Describe a mobile phone app that you use a lot
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 mobile phone app that you use a lot.
You should say:
- what the app is
- what you use it for
- how you found out about 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
265 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
An app I use constantly is a digital map and navigation application. I downloaded it about four years ago, when I moved to a new city for university and had no idea how to get around.
I first heard about it from a classmate who showed me how it can plan a route, show live traffic and even tell you exactly when the next bus will arrive. I installed it that same day, and I now open it several times a day. I use it to find the quickest way to places I haven't been before, to check how crowded the road is before I leave home, and to look up the opening hours and reviews of cafés and shops. I've also saved lists of my favourite places, so whenever I travel, I can see them marked on the map.
I find it incredibly useful for a number of reasons. First of all, it saves me a lot of time. Thanks to the traffic updates, I've avoided long delays on the way to important appointments many times. Secondly, it gives me confidence. I'm not worried about getting lost anymore, even in an unfamiliar country, because I have a detailed map at my fingertips. Thirdly, the interface is very intuitive, so I didn't need any instructions to learn it. The only drawback is that I probably rely on it too much, and my own sense of direction has become weaker. A few weeks ago my battery died, and I had trouble finding my way back from a friend's house, which was a bit of a lesson.
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 |
|---|---|
| download an app | get an application onto your phone |
| a handy tool | a useful and convenient item |
| keep track of | monitor and remember |
| send a notification | alert a user with a message |
| at my fingertips | immediately available |
| an intuitive interface | a design that is natural to use |
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 map or transport app
- A messaging or video call app
- A fitness, language or budget app
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat the app is
- 25 swhat you use it for
- 25 show you found out about 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: Smartphones and apps. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- How have smartphones changed people's daily lives?
- Do you think people are too dependent on their phones?
- What kinds of apps are most popular among young people in your country?
- Should there be age limits on the use of some apps?
- How might mobile technology develop in the next ten years?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Books, films and media
- Describe a story or legend from your culture that you know well
- Describe an advertisement that you remember well
- Describe a television programme or video series about science or technology that you found interesting
- Describe a post you saw on social media that you remember
- Describe a photograph that you like
- Describe a website or online resource that helps you to learn something
Part 1 topics on the same subject
Frequently asked questions
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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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