Describe a movie you watched recently.
You should say:
- 1when and where you watched it~30s
- 2who you watched it with~30s
- 3what it was about~30s
- 4and explain why you chose to watch it~30s
Reported in July 2026 Culture & Arts
Plan it in one minute
What each point needs, about 30 seconds on each.
- 1When and where you watched itSet the scene: a real time, place or person. Specific beats impressive.
- 2Who you watched it withSay it in one line, then add one detail.
- 3What it was aboutSay it in one line, then add one detail.
- 4Explain why you chose to watch itThis is your ending. One clear reason or lesson, said with confidence.
Sample answers: Band 6, 7 and 8
One story told three ways. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Band 6
Um, I watched The Wild Robot last Saturday evening at my apartment in Da Nang with my younger sister, Linh. It was raining, so we didn't want to go outside. We made some popcorn and settled down to watch it, and then1 we turned off the lights. I see a trailer for it online before, and it looked very beautiful. The movie is about a robot called Roz, which arrives on a wild island after a storm. At first, the animals is afraid of her2, but she becomes the mother of a duck - no, a gosling, a baby goose - called Brightbill. She protects him and teaches him to survive, although she doesn't understand nature very well3. This relationship is the main part of the story. Some jokes cracked us up, and other scenes nearly made me cry. I chose it because my friend recommend it to me, and I wanted something relaxing after a difficult week at college. You know, I didn't expect to enjoy a cartoon so much. My sister and me both liked it, so we talked about the ending for quite a long time after it finished.
Why it's a Band 6
We made some popcorn and settled down to watch it, and then
The repeated and links the actions, but this connector sounds repetitive.At first, the animals is afraid of her
This has a small agreement slip, although the meaning is clear.although she doesn't understand nature very well
This complex sentence uses although to add a clear contrast.
What lifts it to Band 7 Change “I see a trailer for it online before” to “I’d seen a trailer for it online”, “the animals is” to “the animals are”, and “My sister and me” to “My sister and I”.
Phrases to borrow
settle down to watch something
/ˈsetl daʊn tə wɒtʃ ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
start watching something comfortably
We settled down to watch a comedy after dinner.
crack someone up
/kræk ˈsʌmwʌn ʌp/
make someone laugh a lot
The actor's silly expression cracked us up.
Band 7
Last Saturday evening, I watched The Wild Robot at my apartment in Da Nang with my younger sister, Linh. It was raining heavily, so we stayed in, made some popcorn and settled down to watch it1 instead of going out. I chose it because a friend had recommended it, and I'd seen a trailer that looked really nice. The film follows Roz, a service robot who is washed up on a remote island after a storm. The animals were suspicious of her, but she gradually learn how to survive2 in the wild. More importantly, she accidentally becomes the adoptive mother of an orphaned gosling called Brightbill. Roz has to protect him and teach him to fly, even though she was never designed to understand emotions3 or family life. I quickly got caught up in their relationship because it was funny and, well, quite interesting. Some of the jokes really cracked us up, while the scenes between Roz and Brightbill pulled at my heartstrings. I expected a pleasant animated film, but it was, um, more deep than I expected. I'd had a stressful week at college, so I wanted something comforting rather than complicated. The film was easy to follow, but it still gave us plenty to talk about afterwards. Its message about caring for someone different from you has really stayed with me, and I'd happily recommend it to someone who needs a warm film.
Why it's a Band 7
we stayed in, made some popcorn and settled down to watch it
These linked verbs make the opening flow naturally through the actions.she gradually learn how to survive
This has one small slip: learn should be learns.even though she was never designed to understand emotions
This long sentence uses even though to show a surprising contrast.
What lifts it to Band 8 Change “she gradually learn” to “she gradually learns” and “more deep” to “much deeper”, then “a trailer that looked really nice” to “a trailer that looked stunning”.
Phrases to borrow
settle down to watch something
/ˈsetl daʊn tə wɒtʃ ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
start watching something comfortably
We settled down to watch a comedy after dinner.
get caught up in
/ɡet kɔːt ʌp ɪn/
become very involved in something
I got caught up in the detective story.
crack someone up
/kræk ˈsʌmwʌn ʌp/
make someone laugh a lot
The actor's silly expression cracked us up.
pull at someone's heartstrings
/pʊl æt ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈhɑːtstrɪŋz/
make someone feel strong emotions
The final scene pulled at my heartstrings.
stay with someone
/steɪ wɪð ˈsʌmwʌn/
remain memorable or emotionally important
That conversation has really stayed with me.
Band 8
Last Saturday evening, I watched The Wild Robot in my apartment in Da Nang with my younger sister, Linh. It had been raining hard, so our plans to go out were cancelled, and we made popcorn before we settled down to watch it. I'd heard a friend recommend the film a few times, and I'd seen a trailer online that looked beautiful, so I was curious. To be honest, I wasn't expecting an animated movie to affect me very much1. The story is about Roz, a service robot who is swept onto an uninhabited island after a storm. She's completely out of her element, and the animals see her as, kind of, a threat at first. Then she finds an orphaned gosling called Brightbill and somehow becomes his mother. She has to protect him, teach him to survive and eventually prepare him for life in the wild, even though she knows nothing about instinct or affection3. I got caught up in their relationship almost straight away2. The film is funny on the surface, and several scenes really cracked us up, but the emotional parts pulled at my heartstrings, especially when Roz realises that loving Brightbill may mean giving him more freedom. I mean, I kept thinking about that idea after the film ended, because it made the final scenes feel more personal to me. I chose the movie because I wanted something gentle after a demanding week at college, and it was a surprisingly good choice. My sister and I were quiet for a moment at the end, then we started talking about the characters. I'd recommend it to anyone, honestly.
Why it's a Band 8
I wasn't expecting an animated movie to affect me very much
This shows the speaker did not expect a cartoon to move them.I got caught up in their relationship almost straight away
This idiomatic phrase shows quick involvement in the story.even though she knows nothing about instinct or affection
This accurate complex sentence adds contrast and develops the character.
What would make it a 9 For Band 9, change “I kept thinking about that idea after the film ended” to “I actually had a lump in my throat at the end, and I kept thinking about that idea for days”.
Phrases to borrow
settle down to watch something
/ˈsetl daʊn tə wɒtʃ ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
start watching something comfortably
We settled down to watch a comedy after dinner.
get caught up in
/ɡet kɔːt ʌp ɪn/
become very involved in something
I got caught up in the detective story.
crack someone up
/kræk ˈsʌmwʌn ʌp/
make someone laugh a lot
The actor's silly expression cracked us up.
pull at someone's heartstrings
/pʊl æt ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈhɑːtstrɪŋz/
make someone feel strong emotions
The final scene pulled at my heartstrings.
Part 3: what the examiner asks next
Real follow-up questions candidates reported with this card.
- Why do some people prefer to watch films in the cinema rather than at home?
- Do successful films need well-known actors in the leading roles?
- Do you think the best films are always made by well-known directors?
- What factors make a film successful?
- Do people in your country prefer domestic films or foreign films?
- Why do some people enjoy watching films more than once?
Your turn: talk through the card
Describe a movie you watched recently.
Talk for one to two minutes, one point at a time. Nothing is uploaded.
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Answer it with the examiner
Sign in free, then speak for 1–2 minutes and get a band score with one thing to fix.
Which phrase means…
start watching something comfortably
“We settled down to watch a comedy after dinner.”
settle down to watch something
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