Describe a gift you recently gave to someone.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Who did you give it to?
What was the gift?
Why did you choose that gift?

26 unique answers with expert feedback

What other gifts have you given to your father in the past?

In the past, I have given my father a variety of gifts, including a personalized photo album from our family trips, a smartwatch to help him track his fitness, and a set of high-quality travel accessories. Each gift was chosen with his interests in mind, aiming to enhance his travel experiences.

How do you choose the perfect gift for someone?

Choosing the perfect gift involves understanding the person's interests and needs. I often think about their hobbies, past conversations, and any hints they might have dropped. I also consider the occasion and try to find something meaningful that shows I care and pay attention to their preferences.

Have you ever received a gift that was particularly memorable?

Yes, I once received a handmade scrapbook from my best friend on my birthday. It was filled with photos and memories from our friendship, along with heartfelt messages. It was memorable because it showed the effort and thought she put into it, making me feel truly appreciated and loved.

Band 6-7

00:00

I recently attended my friend's birthday. My friends, relatives, everyone also attended the birthday. I gifted a special gift to my very special friend Satish. He is dearest friend of mine since childhood. We were born and grown up together in a town called Saigaon in Karnataka, Latur district. I gifted a cricket bat to my friend as he plays cricket since a very long time. He needed a season cricket bat which was very good.

Follow up questions

Why do you think gifts are important in friendships?

Gifts symbolize appreciation and strengthen bonds. They show thoughtfulness and care, making friendships more meaningful.

How do you choose the right gift for someone?

I consider the person's interests, needs, and preferences. Personalizing the gift based on their hobbies or passions makes it more special.

Have you ever received a gift that was particularly memorable?

Yes, I once received a handmade scrapbook from a friend. It was filled with memories and messages, making it a cherished gift that I still keep.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

Band 6-7

00:00

Recently, one of my best friends have been going to US for completion of a master's and we as a whole friend group have decided to, had decided to give her refrigerator magnets with multiple photos on them. These magnets were really small, it was more of 4 by 3 centimeters, but it had pictures of us as a group, individuals, of her cat, of her family, of her favorite place, just so she can have a little part of her India wherever she goes. Those magnets were very durable which could be hung up on a refrigerator or anything which have a little metal or iron in it. I found this gift to be really personal and it has an emotional touch to it because I really wanted her to know that we will be there for her no matter what. And I came across the idea of gift while I was roaming around in the streets in my locality in Saudagarh. I was just walking around and I saw a magnet gift shop basically which also sold magnetic refrigerator and I started discussing over why if I could get them customized as such and I got them customized for my likings. So this is how we gifted our friend a little memory of us so that she can cherish it forever.

Follow up questions

What inspired you to choose refrigerator magnets as a gift?

I thought refrigerator magnets would be a great way to keep memories alive. They are small, personal, and can be displayed easily. Plus, they serve as a constant reminder of our friendship, making them a meaningful gift for her new journey in the US.

How did your friend react to the gift?

She was really touched and emotional when she received the magnets. It brought a smile to her face, and she appreciated the effort we put into customizing them. It made her feel connected to us even when she is far away, which was exactly what we hoped for.

Have you ever received a gift that was similar in sentiment?

Yes, I once received a scrapbook from my friends when I was moving away. It was filled with photos and messages from everyone. It meant a lot to me, just like the magnets meant to my friend. Such gifts create lasting memories and strengthen bonds.

