IELTS speaking part 2: Something you bought but haven’t used yet

Topic cue card:

Describe something you bought but haven’t used yet.

You should say:

        what it is

        when and where you bought it

        why you bought it

and explain why you haven’t used it.

Answer:

I would like to talk about the trench coat that I bought last year before my trip to Ha Noi.

Although I am currently living in Ho Chi Minh city, my hometown is in the north of Vietnam. Because it is in the mountainous area, the weather is really cold during winter.

Last year I decided to visit my parents during the Tet holiday. I had to prepare for the trip one month in advance in case something unexpected might happen. I went to the weather forecast website and found out that it might be extremely cold during the Tet holiday in the northern part of Vietnam, so I was a bit worried. I had been living in Ho Chi Minh city for too long and got used to the warm weather here, and I could not be sure if I could bear the cold in my hometown. As a result, I decided to look for a big wool coat to cover myself up against the chilly wind. I found the trench coat on an online store and ordered it to my place.

To my surprise, when I arrived in Ha Noi, I found the weather not cold at all. It was even quite comfortable and most people just wear a sweater or a light jacket. The big trench coat seemed totally out of place so I put it away. During the following days, the weather was still warm, and I had no chance to wear the coat. It stayed in my suitcase until I returned to Ho Chi Minh city.

From that time I haven’t used the coat and it has been left in my wardrobe since then. But I think I might need it in the future when I travel to somewhere cold, for example, to Canada, where my sister is currently living.

Similar topics:

Describe something you own but not use often.

Describe something you bought which you were not happy with.

Describe something you bought and were happy about.

Describe an item you have recently bought.

Describe an item of clothing that you purchased but you did not like.

IELTS Speaking part 2: A dish eaten in special occasion

Topic cue card:

Describe a traditional meal that you prepare in your country on special occasions.

You should say:

When you eat that meal
How you prepare it
What ingredients are used to prepare it

and explain why you enjoy it.

Answer:

I would like to talk about the Banh chung. It is a special dish that is never absent on the table on the Tet holiday – the lunar new year in Vietnam.

Tet holiday is the most important occasion in a year to Vietnamese people, similar to the Christmas time in Eastern countries. On this occasion, people will return home and enjoy the time with their family after a long year of hard work. They will have great time enjoying the traditional dishes like red sticky rice, candied fruit, red pumpkin seeds, and of course, banh chung.

Banh chung is made with glutinous rice, stuffed with mung bean and pork, and wrapped into a square shape with a special leaf called the la dong. People often make many banh chung at the same time because they take a long time to be cooked. Normally, the banh chung is boiled overnight for at least 12 hours in a big pot full of water.

Boiling banh chung is also a nice time for the young, because this is the only time in the year they are allowed to stay up late to watch the pot. They often gather around the fire, playing cards or talking throughout the night.

When the banh chung is well cooked, it has a distinct green color and tasty flavor that can make you drool. Banh chung is often eaten with pickled shallots and is extremely delicious. However, you will gain lots of weight eating too much banh chung because it is high in calories and carbohydrates. Many people complain that they have to go on a diet after the Tet holiday because of this special dish.

I love banh chung not only because it is delicious but also because it reminds me of my childhood when I was living with my parents. At that time we prepared banh chung for ourselves, but now we are so busy that we could only buy them from the stores, and the taste is so much different from what I had in the past – maybe because I used to put a lot of love and care to the banh chung that I made with my family.

Comment:

You can use the answer for this topics (with proper adjustments) in similar topics as follows:

1.    Describe a traditional food item in your country.
2.    Describe a meal you know how to prepare.
3.    Describe a national festival in your country.
4.    Describe a meal you enjoy eating.
5.    Describe a widely celebrated occasion in your country.
6.    Describe an occasion that you celebrated recently.

IELTS Speaking part 2: A book

Topic cue card:

Describe a book you have read recently.

You should say:

what kind of book it is

who wrote the book

what the story of the book is

and explain if it is a good book or not.

Answer:

I would like to talk about a novel named The Immortal, written by a Vietnamese author. I just finished reading it a week ago.

