Describe a television programme that your family likes to watch together
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 television programme that your family likes to watch together.
You should say:
- what the programme is
- when you watch it
- who in your family watches it
and explain why the whole family enjoys it.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
261 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
A programme my family loves to watch together is a television quiz show called The Chase. Every evening at around six o'clock, we gather round the TV and watch an episode while my mother is finishing the cooking. It has become a kind of ritual, and if one of us is late, the others pause it and wait.
For those who haven't seen it, it features a group of contestants who answer general knowledge questions to win money, and then try to beat a professional quiz player called the Chaser. There are rounds of fast questions and a final in which the team members must hold on to their prize. Everyone in my family takes part: my father, my mother, my younger brother, my grandmother when she visits, and me. We keep a score of the answers we get right, and the winner gets to choose what we eat on Sunday.
There are several reasons why we all enjoy it. First, the questions cover everything from geography and history to music and sport, so each of us gets a chance to shine. My grandmother is amazing on history, and my brother knows all the answers about video games and football. Second, it's suitable for all ages, so there's nothing that parents need to worry about. Third, it creates a lot of conversation and laughter, because we argue about the answers and cheer the contestants on. Finally, I think it makes us feel closer. In a time when everyone is on their own phone, having a shared half hour is really special.
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 |
|---|---|
| a family favourite | something liked by the whole family |
| gather round the TV | sit together to watch television |
| suitable for all ages | appropriate for everyone, including children |
| a talent show | a competition where people perform |
| guess the answer | try to say what the correct answer is |
| cheer someone on | encourage with enthusiasm |
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 quiz or talent show
- A comedy series
- A travel or cooking programme
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat the programme is
- 25 swhen you watch it
- 25 swho in your family watches it
- 45 sand explain why the whole family enjoys it.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Family entertainment. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Do families still watch television together as much as they used to?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of watching TV as a family?
- Should parents control what their children watch?
- How has streaming changed the way families spend time together?
- Why are quiz shows and talent shows popular with all ages?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Books, films and media
- Describe a video you watched online that taught you something useful
- Describe an interesting piece of news that you read or heard about recently
- Describe a song or piece of music that you like
- Describe a funny film or comedy that made you laugh a lot
- Describe an online course or series of video lessons that you have followed
- Describe a type of music that you enjoy listening to
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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