Band 6-7

00:00

I really like giving gifts to my family members and my friends. And I equally like receiving gifts as well. Today I would like to talk about an expensive item that I gave for my nephew. Last year my nephew came to stay with me during the summer vacation. During that time we played a lot of playstations. We also developed a great bond due to the time we spent together. Whenever we talk on the phone, he talks about the game we played on the playstation and how eager he is to visit me during the next summer so we can play together. However, my sister told me they won't be able to visit us during the next summer as she is working during that time. She hasn't told me yet but I know she is heartbroken when she learned how won't be able to visit me. So I wanted to give my nephew a PS5. That way we can play together online. Plus I want to see his surprised face when she opens the box. There is no better feeling than seeing a smile on our loved one's face. The playstation cost around 50,000 which is quite expensive that time. And I work part time nowadays. With my part time salary, it would take me around 4 to 5 months at least to afford the price. That means I won't be able to get him before the August. So I am planning to borrow some money from my parents to pay for the PS5.

Follow up questions

What do you think is the importance of giving gifts?

Giving gifts is a way to express love and appreciation. It strengthens relationships and creates lasting memories. Gifts can show that you care about someone and value your connection with them, making the recipient feel special and cherished.

How do you choose the right gift for someone?

Choosing the right gift involves considering the recipient's interests, needs, and personality. I often think about what they enjoy or what might make their life easier or more enjoyable. Personal touches, like shared experiences, can also make a gift more meaningful.

Have you ever received a gift that was particularly memorable?

Yes, I received a handmade scrapbook from a close friend on my birthday. It was filled with memories and messages from our time together. The effort and thoughtfulness behind it made it incredibly special, and I cherish it to this day.

Band 6-7

00:00

I always love gifting books to my friends. That is probably like the most interesting thing that I like to do. I've gifted a lot of books to my friends. So I gifted a book to my best friend recently. His name is Asrit. So this book was regarding micro-expressions. So there is this famous book by Paul Lickman and its name is Lie to Me. So it's regarding micro-expressions. So the book basically talks about learning about the emotions of human beings from the small changes on your face. So Paul Lickman talks about the changes on your face when you have a specific emotion. So it's very difficult to hide something if you're talking with a person who knows about micro-expressions. It's very difficult to lie to a person who knows about micro-expressions. So it's a very interesting book and I gifted it to my friend very recently.

Follow up questions

Why do you enjoy giving books as gifts?

I believe books are a great way to share knowledge and ideas. They can inspire, educate, and entertain. Gifting a book shows that I care about the recipient's interests and want to contribute to their personal growth.

What do you think makes a gift meaningful?

A meaningful gift is one that reflects the recipient's personality and interests. It shows thoughtfulness and consideration. For me, a book that aligns with someone's passions or helps them learn something new can be incredibly meaningful.

Have you received any memorable gifts? What were they?

Yes, I have received several memorable gifts. One that stands out is a book on philosophy from a close friend. It opened my mind to new ideas and perspectives, and it was thoughtful of them to know my interest in philosophy.

Show all 26 answers

Cue 1:Who did you give it to?

Mention the relationship you have with the person to whom you gave the gift.
Share a brief context about the occasion or reason for giving the gift.

Example

I recently gave a gift to my younger sister, Priya, who just graduated from college. It was a special occasion for our family, and I wanted to celebrate her achievement.

Cue 2:What was the gift?

Describe the gift in detail, including its type and any special features.
Explain how you presented the gift to make it more memorable.

Example

The gift I chose for her was a beautiful silver bracelet with her initials engraved on it. I wrapped it in a lovely gift box and added a handwritten note expressing my pride in her accomplishments.

Cue 3:Why did you choose that gift?

Explain the thought process behind selecting that particular gift.
Mention any personal significance the gift holds for the recipient.

Example

I chose this bracelet because it symbolizes her journey and hard work throughout her studies. I wanted her to have something special that she could cherish and wear on important occasions.

Conclusion

Summarize the emotional impact the gift had on the recipient.
Reflect on the joy of giving and the importance of thoughtful gifts.

Example

Seeing the joy on Priya's face when she opened the gift was priceless. It reminded me of how meaningful it is to give thoughtful gifts that can create lasting memories.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Being Vague About the Gift

Candidates often give unclear descriptions of the gift, making it hard for the examiner to understand its significance. This can lead to a lack of engagement in the response.