Describe a gift you would like to buy for your friend: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

How you knew your friend?
How long have you known him/her?
How would you choose a gift for him/her?
And explain why you would choose that gift for him/her.

64 unique answers with expert feedback

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

In the past, I've given my friends personalized items like custom mugs and photo albums. I enjoy making gifts that reflect our memories together. For example, I once created a scrapbook filled with pictures and notes from our adventures, which they really appreciated.

How do you choose the right gift for someone?

I usually consider their interests, hobbies, and any hints they've dropped. I also think about what they might need or want at that moment. It's important to me that the gift feels personal and meaningful, so I try to incorporate elements that reflect our friendship.

Do you think it's better to give a gift or to spend time together?

I believe both are important. A thoughtful gift can show someone you care, but spending quality time together can strengthen your bond. Ideally, I like to combine both by giving a gift and planning an experience we can enjoy together, like a day out or a special dinner.

Band 7

00:00

I would love to buy a personalized photo album for my friend. The album would be filled with pictures of our favorite memories together from our travels, birthdays and other special occasions. The cover of the album would be made of a beautiful, high-quality leather and would have my friend's name embossed on it in an elegant font. The inside pages of the album would be filled with a mix of black and white and color photos, each one carefully selected to capture the essence of our friendship. I would also include a handwritten letter or a poem expressing my appreciation for our friendship and the reasons why my friend is so important to me. I met my friend in my second standard. Until now, he is with me. I think this gift would be perfect for my friend because it would show them how much I value and cherish our relationship and would give them a beautiful way to treasure our memories together. It's a gift that would last a lifetime and would be something that my friend could always look back on. To make it an even more unique and thoughtful gift, I would also include a handwritten letter or a poem expressing my appreciation for our friendship and the reasons why my friend is so important to me.

Follow up questions

What other gifts do you think would be meaningful for friends?

I believe gifts that are personal and thoughtful, like custom jewelry or experience-based gifts, can be very meaningful. For instance, a day out together or a shared adventure can create lasting memories, just like the photo album. It's the thought and effort that count.

How do you usually choose gifts for your friends?

I usually consider their interests and preferences. I think about what they enjoy or need, and I try to find something that reflects our relationship. Personal touches, like adding a note or customizing the gift, make it more special and show that I care.

Why do you think personalized gifts are more special?

Personalized gifts show that you've put thought into the gift, making it unique to the recipient. They often carry sentimental value and can evoke memories or emotions, which makes them more cherished than generic gifts. It's about the connection and meaning behind the gift.

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.

Yes, I once received a gift that was a bit too generic, like a scented candle. While I appreciated the thought, I didn't really use it because I prefer specific scents. It made me realize how important it is to know the recipient's tastes when giving gifts.

Show all 64 answers

Cue 1:How you knew your friend?

Begin by mentioning how you met your friend, whether it was in school, college, or through mutual friends.
Share a brief anecdote that highlights your initial connection or shared interests.

Example

I met my friend Priya in college during our first year. We were both part of the same orientation group and quickly bonded over our love for literature and poetry. I remember how we spent hours discussing our favorite authors and sharing book recommendations.

Cue 2:How long have you known him/her?

Clearly state the duration of your friendship, such as how many years or months you have known each other.
Mention any significant milestones or experiences you have shared during this time.

Example

I have known Priya for about five years now. Over these years, we have celebrated each other's birthdays, supported one another through exams, and even traveled together during our summer breaks.

Cue 3:How would you choose a gift for him/her?

Discuss the thought process you would go through when selecting a gift, considering your friend's interests and preferences.
Mention any specific occasions or reasons that might influence your choice.

Example

When choosing a gift for Priya, I would think about her passion for reading. I would consider getting her a special edition of her favorite book or a personalized bookmark. Since her birthday is coming up, I want to make it memorable.

Cue 4:And explain why you would choose that gift for him/her.

Explain the significance of the gift and how it reflects your understanding of your friend's personality.
Share how you believe the gift will make her feel appreciated and valued.

Example

I would choose a special edition of her favorite book because it shows that I pay attention to her interests. I know how much she cherishes her books, and I believe this gift would make her feel appreciated and loved. It’s not just a gift; it’s a way to celebrate our friendship.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, choosing a thoughtful gift for a friend like Priya is a wonderful way to express my appreciation for our friendship. It reflects the bond we share and the memories we have created together over the years.

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: Avoid Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your answer less engaging and informative. It's important to provide specific details about your friend and the gift to create a clearer picture.

Tip

Use descriptive adjectives and specific examples when talking about your friend and the gift to make your answer more vivid.

2: Neglecting Personal Connection

Failing to explain your relationship with your friend can weaken your response. The examiner wants to understand the significance of the gift in the context of your friendship.

Tip

Share a brief story or memory that highlights your friendship to emphasize why the gift is meaningful.