The cue card
Describe a film you enjoyed watching.
You should say:
- what film it was
- when you watched it
- what it was about
and explain why you enjoyed it.
You have one minute to make notes, then speak for one to two minutes.
Band 8–9 sample answer
Written by Abroadway as a model of natural, high-band speaking (not an official IELTS sample).
The film I'd like to talk about is Coco, the animated film made by Pixar. I know animation is often dismissed as something just for children, but this one genuinely moved me.
I watched it about five years ago, during a winter break when my family went to visit my aunt in Melbourne. Of course, December there is the middle of summer, so it was blisteringly hot, and one afternoon my cousins dragged me into an old cinema near their house, mainly to enjoy the air conditioning. I went in with fairly low expectations.
The story follows a boy called Miguel who lives in a small town in Mexico. He's desperate to become a musician, but his family has banned music for generations because, long ago, his great-great-grandfather apparently abandoned them to pursue a singing career. On the Day of the Dead, when Mexican families honour their ancestors, Miguel accidentally crosses over into the Land of the Dead, and he has to find his way back before sunrise. Along the way, he uncovers a family secret that turns out to be very different from the version he'd grown up with.
There are a few reasons why I enjoyed it so much. Visually, it's stunning; I still remember the bridge of glowing orange marigold petals connecting the two worlds. But what really struck me was the central idea that people only truly disappear when nobody remembers them any more. It made me think of my grandmother, who had passed away the year before, and the way our family still tells stories about her every Eid. By the final scene, I'm slightly embarrassed to admit, I was in tears, and so was half the audience. It's a film about family and memory, and those themes feel just as relevant in Bangladesh as they do in Mexico.
Useful phrases from this answer
- dismissed as
- treated as unimportant or not worth serious attention
- blisteringly hot
- extremely hot
- what really struck me
- the thing that impressed or affected me most
- the biggest draw
- the thing that attracts the most people
- a huge following
- a very large number of fans or supporters
- bring a period to life
- make a time in history feel real and vivid
- outright censorship
- complete banning or cutting of content
- a fraction of
- a small part of something
Part 3 follow-up questions and answers
What kinds of films are most popular in your country?
In Bangladesh, I'd say mainstream Bangla commercial films are still the biggest draw, especially the big-budget ones released around Eid, which typically mix action, romance and plenty of songs. Indian films, both Hindi and Kolkata Bengali productions, also have a huge following, partly because of the shared language and culture. Among younger people in cities, though, tastes are becoming more global, and Hollywood blockbusters and South Korean thrillers are very popular. Interestingly, there also seems to be a growing appetite for more realistic local stories, often made for streaming platforms, which tackle social issues in a way that older commercial films rarely did.
Why do some people prefer watching films at home rather than at the cinema?
Convenience is probably the main reason. At home you can watch whenever you like, pause to make a cup of tea, and avoid the hassle of traffic, which in a city like Dhaka can easily add an hour to the outing. Cost matters too: for a family of four, cinema tickets and snacks soon add up, whereas a streaming subscription costs a fraction of that. Some people also simply prefer the comfort and privacy of their own sofa. That said, I don't think home viewing can fully replace the cinema. There's something about a huge screen and an audience reacting together that makes certain films, especially spectacular ones, far more memorable.
Can films teach people about history and other cultures?
Yes, I think they can, although viewers need to be a little cautious. A well-made historical film can bring a period to life in a way a textbook rarely does; seeing ordinary people's clothes, homes and struggles makes events feel real rather than abstract. Films about the Liberation War, for instance, have helped many younger Bangladeshis connect emotionally with that period. Similarly, foreign films give us a glimpse into daily life and values elsewhere. The drawback is that films are made to entertain, so they often simplify or dramatise events. Ideally, a film should spark curiosity, and then people should read further to get a more balanced picture.
Should films be censored? Why or why not?
I'd argue for sensible regulation rather than outright censorship. Age ratings, for example, make perfect sense, because children shouldn't be exposed to extreme violence or explicit content, and parents benefit from clear guidance. However, I'm uneasy about governments cutting scenes or banning films simply because the ideas are politically uncomfortable. Cinema has always been a way of questioning authority and exploring difficult issues, and heavy censorship can strip it of that role. There's also a practical problem: in the internet age, banned films usually circulate online anyway, so censorship often just makes them more famous. Clear classification, combined with freedom of expression for adults, seems the most sensible balance.
How might streaming services change the film industry in the future?
I suspect they'll continue to shift power away from traditional cinemas. More films may be released straight to streaming, and cinemas might survive mainly by focusing on big spectacles that people feel are worth seeing on a giant screen. On the positive side, streaming gives smaller filmmakers, including those from countries like Bangladesh, a chance to reach a global audience without needing international distribution deals. On the other hand, because these platforms rely heavily on algorithms, there's a risk that they'll keep recommending the same kinds of safe, formulaic content. So the industry could become both more diverse and, paradoxically, more predictable.
Practise this cue card out loud
Free, no account needed. Use Chrome or Edge with a microphone; you'll get a band estimate for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Want the technique behind a strong Part 2? Read the free Speaking lessons.