Describe a time when you received money as a gift.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When it happened?
Who gave you the money?
Why he/she gave you the money?
And explain how he used the money.

4 unique answers with expert feedback

How did you feel about receiving money as a wedding gift?

I felt really grateful and happy because it showed that our guests were supportive and wished us well. It also relieved some financial pressure from the wedding expenses, allowing us to enjoy our honeymoon without worrying too much about money.

What do you think about the tradition of giving money as a gift?

I think it's a wonderful tradition because it allows the couple to use the money in a way that best suits their needs. It also symbolizes blessings and good wishes from the guests, which adds a personal touch to the gift.

Did you receive any other types of gifts at your wedding?

Yes, apart from money, we received some household items and personal gifts from close family and friends. While those gifts were thoughtful, the money was particularly helpful for our immediate plans like the honeymoon and wedding expenses.

Band 6-7

00:00

When I was studying my third standard, during my summer vacation, I visited my grandparents house as a field, as a holiday trip. So after completing my time over there, like spending time over there, while I'm coming back from there, my grandparents gave me 100 rupees as a token of gift. I have never got any money as a present, and that was my first time. So I was really very happy. And even though it is just 100 rupees, but it is more than that, I felt like I'm so rich and I'm super excited and I started thinking what to do with the money. So I have really lot of plans to spend the money by chilling with friends, to buy chocolates and everything. Later, after I went back home, I started thinking what to do with that money. But I have spent it, but finally, I have stored that money in my kitty bank. That was my first time I have started saving money and that was my mother's idea. So from then onwards, from every time I visited my grandparents house, they used to give me some money and I used to store them in the kitty bank. And with that money, after one year, it became 500 rupees and I have spent that money for the welfare of very poor people by donating blankets for them. So that gave me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. And for that satisfaction and that happiness.

Follow up questions

How did receiving money as a gift impact your views on saving?

Receiving that 100 rupees made me realize the importance of saving. It was my first experience with money, and I learned that saving could lead to greater rewards, like being able to help others. It motivated me to save more whenever I received money.

What other gifts have you received that were meaningful to you?

Aside from money, I've received books and toys that were very special to me. Each gift came with a memory, like the time my parents gave me a book that inspired my love for reading. Those gifts taught me the value of knowledge and creativity.

How do you think children should learn about money management?

I believe children should learn about money management through practical experiences, like saving their allowance or gifts. Parents can guide them by setting savings goals and discussing the importance of budgeting, which helps them understand the value of money early on.

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

The one time I received money was four years back from my paternal grandmother who happened to give me who happened to give me ten thousand as part of my birthday and as I was a cricketer and a gym enthusiast back then I used that money wisely first of all I used around 5,000 to get myself new gym shoes for my workouts and my running and with the remaining 5,000 I went to the cricket store I got myself a new set of gloves and and a bat along with it and I'm really thankful moreover I'm thankful for her for lending me money and I don't feel like it's lending me money because she gave it out of love therefore I can say that I put the money to good use

Follow up questions

How did you feel when you received that money as a gift?

I felt really grateful and excited when I received the money. It was a generous gift from my grandmother, and it made me feel loved and appreciated. Knowing that she believed in my passions motivated me to use the money wisely.

Have you ever given money as a gift to someone else?

Yes, I have given money as a gift to my younger cousin on his birthday. I thought it would be more useful for him to choose something he really wanted rather than giving a specific item. It felt good to give him the freedom to pick something special.

Do you think receiving money as a gift is better than receiving a physical gift?

I believe it depends on the person and the occasion. Money gives the recipient the flexibility to choose what they truly want or need. However, a physical gift can carry sentimental value and show the thoughtfulness of the giver, so both have their merits.

Band 6

00:00

Who doesn't love to receive money as gifts? And this one particular time that I would like to talk about when I received gifts in the form of money is on my birthday two years back. It was my 23rd birthday and we had invited guests from all across the city and family members as well. So we did cut cake, exchange gifts and when it came to these three particular family members of mine three of my aunts, they all gave me money. In total it was around 8,000 rupees, around 2,500 rupees coming from each of my aunts. And that really brought a smile on my face because since I was growing and I had some job in my hand who doesn't love to receive money as gifts, right? So they gave me money because they were out of ideas as to what to give to me because I had changes in my likings and when it came to gifts, so they decided that it would be wise enough to give cash so that I could make choices of my own as to what to buy for myself. And what I did with the money is that I didn't really go up and start buying stuff for me. I decided to save it and used some of that money, a fraction of it to invest in mutual funds so that I could cater my future self when I required money for emergencies.

Follow up questions

How do you feel about receiving money as a gift compared to physical gifts?

I appreciate receiving money as it gives me the freedom to choose what I really want or need. Physical gifts can sometimes miss the mark, especially if the giver doesn't know my current preferences. Money allows me to make my own choices, which I find more valuable.

What are some other memorable gifts you've received in the past?

I've received various memorable gifts, like a personalized photo album from my best friend and a handmade bracelet from my sister. Each of these gifts held sentimental value and reminded me of the special moments we shared, making them unforgettable.

How do you usually decide what to do with money you receive as gifts?

I typically assess my current needs and future goals. If I have immediate expenses, I might use the money for that. Otherwise, I prefer to save or invest it, like I did with the money from my birthday, to ensure I'm financially prepared for future opportunities or emergencies.

Show all 4 answers

Cue 1:When it happened?

Mention the specific occasion or event when you received the money.
Provide a brief context about your life at that time.

Example

It was during my college graduation in June 2022. My family had gathered to celebrate this significant milestone in my life.

Cue 2:Who gave you the money?

Identify the person who gifted you the money and your relationship with them.
Share a little about their significance in your life.

Example

My grandmother gave me the money. She has always been my biggest supporter, attending every important event in my life.

Cue 3:Why he/she gave you the money?

Explain the reason behind the gift, whether it was for a specific purpose or just a gesture of love.
Reflect on the emotions or thoughts expressed by the giver.

Example

She gave me the money as a graduation gift, wishing me success in my future endeavors. She told me to use it wisely for my further studies.

Cue 4:And explain how you used the money.

Describe how you decided to spend or save the money.
Share the impact of this decision on your life or studies.

Example

I used the money to enroll in a professional course that would enhance my skills. This investment has helped me secure a better job opportunity.

Conclusion

Summarize the significance of the gift and its impact on your life.
Express gratitude towards the giver and reflect on the importance of such gestures.

Example

Receiving that money from my grandmother not only helped me financially but also motivated me to pursue my dreams. I am truly grateful for her support and love.

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