Describe a gift you gave to someone

In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you get this card, one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to speak. Below: the notes a strong candidate might make in that minute, a natural Band 7–8 answer, the words that make it work, and the Part 3 discussion the examiner usually moves on to.

The cue card

One-minute notes

Notes in the preparation minute should be keywords, not sentences — one line per bullet, plus the one detail that makes your story yours. Something like:

• a photo book for my grandmother's 80th
• collected old photos from relatives for 2 months
• scanned, wrote short captions, family memories
• she cried, now shows it to every visitor
• chose it: she has everything; wanted something personal

Band 7–8 sample answer

The gift I'd like to describe is a photo book I made for my grandmother's eightieth birthday last year. It's probably the gift I'm proudest of, mainly because it took so much work.

My grandmother is notoriously difficult to buy presents for. Whenever we ask what she wants, she says she has everything she needs, which is true. So a couple of months before her birthday, I decided to make something rather than buy something.

I contacted aunts, uncles and cousins and asked them to send me any old photos they had of her — from her childhood, her wedding, her years as a teacher, holidays with the grandchildren. Some of them were in terrible condition, so I scanned them and tidied them up. Then I put them in order and wrote a short caption under each one, often with a little story someone in the family had told me about that moment. The whole thing took far longer than I expected; I was still working on it at two in the morning the night before the party.

I chose that gift because I wanted something that money couldn't really buy. At her age, I think the most valuable thing you can give someone is the sense that their life has mattered to a lot of people. When she opened it, she went quiet, and then she cried — in a good way. Now, according to my mother, she shows it to absolutely every visitor, whether they want to see it or not.

About 253 words — roughly two minutes at a relaxed pace. Notice what it does: one specific story instead of general statements, every bullet covered, natural spoken linking rather than "firstly… secondly…", and the "why" part of the card answered properly at the end — that is where many candidates run out of things to say. Use it to see the structure; don't memorise it. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and your own story will always sound more fluent.

Useful vocabulary

• notoriously — well known for something, usually negative
• tidy up — to improve the appearance of something
• put in order — to arrange in sequence
• thoughtful — showing care for another person's feelings
• it's the thought that counts — the intention matters more than the price
• go quiet — to suddenly stop talking, often from emotion

Part 3: questions and model answers

After your two minutes, the examiner moves to a discussion linked to the card's topic. These questions are more abstract: give an opinion, a reason and an example, and it's fine to say "it depends" — as long as you explain on what.

Is it better to give money or a gift?

It depends on the relationship. Money is practical, especially for young people saving for something, and it avoids wasted gifts. But a gift shows that you've thought about the person, which money doesn't. For close friends and family, I'd say a thoughtful gift is usually more meaningful.

Why do people spend so much on gifts at festivals?

Partly because of social pressure — people worry about looking mean if they spend too little. Advertising also turns festivals into shopping seasons, starting weeks in advance. Many people would honestly prefer to spend less but don't want to be the first to suggest it.

Do expensive gifts mean more than cheap ones?

Not necessarily. Expensive gifts can be impressive, but the most memorable gifts I've received were cheap or homemade. What gives a gift meaning is how well it fits the person. An expensive gift chosen carelessly can actually feel quite impersonal.

How has online shopping changed gift giving?

It's made it much easier and faster — you can send something to the other side of the country in a day. The downside is that gifts have become less personal: people often buy whatever the website suggests. Gift cards are a good example — convenient, but they show very little thought.

More cue cards about objects

• Describe an old object your family has kept
• Describe something expensive you bought
• Describe a photograph you like
• Describe something you would like to own in the future

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