IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a person you know who likes to read books

Describe a person you know who likes to read books

Suggested ideas for each part

• Who this person is: 👩‍🏫 A teacher / 👩‍🎓 A classmate / 👨‍💼 A colleague / 🏡 A family member (e.g., an uncle, cousin, or grandmother)
• How you knew this person: 🏫 Met at school / 👪 A close family member / 📚 A friend from a book club
• What this person reads: 🎭 Classic novels / 🔬 Science books / 📖 Self-improvement books / 🗞️ Newspapers / 📜 History books
• Why this person likes to read: 🧠 Loves gaining knowledge / 💭 Finds it relaxing / 🎓 Uses books for learning and self-improvement

Useful grammar structures

1. Present simple: She reads every day because she enjoys it.
2. Present perfect: He has read hundreds of books over the years.
3. Relative clause: The person who inspires me to read is my uncle.
4. Second conditional: If I had more free time, I would read as much as he does.
5. Comparisons: Unlike most people, she prefers books to watching TV.

Collocations

1. A voracious reader 📖 (người đọc rất nhiều)
2. A wide range of books 📚 (nhiều thể loại sách)
3. Expand knowledge 🧠 (mở rộng kiến thức)
4. Escape from reality 🌍➡️📖 (thoát khỏi thực tế)
5. Enrich vocabulary 📝 (làm phong phú vốn từ vựng)
6. Feed curiosity 🤔 (thoả mãn trí tò mò)
7. Develop critical thinking 💭 (phát triển tư duy phản biện)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

One of the people I admire the most is my uncle, who is a voracious reader 📖. Ever since I was a child, I have seen him with a book in his hands. He has a massive bookshelf at home, filled with a wide range of books 📚, from classic literature to modern psychology. He once told me that reading helps him expand knowledge 🧠 and see the world from different perspectives.

I first got to know his reading habit when I visited his house during summer vacations 🏡. He would spend hours reading in his cozy little library, and whenever I asked him about a book, he could explain it in such an engaging way that it made me curious to read as well. His passion for reading has influenced me a lot.

He enjoys reading books about history 📜 and philosophy because they help him develop critical thinking 💭. He also likes self-improvement books 📖, which, he believes, help people become better versions of themselves. Occasionally, he reads fiction too, as he says that stories allow him to escape from reality 🌍➡️📖 and experience different lives.

I think the reason why he reads so much is that he is naturally curious 🤔. He always says that books are like time machines that take us to different places, cultures, and ideas without leaving our seats. Also, reading has enriched his vocabulary 📝 and made him a great conversationalist. Whenever I talk to him, I feel like I learn something new!

Overall, I really admire his reading habit. If I had more free time, I would love to read as much as he does. He has inspired me to appreciate books more, and I truly believe that reading is one of the best ways to grow as a person.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. Do you like reading?

Ideas

• 📖 Yes, it helps me relax and learn new things.
• 🎓 I mostly read for studying, but I also enjoy novels sometimes.
• 📱 I prefer digital reading (e-books, articles) over physical books.

Collocations

1. A bookworm 🐛📖 (mọt sách)
2. Immerse oneself in a book 📚 (đắm chìm vào sách)
3. Expand horizons 🌎 (mở rộng tầm nhìn)

Sample answer

Yes, I do! I consider myself a bookworm 🐛📖 because I love reading different types of books. Whenever I have free time, I immerse myself in a book 📚, whether it’s a novel, a biography, or a self-help book. I think reading is a fantastic way to expand horizons 🌎 and gain new perspectives on life.

2. Is reading important for teenagers?

Ideas

• 📖 Yes, it helps with language skills and critical thinking.
• 🧠 It makes teenagers more knowledgeable and open-minded.
• 🎮 However, many young people prefer social media and video games.

Collocations

1. Boost cognitive development 🧠 (tăng cường phát triển tư duy)
2. Improve language skills 📝 (cải thiện kỹ năng ngôn ngữ)
3. Encourage creativity and imagination 🎨 (khuyến khích sáng tạo và trí tưởng tượng)

Sample answer

Definitely! Reading is crucial for teenagers as it helps them boost cognitive development 🧠 and improve language skills 📝. It also encourages creativity and imagination 🎨, which are important for their overall growth. Unfortunately, with the rise of technology, many teenagers prefer entertainment over books, so I think parents and teachers should encourage them to develop a reading habit.

3. Do you think parents should help their children develop the reading habit from an early age?

Ideas

• 👶 Yes, early exposure to books makes reading a lifelong habit.
• 📖 Reading together as a family can be a great bonding activity.
• 📱 However, some parents let kids use smartphones instead of books.

Collocations

1. Develop a lifelong love for reading ❤️📚 (phát triển tình yêu đọc sách suốt đời)
2. Foster curiosity 🤔 (nuôi dưỡng trí tò mò)
3. Make reading fun and engaging 🎉 (làm cho việc đọc thú vị)

Sample answer

Yes, absolutely! Parents play a vital role in helping children develop a lifelong love for reading ❤️📚. They should read bedtime stories, buy interesting books, and make reading fun and engaging 🎉. Early exposure to books also fosters curiosity 🤔, which can lead to a habit of lifelong learning.

4. What content do people prefer to spend time watching?

Ideas

• 🎬 Many people enjoy entertainment content (movies, reality shows, social media videos).
• 🎓 Some prefer educational content (documentaries, TED Talks, online courses).
• 📊 It depends on the person’s interests and goals.

Collocations

1. Binge-watch series 🍿 (xem liên tục phim dài tập)
2. Short-form content 🎥 (nội dung ngắn như TikTok, Instagram Reels)
3. Edutainment content 🎓🎬 (nội dung vừa học vừa giải trí)

Sample answer

Nowadays, many people love to binge-watch series 🍿 or scroll through short-form content 🎥 on social media. However, there are also people who enjoy edutainment content 🎓🎬, such as YouTube videos that teach new skills. It really depends on the person’s lifestyle and interests.

5. Do people spend more time watching entertainment or learning content?

Sample answer

Honestly, most people spend more time on entertainment because it’s more relaxing and addictive. Social media platforms make it easy to watch hours of videos without realizing it. However, some people, especially students and professionals, actively choose educational content to improve their skills.