IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a newspaper or a magazine that you like to read

Describe a newspaper or a magazine that you like to read.

You should say:

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

How to plan it in one minute

  1. Choose a specific publication you genuinely know details about to ensure natural fluency.
  2. Use your one minute to jot down keywords for each bullet point to maintain order.
  3. Focus on your personal connection to the reading material to sound more authentic.

Band 8 model answer

I’d like to talk about a monthly science magazine called 'New Scientist'. I stumbled upon it quite by accident in a local newsagent’s about two years ago, and it has been a staple of my reading habits ever since. It focuses primarily on the latest breakthroughs in technology, space exploration, and environmental science, but it also features fascinating columns on the ethics of artificial intelligence and human psychology. The articles are written in such a way that they are intellectually stimulating yet accessible to someone without a PhD in physics. I make a point of picking up a new issue every month, usually on the first Saturday, and I treat it as a bit of a ritual with a strong cup of coffee. I tend to spend the entire weekend slowly working my way through the features and the opinion pieces. The main reason I’m so drawn to this publication is that it offers a welcome escape from the doom-scrolling and superficial headlines that dominate social media feeds. In an era where information is often reduced to bite-sized, sensationalist snippets, New Scientist provides an in-depth analysis that helps me feel more grounded and informed about how the world is actually changing. I find that reading it satisfies my natural curiosity about the future of our species. It manages to be both optimistic about technological progress and refreshingly candid about the challenges we face as a global society, which keeps me coming back issue after issue. It’s essentially my go-to source for understanding the complex mechanisms that drive our modern existence.

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

Vocabulary from the answer

staple
a main or important element of something
intellectually stimulating
encouraging you to think and learn new things
ritual
a regular activity done in the same way
doom-scrolling
spending time reading bad news on social media
sensationalist
presenting information in a way that causes excitement
grounded
having a sensible and realistic attitude to life
candid
truthful and straightforward in a helpful way
mechanisms
the ways in which something works or happens

Part 3 questions that follow this card

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See the Part 3 guide.

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Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a newspaper or a magazine that you like to read."?

Choose a specific publication you genuinely know details about to ensure natural fluency.

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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