Describe a film you enjoyed: cue card and sample answer

Cue card

Describe a film you enjoyed watching.

You should say:

what the film was
when and where you watched it
what it was about

and explain why you enjoyed it.

You have one minute to prepare and should speak for one to two minutes.

Try it before you read the sample. Answer this card out loud with our AI examiner and get an estimated band.

Practise with the AI examiner

Sample answer

About 247 words, or roughly two minutes of speaking.

I'd like to talk about a film called The Pursuit of Happyness, which I watched for the first time about three years ago. I saw it at home on a Sunday evening with my parents, mainly because my father had recommended it several times and I'd run out of excuses.

It's based on a true story about a salesman in San Francisco who loses almost everything. His business fails, his wife leaves, and he ends up homeless with his young son. At the same time, he's accepted onto an unpaid training scheme at a finance company, where only one trainee out of twenty will be offered a job. So during the day he's competing with people who have far more than he does, and at night he's queuing for a bed in a shelter.

What I enjoyed most was the relationship between the father and the son. There's a scene where they have to spend the night in a station toilet, and he turns it into a game so the boy won't be frightened. I found that incredibly moving, and to be honest, all three of us were in tears.

I also liked the fact that it doesn't pretend success comes easily. He works harder than everyone else and still nearly fails. It came at a good time for me, because I was preparing for my university entrance exams and feeling sorry for myself. Watching it put my problems into perspective, and I'd happily watch it again.

Why this works: it covers every point on the card in order, gives specific details and a short story rather than general statements, and ends by explaining the feeling or reason, which the last line of the card asks for.

Useful vocabulary

run out of excuses: to have no more reasons left for not doing something
based on a true story: telling events that really happened
end up homeless: to finally be in the situation of having nowhere to live
incredibly moving: causing very strong feelings of sadness or sympathy
be in tears: to be crying
put something into perspective: to help you see how important a problem really is

Rounding-off question

After you finish, the examiner may ask one short question, such as:

Would you watch this film again?

Part 3 questions: Cinema and entertainment

In Part 3, the examiner asks more abstract questions linked to the cue card topic. Give an opinion, explain why, and add an example.

Why do some people prefer watching films at home rather than at the cinema?

Mostly because it's cheaper and more comfortable. A family trip to the cinema can cost a lot once you add tickets, snacks and transport, whereas a streaming subscription covers a whole month. At home you can also pause the film, choose your own time and avoid noisy audiences. Having said that, I think big action films still lose something on a small screen.

Do you think films can teach people about history?

They can, but only up to a point. A good historical film makes people care about a period they'd never read about, and that curiosity is valuable. The problem is that directors change facts to make the story more exciting, so viewers may come away believing things that never happened. I'd say films are a starting point, not a reliable source.

Now say it out loud

Reading a good answer helps, but speaking is what improves your band. This set includes this cue card, Part 1 questions on sleep and museums, and a Part 3 discussion.

Start this Speaking test

This sample answer was written by TestWise Prep to show language that scores well. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas, not to memorise, because examiners mark rehearsed answers down.