In the modern digital age, our feeds are often cluttered with repetitive content, but occasionally we stumble upon something truly captivating. To help you prepare for your exam, we will explore how to describe a time you saw something interesting on social media, providing a Band 9 model answer that demonstrates the level of fluency and vocabulary required for a top score.

This particular topic has become a frequent feature in recent exams, reflecting how central digital platforms have become to our daily lives. By following the strategies in this guide and checking out our Speaking Tips, you can turn a simple story about a viral video into a sophisticated demonstration of your English proficiency.

The Cue Card

Describe a time you saw something interesting on social media. You should say:
• When and where it happened
• Who was involved
• What you did after seeing it
• And explain why it was significant or memorable to you.

Band 9 Sample Answer

I’d like to talk about a fascinating video I stumbled upon about six months ago while I was mindlessly scrolling through my Instagram feed late one Tuesday evening. I had just finished a rather grueling study session and was looking for a bit of digital escapism when the algorithm served me a reel from a content creator I’d never heard of before. The video featured a young man in London who practiced something called ‘guerrilla gardening.’ Essentially, he would identify neglected, dreary patches of public land—like the soil around the base of a street lamp or a dried-out flower bed in a concrete plaza—and, under the cover of night, he would transform them into vibrant, miniature ecosystems. He wasn’t just planting random flowers; he was carefully selecting native species that would support local biodiversity, like bees and butterflies. What I found particularly striking was the stop-motion editing style he used, which made it look like the flowers were erupting from the pavement in a matter of seconds. After watching it, I was so inspired that I actually shared the post on my story and spent the next hour researching local community gardens in my own neighborhood. I even ended up messaging the creator to ask for advice on which seeds would thrive in my specific climate. It was incredibly memorable because it challenged my perception of urban spaces. Before seeing that, I’d always viewed city streets as static and lifeless, but his work proved that with a bit of initiative and a few ‘seed bombs,’ we can reclaim our environment. It was a refreshing departure from the usual superficial content you see online, like the type of material shared by a person who always has interesting ideas or opinions, and it genuinely motivated me to be more proactive about local environmental issues.

Band 7 Sample Answer

I remember seeing a very interesting post on Facebook a few months ago. I was just taking a break from work and checking my newsfeed when I saw a video about a new way to recycle plastic at home. It was shared by a group that focuses on green living and environmental protection. In the video, a woman showed how she uses old plastic bottles to make beautiful plant pots and even small pieces of furniture for her garden. She used some simple tools to melt the plastic and reshape it into different designs. After I watched the video, I decided to try it myself, so I collected some empty bottles from my kitchen and followed her instructions. Although my first attempt wasn’t perfect, it was still quite fun. This was significant to me because I am very worried about the environment and the amount of waste we produce every day. It made me realize that we don’t always have to throw things away; we can be creative and find new uses for them. It was much more useful than the usual celebrity news I see, and it reminded me of a time I had to tell a friend the truth about their wasteful habits. Since then, I’ve been looking for more DIY projects on social media to help reduce my carbon footprint.

How the Band 9 Answer Scores Top Marks

Fluency and Coherence

The Band 9 answer flows naturally because it uses sophisticated discourse markers and cohesive devices. For instance, phrases like “Essentially,” “What I found particularly striking was,” and “It was a refreshing departure from” act as signposts that guide the examiner through the narrative. The speaker doesn’t just list facts; they connect ideas logically. The transition from describing the video to explaining the personal reaction is seamless, which is a hallmark of high-level fluency. You can learn more about these techniques in our General Overview of IELTS Speaking.

