Books and reading are popular topics in the IELTS Speaking test. On this page, you’ll find useful vocabulary, IELTS-style questions, and model answers to help you speak naturally and confidently about what you read and why it matters to you.
📝 Essential Vocabulary
Here are some key words and phrases to help you talk about books and reading in the IELTS test:
Genre – A category or style of writing, such as crime, romance, or science fiction.
Page-turner – A book that is so exciting you cannot stop reading it.
Plot – The main sequence of events in a story.
Fiction – Writing that describes imaginary people and events.
Non-fiction – Writing based on real facts, people, and events.
To get hooked – To become so interested in something that you cannot stop.
Avid reader – Someone who reads a great deal and is very keen on it.
To skim – To read something quickly to get the general idea.
Hardback / Paperback – Books with a stiff cover, or with a soft, flexible cover.
E-reader – A device used for reading digital books, such as a Kindle.
To broaden your horizons – To widen the range of your knowledge or experience.
A gripping story – A story that holds your attention completely.
Part 1 Questions: Books & Reading
Question 1: Do you enjoy reading?
“Yes, I’d say I’m quite an avid reader, actually. I usually have a book on the go, especially before bed. I mostly read fiction because I love getting lost in a good story and forgetting about everything else for a while.”
Question 2: What kind of books do you like?
“Well, I’m really into crime novels — I love a gripping story with lots of twists. That said, I do read some non-fiction too, mainly history, because I find it helps to broaden my horizons a bit.”
Question 3: Do you prefer physical books or e-books?
“Honestly, it depends. I love the feel of a paperback, but when I’m travelling I always take my e-reader because it’s so much lighter. So I suppose I use both, depending on the situation.”
Part 2 Task: Describe a Book You Enjoyed Reading
Describe a book you enjoyed reading.
You should say:
what kind of book it was
what it was about
when and where you read it
…and explain why you enjoyed it so much.
“A book I really enjoyed reading recently was a crime novel called The Silent Patient. It’s a psychological thriller, which is one of my favourite genres, so I was fairly sure I’d like it from the start.
The plot follows a woman who shoots her husband and then never speaks another word, and a therapist who becomes completely obsessed with uncovering why she did it. I won’t give away the ending, but there’s a twist near the end that I genuinely didn’t see coming — it really made me rethink the whole story.
I read it over a long weekend last winter, mostly curled up on the sofa with a cup of tea while it was pouring with rain outside. I remember it was a proper page-turner — I got completely hooked within the first few chapters and ended up finishing it far quicker than I expected. At one point I even stayed up well past midnight because I simply had to know what happened next.
What I loved most was how cleverly it was written. The author drops little clues throughout, so when you reach the end, everything suddenly clicks into place. It’s the kind of gripping story that stays with you for days afterwards, and honestly, I kept wanting to talk to people about it.
I read the hardback version because a friend lent it to me, although I’d normally read something like that on my e-reader. Overall, it was one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in years, and I’ve since recommended it to pretty much everyone I know.”
Part 3 Questions: Discussing Reading More Broadly
Question 1: Why do you think some people read less these days?
“I think the main reason is competition for our attention. With phones and streaming services, people often skim short posts rather than sitting down with a book. Reading takes patience, and many people feel they simply don’t have the time. That said, I think those who do read tend to get hooked precisely because it’s such a welcome break from screens.”
Question 2: Is reading fiction or non-fiction more valuable?
“That’s a tricky one, as they offer different things. Non-fiction obviously gives you facts and practical knowledge, which is useful. However, I’d argue fiction is just as valuable because it builds empathy — you experience life through someone else’s eyes, which really helps to broaden your horizons. Ideally, I think people benefit most from reading a mixture of both.”
Question 3: Do you think e-readers will replace printed books?
“Possibly to some extent, but I doubt printed books will disappear entirely. An e-reader is incredibly convenient, especially for travelling, so its popularity makes sense. Even so, many people still love holding a physical paperback and the experience that comes with it. So I’d say the two will probably continue to exist side by side rather than one replacing the other.”
Vocabulary Quiz: Books & Reading
Test yourself on the vocabulary from this lesson. Try to complete this quiz in about 10 minutes. There are 15 questions across three sections. Answer them, then click Check My Answers to see your score and read the explanations below.