I found an article about this book on a magazine, and immediately felt interested with the plot, so I looked for it everywhere. Because it was a bestseller, it was sold out from all bookstore. Luckily, when I talked to a friend about it, she sent me the book as a gift.

It was a fantasy novel with the story set in a magical world where people could wield super powers. Most people pursued an eternal life. The protagonist in the novel was a powerful magician who also sought immortality. He overcame countless challenges and finally reached his goal of being able to live forever. However, this was when the story truly began. The man lived years and years and watched his loved one to grow old and die one by one, until he was left alone. It was the price of being immortal. He spent thousands of years in solitude and travelled around the world aimlessly until he met a woman. He fell in love with her dearly and wanted to make her an immortal just like he was, but she refused. She would prefer being a mortal and enjoy a happy normal life.

One day she fell ill and could not wake up because of an incurable illness. No matter how powerful the hero was, he could not save her. In the end, he realized that she was more important than anything else and traded off his power and immortality for her life. She was revived and they lived a mortal life happily together.

The book was interesting to read, and I found it very meaningful. People should not spend too much time and attention on unachievable goals but instead cherish the moments that they have with their loved ones.

Similar topics

Describe a book that you would like to read again

Describe a time you borrowed something from your family or friend

Describe an occasion you found something that someone else lost

Describe a time you receive a gift from someone

Describe a time someone gave you something that you really wanted

Describe a story that you were told

IETLS Speaking part 2: Making a complaint

Topic cue card:

Talk about a successful complaint that you made and its result. Please say

– What was it about?

– Why did you make it?

– What was the result?

Answer:

I would like to talk about the time I made a complaint to a manager of a local hotel.

My company organized a conference at that hotel. It was a small local hotel but had good reputation for its beautiful conference room and good food. At first, it seemed to be a successful event, but later an incident ruined it all.

Because it was an all-day meeting, we had reserved lunch in the hotel. We expected nice and hot food because it was in winter and everybody just needed something to warm them up. However, to our disappointment, the food was utterly cold. Some guests even complained to me that they felt as if they were having leftover food from the day before.

I immediately called the hotel manager and told him about the food. The manager listened to my complaints and called the chef over. They apologized to me about the food and explained that because there were over one hundred people, they were worried that they could not serve the food fast enough so they prepared the food early in the morning, which resulted in cold food on the tables. They immediately called back the dishes and reheat them before bringing them out again. This time the food tasted fine and the guests were happier.

Although I was not happy with this incident, I was pleased that they tried to fix the problem right away. After that, I still organize events in this hotel, and never had such problem anymore.

IELTS Speaking part 2: Money as a gift

Topic cue card:

Describe a time when you received money as a gift. Please say

– When did you receive it?
– What did you do with it?
– How did you feel about it?

Similar topic:

Talk about an instance when you gave someone money as a gift. Please say

– Who was that person?
– When and why did you give them money?
– How did you feel about it later?

Answer:

Well, I have received money as a gift many times, mostly because in Vietnam, people have the tradition of giving a ‘red envelop’ that contains money on special occasions. I would like to talk about the time my parents gave me money as a birthday gift when I was young.

That was my 18^th birthday, and instead of buying me a present like in previous years, my parents decided to give me a red envelop. The envelop contained a million Vietnam dong – which was quite a large amount of money to me at that moment. My dad told me that because I turned 18, I was an adult and I could decide on what I want to spend the money on. Of course that was just part of the reasons. A bigger reason was that our parents could not decide on what to buy for me on my birthday, so they just gave me some money and let me buy whatever I liked.

Anyway, I was happy to have some money at my disposal, and instead of spending it on buying any product, I decided to save it for later use. After all, I had been saving all the money I received from the many red envelopes in the past, and the birthday gift of my parents just helped my savings grow. My plan that time was to accumulate enough money to travel around the country when I graduated from university. A few years later, I got enough money to realize my plan.

My parents were quite pleased with my decision. They of course did not expect me to waste the money on useless stuffs like dresses or shoes but wished me to spend it on meaningful things like a big plan like travelling or studying. After that birthday, every time my parents wanted to give me a gift, they would give me money instead.

