IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a time when you needed to search for information.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card

Describe a time when you needed to search for information.

You should say:

• What information you needed

• When you searched for it

• Where you searched for it
  And explain why you needed to search for it

Speaking Expressions

• To be honest… (Thật lòng mà nói…)

• If I remember correctly… (Nếu tôi nhớ không lầm…)

• I went down a rabbit hole… (Tôi lạc vào “hang thỏ” thông tin…)

• Long story short… (Nói ngắn gọn là…)

• It saved my skin… (Nó cứu tôi một bàn thua trông thấy…)

• It hit me that… (Tôi chợt nhận ra rằng…)

• Since then, I’ve been… (Từ đó, tôi đã…)

Ideas & Collocations

• Official government portal (cổng thông tin chính phủ chính thức)

• Keyword search strategy (chiến lược tìm kiếm từ khóa)

• Crowdsourced advice (lời khuyên từ cộng đồng)

• Step‑by‑step tutorial (hướng dẫn từng bước)

• Fact‑check multiple sources (kiểm chứng nhiều nguồn)

• Bookmark useful pages (đánh dấu các trang hữu ích)

Sample Answer 

To be honest, the last time I desperately needed information was about how to renew my passport online before a sudden trip. If I remember correctly, this was around early May, when my boss told me I might have to fly to Singapore for a training course—so yeah, panic mode. I jumped on my laptop and headed straight for the official government portal, but the instructions were super wordy, so I went down a rabbit hole on Google and YouTube looking for a step‑by‑step tutorial. I also checked a Facebook group for travelers to get some crowdsourced advice, because people there usually share screenshots and tips you never find on official pages.

At first I typed really generic stuff, then I switched to a proper keyword search strategy—like “renew VN passport online 2025 form” and “how to book consular appointment HCMC.” I made sure to fact‑check multiple sources—blogs, news sites, even Reddit threads—because you never know what’s outdated. I bookmark(ed) useful pages so I wouldn’t lose them in the flood of tabs.

Long story short, I managed to submit the application, book the time slot, and avoid missing the flight. Honestly, it saved my skin. It hit me that searching smart is a skill—if you know where to look and how to filter info, you save a ton of time and stress. Since then, I’ve been way more organized: I keep notes, screenshots, and a folder of important links so the next “urgent info hunt” doesn’t wreck my nerves.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions

1. How do people search for information nowadays?

2. What information can people get from television?

3. With the development of the internet, is the library still important?

4. Does internet development affect disadvantaged people?

Question 1

Speaking Expressions:

• These days… (Dạo này…)

• Let’s be honest… (Thú thật là…)

• We just Google it… (Chúng ta chỉ cần Google thôi…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Voice search (tìm kiếm bằng giọng nói)

• Algorithm‑driven feeds (bảng tin do thuật toán điều khiển)

• Keyword deep dive (đào sâu bằng từ khóa)

• Crowdsource answers (hỏi ý kiến cộng đồng)

Sample Answer:
“These days, let’s be honest, most of us just Google it and hope the answer pops up on the first page. Plenty of people even use voice search—‘Hey Google, how do I…’—when they’re cooking or driving. Social media’s algorithm‑driven feeds also shove info at us before we even ask. If it’s tricky, I do a keyword deep dive and crowdsource answers in Facebook groups or Reddit. It’s fast, but you’ve gotta filter out the junk.”

Question 2

Speaking Expressions:

• For starters… (Trước hết là…)

• You still get… (Bạn vẫn nhận được…)

• It’s great for… (Nó rất hữu ích cho…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Breaking news alerts (tin nóng liên tục)

• Educational documentaries (phim tài liệu giáo dục)

• Public service announcements (thông báo phục vụ cộng đồng)

• Live sports coverage (tường thuật thể thao trực tiếp)

Sample Answer:
“For starters, TV gives you breaking news alerts without you having to search. You still get solid educational documentaries on science or history that are well‑produced. Public service announcements—like health warnings or storm updates—are another plus. And of course, live sports coverage is still better on a big screen with commentary. It’s great for people who want curated content instead of scrolling endlessly online.”

Question 3

Speaking Expressions:

• Absolutely, yes… (Chắc chắn là có…)

• Old‑school but gold… (Cổ điển nhưng giá trị…)

• More than just books… (Không chỉ là sách…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Community hub (trung tâm cộng đồng)

• Free Wi‑Fi access (truy cập Wi‑Fi miễn phí)

• Librarian guidance (hướng dẫn của thủ thư)

• Digital archives (kho lưu trữ số)

Sample Answer:
“Absolutely, yes—libraries are old‑school but gold. They’re more than just books now: a community hub with study rooms, talks, and even maker spaces. Students who can’t afford data get free Wi‑Fi access, and librarian guidance helps you find legit sources instead of random blogs. Plus, many libraries offer digital archives you can’t find on Google. So yeah, they still matter, big time.”

Question 4

Speaking Expressions:

• On the flip side… (Ở chiều ngược lại…)

• There’s a real digital divide… (Thực sự có khoảng cách số…)

• It can level the playing field… (Nó có thể tạo sự công bằng…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Affordable data plans (gói dữ liệu giá rẻ)

• Public internet kiosks (trạm internet công cộng)

• Tech literacy programs (chương trình nâng cao hiểu biết công nghệ)

• Rural broadband rollout (mở rộng internet băng rộng vùng nông thôn)

Sample Answer:
“On the flip side, there’s a real digital divide—people without devices or stable Wi‑Fi get left behind. The internet can level the playing field only if we offer affordable data plans and public internet kiosks. Governments and NGOs need tech literacy programs so folks actually know how to use the tools. A big one is rural broadband rollout, otherwise remote areas stay disconnected. So yes, development helps—but only if access is truly inclusive.”