Describe a skill you would like to learn
A full Band 9 model answer for this IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card, with the key vocabulary it uses, three Part 3 follow-up answers, and an examiner note on why it scores so highly.
Describe a skill you would like to learn.
You should say:
- what the skill is
- how you would learn it
- how difficult you think it would be
and explain why you would like to learn this particular skill.
You get 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1-2 minutes. Try it yourself first, then compare with the model answer below.
Band 9 sample answer
A skill I have wanted to pick up for the longest time is playing the piano, and it is something I keep promising myself I will finally get around to.
The appeal, for me, is partly emotional and partly intellectual. I have always been moved by the way a pianist can convey an entire range of feeling without a single word, and there is also something about the discipline of it — the idea of training your hands to do two completely independent things at once — that I find genuinely fascinating.
In terms of how I would go about it, I would probably start with an online course to grasp the basics of reading music, but I am a firm believer that an instrument is best learned with a real teacher, so I would look for a tutor for weekly lessons. I would also need to be realistic and carve out time to practise every day, because I know that consistency matters far more than the odd marathon session.
I have no illusions that it would be easy. As an adult, I would not have the natural advantage children have, and I imagine the early weeks of clumsy, repetitive exercises would test my patience. But the reason I want to learn it is precisely because it is a slow, demanding skill that you can keep improving at for the rest of your life. In a world where we expect everything instantly, I find the idea of a lifelong pursuit quite appealing.
Key vocabulary used
The collocations and idiomatic phrases above that lift the answer into Band 9 lexical resource.
- pick up
- learn or acquire (a skill)
- get around to
- finally find the time to do
- a firm believer that
- someone who strongly thinks that
- carve out time
- deliberately set aside time
- the odd marathon session
- an occasional very long practice
- have no illusions
- be fully realistic about
Part 3 follow-up questions
The examiner develops the topic with more abstract discussion questions. Here is how a Band 9 candidate might answer.
Is it harder for adults to learn new skills than children?
Generally yes, particularly for things like languages or instruments, because children's brains are more plastic and they learn without self-consciousness. However, adults have advantages too — discipline, motivation and the ability to study strategically. So while the raw learning speed may favour children, a determined adult can absolutely reach a high level.
Should schools teach more practical skills?
I think there is a strong case for it. Academic knowledge is essential, but many students leave school without basic competencies like managing money or cooking. Building practical, real-world skills into the curriculum would make education feel more relevant and would prepare young people for independent life, not just for exams.
Why do some people give up on learning a new skill?
Usually because their expectations are unrealistic. People underestimate how long the awkward, frustrating beginner stage lasts and then conclude they have no talent. A lack of immediate progress, combined with busy lives, makes it very easy to quit — which is why setting small, achievable goals is so important for sticking with something.
Why this is a Band 9 answer
Band 9 features: nuanced expression of attitude, accurate use of complex noun phrases ('the discipline of training your hands to do two independent things at once'), and a well-balanced answer that concedes difficulty before resolving it.
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