A website I simply cannot imagine my academic life without is ResearchGate. As a postgraduate student, it has become an indispensable hub for me. I tend to log into it at least once a day, usually during my morning coffee, to check for updates or new publications from researchers I follow in the field of marine biology. Essentially, it acts like a social network for scientists, but instead of sharing photos, people upload their peer-reviewed papers, data sets, and technical reports. It gives me access to thousands of niche articles that are often paywalled on other platforms, allowing me to stay abreast of the latest discoveries in oceanography. Whenever I hit a roadblock with my own research, I can even use the platform to message the authors directly to ask for clarification on their methodology or request a missing raw dataset. If ResearchGate were to suddenly vanish, my studies would be thrown into total disarray. I would be forced to rely on fragmented, outdated library databases, which are often clunky and incredibly slow to navigate. The collaborative aspect would disappear entirely, leaving me isolated in my research. I would spend countless hours chasing down PDFs or writing formal emails that might never receive a reply. Having this repository at my fingertips streamlines the entire research process, transforming what would be a tedious, labour-intensive hunt for information into a seamless, efficient workflow. Without it, I would likely lose weeks of productivity, and my ability to produce high-quality, up-to-date work would be severely compromised.
The cue card
Describe a website you use that helps you a lot in your work or studies
You should say:
- →What is the website?
- →How often do you use the website?
- →What information does the website give you?
- →Explain how your work or studies would change if this website didn't exist.
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
A film, book, song or programme
How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan
- 1
Identify the website and explain its main function clearly in the first thirty seconds.
- 2
Use personal anecdotes to describe how the site improves your daily efficiency or productivity.
- 3
Contrast your current situation with a hypothetical scenario where the technology is missing.
Model answer
Band 8 sample answer
Say it out loud and get a band
Record this card with the AI examiner: one minute of prep, two minutes to speak, then a band for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation with the words that cost you.
Say it and get a band free →8 words
Useful vocabulary for this cue card
indispensable
absolutely necessary so that you cannot manage without
niche
specialized and suitable for a very small group
abreast
up to date with the latest news information
roadblock
a problem that stops you from making progress
disarray
a state of confusion or lack of organization
clunky
awkward, heavy, and difficult to use effectively
repository
a place where large amounts of information stored
labour-intensive
needing a lot of time and physical effort
6 questions
Part 3 follow-up questions
- 1Why do some people find the Internet addictive?
- 2What would the world be like without the Internet?
- 3Do you think that the way people use the Internet may change in the future?
- 4What are the ways that social media can be used for positive purposes?
- 5Why do some individuals post highly negative comments about other people on social media?
- 6Do you think that companies' main form of advertising will be social media in the future?
Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Frequently asked questions
How should I start the cue card "Describe a website you use that helps you a lot in your work or studies"?+
Identify the website and explain its main function clearly in the first thirty seconds.
How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+
You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.
How is the cue card scored?+
Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.
Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+
Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.
Keep practising
More cue cards: a film, book, song or programme
- Describe a book or movie that has influenced you
- Describe a book that you enjoyed reading because you had to think a lot
- Describe a book you read that you found useful
- Describe a breaking news story you followed
- Describe a digital comic or graphic novel
- Describe a film trailer that impressed you
- All 705 IELTS cue cards 2026
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- IELTS pronunciation practice
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