Follow up questions:

– Do you think people prefer to receive gifts instead of money? Why?

I think no. Some people do not like the presents that they are given, and they think that they can use the money for other purposes. For example, if someone gives them the thing that they already have, they would not be as happy as receiving money.

– Do you usually use cash or a credit card? 

I use both cash and credit card. Whenever I go to a place that accepts card payment, I use cards, and when I go to a place that doesn’t accept cards, I use cash. In Vietnam, most of the time you will have to use cash.

– What are the advantages of having a credit card? 

I think cards have many advantages. First, it’s more convenient to have a card in your wallet because you do not need to bring along much money. Second, cards are safer than cash, you do not need to worry about your money when you lose your wallet. In case of cash, you will not be able to find them back. Last but not least, you can keep track of your spending in your account statement, and see what you have been spending on.

– Do credit cards have drawbacks? 

Of course yes, having a credit card means that you can spend more than what you actually have, and it will result in a deficit. You will have to work harder to pay the overdraft amount. On the other hand, you have a limit to spend using cash.

– Do you think cash will be replaced by credit cards in the future? 

I think so. In many countries, cash has been mostly replaced by cards. For example, Sweden has the plan to eliminate the use of cash in 2020 I think. Most transactions are made with the use of cards now.

IELTS speaking part 2: Describe an occasion when you were scared

Topic cue card:

Describe an occasion when you were scared.

You should say:

When and where it happened?

Who you were with?

Why you were scared?

and explain how you felt about it?

Answer:

Thank you for the interesting topic. This reminds me of an experience I can never forget.

The incident happened in the summer of my 7th grade. I went with my family to Nha Trang for the holiday. One morning, we went to the beach where it was breathtakingly beautiful. The water was so clear that you could see the pebbles in the seabed and also the fish swimming around. I got really excited to see the colorful sea creatures and started to chase after them. At that time I totally forgot about my mother’s words telling me not to go too far from the seashore and wandered off into deep water with only a ring buoy at hand.

Suddenly a strong wave came up and hit me hard, and my hand slipped off the life buoy. The buoy drifted away from my reach in another strong wave. Because I did not know how to swim, I immediately got panic and tried to move my hands and feet frantically so that I would not sink, but my reaction only made it worse – I sunk faster into the water. I drunk a lot of sea water, so salty and bitter I can never forget about it. The last thing I remembered before blacking out was the blurry vision of somebody swimming towards me.

I woke up to my mother’s teary face. She said I passed out and did not breath when I was brought to the shore. The lifeguard had to perform CPR to push out all the water in my lungs and stomach.

That time when I almost drowned was the most scary moment in my life. After that I had a better understanding of the wonder of being alive, and I tried to live my life to the fullest so that I would not regret leaving it. I also learned to swim so that I could protect myself from danger and save other people if needed. Of course I am not very confident with my swimming skill, but I think I will try my best to help when I can.

IELTS Speaking part 2: Describe a skill that you need a long time to learn

Topic cue card:

Describe a skill that you need a long time to learn. You should say:

• what the skill is

• when you learnt

• why you need a long time to learn.

Answer:

Most recently I learned about using the Adobe Illustrator software, and it really took me a long time to partially master it.

I have a great love for fashion designing and dressmaking, and I have been making garments for sale as a part-time job. Some hobbyists even came to me and asked for my sewing patterns and I was thinking of selling them along with my dresses. I found out the demand for sewing patterns was increasing over time.

A few months ago, my friend recommended that I should think of becoming an indie designer – the kind of fashion designer who doesn’t belong to any company. I thought that it was a really good idea and started to look for information about it. And then I came over an article about selling digital sewing patterns online and immediately decided that I wanted to do this. In order to start my sewing pattern shop, I need to know about drafting patterns using computer software, and Adobe Illustrator is recommended by most indie designers. As far as I know, using computer in pattern designing can save me a lot of time and effort, and the digital patterns can be used over and over again.

