Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a book you have recently read

"Discussing a recently read book" is a topic that many candidates encounter while preparing for the IELTS exam independently. While this subject isn't new, do you have the strategies to address it effectively and impress the examiner? If you're still feeling uncertain about tackling this aspect of the IELTS Speaking test, let's delve into a comprehensive approach for responding to the task "Describe a book you have recently read" below!
 

I. Analysis of the task: Describe a book you have recently read

1. Task description

Describe a book you have recently read:

2. Task analysis

"Describe a book you have recently read" is a common topic in IELTS Speaking Part 2, with a specific requirement to choose and describe a book that you have recently read. The task does not limit the genre, length, or content of the book. Therefore, you can freely choose according to your own preferences. However, it is recommended to prioritize books that you find interesting and worth discussing to stimulate the examiner's curiosity.

• The main content of your presentation for the topic "Describe a book you have recently read" should include answers to the small prompts in the cue card, including:
  • The genre of the book.
  • The main content of the book.
  • Which types of readers would enjoy this book?
  • Why do you like the book?
• For the question about the genre of the book, you should directly address the specific genre the book belongs to, whether it is a detective novel, a love story, or simply a self-help book. If you are unsure about the genre, it is advisable to carefully research on the internet or check the book cover if available.
• Next, summarize the main content in 2-3 concise sentences and highlight a few notable points about the book. Due to time constraints, we cannot go into too much detail on this question, and the listener only needs a brief summary to grasp the main content of the work.
• After summarizing the main content, the task requires you to identify which types of readers would enjoy reading this book. For example, if it is a romantic novel, it would be most suitable for young dreamers and the curious; or if the book you choose is a detective story, it would be suitable for adventure-loving readers who enjoy solving mysteries, for example.
• Finally, your answer should emphasize why you like the book and why, out of countless books, you chose it to introduce.

In conclusion, "Describe a book you have recently read" is a fairly straightforward and easy-to-develop task. However, it requires candidates to quickly reflect on the task and promptly decide on a book to explore. If you spend too much time choosing and hesitating, this task may become challenging for you. Therefore, PREP's advice to you is to prepare a book you love in advance and regularly practice speaking on the IELTS topic "Describe a book you have recently read" when self-studying at home!

3. The outline of the speaking topic “Describe a book you have recently read”

How I know about the book 

• Through 2 of Ali Wong’s Netflix comedy special hits, “Baby Cobra” and “Hard Knock Wife
• While waiting for Ali’s comeback, I decided to give her book a shot. 

What kind of book it is

• Title of the book: Dear girls by Ali Wong, my favorite stand-up comedian
• Genre: letters to Ali's daughters in the future

What it is about

• Ali's life experience + everything a girl needs to know in life. 
• Ali’s unfiltered thoughts on marriage, Asian culture, working women, etc

What sort of people would enjoy it

• people who would enjoy something out of the ordinary or simply have a big laugh. 

Why do you like it

• The book was absurdly funny, surprisingly moving, enlightening, and also disgusting as expected from Ali.
• It has made reading more pleasant than ever before. 
• I not only gained more life lessons but also way too much laughter.

II. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a book you have recently read

To tell the truth, as opposed to my nerdy appearance, I have never been a book enthusiast. I don’t really experience joy in the process of sitting still and staring at thick pages for hours, thus, I hardly ever read. Nonetheless, there is one book that I actually take pleasure in reading. It is called “Dear girls”, written by the one and only, my favorite stand-up comedian, Ali Wong.

I learned about this book last month through 2 of Ali Wong’s Netflix comedy special hits, “Baby Cobra” and “Hard Knock Wife”. Unfortunately, since Ali did the show when she was pregnant with her second daughter, after the show, she was absent from the stage for a few months. While waiting for her comeback, I decided to give her book a shot. Much as I hate reading, for the love of Ali, I managed to place an order, sit down and spend my time on a 200-page book.