Lexical Resource

The vocabulary used is both precise and topic-specific. Instead of just saying “a video,” the speaker uses “reel,” “content creator,” and “algorithm.” They also employ descriptive adjectives and idiomatic expressions such as “mindlessly scrolling,” “digital escapism,” and “under the cover of night.” The use of technical terms like “biodiversity,” “guerrilla gardening,” and “static” demonstrates a wide range of vocabulary that is used accurately and naturally within the context of social media and environmentalism.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

The response showcases a variety of complex structures. For example, the speaker uses the past perfect (“I had just finished…”), a conditional-like structure (“He would identify… he would transform” to describe habitual past actions), and relative clauses (“which made it look like…”). The use of a cleft sentence—“What I found particularly striking was…”—is an advanced grammatical feature that emphasizes a specific point, which is exactly what examiners look for when awarding a Band 9. For more on such structures, consider enrolling in the IELTS English Speaking Course.

Pronunciation

While the text cannot convey sound, a Band 9 performance would involve natural intonation and stress. The speaker would likely emphasize words like “erupting,” “vibrant,” and “reclaim” to convey enthusiasm. The pacing would be varied, slowing down for emphasis and speeding up during the narrative parts, avoiding the robotic tone often found in lower-band candidates. This is a key part of IELTS Speaking behaviour and patience during the delivery.

Vocabulary and Idioms to Use

Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example Sentence
Algorithm	A process or set of rules followed by a computer to determine what content you see.	The Instagram algorithm seems to know exactly what kind of music I like.
To stumble upon	To find something by chance.	I stumbled upon a fascinating documentary while browsing YouTube.
Mindless scrolling	The act of looking through social media without a specific purpose.	I often find myself mindless scrolling when I should be sleeping.
Content creator	Someone who produces material (videos, photos, blogs) for digital media.	She is a well-known content creator in the travel niche.
Viral	Content that spreads rapidly across the internet.	The video of the cat playing the piano went viral within hours.
To curate	To select, organize, and look after the items in a collection or feed.	He carefully curates his feed to show only high-quality photography.
Digital escapism	Using the internet to avoid the boring or difficult parts of real life.	Social media provides a form of digital escapism after a long day.
Engagement	The level of interaction (likes, comments, shares) a post receives.	Educational posts often get higher engagement than simple selfies.
Authenticity	The quality of being real or true to one’s own personality.	I prefer influencers who show authenticity rather than a perfect life.
To debunk	To prove that a common belief or social media rumor is false.	There are many accounts dedicated to debunking fake news.
Niche	A specialized segment of the market or a specific interest.	I follow a very niche account that only posts pictures of brutalist architecture.
Clickbait	Content whose main purpose is to attract attention and draw visitors to a link.	I try to avoid clicking on headlines that look like obvious clickbait.

Grammar Structures That Boost Your Band Score

• Third Conditional for Regret or Alternative Reality: “If I hadn’t seen that video, I probably would never have started gardening.”
• Past Perfect for Sequencing: “I had already decided to delete the app when I saw the most interesting post.”
• Relative Clauses for Detail: “The creator, who is an expert in urban planning, explained the benefits of green spaces.”
• Cleft Sentences for Emphasis: “What really caught my eye was the vibrant color of the flowers.”
• Passive Voice for Objectivity: “The video was shared thousands of times across multiple platforms.”
• Gerunds as Subjects: “Scrolling through social media can be a double-edged sword for productivity.”
• Used to / Would for Past Habits: “I used to spend hours on TikTok, but now I prefer more educational content.”
• Not only… but also: “Not only was the video visually stunning, but it also provided practical advice.”

Part 3 Follow-up Questions

How has social media changed the way we consume news?

In my view, social media has fundamentally revolutionized news consumption by making it instantaneous and highly personalized. In the past, people had to wait for the evening news or the morning newspaper, but now, breaking news reaches us in seconds via Twitter or news alerts. However, this shift is a bit of a double-edged sword. While it democratizes information, it also creates “echo chambers” where the algorithm only shows us news that aligns with our existing biases. This can lead to a fragmented society where people cannot agree on basic facts. Furthermore, the rise of “citizen journalism” means we get raw footage from the ground, but it lacks the professional fact-checking of traditional media. To express this more clearly, you might use one of the 6 alternatives for ‘In My Opinion’.