At first I thought Adobe Illustrator was simple, just like Microsoft Word or Excel, but I was completely wrong. The software comes with a complicating set of tools and commands, and it took me about one week just to get a bit familiar to it. This software also required users to have knowledge about mathematics and geometry, which was not my strong point. It took me another few days to learn how to draft my first simple basic blocks and at some point I was so discouraged that I thought I am no good with digital pattern drafting. However, as stubborn as I have always been, I continued to learn how to use the software, and I gradually master it. And now, a few months later, I can draft digital patterns at ease. Of course, there are always new updates and new functions added to the software every day, so I need to continue learning and working on it so that I will never be out of date.

I can now export my digital patterns to pdf format and post them for sale on an online marketplace called Etsy, in which my digital patterns can reach customers all over the world. I have sold some of the patterns and am happy with the revenue. I think I will continue to use Adobe Illustrator to realize my dream of being an indie fashion designer.

Comment:

This answer is based on my true story. I think that it would be much easier to talk about your own experience, and you will not run out of vocabulary for a familiar topic that you use every day.

IELTS Speaking part 2: Describe a young child who you know well

Topic cue card:

Describe a young child who you know well. You should say:

• who the child is

• how you know him/her

• how you act with the child

• and explain why you like/ dislike this child.

Answer:

I am going to describe my own son – he is the young child that I know best of course.

My son is now over 1 year old, and I think he is the most adorable baby in the world, you know, a baby is always the best in his mother’s eyes.

I named him Tue Lam, which means the jewel of wisdom, with the hope that he would be intelligent and insightful. Although it’s still too early to know how he will turn out to be in the future, he seems quite smart at this time. He started talking quite early, around the eleventh month, and his first word was not “mama” but “Cua” – his nickname at home. We were really surprised to see him pointing at himself and saying out loud his name repeatedly until we all applauded. Now at fourteen months, he has a vocabulary of over 10 words and can sing along with his favorite songs, although the words are still not very clear. His speaking is improving quickly day by day.

My boy is super curious – he loves to look at everything with his round bright eyes, and points his tiny hands at things that he feels interested. I often take him outside, to the park, the zoo or the supermarket and tell him about things so that he can learn about the world around him. He loves animals, dogs, cats, birds, fish, or any thing that moves and he is excited every time I take him to the zoo or the aquarium. He is never tired of running around looking at colorful animals there.

My son is a very active kid – he never stops moving, and he is exceptionally good at climbing: he could climb the stairs when he was 8 months old, and sometimes it is very dangerous so everyone in my family has to keep an eye on him at all time. It is an exhausting job to look after him, but I would never be tired to be with him. He is my biggest love and source of joy now.

I always try to spend time with him as much as possible because I know a kid’s development depends a lot on the relationship with his parents. I believe if I shower him with love and attention, he will grow up to be not only smart but also kind. Of course, I do not put too much expectation on him – I don’t want him to grow up with pressure. I want him to be a happy normal person rather than a stressed superman.

Comment:

I always try to develop a longer answer for the topic in part 2 of IELTS speaking test. I tend to be nervous and can’t think of any ideas whenever I face the examiner, thus I need to accumulate as many ideas as possible during the preparation process. Anyway, you will not get low band score for having a long answer which is interrupted, your score will be low if your answer is short – IELTS speaking is different from IELTS writing after all.

IELTS Speaking part 2: Talk about someone that helped you

Topic cue card:

Talk about someone that helped you by providing something that you required the most.

• what it was

• who gave it to you

• why it was important for you

• How did you feel after getting it?

Answer:

I am going to talk about the time I received help from a neighbor.

Because my husband works overseas, most of the time I have to look after our one-year-old boy by myself. I also have a full time job and it is quite difficult to balance between job and baby. When I go to work, I send the baby to daycare and I take him back after work. Doing all of the housework and taking care of him is really tiring, I do not have time for myself. I even have to cook one pan meals for weeks.

One day about a month ago, my baby suddenly had a high fever at midnight. He cried non-stop and threw up every thing in his stomach. As he was my first child, I was so inexperienced that I panicked and did not know what to do. I tried to calm him down but failed, and after the longest one hour in my life I got so desperate that I burst into tears.

