Describe a video you watched online that taught you something useful
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 video you watched online that taught you something useful.
You should say:
- what the video was about
- where you found it
- what you learned from it
and explain how you used what you learned.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
Recordings stay in this tab and are never uploaded.
Band 8 sample answer
259 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
A video that taught me something really useful was a tutorial on how to fix a leaking tap. I found it online about two years ago, when the kitchen tap in my flat started dripping constantly, and the landlord told me it would take at least two weeks before a plumber could come.
I searched for a how-to video on a popular video platform, and the first result was a ten-minute tutorial by a man who looked like a retired plumber. He spoke slowly and clearly and showed each step in close-up. He explained that most drips are caused by a worn rubber washer inside the tap, and that you only need a spanner, a screwdriver and a replacement part that costs a couple of pounds. He also warned viewers to turn off the water supply first, which I probably wouldn't have thought of.
I followed along step by step, pausing and rewinding a few times when I wasn't sure. First I turned off the water under the sink, then I removed the handle, unscrewed the valve and replaced the washer, just as he demonstrated. The whole job took me forty minutes, and the dripping stopped completely. I was really proud of myself, because I'd never done any plumbing before.
The video was clear and straightforward, and it saved me both money and time. It also gave me confidence to try other repairs, and I've since fixed a loose door handle and a squeaky bed using similar tutorials. It's a good example of how useful the internet can be.
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 how-to video | a video explaining how to do something |
| follow along | do the same steps as the presenter |
| straightforward | simple and easy to understand |
| save myself money | avoid spending by doing it yourself |
| pause and rewind | stop and replay a section |
| a clear demonstration | a showing of how something is done |
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
- Repairing something at home
- Cooking a dish step by step
- Studying a difficult subject
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat the video was about
- 25 swhere you found it
- 25 swhat you learned from it
- 45 sand explain how you used what you learned.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Online video and learning. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why do so many people use video platforms to learn new things?
- Are videos more effective than written instructions?
- Can anyone become a teacher by making videos online?
- How do you decide whether online videos are reliable?
- Will schools use more video lessons in the future?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Books, films and media
- Describe a post you saw on social media that you remember
- Describe an article in a magazine or newspaper that you found interesting or useful
- Describe a mobile phone app that you use a lot
- Describe an interesting piece of news that you read or heard about recently
- Describe a documentary that you have watched
- Describe an online course or series of video lessons that you have followed
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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