IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a gift of money you received

Describe a gift of money you received

You should say:

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

How to plan it in one minute

  1. Note the giver and the specific occasion to ground your story in reality immediately.
  2. List two distinct items purchased to show how you prioritised your spending effectively.
  3. Focus your final minute on the emotional impact to ensure a sophisticated ending.

Band 8 model answer

A couple of years ago, when I graduated from university, my grandmother surprised me with a rather generous monetary gift. She has always been incredibly practical, and rather than buying me a physical trinket that might gather dust on a shelf, she handed me a crisp envelope containing a significant sum of money. She told me it was a contribution towards my transition into the adult world, which I found remarkably thoughtful. At the time, I was juggling the stresses of job hunting and trying to furnish my first rented flat, so the timing could not have been better. I spent a portion of the funds on a high-quality, ergonomic office chair. It was something I had been eyeing for months because my back was suffering from long hours at my makeshift desk. With the remaining cash, I stocked up on some decent kitchenware and a few essentials that made my new living space feel like a proper home. Receiving this gift gave me a profound sense of relief rather than just simple excitement. It took the financial edge off that daunting period of early adulthood, allowing me to focus entirely on my career prospects instead of stressing over household overheads. Beyond the monetary value, it served as a genuine vote of confidence from my grandmother. Knowing that she trusted me to manage the money wisely made me feel capable and mature, reinforcing our bond in a way that a generic store-bought present never could have achieved.

247 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

Vocabulary from the answer

trinket
a small ornament or item of little value
ergonomic
designed for efficiency and comfort in working
makeshift
serving as a temporary substitute for something else
overheads
the regular expenses of operating a living space
daunting
seeming difficult to deal with in prospect
generous
showing a readiness to give more than expected
transition
the process of changing from one state elsewhere
prospects
the possibility or likelihood of some future event

Part 3 questions that follow this card

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See the Part 3 guide.

Say it out loud and get a band

Record this card with the AI examiner: one minute of prep, two minutes to speak, then a band for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation with the words that cost you.

Practise this cue card

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app and record cue cards anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a gift of money you received"?

Note the giver and the specific occasion to ground your story in reality immediately.

How long should my answer be?

Speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

Can I use this model answer in the exam?

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

More cue cards: an object