« IELTS Writing Task 1: comparisons | Main | IELTS Speaking: informal expressions »

January 07, 2011

IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe an event

Describe a recent event that made you happy.
You should say:

  • when and where it was
  • who was involved
  • what happened
  • and explain why it made you happy.

The following description contains the kind of phrases that native speakers (like me) really use. I've underlined the best vocabulary.

  1. When and where: my friend's birthday party, last Saturday evening, we went for a meal in an Italian restaurant.
  2. Who: there were about 10 of us, he invited some close friends and work colleagues, most of them were people I've known since university.
  3. What happened: we met at the restaurant, I gave my friend a present and a birthday card, we ordered some food, while we ate dinner everyone chatted, after the main course the waiter brought out a cake and we sang 'Happy Birthday', everyone went home quite late.
  4. Why it made me happy: it was great to get together with old friends, I had some interesting conversations, it was a good opportunity to catch up with what my friends had been up to, it was a nice way to wind down after a hard week at work, the food was delicious, I went home feeling full after a fantastic meal.

Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Hi Simon
I passed my ielts exam with the help of your site.As i am a nurse i needed 7 in speaking but I got 7.5.I can not get more than 6 in writing.I donot now why and how i can improve my writing .Again,thank you for all you have done in your site for us.

Posted by: soodabeh | January 07, 2011 at 13:43

Hi Soodabeh,

Well done for getting such a great score in speaking. Maybe you need some lessons with a teacher who can help you with your weaknesses in writing.

Keep working and you'll get there!

Posted by: Simon | January 07, 2011 at 19:16

thank you

Posted by: soodabeh | January 10, 2011 at 12:16

No problem.

Posted by: Simon | January 11, 2011 at 10:45

Hi Simon,
Can I use Lunar New Year in my country as the answer for this question

Posted by: Moon | May 19, 2011 at 07:48

Hi Moon,

Yes, that would be fine.

Posted by: Simon | May 20, 2011 at 07:40

I am sorry, can you show me the meaning of" feeling full"? thank you very much.

Posted by: Chi | August 22, 2011 at 12:05

Hi Chi,

It means that your stomach is full, and you can't eat any more food.

Posted by: SImon | August 22, 2011 at 17:38

Hi Simon
what is the meaning of this sentence
it was a good opportunity to catch up with what my friends had been up to

Posted by: Mh | October 08, 2011 at 12:16

Hi Mh,

It means: get 'up to date' with what my friends have been doing.

Posted by: Simon | October 10, 2011 at 09:48

How can I improve my reading level.in addition how to get a good score in writing for task2

Posted by: inad | October 18, 2011 at 15:42

Hi Inad,

You just need to keep practising and working hard. Try to follow the daily lessons on this site, use the Cambridge IELTS books for test practice, and try to find a teacher or native speaker who can check your work, correct your mistakes, and help you to improve.

Posted by: Simon | October 19, 2011 at 08:54

Hi Simon,
This is first time i see your web side. I am week in Writing too much, Also in reading please advice me how way i upgrade my self? Previous time i attended IELTS Exam but score was 4.5.
Thanks and best regards,
Shahriar

Posted by: Shahriar Kabir | November 17, 2011 at 20:15

Hi Shahriar,

I'm glad you found the site.

Have a look through the reading and writing lessons - I'm sure you'll find the advice and practice materials you need.

Good luck!

Posted by: Simon | November 18, 2011 at 11:24

Hi Simon,
I got 6.5 in my listening and reading modules and 7 in speaking but 5.5 in writing . I dont know whats the problem in my writing. It happened two times.
can you please suggest what should i do to improve my writing.

Thanks

Posted by: Xing | January 31, 2012 at 11:10

Hi Xing,

It's difficult for me to help you because I don't know what your individual problems are. It would be a good idea to take a few lessons with a private teacher who can analyse what you are doing wrong.

Posted by: Simon | February 01, 2012 at 15:55

Hi Simon,
Thanks for your reply. I will try to do what you have suggested.
Is there any possibility to send you a piece of my writing to get your response on that?

Thanks

Posted by: Xing | February 03, 2012 at 00:38

Hi Xing,

I'm afraid I can't check your writing because it wouldn't be fair if I helped one person and not everyone else.

If you would like essay correction, read this:

http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2011/10/essay-correction.html

Posted by: Simon | February 03, 2012 at 18:10

Hi Simon, I am glad to you that you have provided free online course for IELTS. I am learning your skills and it was quite amazing to me I have been practice for many books and private teacher but it was not found where I am struggling to find correct answers in time. The tactics you provided are helping to much for me I am following all your site everyday. Simon, I am very sorry to say that I scored only band 6 but not less than 5.5 in every band. I need 7.5 for my study purpose. How can I improve to get such score? Can you suggest me?

Posted by: Lok | February 07, 2012 at 06:41

Hi Lok,

You just need to keep practising and working hard. Try to follow the daily lessons on this site, use the Cambridge IELTS books for test practice, and try to find a teacher or native speaker who can check your work, correct your mistakes, and help you to improve.

Posted by: Simon | February 08, 2012 at 17:25

hi sir, I have problem with my reading skill. I have found it's really hard for me to solve true, false and not given exercise. I need your advice.

Posted by: thao | May 10, 2012 at 09:35

Hi Thao,

Those questions are difficult for everyone. Just keep practising. Have a look through my reading lessons to find lots of advice and exercises.

