IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card
Describe a story or novel you have read that you found interesting.
You should say:
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When you read it
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What the story or novel was about
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Who wrote it
And explain why you found it interesting.
Speaking Expressions
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To be honest… (Thật lòng mà nói…)
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I couldn’t put it down… (Tôi không thể bỏ nó xuống…)
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It revolves around… (Câu chuyện xoay quanh…)
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What really grabbed me was… (Điều thật sự thu hút tôi là…)
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It struck me that… (Tôi chợt nhận ra rằng…)
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Long story short… (Nói ngắn gọn là…)
Ideas & Collocations
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Coming-of-age journey (hành trình trưởng thành)
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Philosophical parable (ngụ ngôn triết lý)
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Relatable protagonist (nhân vật chính dễ đồng cảm)
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Page-turner (cuốn hút lật từng trang)
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Symbolic imagery (hình ảnh mang tính biểu tượng)
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Twist ending (cái kết bất ngờ)
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Narrative voice (giọng kể)
Sample Answer
To be honest, the novel that really stuck with me is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho—I read it last summer during a trip to Da Lat. It revolves around a shepherd boy named Santiago on this coming-of-age journey to find his “Personal Legend,” and I couldn’t put it down once I got past the first few chapters. What really grabbed me was how the author wrapped big life lessons into a simple philosophical parable; every chapter felt like a mini pep talk. The narrative voice is super calm and reassuring, and the symbolic imagery—like the desert, the omens, the alchemist himself—keeps popping up to nudge you to think deeper.
There’s also a relatable protagonist element: Santiago doubts himself, gets lost, gets back up—exactly what most of us go through chasing a dream. It struck me that the book was a real page-turner not because of explosions or drama, but because I wanted to see if he would actually listen to his heart or give up. Long story short, the twist ending isn’t some wild plot shocker, but a gentle reminder that sometimes what you’re searching for is right where you started—if you learn the lessons along the way.
I found it beautiful and interesting because it hit me at the right time; I was confused about my own goals, and the book kind of whispered, “Hey, keep going.” Plus, reading it in a misty Da Lat café made the whole experience feel magical. Honestly, it’s one of those books that nudges you to take action, not just sit and think—and that’s why it’s stayed with me.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions
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How does technology help people tell stories?
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Do you prefer reading e-books or printed books? Why?
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Why are mystery novels so popular these days?
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What kinds of novels are suitable for film adaptations?
Question 1
Speaking Expressions:
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These days… (Dạo này…)
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At the click of a button… (Chỉ cần một cú nhấp chuột…)
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Let’s be real… (Thực tế mà nói…)
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On top of that… (Chưa kể…)
Ideas & Collocations:
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Interactive storytelling (kể chuyện tương tác)
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Short-form videos (video dạng ngắn)
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Self-publishing platforms (nền tảng tự xuất bản)
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AR filters (bộ lọc AR)
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Podcast series (chuỗi podcast)
Sample Answer:
These days, people can share a whole life story at the click of a button—blogs, reels, you name it. Let’s be real, short-form videos and podcast series make it easier to hook an audience on the go. Writers don’t have to wait for a big publisher anymore; self-publishing platforms let them drop chapters instantly. On top of that, creatives play with interactive storytelling and even AR filters to pull audiences into the plot. So tech basically turns anyone with a phone into a potential storyteller.
Question 2
Speaking Expressions:
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Personally… (Cá nhân tôi…)
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If I’m being honest… (Thật lòng mà nói…)
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It boils down to… (Chung quy lại…)
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That said… (Nói vậy nhưng…)
Ideas & Collocations:
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Screen fatigue (mệt mỏi vì màn hình)
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Instant downloads (tải xuống tức thì)
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Dog-eared pages (những trang sách quăn góc)
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Portable library (thư viện di động)
Sample Answer:
Personally, I still lean toward printed books because dog-eared pages and the smell of paper just feel right. If I’m being honest, after a long day staring at screens, I get screen fatigue, so e‑books aren’t as relaxing. It boils down to mood and convenience though—e‑readers are a portable library with instant downloads. That said, when I travel, I usually switch to e‑books to save space. So I kind of mix both, depending on where I am and how my eyes feel.
Question 3
Speaking Expressions:
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I guess… (Tôi đoán…)
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People are suckers for… (Mọi người mê mẩn…)
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It keeps you on your toes… (Nó khiến bạn luôn cảnh giác…)
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Before you know it… (Trước khi bạn nhận ra…)
Ideas & Collocations:
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Plot twists (tình tiết bất ngờ)
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Whodunit element (yếu tố ai là thủ phạm)
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Page-turning suspense (căng thẳng khiến phải lật trang)
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Cliffhanger chapters (chương kết thúc lửng)
Sample Answer:
I guess mystery novels blow up because people are suckers for secrets and puzzles. A good one throws in plot twists and a juicy whodunit element that keeps you on your toes. You get this page-turning suspense, and before you know it, you’ve burned through 200 pages at midnight. Those cliffhanger chapters force you to read “just one more.” It’s basically brain candy for curious minds.
Question 4
Speaking Expressions:
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In my view… (Theo quan điểm của tôi…)
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It works best when… (Nó hiệu quả nhất khi…)
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From a director’s standpoint… (Từ góc nhìn đạo diễn…)
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You need room to breathe… (Bạn cần không gian để phát triển…)
Ideas & Collocations:
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Visual spectacle (màn trình diễn thị giác)
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Character-driven drama (drama tập trung vào nhân vật)
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Tight plot arc (mạch truyện chặt chẽ)
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Rich world-building (xây dựng thế giới phong phú)
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Dialogue-heavy scenes (cảnh nhiều thoại)
Sample Answer:
In my view, novels with rich world-building or a strong character-driven drama translate best to film. It works best when there’s a tight plot arc so the movie doesn’t drag. From a director’s standpoint, you want visual spectacle—scenes that look stunning on a big screen. Dialogue-heavy scenes can work, but you need room to breathe visually. Basically, if the book paints bold images in your head, chances are it’ll pop on camera too.