And thankfully, the book lives up to my expectations. “Dear girls” is in fact a well-prepared letter to Ali's daughters when they get older. It is filled with Ali's life experience, covering everything a girl needs to know in life. Ali interpreted the world in such a unique way, she gave out her unfiltered thoughts on marriage, Asian culture, working women, and so on. The book was absurdly funny, surprisingly moving, enlightening, and also disgusting as expected from Ali. I believe that this book will be most suitable for people who would enjoy something out of the ordinary or simply have a big laugh. 

Even though I haven’t got the time to finish the whole book, I believe it has made reading more pleasant than ever before. Through reading it, I not only gain more life lessons but also way too much laughter.

Please refer to the following article:

• Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2, 3: Describe a businessman you admire

III. Vocabulary and Grammar Structures in the Sample "Describe a Book You Have Recently Read"

1. Vocabulary

Vocabulary plays a crucial role in IELTS Speaking Part 2 as it directly impacts your ability to effectively describe a given topic. In this section, you are given a cue card with a specific topic and are expected to speak about it for two minutes. Having a strong vocabulary allows you to express yourself fluently, use a wide range of words and phrases, and convey your ideas with clarity and precision.

Below are some useful vocabulary words used in the sample response for "Describe a Book You Have Recently Read":

• to tell the truth: honestly
• book enthusiast: someone who loves and enjoys reading books
• take pleasure in: enjoy
• stand-up comedian: a performer who tells jokes and humorous stories on stage
• hilarious and addictive: extremely funny and compelling
• lose count of something: be unable to keep track of something
• give something a shot: try something
• lives up to one's expectations: meets or exceeds one's expectations
• unfiltered thoughts: honest and uncensored thoughts
• absurdly funny: extremely funny in a ridiculous or exaggerated way
• surprisingly moving: unexpectedly touching or emotionally impactful
• enlightening: providing new knowledge or understanding
• out of the ordinary: unusual or different from what is usual or expected

2. Grammar

Grammar is equally important in IELTS Speaking Part 2 as it contributes to your overall language proficiency and coherence. While vocabulary helps you choose the right words, grammar ensures that your sentences are structured correctly and convey your intended meaning accurately.

Using appropriate grammar allows you to express your ideas clearly and effectively. It helps you construct grammatically correct sentences, use different verb tenses, form complex sentences, and connect ideas logically. A good command of grammar enables you to demonstrate your ability to use a variety of sentence structures, such as conditional sentences, passive voice, and complex clauses, which can enhance the complexity and coherence of your speech.

In addition to the vocabulary, here are some grammar structures used in the sample response for "Describe a Book You Have Recently Read:

• Passive voice: (S + be + Vp2 +O): It is called “Dear girls”, written by the one and only, my favorite stand-up comedian, Ali Wong.
• Emphatic Structure: (There is one thing that…): There is one book that I actually take pleasure in reading.
• so …. that … : S1+V1 so + adj that S2 + V2+ O2: These shows were so hilarious and addictive that I lose count of how many times I have replayed them. 
• While: (While S1 + V1+ O1, S2+ V2+ O2): While waiting for her comeback, I decided to give her book a shot. 
• Much as: (Much as S1 + V1+ O1, S2+ V2+ O2): Much as I hate reading, for the love of Ali, I managed to place an order, sit down and spend my time on a 200-page book.
• Concession + Comparative Structure: (Even though S1+V1+O1, S2+ V2+ O2): Even though I haven’t got the time to finish the whole book, I believe it has made reading more pleasant than ever before.
• Not only… but also: (S + not only + V + Noun + but also + Noun): Through reading it, I not only gain more life lessons but also way too much laughter.

IV. Conclusion

This article has provided the most detailed analysis of the topic, and outline of the speech, as well as the sample response for IELTS Speaking Part 2 on the topic "Describe a book you have recently read." This will help you easily refer to and study IELTS at home. PREP wishes you success in achieving a high band score and being confident in facing the examiner in the real IELTS Speaking test!