Practise this cue card out loudPrepare for 1 minute, speak for up to 2 minutes, then compare with the Band 8 sample and try the Part 3 questions.
Book cards come in many versions: “a book you read recently”, “a book that made an impression on you”, “a book you would recommend”. Prepare one book you can summarise in two sentences and then explain its effect on you. Here is a plan, a Band 8 sample answer about Atomic Habits and the Part 3 questions about reading.
How to plan your answer in one minute#
You get one minute and a pencil. Don’t write sentences: note one or two key words per point, plus a detail or two that will make your story vivid. For example:
- what the book is about: Atomic Habits, James Clear, non-fiction
- when you read it: two years ago, during exam stress
- why you chose to read it: friend recommended it; I kept starting and stopping things
- explain how it made you feel: motivated, practical; small changes add up; still use habit stacking
Practise, then compare: Band 8 sample answers
Record your own answer first, listen back, then compare. Don’t memorise these: examiners spot memorised answers. Borrow the structure and the highlighted vocabulary instead.
Part 2 sample answer (cue card)
Cue card
Describe a book that made a strong impression on you.
You should say:
- what the book is about
- when you read it
- why you chose to read it
- and explain how it made you feel.
Sample answerShowHide
The book I’d like to talk about is *Atomic Habits* by James Clear. It’s a non-fiction book about how habits work and how to build good ones and break bad ones.
The main idea is that big changes come from very small improvements repeated over time. The author argues that if you get just one per cent better at something every day, the results add up enormously over a year. He also says that instead of focusing only on goals, like “pass the exam”, you should focus on systems, the daily routines that lead to the goal. And he gives practical techniques, such as “habit stacking”, where you attach a new habit to something you already do every day.
I read it about two years ago, at a time when I was feeling quite overwhelmed. I had exams coming up, and I kept making ambitious plans, like studying four hours every evening, then giving up after three days. A friend noticed how frustrated I was and lent me her copy.
It made a strong impression on me because it was so practical. Many self-help books make you feel motivated for a day and then nothing changes, but this one gave me tools I could use immediately. For example, I started reviewing vocabulary for ten minutes every morning while my coffee was brewing, which is habit stacking, and I’ve kept that going ever since. It also made me feel less guilty about failing in the past; the author explains that it’s usually the system that fails, not the person. Overall, I came away feeling much more in control, and I’ve recommended it to quite a few friends since then.
Useful language:non-fictionthe results add up enormouslyfeeling quite overwhelmedlent me her copymade a strong impression on meI’ve kept that going ever sincecame away feeling
Part 3 sample answers
Do people read less than they used to?
Sample answerShowHide
People probably read fewer books, especially long novels, because so much free time now goes to phones and streaming. But in a sense we read more than ever, as we read messages, articles and social media all day. The difference is that this reading is shorter and more fragmented.
Useful language:in a sensefragmented
Are e-books better than printed books?
Sample answerShowHide
E-books are convenient: you can carry hundreds on one device, adjust the text size and buy them instantly. But many people, including me, still prefer printed books for serious reading, because it’s easier to concentrate and remember where things are. I think both will continue to exist side by side.
Useful language:convenientside by side
How can parents encourage children to read?
Sample answerShowHide
The most effective way is to read with them from a young age and to let them see adults reading. It also helps to let children choose books they’re interested in, even comics, rather than forcing “serious” books on them. Regular visits to a library can make reading feel like a treat.
Useful language:from a young agefeel like a treat
Should schools make students read classic literature?
Sample answerShowHide
I think there’s value in it, because classics teach students about history, language and universal human experiences. However, if the books feel completely irrelevant, students may decide that reading is boring. A good balance would be mixing classics with modern books that reflect students’ own lives.
Useful language:universal human experiencesa good balance
Want your own answer scored? With Worddemy Pro, the AI examiner asks you real Part 1–3 questions and gives a band score for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Why this answer would score well#
- A concise, accurate summary of a real book’s ideas: small improvements, systems vs goals, habit stacking.
- A personal problem and solution (abandoning ambitious study plans) that explains why the book mattered.
- Present perfect continuous and present perfect: I’ve kept that going ever since, I’ve recommended it.
- Vocabulary for reading: non-fiction, self-help, lent me her copy, made a strong impression.
Other ideas you could talk about#
You don’t have to use a true story, and you can adapt one you know well. Other good choices:
- A novel you read at school that you still remember
- A biography of someone you admire
- A book that was turned into a film
- A book in English that helped your language learning
Mistakes to avoid#
- Retelling the whole plot for two minutes. Summarise in two or three sentences, then explain its effect.
- Choosing a book you barely remember. Pick one you could discuss with a friend.
- Confusing story and history, and novel (fiction) and book in general.
Want more? Practise a random card with the 2-minute timer in the cue card generator, or see every Speaking topic with sample answers.