Describe a story you read recently
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 you read recently
You should say:
- what it is about
- when you read it
- whether you liked it
- what you learned from it
Sample answer
Recently, I read an intriguing story about the creation of One Punch Man, a renowned manga by a Japanese artist. This tale revolves around the journey of how this unique manga came into existence. I stumbled upon this captivating narrative about a week ago while scrolling through my Facebook feed. Being subscribed to various groups focused on manga, particularly One Punch Man, I was curious to discover the reasons behind its immense popularity. The story begins with a simple premise: a man who wanted to share his creative vision on his own website. Initially, the narrative was quite underdeveloped, as even the creator struggled to find direction. The protagonist of One Punch Man, who possesses the ability to defeat any enemy with a single punch, made storytelling challenging, as it seemed too easy for him to conquer any foe. Consequently, the creator shifted his focus to developing secondary characters, aiming to provide them with meaningful backstories and plots that would engage readers just as much as the main character. However, the illustrations were notably poor at first. The characters were depicted in a simplistic manner, akin to childlike drawings, which could deter potential readers. Despite the lackluster artwork, the storyline was compelling enough to draw in an audience, gradually gaining traction over time. This audience connection ultimately proved essential in transforming the comic into a beloved series. A skilled manga illustrator later took the opportunity to revamp the original webcomic, breathing new life into the characters by reimagining them in a more polished and appealing way. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the origins of One Punch Man, as it highlights the importance of perseverance and creativity in the artistic process. This story taught me that even the roughest beginnings can lead to great success if one is willing to adapt and learn along the way. The journey from a simple webcomic to a major manga series is truly inspiring, reminding me that every great creation starts with a single idea and that improvement often comes with time and effort.
339 words — roughly 3–3 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.