Describe a good advertisement that you think is useful
Describe a good advertisement that you think is useful.
You should say:
- Where you can see it
- What it shows
- Why you think it is useful
- And explain how you feel about it.
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
How to plan it in one minute
- Choose an ad you genuinely recall to make your delivery more natural and fluent.
- Use the bullet points as a roadmap to ensure your response stays perfectly chronological.
- Focus on your personal reaction to the ad to add depth to your answer.
Band 8 model answer
I recently came across a public service advertisement while waiting for the underground in London, specifically at King’s Cross station. It was a digital poster for a campaign called 'Small Acts, Big Impact', designed to encourage people to donate their unused seasonal clothing to local shelters. The visual was striking; it showed a split screen, with one side featuring a cold, shivering individual on a park bench and the other side showing a vibrant, colourful pile of winter coats, scarves, and gloves. There was no aggressive sales pitch, just a simple QR code at the bottom that directed viewers to a map of nearby drop-off points. I find this advertisement particularly useful because it bridges the gap between intention and action. Often, people want to help those less fortunate but simply do not know the logistics of how or where to donate. By providing an immediate, accessible solution in a high-traffic area, it converts passive sympathy into tangible community support. Personally, I feel quite touched whenever I see it. In a city where we are constantly bombarded with commercial ads trying to sell us luxury goods or fast food, this particular campaign stands out because it appeals to our collective sense of empathy rather than our vanity. It serves as a gentle reminder that we have the power to improve someone’s quality of life with items we no longer require. It makes the hectic daily commute feel a little more meaningful, and it actually motivated me to clear out my own wardrobe last weekend.
254 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.
Vocabulary from the answer
- public service advertisement
- An ad promoting a social cause or message.
- striking
- Something that attracts attention because it is unusual.
- logistics
- The practical organisation of a complex activity.
- tangible
- Something clear and definite that can be felt.
- bombarded
- To be hit with too much of something.
- vanity
- Excessive pride in one's own physical appearance.
- collective
- Done by or involving all members of society.
- hectic
- Characterised by intense activity and fast pace.
Part 3 questions that follow this card
- What do you think of online advertising?
- Do you think there is too much advertising in our daily lives?
- Do people watch useless advertisements in this day and age?
- Are there any great online advertisements?
- What do people usually buy?
- Why does buying new things make people happy?
Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See the Part 3 guide.
Say it out loud and get a band
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Frequently asked questions
How should I start the cue card "Describe a good advertisement that you think is useful."?
Choose an ad you genuinely recall to make your delivery more natural and fluent.
How long should my answer be?
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.
Can I use this model 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.
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