IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a learning activity on a digital device

A Band 8 model answer with the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it, and the Part 3 questions that follow.
  • 250 words
  • An activity or habit
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a learning activity on a digital device

You should say:

  • →what the activity is
  • →how often you do it
  • →what device you use for it
  • →and explain why you find this activity enjoyable and worthwhile

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

An activity or habit

How to plan it in one minute

  1. 1

    Identify the subject and describe the digital tasks you complete.

  2. 2

    Contrast how you use your mobile phone versus a laptop.

  3. 3

    Highlight specific features that make digital study engaging and rewarding.

Model answer

Band 8 model answer

Band 8250 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I'd like to talk about learning a foreign language online, specifically Spanish, which I've been doing on my mobile phone and laptop for about a year now. The activity mainly involves working through interactive lessons, listening to native speakers in short dialogues, and completing bite-sized vocabulary drills. It has quickly become an essential part of my daily routine.

I generally try to practise every evening for about twenty minutes, usually just before winding down for bed. If I'm commuting on the train during the week, I'll often pop my headphones on and do a quick audio exercise on my mobile phone. However, at weekends, I prefer sitting at my desk with my laptop, as the larger screen makes it much easier to write short paragraphs and review complex grammar notes without straining my eyes.

What makes this activity so enjoyable is definitely its interactive and flexible nature. Rather than wading through dry verb tables in a traditional textbook, the programme uses gamified challenges and gives instant feedback, which keeps me genuinely engaged. To be honest, it rarely feels like a chore; it's almost like playing a strategy game where you gradually unlock new levels.

I find it immensely worthwhile because it's allowed me to pick up practical communication skills entirely at my own pace. Fitting meaningful study into small pockets of downtime has really boosted my confidence, and it's immensely satisfying when I can actually understand a Spanish song or read a short news article without reaching for a dictionary.

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8 words

Vocabulary from the answer

  • bite-sized

    small and easy to manage or consume quickly

  • winding down

    relaxing gradually after a busy period

  • straining my eyes

    causing physical discomfort to one's vision

  • wading through

    dealing with large amounts of dull material

  • gamified

    designed with game-like elements to increase motivation

  • at my own pace

    at a speed that suits oneself

  • pockets of downtime

    brief periods of spare time during the day

  • reaching for a dictionary

    checking the meaning of unfamiliar words immediately

5 questions

Part 3 questions that follow this card

  1. 1How has digital technology changed the way children learn at school?
  2. 2Do you think online courses will ever completely replace traditional university lectures?
  3. 3Why do some people struggle to maintain focus when studying on a screen?
  4. 4How might educational technology evolve over the next few decades?
  5. 5What are the main drawbacks of relying heavily on electronic devices for self-study?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. Read Band 8 answers to these Part 3 questions: technology and modern education.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a learning activity on a digital device"?+

Identify the subject and describe the digital tasks you complete.

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.

Keep practising

More cue cards: an activity or habit

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