Describe a Website You Often Use: IELTS Cue Card with Band 8 Sample Answer

A website I use almost every day is Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia. I think most people have used it at some point, but I probably use it more than most.

For anyone who isn’t familiar with how it works, the articles are written and edited by volunteers from all over the world, rather than by paid experts, and anyone can suggest changes. It’s been running since 2001 and now has millions of articles in hundreds of languages, and it’s run by a non-profit organisation, so there are no adverts.

I use it in several ways. The most obvious is checking quick facts, like a date or the meaning of a term I’ve come across in a lecture. For my studies, I use it as a starting point for essays: I read the article to get an overview of a topic, and then I look at the references at the bottom, which lead me to more reliable academic sources. I also read articles in English deliberately to improve my reading and vocabulary. And sometimes, I have to admit, I click on the “random article” link and lose an hour reading about something completely unexpected, like the history of the umbrella.

I visit it every day, often several times, usually on my phone.

I find it useful because it’s fast, free and covers almost anything. But what I respect most is the idea behind it: millions of people sharing knowledge for free. That said, I’ve learned to be careful with it. Because anyone can edit it, mistakes do happen, so I never use it as a source in academic work, only as a way into a topic.

Useful language:at some pointwritten and edited by volunteersa non-profit organisationa starting pointget an overview oflose an hour readinga way into a topic

They should check who wrote it, when it was published and whether it cites sources. Comparing several independent websites is also a good habit. Information that seems designed to provoke strong emotions, or that has no clear author, should be treated with suspicion.

Useful language:cites sourcestreated with suspicion

It has made information far more accessible, which is a huge benefit. But having information isn’t the same as understanding it. Some people now skim rather than read deeply, and rely on searching instead of remembering. I’d say the internet makes it easier to learn, but only for people who use it actively.

Useful language:skim rather than read deeplyuse it actively

Not young children. The internet has a lot of inappropriate content and risks, like contact with strangers. As children get older, though, they need to learn to use it responsibly, so supervision should gradually be replaced by trust and education about online safety.

Useful language:inappropriate contentonline safety

I don’t think so, at least not completely. Online learning is flexible and great for adults or for specific skills, but schools also teach social skills, teamwork and routine, which are hard to replicate online. The future is probably a mix of both.

Useful language:flexiblehard to replicate online