✦ IELTS Topic: Books & Literature – 10 Useful Phrases

1. Page-turner
   e.g., That mystery novel was a real page-turner — I couldn’t put it down.

2. Hard to follow
   e.g., The plot was a bit hard to follow with so many characters.

3. Well-developed characters
   e.g., I enjoy stories with well-developed characters that feel realistic.

4. A gripping story
   e.g., It was such a gripping story, full of suspense and emotion.

5. Classical literature
   e.g., I studied classical literature like Shakespeare and Homer in school.

6. Light reading
   e.g., On holiday, I prefer light reading like romance or travel books.

7. Non-fiction book
   e.g., I just finished a non-fiction book about climate change.

8. Borrow a book from the library
   e.g., I usually borrow books from the library instead of buying them.

9. Fictional world
   e.g., Fantasy novels let readers escape into a fictional world.

10. Literary prize
    e.g., That novel won a major literary prize last year.

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✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Books & Literature

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. Do you enjoy reading?

2. What kind of books do you like?

3. How often do you read?

4. Do you prefer paper books or e-books?

5. Have you ever read a book more than once?

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Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a book you have read recently.
You should say:

• what the book is

• what it is about

• when you read it
  and explain why you liked or disliked it.

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✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I read almost every day — mostly fiction.
2. I love novels with well-developed characters and a gripping story.
3. I try to read for at least 30 minutes a day.
4. I prefer real books, but e-books are great for light reading while travelling.
5. Yes, I’ve read a few page-turners multiple times.

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Part 2 Sample Answer

A few weeks ago, I read Educated by Tara Westover, which is a non-fiction book about her life growing up without formal education.

I borrowed it from the library and finished it in just a few days. It was a real page-turner — very emotional and powerful.

What made it interesting was how honest and personal it was. Although it wasn’t a fictional world, the story felt just as dramatic.

It even won a literary prize, which I think it truly deserved. I’d definitely recommend it.

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✦ Comprehension Test: Books & Literature

1. "That mystery novel was a real page-turner — I couldn’t put it down."
Q: What kind of book was it?

2. "The plot was a bit hard to follow with so many characters."
Q: What was difficult about the story?

3. "I enjoy stories with well-developed characters that feel realistic."
Q: What does the speaker value in a story?

4. "It was such a gripping story, full of suspense and emotion."
Q: How did the speaker feel about the story?

5. "I studied classical literature like Shakespeare and Homer in school."
Q: What type of books did they study?

6. "On holiday, I prefer light reading like romance or travel books."
Q: What kind of books does the speaker read on holiday?

7. "I just finished a non-fiction book about climate change."
Q: What kind of book was it?

8. "I usually borrow books from the library instead of buying them."
Q: Where does the speaker get books?

9. "Fantasy novels let readers escape into a fictional world."
Q: What do fantasy novels offer?

10. "That novel won a major literary prize last year."
Q: What recognition did the book receive?

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✦ Answer Key

1. Exciting and hard to stop reading.

2. It was confusing due to many characters.

3. Believable and strong characters.

4. It was very exciting and emotional.

5. Classic or historical literature.

6. Easy, enjoyable books.

7. A factual, real-life topic.

8. From the library.

9. An imaginary setting or escape.

10. A writing award.