Section A: Gap-fill (Questions 1–6)
Choose the best word or phrase from the list to complete each sentence.
1. I couldn’t put it down — it was a real ________.
a) plot
b) page-turner
c) genre
d) e-reader
2. She’s such an ________ that she gets through about four books a month.
a) avid reader
b) e-reader
c) hardback
d) plot
3. When I’m busy, I just ________ the news to get the general idea.
a) skim
b) broaden
c) grip
d) hook
4. Travelling abroad really helped me to ________.
a) broaden my horizons
b) skim the surface
c) turn the page
d) get hooked
5. The ________ was so confusing at first that I had to reread the opening chapter.
a) plot
b) genre
c) paperback
d) e-reader
6. I always take my ________ on holiday because it holds hundreds of books at once.
a) e-reader
b) plot
c) genre
d) fiction
Section B: Multiple Choice (Questions 7–11)
Choose the option (a–d) that best completes each sentence.
7. Crime is my favourite ________, I love a good mystery.
a) plot
b) genre
c) e-reader
d) horizon
8. Within two chapters I was completely ________ and couldn’t stop reading.
a) skimmed
b) broadened
c) hooked
d) gripped down
9. A biography of Churchill is an example of ________.
a) fiction
b) a page-turner
c) non-fiction
d) a genre
10. The ending was so tense — it was a really ________ story.
a) gripping
b) skimming
c) broadening
d) avid
11. I prefer a ________ because it’s lighter to carry in my bag than a hardback.
a) plot
b) paperback
c) genre
d) non-fiction
Section C: Matching (Questions 12–15)
Match each word or phrase to its correct meaning.
12. To skim means:
a) To read quickly for the general idea
b) To read every word carefully
c) To stop reading a book
d) To recommend a book
13. A page-turner is:
a) A boring textbook
b) A book you can’t stop reading
c) A device for reading
d) The cover of a book
14. To get hooked means:
a) To lose interest
b) To read aloud
c) To become unable to stop
d) To buy a new book
15. To broaden your horizons means:
a) To widen your knowledge or experience
b) To read only one genre
c) To finish a book quickly
d) To forget what you read
📘 Answer Key & Explanations
page-turner – A “page-turner” is a book so exciting you can’t stop reading. “Plot” refers to the events, not the book itself.
avid reader – An “avid reader” reads a great deal. Note: an “e-reader” is the device, not the person.
skim – To “skim” is to read quickly for the gist. The others don’t collocate naturally here.
broaden my horizons – This fixed expression means to widen your knowledge or experience.
plot – The “plot” is the sequence of events; a confusing plot is something you’d reread.
e-reader – An “e-reader” (e.g. a Kindle) stores many digital books, ideal for travel.
b) genre – A “genre” is a category of writing such as crime or romance.
c) hooked – “To get hooked” means to become unable to stop. “Gripped down” is not correct English.
c) non-fiction – A biography is based on real facts, so it’s non-fiction.
a) gripping – A “gripping” story holds your attention completely.
b) paperback – A “paperback” has a soft cover and is lighter than a hardback.
To read quickly for the general idea – This is the definition of “to skim”.
A book you can’t stop reading – This defines a “page-turner”.
To become unable to stop – This defines “to get hooked”.
To widen your knowledge or experience – This defines “to broaden your horizons”.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse e-reader (the device) with avid reader (the person). Watch the context carefully!
📊 How Did You Score?
✅ 13–15: Excellent — you’re ready to use this vocabulary in the test!
👍 9–12: Good — review the words you missed and try again.
📖 0–8: Keep practising — reread the Essential Vocabulary section and have another go.
Reflection prompt: which words were hardest for you? Review questions 1–6 before your test if the gap-fills caught you out.
💡 A downloadable PDF version of this quiz is available for offline practice — contact us to request a copy.
📝 Practice Activity
Choose a book you’ve enjoyed recently and describe it using at least three words from the vocabulary list. Try to talk about the genre, the plot, and whether it was a page-turner. Record yourself speaking for two minutes, just as you would in Part 2 of the test.
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