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Describe a song or piece of music 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

Part 2 · Candidate task card

Describe a song or piece of music that you like.

You should say:

  • what the song or piece is
  • when and where you usually listen to it
  • how you first heard it

and explain why it is special to you.

Ready

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

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Band 8 sample answer

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

A song that is very special to me is 'Here Comes the Sun' by The Beatles. It's not a new song, but I discovered it about six years ago through my father, who has an enormous record collection and plays music every Sunday morning.

I first heard it on one of those mornings. I was in a bad mood because I was worried about an exam, and my father put it on and said I'd feel better by the end. He was right. The guitar melody is bright and gentle, and the words talk about how the cold, lonely winter is over and the sun is finally coming back. It's an incredibly uplifting song, and even now I can't help smiling when it begins.

I listen to it in several situations. In the morning, when I'm making breakfast, it sets a positive mood for the day, and I also play it on the way to work when I'm tired. I've put it on repeat more than once when I've been preparing for something stressful, like a job interview.

It's special to me for two reasons. First, it brings back memories of those quiet family Sundays, with the smell of coffee and my father tapping his foot to the rhythm. Second, it reminds me that difficult periods don't last forever, which is a message I needed at that time. Whenever I hear it now, in a shop or on the radio, I feel an instant sense of calm. I've even added it to the playlist I made for my wedding, if that ever happens.

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
catchy tunea melody that is easy to remember
meaningful lyricswords in a song that carry deep significance
upliftingmaking you feel happy and hopeful
on repeatplayed again and again
bring back memoriesremind you of the past
set the moodcreate a particular atmosphere

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 song from your childhood
  • A piece of classical or instrumental music
  • A song that helped you through a difficult time

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat the song or piece is
  2. 25 swhen and where you usually listen to it
  3. 25 show you first heard it
  4. 45 sand explain why it is special to you.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Why is music important in most cultures?
  2. Do you think the music that young people listen to today is different from that of previous generations?
  3. Can music influence people's mood or behaviour?
  4. Should schools spend more time teaching music?
  5. How has technology changed the way people discover and listen to music?

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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