IELTS Speaking Part 2 · Books, films & music
Describe a book you read recently that you found interesting
Describe a book you read recently that you found interesting
You should say:
- What kind of book it was
- When and where you read it
- Who wrote the book
and explain why you found this book interesting.
How to plan your answer
Use your 1 minute to jot down key words for each point, not full sentences.
- 1
What kind of book it was
Genre: A popular science book about human habit formation and behavioral change.
- 2
When and where you read it
When and where: Read last month during my daily morning commutes on the train.
- 3
Who wrote the book
Author: Written by a well-known researcher who spent a decade studying routines.
- 4
and explain why you found this book interesting.
Why interesting: Offered practical strategies like habit stacking with relatable stories.
Sample answer
about 230 words · 2 minutesI would like to talk about an insightful book I picked up recently, which falls under the popular science genre, specifically focusing on human behavior and habit formation. It is essentially a guide on how small daily choices shape our long-term success. I ended up reading it last month during my daily commutes to work on the train. I usually listen to music during those journeys, but I decided to switch things up, and having this book in hand really made the morning ride fly by. The author is a well-known researcher in behavioral science who spent over a decade interviewing top performers and gathering data on human routines. What made this book particularly captivating was the author's ability to blend academic research with relatable real-life stories. Instead of relying on dry theories, the writer explained how simple environmental tweaks can lead to massive productivity gains over time. I found it utterly fascinating because it challenged the way I viewed my own daily routine and mindset. I was especially hooked on a chapter about habit stacking, where you anchor a new habit to an established one, like doing a quick stretch right after brewing your morning coffee. Since finishing the final page, I have actually put several of these strategies into practice with fantastic results. Overall, it was a truly thought-provoking read that completely changed my perspective on personal development.
A teaching example, not a script to memorise. Say it in your own words.
Useful phrases
falls under the popular science genre
Her latest publication falls under the popular science genre.
made the morning ride fly by
Listening to podcasts made the morning ride fly by during my travel.
blend academic research with
The presentation was designed to blend academic research with practical tips.
utterly fascinating
I found the documentary about deep sea creatures utterly fascinating.
put several of these strategies into practice
After taking the workshop, I put several of these strategies into practice.
Common mistakes
The writer who wrote the book is very famous author.
The writer who wrote the book is a very famous author.
Missing indefinite article a before singular countable noun phrase.
I read this book since two weeks ago.
I read this book two weeks ago.
Do not use since with a past simple time expression like ago.
This book made me to change my lifestyle.
This book made me change my lifestyle.
The causative verb make takes a bare infinitive without to.
Tips for a higher band
- Use natural transition phrases like 'I ended up reading' to sound spontaneous rather than memorized.
- Incorporate descriptive collocations like 'thought-provoking read' to raise your lexical resource score.
- Demonstrate grammatical range by mixing narrative past tenses with relative clauses and present perfect.
Part 3 follow-up questions
After Part 2 the examiner may ask deeper questions on the same theme.
- Do you think paper books will eventually be replaced by electronic books?
- What are the main benefits of reading non-fiction compared to fiction?
- How can schools effectively encourage children to read more books for pleasure?
Now try this cue card
1 minute to prepare, up to 2 minutes to speak, then a band estimate and tips for each criterion.
Practice estimate, not an official IELTS score.