Describe a photograph you like

In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you get this card, one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to speak. Below: the notes a strong candidate might make in that minute, a natural Band 7–8 answer, the words that make it work, and the Part 3 discussion the examiner usually moves on to.

The cue card

One-minute notes

Notes in the preparation minute should be keywords, not sentences — one line per bullet, plus the one detail that makes your story yours. Something like:

• photo of my dad and me fishing, age ~7
• taken by my mum, on film camera
• framed on my desk now
• we're both laughing; caught nothing that day
• special: dad worked a lot; rare day just us two

Band 7–8 sample answer

A photo I really like is one of my father and me sitting on a wooden pier, fishing. I must have been about seven at the time, so it's around twenty years old now.

It was taken by my mother, on an old film camera — this was before everyone had a phone in their pocket. In the photo, my dad and I are sitting side by side with our feet hanging over the water. I'm wearing a hat that's far too big for me, and we're both laughing at something. I've asked both my parents what was so funny, and neither of them can remember, which I quite like, actually.

For years it was in a box of family photos. When I moved into my own flat, I asked my mum if I could have it, and I put it in a simple wooden frame on my desk. So I see it every day while I'm working.

It's special to me for a couple of reasons. My dad worked very long hours when I was young, often six days a week, so a whole day with just the two of us was rare. And what I love is that we didn't catch a single fish that day — I know because it became a family joke. So the photo isn't about achieving anything; it's just a moment of being happy together. Whenever I'm stressed about work, I look at it and it reminds me what actually matters.

About 248 words — roughly two minutes at a relaxed pace. Notice what it does: one specific story instead of general statements, every bullet covered, natural spoken linking rather than "firstly… secondly…", and the "why" part of the card answered properly at the end — that is where many candidates run out of things to say. Use it to see the structure; don't memorise it. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and your own story will always sound more fluent.

Useful vocabulary

• side by side — next to each other
• a family joke — a story the family laughs about repeatedly
• frame (a photo) — to put it in a frame to display
• capture (a moment) — to record a moment in a photo
• bring back memories — to make you remember the past
• candid (photo) — natural, not posed

Part 3: questions and model answers

After your two minutes, the examiner moves to a discussion linked to the card's topic. These questions are more abstract: give an opinion, a reason and an example, and it's fine to say "it depends" — as long as you explain on what.

Why do people take so many photos nowadays?

Because it costs nothing and phones are always in our pockets. Photos have also become a way of communicating — people share what they're eating or where they are, instead of describing it. In the past each photo cost money, so people only photographed important moments.

Are printed photos still important?

I think they're more important than people realise. Digital photos are easily lost when a phone breaks or an account is closed, and we rarely look at them again. A printed photo on a wall or in an album is actually seen, and it's often what survives for the next generation.

Should people be allowed to take photos of strangers?

In public places it's generally legal, but I think people should use common sense and respect. Photographing a crowd or a street scene is fine, but taking close-up pictures of someone without asking and posting them online can be intrusive, especially with children.

Do photos help us remember or make us forget?

Both, I think. Photos can trigger memories we'd otherwise lose. But some research suggests that when we're busy taking photos, we pay less attention to the moment itself, so we remember it less well. The best approach is probably to take a few photos and then put the phone away.

More cue cards about objects

• Describe an old object your family has kept
• Describe something expensive you bought
• Describe a gift you gave to someone
• Describe something you would like to own in the future

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