Describe a website or app you find useful
The full IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card, a band-8 model answer you can learn from, the Part 3 questions that follow, and examiner strategy. Free, no sign-up.
Describe a website or app you find useful.
You should say:
- what it is
- how you found out about it
- how often you use it
- and explain why you find it useful
You will have one minute to prepare and should then speak for one to two minutes.
Band-8 model answer
I'd like to describe a language-learning app that I've been using almost daily for the past year. It's essentially a platform where you practise a foreign language through short, game-like exercises, and it tracks your progress with streaks and reminders. I first heard about it from a colleague who was preparing for a trip abroad and swore by it, so I decided to give it a try, mostly out of curiosity. Now it's become part of my daily routine — I usually do a quick lesson on my commute or last thing at night, and it only takes about ten minutes. What makes it so useful, in my opinion, is the way it fits around a busy life; you don't need to set aside a big block of time, which is exactly why I've managed to stick with it when I've abandoned so many other learning apps. On top of that, the little rewards it gives you are surprisingly motivating — I'd never have guessed that a virtual streak could make me so determined not to break it. Overall, it's a great example of technology making self-improvement genuinely convenient.
Why this answer scores band 8
- ✓Present perfect and present continuous used to describe an ongoing habit
- ✓Cause-and-effect linking: 'What makes it so useful… is the way…', 'which is exactly why…'
- ✓A wry, natural aside ('I'd never have guessed…') that shows real fluency
Part 3 follow-up questions
After the cue card, the examiner discusses the topic in more depth. Practise these aloud too — Part 3 is where the highest bands are won or lost.
Examiner strategy for this cue card
Practise this answer out loud in a real Speaking test
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Describe a website or app you find useful — FAQ
How do you answer the 'Describe a website or app you find useful' IELTS cue card?
Spend your one minute of preparation noting a few keywords for each prompt (what it is; how you found out about it; how often you use it; and explain why you find it useful), then speak for the full two minutes. Cover each point briefly but give most of your time to the final 'explain why' prompt, where the marks are. A full band-8 model answer is shown on this page.
How long should the IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?
You should talk for up to two minutes without stopping. It is better to keep going and cover the topic in depth than to finish early — the examiner will stop you when the time is up.
What Part 3 questions follow 'Describe a website or app you find useful'?
Part 3 broadens the topic into a discussion. For this cue card, expect questions such as: How have apps changed the way people learn new things? Do you think people rely too much on their phones? What makes an app or website successful?