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Describe a photograph that is special to you

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 photograph that is special to you.

You should say:

  • what the photo shows
  • when and where it was taken
  • who took it

and explain why this photo is special to you.

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

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Band 8 sample answer

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

The photograph I would like to describe is one that my father took of me and my grandfather on a fishing trip when I was about seven years old. It is a printed picture, and I keep it in a frame on my desk.

In the photo, my grandfather and I are sitting on a wooden bridge by a small lake, with our legs hanging over the water. He is wearing his old straw hat and holding a fishing rod, and I am holding a tiny fish, grinning proudly and missing a front tooth. Behind us, you can see tall reeds and a line of trees reflected in the water. The light is soft and golden, which suggests it was taken in the early evening. My father took it with a small film camera, so the colours are slightly faded, but I think that makes it even more charming.

This photo is special to me for a few reasons. Firstly, my grandfather passed away six years ago, and it is one of the few pictures of the two of us together. When I look at it, I can almost hear his voice and remember how patiently he taught me to fish. Secondly, it captures a moment of pure happiness. I remember that day clearly, the picnic, the stories and the feeling of catching my first fish. Finally, it reminds me of my father, who loved photography but rarely appeared in pictures himself. The photo is not perfect from a technical point of view, but it is priceless to me, and I would save it first if there were ever a fire.

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
capture a momentrecord a particular time in a photo
in the backgroundbehind the main subject
fadedhaving lost its original colour
candid shotan unposed photo taken naturally
a family heirlooma valued object passed down in a family
bring back memoriesmake you remember the past

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 group photo with school friends on the last day of school
  • A picture of grandparents when they were young
  • A holiday photograph in which everyone looks happy

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat the photo shows
  2. 25 swhen and where it was taken
  3. 25 swho took it
  4. 45 sand explain why this photo is special to you.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Why do people take so many photographs nowadays?
  2. Is it better to enjoy a moment or to photograph it?
  3. How have smartphones changed photography?
  4. Do you think printed photos will disappear in the future?
  5. Why do people like looking at old photographs?
  6. What are the risks of sharing too many photos online?

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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