Describe a photograph that you like
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 photograph that you like.
You should say:
- what the photograph shows
- who took it and when
- where you keep it or display it
and explain why you like it.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
257 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
A photograph that I like very much hangs in a small frame above my desk. It's a candid shot of my grandfather and me, taken about eight years ago at his house in the countryside, and it's one of my most treasured possessions.
In the picture, my grandfather is sitting on a wooden bench in his garden, wearing his old straw hat and a checked shirt. I'm standing beside him, laughing, because he has just told me a joke. Behind us there are apple trees full of fruit, and you can see the evening sunlight falling through the leaves. It was taken by my mother, who often followed us around with her camera, and she caught both of us completely off guard, which is why it looks so natural.
I like it for several reasons. First, it captures a happy moment, and it takes me back to those long summer evenings when I stayed with my grandparents and helped him water the plants. Second, it's the last good photograph of the two of us together, as he passed away a year later, so it is very precious to me. Third, I find it technically beautiful, with the golden light and the soft green background. I printed it as soon as I had a chance, because I didn't want it to just sit forgotten on a phone. I keep it where I can see it every day, and when I'm tired or stressed, I look up at it, and it reminds me of how much he loved me.
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 |
|---|---|
| capture the moment | record a special instant in a picture |
| in the background | behind the main subject of the image |
| framed | placed in a decorative border for display |
| candid shot | a natural, unposed photograph |
| a keepsake | an object kept because of its memories |
| fade with time | slowly lose colour or clarity |
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 family photo from a holiday
- A landscape you took yourself
- An old black-and-white photograph of ancestors
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat the photograph shows
- 25 swho took it and when
- 25 swhere you keep it or display it
- 45 sand explain why you like it.
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.
- Why do people take so many photographs nowadays?
- Do you think photographs are a good way to record important moments?
- How has digital photography changed the way people share pictures?
- Is it better to enjoy a moment or to take a photo of it?
- Why are old photographs important for families and history?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Books, films and media
- Describe a funny film or comedy that made you laugh a lot
- Describe a television programme or video series about science or technology that you found interesting
- Describe a video you watched online that taught you something useful
- Describe an advertisement that you remember well
- Describe an online course or series of video lessons that you have followed
- Describe a post you saw on social media that you remember
Part 1 topics on the same subject
Frequently asked questions
How should I describe a book, film or programme in an IELTS cue card?
Do not retell the whole plot. Give the title and what it is about in two sentences, then spend your time on one part you remember and why it affected you. Your opinion is what fills the two minutes.
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