Describe a new law you would like to see introduced
Describe a new law you would like to see introduced
You should say:
- what the law would be
- how you came up with the idea
- who would be affected by it
and explain why you think it would be good for your country
Practise this card
One minute to plan, two minutes to speak, exactly like the exam. Nothing you record leaves your device.
01:00
02:00
- what the law would be
- how you came up with the idea
- who would be affected by it
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How to approach this cue card
This card tests whether you can present an opinion about society and defend it, using conditional and modal language such as “would”, “should” and “would have to”. Examiners listen for a clear description of the rule, a believable reason it came to mind and an explanation of who benefits, which is closer to Part 3 reasoning than a simple story.
The easiest real angle is a rule connected to something you have actually seen: a dangerous crossing, a noisy street, litter in a park, scooters on a pavement. A real observation gives you a “how I came up with it” story and a clear group of people affected. Choose a small, specific law instead of a big political idea, because detail is easier to defend in one to two minutes.
Use the minute to name the law in one sentence, jot the incident that gave you the idea and list two groups it would affect. Spend a short time on the law itself, a little longer on the story behind it and finish with the benefit to the country, which is where your reasoning shows.
Vocabulary that lifts this answer
These phrases describe a rule and its effects more precisely than “a good law”.
| Word or phrase | What it means | In a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| introduce a law | start a new law | I’d introduce a law about helmets for scooter riders. |
| come into force | start to apply | The rule would come into force next year. |
| enforce | make sure a rule is followed | It would be hard to enforce without clear signs. |
| a near miss | an event that almost became an accident | I saw a near miss outside my university. |
| catch up with | reach the same level as something else | The rules haven’t caught up with the technology. |
| apply to everyone | be valid for all people | The law would apply to riders of every age. |
| comply with | follow a rule or request | Companies would have to comply with the new rule. |
| put pressure on | create stress for a system | Accidents put pressure on hospitals. |
| for the greater good | for the benefit of most people | It is a small change for the greater good. |
| raise awareness | make people notice an issue | A campaign would raise awareness before the law starts. |
A one-minute plan
- law: everyone on an electric scooter wears a helmet and uses cycle lanes
- idea: near miss outside my university last spring, no helmet, a bus
- who: riders of every age, the companies that provide scooters, drivers
- why good: fewer accidents, less pressure on hospitals, small change
The same answer at Band 6, 7 and 8
The three sample answers below tell exactly the same story, and only the language changes between them. Hover or tap a highlighted phrase to see what an examiner would notice about it, and treat these as illustrations of what each band typically sounds like, not scripts to memorise.
Band 6
I would like to talk about a law that I want in my country: everybody who rideSubject-verb agreement error: should be “rides” an electric scooter must wear a helmet and use the cycle lanes. The idea comeTense slip: should be “came” to me last spring, when a man on a scooter without helmet went across the road near my university and almost hit a bus. He was okay, but I can not stopTense slip: should be “could not stop” thinking that it could be much worse. In my city these scooters are very popularBasic phrasing; limits Lexical Resource for students and delivery riders, but the rules are not erNatural hesitation marker, minor filler ready for this. The law would apply for riders of every age and also for the companies that give the scooters, because they must give helmets and explain the rules at the beginning. The government should also run a short campaign before the law starts, so that people hear about it first. I think it is goodBasic adjective; limits Lexical Resource for the country, because fewer accidents means less problemsAgreement and countable error: should be “fewer accidents mean fewer problems” for hospitals, and a small change like this can protectMissing “would”: should be “would protect” a lot of people, especially students, who ride very fast near the university gates.
Band 7
I’d like to talk about a law I’d introduce in my country: a rule that everyone riding an electric scooter must wear a helmet and keep to the cycle lanes. The idea came to me last spring, when a rider with no helmet swerved across the road outside my university and narrowly missed a busPrecise, natural collocation. He was fine, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how easily it could have gone the other way. In my city these scooters have become very popular in a couple of years, mostly among students and delivery riders, and the rules haven’t really caught up with themPresent perfect with an idiomatic phrasal verb. The law would apply to riders of every age and to the companies that provide the scooters, who would have complyMissing “to”: should be “have to comply” with it by giving out helmets and explaining the rules. The government should also run a short campaign before the law starts, so that people hear about it first. I think it would benefit the whole countryClear opinion marker answering the explain line, because fewer accidents mean less pressure on hospitals, and it’s a small change that could protect many people.
Band 8
I’d like to talk about a law I’d introduce in my country: a rule that everyone riding an electric scooter must wear a helmet and keep to the cycle lanes. The idea came to me last spring, when a rider with no helmet swerved across the road outside my university and narrowly missed a bus. He was fine, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how easily it could have gone the other way. In my city these scooters have become hugely popular in just a couple of years, mostly among students and delivery riders, and the rules haven’t really caught up. The law would apply to riders of every age and to the companies that provide the scooters, who would have to give out helmets and explain the rules when someone first uses one. The government should also run a short campaign before the law starts, so that people hear about it first. It would benefit the whole country, not only the ridersContrastive structure that states the benefit clearly, because fewer accidents mean less pressure on hospitals and fewer drivers who have to live with a near miss. Frankly, it’s a small change that would protect a lot of peopleNatural, confident closing line.
What moved the band
- Band 6’s verb slips (“everybody who ride”, “The idea come”, “I can not stop”) are corrected by Band 7, which has one remaining slip, and Band 8 is clean.
- Band 6 says “are very popular” and “good for the country”; Band 7 uses “narrowly missed a bus” and “caught up”; Band 8 adds “fewer drivers who have to live with a near miss”.
- Band 6 gives the benefit in one flat sentence; Band 7 states it clearly; Band 8 contrasts “not only the riders” with the whole country and ends on a confident line.
Common mistakes on this card
- Describing a law that already exists in your country, so there is nothing new to explain.
- Choosing an idea so large and vague that you cannot say who it would affect in practice.
- Using only “will” and “is” and never “would”, “should” or “would have to”, which hides your grammar range.
- Forgetting the explain line and ending the answer on the story of how you thought of the law.
Part 3 questions that often follow
After your turn of one to two minutes, the examiner usually moves into a related Part 3 discussion — these are the kinds of follow-up questions that commonly come up around this topic.
- Why do some people ignore rules even when they know the reason for them?
- Should governments protect people from risks they choose to take themselves?
- How can a government explain a new rule so that people accept it?
- Do you think laws should change often to keep up with new technology?
- Who should decide which laws a country needs, experts or ordinary citizens?
Frequently asked questions
Does the law have to be realistic?
It should be believable, because you will need to explain who it affects and why it would work. A modest, specific rule about traffic, noise or public space is easier to defend than a sweeping idea, and it gives you more concrete detail for the three bullets.
Can I choose a law that already exists somewhere else?
Yes. Many answers describe a rule that works in another place and would be new in your own country. Just make clear what is missing where you live and what you would change, so the examiner hears a personal opinion and not a description of a foreign rule.
Which language helps most in this answer?
Conditional and modal structures, such as "it would apply to", "it should" and "riders would have to". They show range and control. A short example of how the law would work in everyday life also helps your reasoning sound convincing.
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