The cue card
Describe a news story that you read or heard about recently.
You should say:
- what the news was about
- where you read or heard it
- why you paid attention to it
- and explain how you felt about it
Band 7 sample answer
I would like to talk about a story I read last month about a group of students who built a solar-powered water pump for a farming village. I saw it on a news website while I was waiting for a bus, and I ended up reading the whole article.
According to the report, the students were from a technical university, and they designed the pump using cheap parts so that farmers could repair it themselves. Before that, the villagers had to carry water from a well a few kilometres away, which took hours every day. After the pump was installed, they could irrigate their small fields and even plant vegetables twice a year.
I paid attention because the topic is close to home. In many rural areas of Central Asia, water is a serious issue, especially in dry summers, and I like to follow stories about practical solutions. I felt inspired and a little embarrassed, because the students were about my age and had already done something useful for others. I shared the link with a few friends, and we talked about whether we could start a small volunteer project at our own university. It reminded me that good news exists too, even though headlines are usually negative.
I should add that I try to be careful about what I read. Before sharing the story, I checked that it appeared on two other reputable websites, because I have seen how quickly false information spreads in group chats. Ever since, I follow a few trusted sources instead of scrolling randomly.
About 259 words, roughly 2 minutes of natural speech.
Key vocabulary
- a headline — the title of a news article
- breaking news — very recent important news
- reliable source — a trustworthy provider of information
- come across — find by chance
- heartwarming — making you feel happy and touched
- keep up with — stay informed about
- irrigate — supply land with water
Tips for this cue card
- Describe the story simply: who, what, where, result.
- Say why it mattered to you personally.
- Avoid sensitive political details; choose science, local or community news.
Part 3 follow-up questions
Why do people prefer bad news to good news?
Idea: Negative events feel urgent and dramatic, so media gives them more attention and readers click on them.
Is social media a good source of news?
Idea: It is fast, but rumours spread easily, so people should check official or established sources.
Should children be encouraged to follow the news?
Idea: Age-appropriate news builds awareness, but parents should limit upsetting content.
More discussion questions with full answers: IELTS Speaking Part 3 topics.
Study guides
How Is IELTS Scored in Speaking and Writing? Criteria, Weighting and Rounding
The short answer first, then the Speaking and Writing criteria tables, how Task 1 and Task 2 combine and how the overall band is rounded.
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors Explained in Plain English
The IELTS Speaking test is marked on four criteria. Here is what each one means at bands 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, with short examples you can compare with your own answers.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: How Many Minutes to Speak (With a Practice Timer)
How long Part 2 lasts (1 minute to prepare, 1–2 minutes to speak), a practice timer, a four-step structure and a model answer.