Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2, 3: Describe a puzzle you have played

"Describe a puzzle you have played" is a familiar topic in the IELTS Speaking exam. Although this topic is not unfamiliar to candidates, do you know how to handle this test prompt quickly and efficiently in the real IELTS exam? If you are still unsure, then refer to the sample IELTS Speaking Part 2 + 3 in the article below!

I. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2 on the topic "Describe a puzzle you have played"

1. Cue card

Describe a puzzle you have played ((jigsaw, crossword, etc)

You should say:  

• what it is like  
• how easy or difficult it is  
• how long it takes you to solve 
• And how you feel about it

2. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2 

About 2 recent years, Facebook has been running advertisements for various businesses on the users' news feed. I was watching a movie review on Facebook Watch and then an ad for Gardenscape appeared out of nowhere. At first, it was irritating because I was in the middle of the review, but the short commercial grabbed my attention. Before I knew it, I had already downloaded the game.

Gardenscape is a matching puzzle game, you have to swap at least 3 adjacent elements to earn stars and coins. After that, you can use stars to redecorate your gardens. I can recognize some of the flowers like ivy, lotus or chickweed. Some of the boosters are the common gardening tools like the rake, the shovel, and the gloves.

To talk about the levels of the game, there are actually 3 levels. The medium is labeled brown, the hard one is red and the super-hard levels are all purple. I usually get stuck at the super hard games and go ballistic though, but after overcoming it, it's satisfying to jump for joy. If the level is easy to pass, it only takes about 2 minutes; otherwise, it would last for days for me to finish the game.

I like the game although it doesn't really improve my intelligence or anything like that. It'd rather bring me amusement when looking at the adorable graphics of the flowers and the background. It did not win Facebook's Game of the year for nothing after all.

3. Vocabulary in the sample

Here are some useful vocabulary used in the sample for IELTS Speaking Part 2 on the topic "Describe a puzzle you have played":

• Out of nowhere: appearing suddenly or unexpectedly.
• In the middle of something: while doing something else.
• Adjacent: next to or adjoining something else.
• Ivy: a type of climbing plant.
• Chickweed: a type of flowering plant.
• Go ballistic: to become very angry or upset.
• Jump for joy: to be extremely happy or excited.
• Rake: a garden tool with a long handle and toothed head used for gathering leaves or leveling soil.
• Shovel: a tool with a broad blade and a long handle used for moving and lifting materials such as soil or snow.

For more information, please refer to the article.

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

II. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 3 on the topic "Describe a puzzle you have played"

Refer to some sample questions and answers for the IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic: "Describe a puzzle you have played" to easily apply them in your real Speaking test. You should only refer to the answering style, vocabulary usage, and grammar structure of this sample, but avoid memorizing it, Preppies!

A small strategy is to answer directly to the focus of the question with just one sentence, then provide an example and your explanation. It doesn't need to be too long, just 1-2 sentences are enough! How should we answer the topic "Describe a puzzle you have played"? Let's find out the details below with PREP!

1. What kinds of puzzles improve people's intelligence?

I could name a few games, but chess will be my selection. While you have to brainstorm different tactics in your head. The more you play it, the faster your processing and planning skills become.

2. Why do parents let their children play puzzles?

My parents used to throw me a cube so I know a little bit about the reason. They want the children to learn about persistence when solving a problem, and if the kids can't handle it well, they should always keep a calm attitude and move on.

3. Why are detective stories attractive to people?

The genre usually provokes the curiosity and imagination of the readers after all. The best part when reading the story is that the readers get to solve the case on their own and find the culprit. The shiftier the villain is, the more engaging the storyline is.

4. Which do you think is better? A detective movie or its original novel?

The original story of course, because the characters' psychological development is discernibly written on the page; however, when the viewers watch a detective movie, they would have to guess it through the actors' facial expressions. If the actors could not successfully convey the characters' logic, the movie would be less compelling.

5. Vocabulary in the article

Here are some useful vocabulary used in the sample for IELTS Speaking Part 3 on the topic "Describe a puzzle you have played":

• Persistence: the quality of continuing to do something despite challenges or difficulties.
• Tactic: a plan or strategy for achieving a particular goal.
• Provoke: to stimulate or incite a reaction or response.
• Culprit: a person or thing responsible for a particular problem or wrongdoing.
• Engaging: interesting and captivating.
• Discernibly: in a way that is clearly distinguishable or noticeable.
• Compelling: convincing and persuasive.

III. Conclusion

PREP advises that you should only refer to word usage, sentence structures, and idea development when practicing IELTS Speaking topics like "Describe a puzzle you have played" specifically, and other topics in general. If you want to learn more about generating ideas for IELTS Speaking, sign up for the IELTS preparation program at PREP.