To answer the IELTS Speaking Test question "Describe a movie or book you have enjoyed. What is it about? Why did you like it? What did you learn from it?" effectively, it’s important to follow a structured approach and make sure your answer is clear, well-supported, and engaging. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you structure your response.
Step 1: Introduce the Movie or Book
Start by briefly mentioning the title of the movie or book, the genre, and when you experienced it. This will set the stage for your explanation.
Example:
- "One of my favorite books is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It’s a classic novel that I read a few years ago and is considered one of the most important works in American literature."
- "A movie that I really enjoyed recently is Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan. It’s a science fiction film I watched last month, and it had a huge impact on me."
Step 2: Give a Brief Summary
Next, provide a concise summary of the plot or the main theme. This helps the examiner understand what the story is about without going into unnecessary details. Keep it simple and relevant to the key points.
Example:
- "The novel is set in the 1930s and tells the story of a young girl named Scout Finch, who lives in a small town in the southern United States. The main focus of the book is on her father, Atticus Finch, who is a lawyer defending a Black man wrongly accused of a crime. The story explores themes of racism, justice, and moral courage."
- "In Inception, the main character, Dom Cobb, is a professional thief who enters people’s dreams to steal their secrets. The plot revolves around a complicated mission where he and his team are hired to plant an idea in someone’s mind instead of stealing one. The movie deals with complex themes like reality, dreams, and the power of the subconscious."
Step 3: Explain Why You Liked It
This is the most important part of your answer. Talk about the aspects of the book or movie that you found particularly enjoyable. It could be the story, characters, themes, or the way it made you feel. Be specific about why it stood out to you.
Example:
- "What I really liked about To Kill a Mockingbird was the way it tackled such difficult issues like racism and inequality in a sensitive yet powerful way. The character of Atticus Finch, who stands up for what is right even though the odds are against him, really inspired me. I also enjoyed the book’s focus on morality and empathy, especially how Scout learns to understand the perspectives of others as she grows up."
- "I found Inception fascinating because of its unique concept of entering dreams and the way the story unfolds with layers of reality. The special effects were mind-blowing, but more than that, I liked how it made me think deeply about the nature of reality and what’s possible in the human mind. It kept me on the edge of my seat and challenged my understanding of storytelling."
Step 4: Discuss What You Learned from It
Finally, reflect on any lessons or takeaways from the movie or book. This part shows your ability to engage with the material on a deeper level and connect it to real-life situations or personal growth.
Example:
- "One of the biggest things I learned from To Kill a Mockingbird is the importance of standing up for what’s right, even when it’s difficult. Atticus Finch’s courage and moral integrity left a lasting impression on me. It also taught me a lot about empathy—how important it is to try to understand other people’s perspectives, especially those who are marginalized or treated unfairly."
- "From Inception, I learned how powerful our dreams and subconscious thoughts can be in shaping our decisions and beliefs. It made me reflect on how our perception of reality can sometimes be distorted by our own experiences or thoughts. It also reminded me to question what I see and not take everything at face value."
Example Answer:
Question: "Describe a movie or book you have enjoyed. What is it about? Why did you like it? What did you learn from it?"
Answer: "One of the books I’ve really enjoyed is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It’s a novel set in the 1930s in the southern United States and follows a young girl named Scout Finch. The main plot revolves around her father, Atticus Finch, who is a lawyer defending a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. The book deals with important themes like racism, injustice, and moral courage.
What I loved most about this book is how it addresses these serious issues in such a moving and thought-provoking way. Atticus Finch, in particular, stood out to me as a role model because of his bravery and sense of morality. Despite knowing that he might lose the case, he still fights for what is right. The book also provides a powerful lesson on empathy, as Scout learns to see the world from other people’s perspectives, even those who are different or misunderstood.
From reading this book, I learned the importance of standing up for justice, even when it’s not easy, and the value of treating everyone with compassion. It opened my eyes to the complexities of social issues like racism and inequality, and I found myself reflecting on these topics long after I finished the book."
Explanation of Structure and Approach:
1. Introduction: You start by introducing the title and giving basic information about the movie or book. This is crucial for context.Key Tips:
1. Be Specific: Instead of saying “I liked it because it was good,” explain why it was good—was it the characters, the themes, or the emotional impact?By following these steps, you can deliver a detailed and well-structured answer to this IELTS Speaking Test question.