IELTS Speaking practice: Books and Films



On this page you can find IELTS Speaking sample for Books and Films topic.
See IELTS Speaking vocabulary for Books and Films topic >
Books and Films Topic is very common for the Speaking part of IELTS. In this IELTS speaking sample you can see a variety of questions and useful vocabulary about books & films that you can face on the test day.
Our special formatting styles:
Useful linking phrases are in blue
IELTS speaking vocabulary is in bold (put your mouse over such text to see explanations).

Part 1

Do you enjoy reading?
Yes, absolutely! A great way to relax to learn something new is to peruse a book... I'm so addicted to reading that sometimes I can't even fall asleep without an hour of bedtime reading.
Do you like watching movies?
No, not really... If I have some free time, I'd rather read an interesting book... Books leave us a lot of space for imagination, while in movies everything is spelled out for us... That's why I find films boring.
What is the last book you read? And did you like it?
The last book I've read is "Theatre" written by William Somerset Maugham ... and I absolutely enjoyed it! Maugham is my favourite writer of all time and I've read his novel from cover to cover in 2 days... I was truly captivated by the characters and the unravelling of the plot.
How often do you go to the cinema with your friends?
Quite often, to be honest... I like catching the latest movies with my friends, so we go to the cinema almost every week. I especially like action movies and sci-fi films.


Part 2

Now, have a look at the card and prepare a monologue.
Describe a book or a film that had a strong impact on you. You should say:
  • What was it
  • When you read or saw it
  • How it influenced you
And say if you liked it and why.

A book that I'd like to talk about is called "Flowers for Algernon" written by Daniel Keyes. You won't believe, but I picked up this novel from a shelf in a bookstore because it had a beautiful cover! Although a proverb says "don't judge a book by its cover", I did exactly the opposite... and the book turned out to be one of the greatest things I've ever read... In fact, this novel is very intense and thought-provoking... It is set in form of diary entries of the protagonist - mentally-disabled man Charlie, whose IQ changes after brain surgery... It drastically changed the way I looked at how intelligence influences people's attitude to others and to the world in general. Also, I had to overthink how many boundaries does new knowledge open and how mentally disabled people are treated in the society... In general, the book was somewhat tear-jerking for me, but I still highly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a powerful and inspirational read.

Part 3

Why do you think cinemas are still popular nowadays, even though people can watch movies in their homes?
I believe that there are several reasons for it... First of all, watching a film on a big screen is a lot more fun than watching it at home... Not to mention the fact that you won't be able to see the movie on the DVD as soon as in the movie theater... You'll have to wait a couple of months for the DVD release of the movie... Moreover, a lot of people like the atmosphere of cinema with its half-light halls, popcorn and sound effects.
What do you think about e-books?
In my opinion, a paperback or hardback books are much better... Reading a book from an e-reader just doesn't feel the same for me - I adore the sensation of turning pages and that special smell of paper. I think that the look and feel of a book can never be replaced by an e-reader... But I do understand usefulness of electronic books. It is very convenient to be able to carry hundreds of books in your pocket and have a possibility to read them at any time... Also, e-readers support keyword search, which paperbacks obviously do not.