a more energetic one. What I like most is that you can play both melody and accompaniment at the same time, so a single person can produce a whole piece of music. I first became interested in it when my cousin, who studies at a music college, played Chopin at a family gathering. I was fascinated by how her fingers moved and how the room fell silent as she played. Later, I started watching videos of pianists online, and there is a young Kazakh musician whose performances I find especially inspiring.

There are a few reasons why I like the instrument. Firstly, the sound is beautiful and has a calming effect, and I often listen to piano music when I study or feel stressed. Secondly, it's very versatile. You can play classical pieces, jazz, pop songs or even film soundtracks. Thirdly, I think learning it would be a good challenge for my brain and a way to develop discipline. I have already bought a small electronic keyboard, which is cheaper and quieter for the neighbours, and I'm trying to practise for twenty minutes each day. I know it will take years to play well, but I am patient.

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

PhraseMeaning
pick up an instrumentstart learning to play one
play by earplay music without reading notes
a soothing tonea sound that makes you feel calm
practise regularlytrain often to improve
strumplay a guitar by brushing the strings
have a good ear for musicbe able to recognise and reproduce sounds well

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 guitar you play for fun with friends
  • A traditional instrument such as the dutar, dombra or tar
  • A piano you studied as a child and want to return to

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat the instrument is
  2. 25 swhat it looks and sounds like
  3. 25 show you got interested in it
  4. 45 sand explain why you like this instrument.

Part 3 questions

In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Music and learning. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.

  1. Why do many parents want their children to learn a musical instrument?
  2. Is it harder to learn an instrument as an adult than as a child?
  3. Do you think music lessons should be compulsory at school?
  4. How has technology changed the way people learn music?
  5. Why are some traditional instruments becoming less popular?
  6. What are the benefits of playing in a group or orchestra?

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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