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Describe a television programme or video series about science or technology that you found interesting

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 television programme or video series about science or technology that you found interesting.

You should say:

  • what the programme was
  • how you found it
  • what the programme explained

and explain why you found it interesting.

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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

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

A programme I found fascinating was a series about space exploration that I watched a couple of years ago on a streaming platform. I found it by accident, when I was browsing the documentary section late at night, and the cover photograph of a rocket launch caught my eye.

The series consisted of eight episodes of about fifty minutes each, and each one focused on a different aspect of space, such as the history of the Moon landings, the search for planets that might support life, and the plans to send humans to Mars. It was presented by an astrophysicist who had a talent for breaking down complex ideas into simple language, using models and everyday comparisons. For example, to explain the size of the solar system, he used a long line of oranges and peas placed along a road.

There were several reasons why I found it interesting. First, the content was fascinating. I learned that a day on Venus is longer than its year, and that light from some stars we see tonight left them thousands of years ago, which blew my mind. Second, it was visually impressive, with computer animations and real footage from space missions that made me feel as though I was floating among the stars. Finally, it was thought-provoking. It made me reflect on how small our planet is and how much remains unknown. Before I watched it, I'd never had much interest in science, but the series really broadened my horizons, and I ended up reading two popular science books on the subject.

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
break down complex ideasexplain difficult things simply
cutting-edge technologythe most advanced technology
a scientific breakthroughan important new discovery
thought-provokingmaking you think deeply
visually impressiveattractive and striking to look at
broaden my horizonsmake me aware of new things

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 series about space and the universe
  • A programme about how everyday objects are made
  • A show that tests scientific myths

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat the programme was
  2. 25 show you found it
  3. 25 swhat the programme explained
  4. 45 sand explain why you found it interesting.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Why do some people find science difficult or boring?
  2. How can science be made more interesting for children?
  3. Should governments spend more money on scientific research?
  4. Do you think television is a good way to teach science?
  5. Which scientific discoveries have had the biggest influence on daily life?

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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