Describe a website or online resource that helps you to learn something
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 website or online resource that helps you to learn something.
You should say:
- what the website is
- what it helps you to learn
- how you found out about it
and explain how it has helped you.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
269 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
A website that has helped me enormously is an online platform for learning languages. I first heard about it from a colleague, who was using it to study Spanish, and I decided to try it for improving my English grammar and vocabulary about a year and a half ago.
The site is made up of short lessons, each lasting around ten minutes, with interactive exercises that include listening, writing and speaking. Every lesson begins with a few new words and sentences, and then it tests you in different ways, such as choosing the correct translation, putting words in order or repeating a phrase into your microphone. It tracks my progress with a daily streak, which motivates me to log in every day, and it reminds me to review words I'm about to forget. Part of the service is free of charge, so I only upgraded later when I wanted more features.
It has helped me in a number of ways. Firstly, it's easy to fit into a busy schedule, because I can do a lesson on the bus, during my lunch break or before bed, and I learn at my own speed. Secondly, the exercises are varied, so I rarely get bored, and the instant feedback helps me fill in the gaps in my knowledge. Thirdly, the daily habit has made studying much more regular. Before, I would study intensively for a week and then stop for a month. Now I have practised nearly every day for over a year, and my vocabulary has grown considerably. I even noticed my speaking is more confident than it used to 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 learning resource | material that helps people study |
| interactive exercises | tasks you can respond to online |
| track my progress | record how much I am improving |
| fill in the gaps | learn what you do not yet know |
| learn at your own speed | study as fast or slow as you like |
| a free-of-charge service | a service that costs nothing |
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 language-learning platform
- A maths or science tutorial site
- An online library or encyclopedia
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat the website is
- 25 swhat it helps you to learn
- 25 show you found out about it
- 45 sand explain how it has helped you.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Technology in education. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Should schools allow students to use the internet for research?
- How can technology make lessons more interesting?
- What are the disadvantages of relying too heavily on online resources?
- Do you think textbooks will disappear in the future?
- How can teachers help students judge whether online information is reliable?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Books, films and media
- Describe a website that you often use
- Describe a mobile phone app that you use a lot
- Describe a book that you loved reading when you were a child
- Describe a post you saw on social media that you remember
- Describe an interesting piece of news that you read or heard about recently
- Describe a story or legend from your culture that you know well
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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