Suddenly I heard a knock on the door. I did not know who came over at this late night but still went over to open it. Then I found the old lady next door standing there with a worried look on her face. She told me she heard the baby crying out loud for hours and wanted to see what happened. When she saw me looking exhausted and messy, she offered to lend me a hand. She helped to sooth the baby while I cleaned up myself and the floor, and then she taught me some experience about what to do when a baby was sick. Fortunately, my boy recovered quickly and did not have to go to the hospital.

After that day she often comes over to help me look after my boy while I do housework or cook for him. Sometimes she even cooks extra serving and brings over to me. We become good friends despite our age difference. My son also grows attached to her and is always happy to see her.

I am really grateful of that lady next door. She gave me a hand when I needed it the most and really saved me from breaking down.

Comment:

This answer can be adjusted to a similar topics, for example:

Describe a time when you helped of someone.

• When you helped

• How you helped

• How you felt after giving help

or

Describe an event that made you happy recently.

• When this event was

• Where it happened

• Who you were with

• Explain why it made you happy.

(You can talk about the time you helped someone and then describe your happy feeling when the one you helped expressed their gratitude to you.)

or

Describe a story you have been told.

• Who told you the story
• What the story is about
• How it affects you.

(Talking about the story of helping and receiving help and add details about how you feel about giving help to others)

IELTS Speaking part 2: Describe a useful math lesson that you remember learning as a child

Topic cue card:

Describe a useful math lesson that you remember learning as a child.

• What it was
• How you learnt it
• You like math now
• It was easy/difficult to learn.

Answer:

Thank you for giving me this interesting topic. I had a math lesson that was really impressive to me and I still remember it clearly today.

That was one day when I was in my 6^th grade, my old math teacher retired and a new teacher came to take over the class. After introduction, he gave us a challenge and promised that if anyone could solve it, he would give that student full mark for the mid term exam. My classmates and I immediately got excited at this promise.

My teacher drew nine points on the blackboards. They were evenly spaced and formed what looked like a square. He asked us to connect the dots using the least numbers of straight lines. The students eagerly copied the dots on paper and tried to draw lines connecting them together. Most of us ended up with 5 lines and we thought that 5 was the smallest number possible.

To our surprise, our teacher smiled and said that we did not get the right answer, which made us really disappointed. Then he encouraged us to continue trying, and gave us the hint of using only 4 lines. We tried again and again but the most we could do with 4 lines was to connect 8 points only.

When we all surrendered, our teacher finally gave us the answer. He drew what looked like an umbrella which connected the 9 dots with exactly 4 straight lines, and the lines went beyond the square shaped by the 9 dots. We were really impressed to see him drawing the lines on the blackboard – it was so easy yet no one could think of!

After solving the problem, our teacher told us that we should not limit ourselves when facing a problem and look for the answer outside the box instead. This way of changing perspective would be a great way in tackling not only mathematic problems but also any challenges in life. We were really moved to listen to his speech – it was not only the math lesson anymore, it became a lesson about life.

Over fifteen years have passed and I still remember clearly what my math teacher said that day. Whenever I get stuck in what seems like an unsolvable problem, I’ll try to look at it from different perspectives and sometimes the answer is surprisingly simple. I am truly grateful for my math teacher who gave me the lesson that day.

Comment:

This answer can be adjusted to use in similar topics, for example:

Describe an interesting lesson which you learnt at school.

• What was it
• Who taught it and how was it
• When did you learn
• Please mention why do you find interesting.

or

Describe an interesting talk or lecture I heard recently.

• when and where you heard it

• what the talk or speech was about

• who was the speaker

• why you think it was interesting.

IELTS Speaking part 2: Describe a latest development in your area

Topic cue card:

Describe a latest development in your area.

• What it is
• Where it is
• How it is useful for people.

Answer:

I would like to talk about the recent reconstruction of the public space in District 1, Ho Chi Minh city. It is one of the latest infrastructure development in the area.