Posted by: Simon | May 10, 2012 at 11:19

thanks for your useful lessons

Posted by: rocky | May 10, 2012 at 17:13

heloO sir
i have a problem in reading module its very diffcult 4 me soO wht should i do

Posted by: arsalan | May 23, 2012 at 19:43

hi simon..

while browsing the net i found your website. As i am preparing myself for my ielts exam this coming June. I needed help on my writting.. Would it be possible for you to check my essays? In that way i will be able to know the things that i have to improve and someone like you will guide me.. hope you will respond..

thank you..

Posted by: rhyeonnah | May 30, 2012 at 22:35

hi simon i got 4.5 band in how i improve speaking and other task can u suggest me

Posted by: khalique rahman | July 25, 2012 at 11:15

Hi Khalique,

You need to keep working hard and practising. It might help to take a course or some lessons with a private teacher.

Posted by: Simon | July 25, 2012 at 13:44

It is very important and helpful website for us who are going to prepare for IELTS band mark required.

Posted by: MONOARA BEGUM | January 04, 2013 at 02:43

i am Lovelu from Bangladesh.I am sitting for IELTS on 2nd February,2013.I have faced problems in writing task 2 and yes.no and not given parts of reading secton.....please suggest me what can i do regarding with these

Posted by: Lovelu | January 11, 2013 at 14:24

Hi Simon,
Your site is very helpful for me. I have a problem of creating my ideas to speak such as the topic above. So is it ok if I make up a story or I should say what has happened in my life ?

Posted by: Yab | February 27, 2013 at 15:39

Hi simon,
For speaking test, if we find the topic out of our mind i mean if we do not know about the cue card to describe.. Can we ask the examiner to change the topic i mean change next the cue card.. Reply

Posted by: Babu | August 11, 2013 at 15:18

No, you definitely can't do that Babu.

Posted by: Jim | August 11, 2013 at 18:03

Hi Simon I got my result on 27 July i m so sad because I have 4.5 in reading I don't know why my reading is so terrible plz give me reading tips how I can improve my score while I got 6 in listening,writing and speaking
Thanks

Posted by: Simr | August 11, 2013 at 22:15

Hi simon,

It is the first time I have seen your website, it looks very interesting to me.

I Want to discuss my reading problem. Actually I need 7 band each. I always lack with reading some times 6, 6.5 or 5.5. I dont think my vocab is very low but I feel the paragraphs very lengthy as compare to practice books.
especially I get stucked with the third passage. I feel problem in multiple choice, paragraph matching and filling the blanks.

It just depend upon the topic sometimes I do score very well. please help me how I can improve it. I have booked my exam on 7th of September.
Also suggest me at least how much time I should devote for the preparation.

Posted by: Mandeep kaur | August 12, 2013 at 18:45

hi Simon,
after "such as" Whether I can use some clauses ỏn sentences as examples.

Posted by: Thu | September 01, 2013 at 10:12

hi sir

i have a problem in speking q cards because i have a problem in starting can you plz suggest me

Posted by: sona | September 08, 2013 at 16:06

hi sir
i have already told my problems please help me

Posted by: hina | January 17, 2014 at 18:47

Hi Simon,
I am 13 and I am studying for IELTS exam.
Can you tell me how can I improve my vocabulary?

Posted by: setayesh | July 23, 2014 at 07:21

HI simon ,
now a days i am reading ielts but i could not speaking fluently how can i improve my speaking and can you send ielts course in my id .
waiting for your best suggesiton
and

Posted by: ganga | August 06, 2014 at 06:04

hi simon
to wind down mean

Posted by: Ny | September 15, 2014 at 02:12

hi Simon,
Your website is extremely helpful.Right now I am preparing for my IELTS exam on November first.I need all modules 7.Kindly suggest the best way to improve speaking.

Posted by: riya | September 16, 2014 at 20:13

how i can improve my speaking

Posted by: Rajbinder | September 21, 2014 at 14:23

Hey simon,
What did we use an italian restaurant instead of using the italian restaurant in the question?
Thanks,

Posted by: july | November 07, 2014 at 22:29

Sorry why?

Posted by: july | November 07, 2014 at 22:30

hello simon
plsss i need your help as my exam is on this 14th may so cn you pls mail me the latest cuecards or the questions are going to be asked in exam plsss help me out

Posted by: swetha | May 13, 2015 at 09:54

hi simmon ... i am vivsiting this site 1st time...by seeing these posts i want to ask if maximum people can improve thier score .can i improve r not ? i have 5.5 and i've give twice time.I need 7 band not less than 6.5 can you help ... plz reply me m waiting ?

Posted by: zeeshan | June 30, 2015 at 08:08

that was my speaking test today :)

Posted by: falcon | September 11, 2015 at 11:10

Hey can we speak about historical event

Posted by: Mohit | November 14, 2015 at 10:16

And can we speak about sports event

Posted by: Mohit | November 14, 2015 at 10:20

Hi Simon I cannot improve my speaking please give me some advice about this particular module

Posted by: Sandeep kaur | November 22, 2016 at 16:12

Hiii...how can I improve my speaking??

Posted by: Jagvir | November 21, 2017 at 16:49

Hi Simon Do we need to make an introduction for part 2 speaking

Posted by: Ulukh | August 28, 2018 at 16:30

Hi Simon,

thank you for your response to questions.
I've read your site recently, about speaking part 2, describe an object and event, these are very useful and easy to understand, thank you very much.
However, I can understand easily it makes me doubtful if it works for me to get band 7?
thank you so much.

Posted by: sahar | October 03, 2019 at 15:56

The comments to this entry are closed.