Describe a website that you often use
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 that you often use.
You should say:
- what the website is
- what you use it for
- how often you visit it
and explain why you find it useful.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
258 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
A website I use almost every day is an online dictionary and translation site, which I rely on for my studies. I first discovered it when I started preparing for IELTS a couple of years ago, and it's now one of the pages I've bookmarked at the top of my browser.
I mainly use it for three things. The first is to check the meaning of unfamiliar words, which I come across all the time in articles and books. The site gives clear definitions, along with several example sentences, so I can see how a word is used in context. The second is to find synonyms and collocations, which is crucial when I'm writing essays and want to avoid repeating the same words. And the third is to listen to pronunciation, because it has recordings in both British and American accents. I probably visit it ten or fifteen times a day, usually for a few seconds at a time, although sometimes I spend half an hour browsing through related words and examples.
I find it useful for several reasons. To start with, it's extremely user-friendly. The layout is simple, the search is fast, and there are no annoying pop-ups. Secondly, it's a reliable source, since the definitions are written by language experts, unlike some other websites where anyone can post an explanation. Finally, the database is vast and constantly updated with new words. I honestly think it has helped me improve my vocabulary more than any textbook, and I would find it hard to study English without it.
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 |
|---|---|
| user-friendly | easy to use |
| browse through | look casually at a lot of content |
| reliable source | a place you can trust for accurate information |
| bookmark a page | save a page to find it again easily |
| a vast database | a huge store of information |
| up to date | containing the latest information |
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 news or weather website
- A video or music platform
- An online learning or shopping site
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat the website is
- 25 swhat you use it for
- 25 show often you visit it
- 45 sand explain why you find it useful.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: The internet in daily life. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- How has the internet changed the way people find information?
- Do you think people trust websites too easily?
- What are the dangers of spending too much time online?
- Should children's use of the internet be limited?
- Will websites become less important as apps and AI tools develop?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Books, films and media
- Describe a television programme or video series about science or technology that you found interesting
- Describe an audiobook, e-book or other form of digital reading that you have tried
- Describe a story or legend from your culture that you know well
- Describe a television programme that your family likes to watch together
- Describe a film that you enjoyed watching
- Describe a photograph that you like
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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