IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a neighbour who has been helpful to you

A Band 8 model answer with the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it, and the Part 3 questions that follow.
  • 263 words
  • A person
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a neighbour who has been helpful to you

You should say:

  • →who this person is
  • →how long you have known them
  • →what kind of help they provided
  • →and explain why their assistance was so meaningful to you.

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

A person

How to plan it in one minute

  1. 1

    Note down who the neighbour is and how long you have lived near each other.

  2. 2

    Jot down two or three concrete actions they took to assist you.

  3. 3

    Brainstorm feelings of relief or gratitude to explain why their help mattered.

Model answer

Band 8 model answer

Band 8263 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I'd like to talk about my next-door neighbour, an elderly gentleman called Arthur, who has lived on my street for decades. I first met him about three years ago when I moved into my current flat. Right from the start, he made an effort to introduce himself and give me a few useful tips about the neighbourhood.

A particularly memorable instance where he helped me out happened last winter. I came down with a dreadful bout of flu and was completely bedridden for nearly a week. Living on my own, I was struggling to manage basic tasks like cooking or picking up groceries. Arthur noticed that my curtains hadn't been opened for a couple of days and came round to check if everything was all right. When he realised I was unwell, he immediately went out of his way to help.

Over the next few days, he dropped off homemade vegetable soup, collected my prescription from the local chemist, and even cleared the thick snow off my driveway so my car wouldn't get stuck. He didn't make a fuss about any of it; he simply checked in on me twice a day to ensure I had enough fluids and warm food.

His support was truly invaluable because I had no family members living nearby at the time. Beyond the practical help, what made it so meaningful was the immense sense of reassurance it gave me. In modern cities, people often feel quite isolated, so having someone who demonstrates genuine neighbourly spirit and looks out for you during a difficult moment was genuinely heart-warming.

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8 words

Vocabulary from the answer

  • bedridden

    confined to bed because of sickness or weakness

  • go out of one's way

    make an extra effort to do something helpful

  • check in on

    visit someone briefly to make sure they are safe and well

  • make a fuss

    show unnecessary excitement or concern about something

  • invaluable

    extremely useful or precious

  • sense of reassurance

    a feeling of comfort that removes worry or fear

  • neighbourly spirit

    a friendly, considerate attitude towards people living nearby

  • heart-warming

    causing feelings of happiness, affection, or gratitude

5 questions

Part 3 questions that follow this card

  1. 1How have relationships between neighbours changed over recent decades?
  2. 2Why do some people prefer to keep their distance from their neighbours?
  3. 3What facilities can local councils provide to encourage community interaction?
  4. 4Do you think rural communities will always be closer-knit than urban ones?
  5. 5What are the drawbacks if people do not know the people living next door?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. Read Band 8 answers to these Part 3 questions: neighbourhoods and community relations.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a neighbour who has been helpful to you"?+

Note down who the neighbour is and how long you have lived near each other.

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.

Keep practising

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