As you may know, Ho Chi Minh city used to be called Saigon, after the name of the river it was built on. When French people built this city in the 19th century, there was a large park on the bank of the river, from which people can enjoy the nice view of the river and the monuments and special structures of the city like the Notre Dame Cathedral or the Opera House. In fact, all important roads of downtown Saigon spanned out to all directions from this riverside park and the central square, somewhat similar to the Tuileries Garden in Paris. This place used to be the favorite public space for people in the city and tourists coming to Saigon. An enjoyable boat tour along the river would be essential for those who visited Saigon because it was the best way to enjoy the featured buildings of the city.

However, after the Vietnam War, when Saigon was returned to the Vietnamese Government and changed its name to Ho Chi Minh city, the initial spatial design of the city was totally destroyed, and the riverside park shared the same fate with many other structures built in the colonial period. Over the last few decades, countless new buildings, low or high, large or small, have risen along the banks of the river, and some were even built in the middle of the park, and they obstructed the view from the river bank. It was a loss to the city, and many people, especially older ones who had witnessed the beauty of the city in the old time, often feel pity about it.

Fortunately, the Government of Ho Chi Minh started a plan to reconstruct the park a few years ago. The ugly buildings were removed, and the riverside park was given a new life with beautiful trees, flowers and statues. A large road was turned into a pedestrian street and outdoor exhibition space where many large events and festivals take place. One of the highlights must be the flower festival taking place every Lunar new year. During the one-month festival, millions of colorful flowers are displayed in this large public space, creating a spectacular view and attracting a large number of visitors, both domestic and international.

I think the reconstruction of the riverside park and the central square near the Saigon River is a great development in the city. It helps to change the whole face of the area, and improves the quality of life for people living here.

Comment:

This answer can be modified to be suitable for many similar topics, for example:

Describe a public park you used to go as a child.

1. Who did you with?
2. What did you do there?
3. Why you like it

or

Describe an interesting place in your country which is not touristic.

• Where?
• What is it?
• Why it is not popular?
• Why is it interesting for you?

IELTS Speaking part 2: Describe an important river, lake or water body in your country

Topic cue card:

Describe an important river, lake or water body in your country. You should say:

• Where the river/lake locates
• How long/big the river/lake is
• Why it is important.

Answer:

I am living in Hochiminh city, and the city is often called by another name - Saigon. This name is taken after the name of the Saigon river, which flows across the city. It is one of the symbol of Hochiminh city. Actually, the river is built over the city – most of the important roads fan off from the banks of the river. Recent developments have turned the banks into popular public places for citizens and tourists.

The Saigon river is a small river with the length of about 250 km. It starts from Cambodia, flows through several provinces in southern Vietnam and peacefully weaves its way around Hochiminh city. It finally joins the Nha Be river before pouring into the sea. From above, the river looks just like a giant snake.

When I first came to live in Saigon, my husband and I found relief from the clamor of the city by sitting on the banks of the Saigon River, in District 2. From here, we could look back across the water to downtown District 1, where the traffic, noise, and chaotic swell of Saigon was at a safe distance. I knew I would grow to love this river.

People in Saigon also love this river, not because of its beauty, but because of the peaceful feeling it gives them in the middle of the bustling city. This river offers many quiet corners where you can escape from the busy life for a minute. There are lots of great spots in the city from which to enjoy the Saigon River: from riverside cafes to rooftop bars, from local waterfront restaurants to boutique hotels.

The Saigon River is emerging, along with the city as a whole, as a busy, commercial hub with huge and exciting potential, at least as far as shipping, industry and development is concerned. There’s a constant flurry of boats of all sizes ploughing the water: tankers, cruise ships, river taxis, floating restaurants, industrial barges, private yachts, and motor-canoes.

However, due to rapid economic development, the Saigon river has been seriously polluted. The water is sometimes so dirty that it changes into muddy brown color, and there are a lot of wastes floating on the surface, which come from households, restaurants and boats. The government is using many measures like allocating budget on waste collection, ad campaigns to raise awareness of the community about disposing wastes in order to protect the Saigon river and its beauty.

Comment:

This answer can be used for similar topics like:

Describe a quiet place you like to go.

• Why you like that place
• Where that place is
• How you spent time in that place
• How much time you spent in that place.

or

Describe a public place you visited.

• Where it is
• Why you went there
• What it needs to be improved
• Do you think the government would do it?