IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a school dance performance or activity

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

The cue card

Describe a school dance performance or activity

You should say:

  • →what the dance activity was
  • →when and where it took place
  • →who took part in it
  • →and explain why it was such a lively and memorable event

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

An activity or habit

How to plan it in one minute

  1. 1

    Note down the context, school setting, and specific dance style (e.g. end-of-year festival, folk-street fusion).

  2. 2

    Jot down sensory details to describe the energy (e.g. rhythmic beats, bright colours, packed hall).

  3. 3

    Mention personal emotions and social impact to answer the 'why' prompt thoroughly (e.g. adrenaline, camaraderie, breaking down barriers).

Model answer

Band 8 model answer

Band 8262 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I'd like to talk about an energetic dance event that took place during my final year of secondary school. It was part of our annual end-of-term arts festival, which was held in the main assembly hall just before the summer holiday.

Our year group decided to organise a fusion dance routine combining traditional folk steps with upbeat modern street dance. About twenty students took part, including me, though to be completely honest, only a handful of us had any real dance background. The rest of us simply volunteered because we wanted to do something memorable before leaving school. We spent roughly three weeks rehearsing in the gymnasium after classes, trying our best to master the choreography and sync our movements to a fast-paced medley of popular tracks.

On the night of the performance, the hall was packed to the rafters with pupils, parents, and teachers. When the music kicked in, the adrenaline really took over. We wore brightly coloured T-shirts and moved in formation across the stage. Even though a few of us missed a step or two, the sheer momentum of the routine kept everyone engaged. The audience began clapping along to the beat, which generated an absolute electric atmosphere in the room.

What made it so unforgettable was the genuine sense of camaraderie and joy. It broke down all the usual social cliques between different peer groups, and we managed to pull off an ambitious routine without taking ourselves too seriously. Walking off stage to roaring applause was an incredible feeling that stayed with all of us long after graduation.

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8 words

Vocabulary from the answer

  • packed to the rafters

    completely full of people

  • choreography

    the sequence of steps and movements in a dance

  • electric atmosphere

    a feeling of great excitement and energy among a crowd

  • camaraderie

    mutual trust and friendship among people spending time together

  • fusion

    a blending of different styles or elements into one

  • roaring applause

    very loud, enthusiastic clapping and cheering from an audience

  • cliques

    small, exclusive groups of people who do not readily welcome others

  • fast-paced medley

    a quick succession of different musical tunes joined together

5 questions

Part 3 questions that follow this card

  1. 1Why do many schools include dance and movement in their curriculum?
  2. 2How has the way young people learn to dance changed compared to the past?
  3. 3Do traditional dances still hold cultural value for younger generations?
  4. 4In what ways might dance contribute to a person's mental wellbeing?
  5. 5Should governments fund public dance and arts programmes for local communities?

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

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a school dance performance or activity"?+

Note down the context, school setting, and specific dance style (e.g. end-of-year festival, folk-street fusion).

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

More cue cards: an activity or habit

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