Ashore for webTry a mock test
Part 2 cue card · Objects · Retained in September–December 2026

Describe a programme you like to watch.

Describe a programme you like to watch.

You should say:

  • ·what it is
  • ·what it is about
  • ·who you watch it with

and explain why you like to watch it.

One minute to prepare, up to two minutes to talk. Then Part 3 asks the questions below.

Sample answers

Two answers to the same card

Same story, two levels. Both were written by Ashore, then checked against the public band descriptors in a separate pass. The bands are practice estimates, not official IELTS results.

A simpler answer

Checked at band 6.5 · 161 words

I'd like to talk about a programme I watch quite often. It's a weekly programme about food and travel. It is on TV in the evening, and each episode visits a different place in China. The presenter goes to local markets and small restaurants. She talks to the cooks and shows how they make popular dishes. I usually watch it with my wife after dinner. We sit on the sofa and have some tea while we watch. We both like trying new food, so we often talk about which dish looks best. Sometimes we look up a simple recipe and cook it at the weekend. I like the programme because it is relaxing and interesting. It also gives me ideas for places to eat, even though we don't always visit them. The programme is easy to follow, and I enjoy watching it with my wife. It is not too serious, and the episodes are short, so it fits our evening routine.

  • Giving a reason · “because it is relaxing and interesting”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 8 · 234 words

Honestly, it's a weekly food-and-travel programme on television, and each episode focuses on a different region of China. The host goes to local markets and small family-run restaurants, where she asks people about the ingredients and the stories behind their dishes. It isn't just a cooking demonstration; you also get a sense of what everyday life is like in that place. I usually watch it with my wife after dinner. We make tea, settle on the sofa and comment on the food as we go along. She tends to notice the presentation, while I'm more interested in how the dishes are made, so we often end up discussing the same scene from different angles. If a dish looks manageable, we sometimes save the recipe and try it at the weekend, when we have more time. We don't always get it right, but that's part of the fun, and it gives us something to do together. I enjoy the programme because it's relaxing without being dull, and it introduces places and local customs in a very approachable way. I particularly like the conversations with the cooks, because their tips are practical and the food never feels too fancy or out of reach. It also gives us ideas for little places to look for in our own neighbourhood. Even when we can't travel there ourselves, watching it feels like a small escape from our usual routine.

  • Specific regional detail · “a different region of China”
  • Relative clause · “where she asks people about”
  • Conditional sentence · “If a dish looks manageable”
  • Contrast · “relaxing without being dull”
Angles

2 ways to answer it

  1. 1A food documentary watched with family, telling the stories of the people behind the dishes
  2. 2A weekly quiz show where you and your roommate compete and laugh at wrong answers
Expressions

4 expressions that fit this card

keep me hooked
hold my attention strongly
an episode at a time
watch one instalment on each occasion
learn something along the way
gain knowledge while enjoying something
look forward to the next episode
feel excited about the next instalment
Part 3

The questions that follow

After the long turn, Part 3 asks bigger questions on the same theme. Each one comes with two points you can build an answer from.

  1. 1

    What programs do people like to watch in your country?

    • ·News, dramas, entertainment and sport serve different viewing needs.
    • ·One person may choose different programmes depending on mood and time.
  2. 2

    Do people in your country like to watch foreign TV programs?

    • ·Foreign programmes offer different stories and can support language practice.
    • ·Subtitles, cultural context and availability affect interest.
  3. 3

    What is the benefit of letting kids watch animal videos rather than visit zoos?

    • ·Videos offer close-ups, pauses and access to animals from distant places.
    • ·A live visit is different, and both need guidance about respecting animals.
  4. 4

    Do teachers play videos in class in your country?

    • ·Teachers may use videos for experiments, historical scenes or language examples.
    • ·Discussion and tasks make viewing more useful than passive watching alone.
Stories

One story, many cards

This card fits this story. Prepare the story once and you can bend it to every card listed with it on the season page.

  • A film, book or video with a strong reaction

    One you loved and one you hated, where you watched it and with whom, the moment that stayed with you.

Say it out loud and get a band score