Do you think people are more or less connected because of social media?

That’s a complex issue. On one hand, social media allows us to maintain relationships across vast distances that would have withered away in the past. We can see photos of a cousin’s wedding or a friend’s new house in real-time, which fosters a sense of global connectivity. On the other hand, there’s an argument that these digital connections are quite superficial. We might have 500 “friends” online but feel incredibly lonely in real life. The quality of interaction often suffers because we are looking at a curated version of someone’s life rather than engaging in deep, face-to-face conversation. So, while we are more connected “quantitatively,” we might be less connected “qualitatively.”

Should there be stricter regulations on what is posted online?

I strongly believe there is a pressing need for more robust regulation, particularly regarding hate speech and misinformation. The sheer speed at which fake news can go viral can have real-world consequences, such as influencing elections or causing public panic. However, the challenge lies in balancing regulation with the fundamental right to free speech. If governments or corporations have too much power to censor content, it could lead to an authoritarian environment where dissent is suppressed. Therefore, while I support stricter rules against harmful content, the implementation must be transparent and overseen by independent bodies to ensure it isn’t abused for political purposes.

Why do some people become famous on social media so quickly?

The phenomenon of “overnight fame” usually boils down to a combination of relatability, timing, and the mechanics of the platform’s algorithm. Many people become famous because they tap into a specific “mood” or trend that resonates with a global audience at that exact moment. For example, during the lockdowns, many creators gained millions of followers by sharing simple home-cooking tips or relatable comedy skits about isolation. Additionally, the algorithm rewards high engagement; if a video is shared and commented on rapidly in the first hour, the platform will push it to millions more. It’s often less about traditional talent and more about understanding the digital landscape and being authentic.

How can social media be used as a tool for education?

Social media has immense potential as an educational tool because it breaks down the barriers to high-quality information. Platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn are treasure troves of tutorials, lectures, and professional insights. For instance, a student in a remote village can watch a physics lecture from a Harvard professor for free. Moreover, the “bite-sized” nature of content on platforms like TikTok or Instagram can make learning more accessible and less intimidating for younger generations. Visual aids and short explanations can simplify complex topics, such as explaining the architecture of an interesting building or the history of a specific culture, making education a continuous, everyday experience rather than something confined to a classroom.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Being Too General: Don’t just talk about “social media” in general. The cue card asks for a time you saw something interesting. You need a specific story.
• Focusing Only on the App: Avoid spending too much time explaining how Instagram or TikTok works. The examiner wants to hear about the content and your reaction to it.
• Repetitive Vocabulary: Try not to use the word “interesting” or “video” too many times. Use synonyms like “captivating,” “intriguing,” “clip,” or “reel.”
• Lacking a Conclusion: Make sure you explain why it was significant. This is the part where you can show off your abstract thinking and complex grammar.
• Incorrect Tense Usage: Ensure you use the past tense for the narrative (what happened) and the present tense for your current opinions about social media.

Practice Tips for This Cue Card

• Record and Review: Record yourself answering the prompt and listen for “fillers” like “um” and “uh.” Try to replace them with silence or discourse markers.
• Use a Timer: Practice speaking for exactly two minutes. Many students stop at 90 seconds, missing out on points for fluency.
• Focus on the ‘Why’: Spend at least 30-40 seconds on the final bullet point. This is usually where the most complex language is used.
• Expand Your Story: Even if you haven’t seen something amazing recently, invent a story! The IELTS is a test of English, not a lie detector test. You could talk about a time you saw an interesting song performance or a documentary.
• Check Current Trends: Stay updated with the IELTS Speaking Topics Jan–Apr 2026 to see how this topic might evolve in future exams.

Mastering the ability to describe a time you saw something interesting on social media requires a blend of personal storytelling and sophisticated language. By using the Band 9 model and vocabulary provided above, you can approach your IELTS Speaking test with confidence. For more practice, visit the IELTS Official Website for additional resources and mock tests.