Describe a story or book with animals in it
IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card with a full sample answer, a Band 9 model of the two-minute long turn.
The cue card
Describe a story or book with animals in it
You should say:
- what it is about
- what animals are in it
- why you read it
- what you think of it
Sample answer
I'd like to describe a book with animals in it that I read and thoroughly enjoyed — a classic novel called 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell.
Although it might seem like a simple story about animals on the surface, the book is actually a clever political allegory. It's about a group of farm animals who rebel against their cruel human farmer, driving him off the land in the hope of creating a fair and equal society where all animals are free. However, over time, the pigs who take charge gradually become just as corrupt and tyrannical as the humans they replaced, which is the tragic heart of the story.
The animals in it are all farm animals, and each one represents a different type of person or group in society. The most memorable are the pigs, particularly two named Napoleon and Snowball, who become the leaders. There are also loyal, hard-working horses, sheep who blindly follow orders, and various other animals like dogs and hens.
I read it partly because it's a famous classic that I felt I ought to read, and partly because it was recommended by a friend who promised it was far more profound than it first appeared. I was intrigued by the idea of a story that used animals to convey a much deeper message.
As for what I think of it, I found it absolutely brilliant and genuinely thought-provoking. On one level, it works as an entertaining and easy-to-read story, but on a deeper level, it's a powerful commentary on power, corruption and how noble ideals can be twisted. I was struck by how Orwell used simple animal characters to explain complex political ideas in such an accessible way. It really made me think about human nature and society, and it has stayed with me ever since. I'd wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.
308 words — roughly 2–3 minutes at a natural speaking pace.
Reading a model answer is not the same as saying one. The sample above shows what a strong Part 2 answer sounds like. What it cannot tell you is how yours sounds — whether you hesitate, repeat the question back, or run out of things to say at forty seconds.
You can record an answer to this exact question and get it marked on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and pronunciation — the same four criteria the examiner uses.
Common questions
How long should I speak for in Part 2?
Between one and two minutes. The examiner stops you at two, so aim to still be talking at the ninety-second mark rather than finishing early — running out at forty seconds is the most common problem in this part.
What do I do with the one minute of preparation time?
You get one minute and a pencil and paper. Most candidates waste it writing full sentences they then read aloud, which sounds flat. Note a few keywords against each bullet instead, so you have four things to say and can speak naturally from them.
Do I have to cover all four bullet points?
They are prompts, not a checklist, and you are not penalised for skipping one. In practice they are the easiest way to fill two minutes, so covering them is usually the simplest way to keep going.
Does it matter if the story is not true?
No. You are assessed on your English, not on whether the events happened. Inventing detail is fine and often easier than recalling a real memory under pressure.
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.