A few months ago, I picked up a copy of 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' by Daniel Kahneman. It had been gathering dust on my bedside table for ages, but I finally decided to dive into it during a long-haul flight to Tokyo. I’d heard so many people mention it in intellectual circles, and I was genuinely curious to understand the cognitive biases that govern our decision-making processes. The book explores the duality of our minds: System 1, which is impulsive and intuitive, and System 2, which is deliberate and logical. Reading it forced me to constantly pause and reflect on my own past choices. It made me scrutinise why I sometimes react emotionally to stressful situations rather than stepping back to assess the facts. I found myself thinking deeply about the nature of human rationality and how easily our perceptions can be skewed by mental shortcuts. Every chapter felt like a workout for my brain. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience because it felt incredibly empowering to gain a toolkit for understanding my own mental pitfalls. It wasn't just a passive reading experience; it was a collaborative process between the author's research and my own life reflections. By the time I landed, I felt as though I had developed a sharper lens through which to view the world. It was a challenging read, certainly, but the profound clarity it offered made every page worth the effort, as it fundamentally shifted my perspective on how we form opinions and make judgments in our daily lives.
The cue card
Describe a book that you enjoyed reading because you had to think a lot.
You should say:
- →What this book was?
- →Why you decided to read it?
- →What reading this book made you think about?
- →And explain why you enjoyed reading this book.
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Try it now, out loud
One minute to prepare, then up to two minutes to speak. Cover every point on the card, then compare with the Band 8 answer below.
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A film, book, song or programme
How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan
- 1
Choose a book that genuinely challenged your perspective, not just a popular bestseller.
- 2
Use the first minute to list specific concepts from the book that triggered deep thought.
- 3
Ensure you link the book's content to your personal life to make the answer authentic.
Model answer
Band 8 sample answer
Say it out loud and get a band
Record your answer to this cue card: one minute of preparation, two minutes to speak, then request AI feedback on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Try AI feedback before signup →8 words
Useful vocabulary for this cue card
gathering dust
something that has not been used for ages
long-haul
a journey covering a very long distance
duality
the state of having two opposite parts
scrutinise
to examine something very carefully and thoroughly
skewed
not accurate because it is unfairly influenced
mental shortcuts
simple strategies people use to make quick decisions
empowering
giving someone the confidence to take control
pitfalls
hidden dangers or difficulties in a situation
6 questions
Part 3 follow-up questions
- 1What are the most popular types of children's books in your country?
- 2What are the benefits of parents reading books to their children?
- 3Should parents always let children choose the books they read?
- 4How popular are electronic books are in your country?
- 5What are the advantages of parents reading electronic books?
- 6Will electronic books ever completely replace printed books in the future?
Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Frequently asked questions
How should I start the cue card "Describe a book that you enjoyed reading because you had to think a lot."?+
Choose a book that genuinely challenged your perspective, not just a popular bestseller.
How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+
You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.
How is the cue card scored?+
Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.
Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+
Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.
Keep practising
More cue cards: a film, book, song or programme
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