IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card · Objects and technology

Describe a gift you gave someone

The full cue card, a one-minute plan for its prompts, a sample answer by Lingo Copilot and the vocabulary for this topic.

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Describe a gift you gave someone.

You should say:

what the gift was
who you gave it to
why you chose that gift

and explain how the person reacted to the gift.

How to plan your answer in 1 minute

A minute is short. Spend it on keywords for each prompt, in the order of the card:

0:00–0:10
Choose your answer
Decide on a gift you gave someone. Pick something real that you know well, so the details come easily when you speak.
0:10–0:20
What the gift was
Write two or three keywords, not sentences: a name, a place, a time or a detail you can expand on.
0:20–0:30
Who you gave it to
Write two or three keywords, not sentences: a name, a place, a time or a detail you can expand on.
0:30–0:40
Why you chose that gift
Write two or three keywords, not sentences: a name, a place, a time or a detail you can expand on.
0:40–0:55
And explain how the person reacted to the gift
Note one reason and one short example or story. This is the part you can keep developing until the examiner stops you at two minutes.
0:55–1:00
Check the order
Number your notes in the order of the prompts, then use them as a checklist while you talk.

Sample answer

Written for practice. Use it for ideas and phrasing rather than memorising it, then answer about your own experience.

Sample answer by Lingo Copilot · 249 words

Well, I'd love to describe a personalised cookbook that I gave to my mother on her sixtieth birthday last year. She's always been passionate about cooking, and over the decades she's accumulated hundreds of family recipes, many of which existed only in her memory or on scattered scraps of paper. I decided to compile them all into a single, beautifully bound volume. I put a lot of thought into this project, spending roughly two months gathering recipes from relatives, testing them in my own kitchen, and photographing the finished dishes. I also included handwritten notes from my grandmother, which gave the book tremendous sentimental value beyond just being a recipe collection. Each chapter was organised by occasion, from everyday dinners to the elaborate feasts she prepares during the holidays, which is a deeply rooted tradition in our family. I chose this particular gift because I wanted to give her something that was truly a labour of love instead of just another store-bought item. I could've splurged on an expensive piece of jewellery or a luxury handbag, but I knew that a meaningful gift rooted in our shared history would resonate with her far more deeply. When she unwrapped the book at her birthday dinner, the emotional reaction was immediate and overwhelming. Her face lit up the moment she recognised the first recipe, and by the time she reached the pages featuring my grandmother's handwriting, she was in tears. Seeing her reaction made every hour of painstaking effort entirely worthwhile.

Another sample answer (2 of 3)

Sample answer by Lingo Copilot · 249 words

I want to talk about a custom star map that I gave to my best friend to mark her wedding day. A star map is basically a printed chart showing the exact arrangement of stars in the sky at a specific time and place, and I had one created to capture the night sky as it appeared on the evening of her wedding ceremony. I racked my brains for weeks trying to find the right present. She and her husband already had everything they needed for their new home, so I wanted to avoid a fleeting gift that'd be forgotten within a week. When I stumbled upon the idea of a custom star map, I knew I'd hit the nail on the head. I commissioned a local artist to hand-paint the constellation chart on watercolour paper, and I added a personal touch by having their wedding date and a short dedication inscribed at the bottom. The reason I selected this gift was that my friend has always been sentimental about milestones and keepsakes. I knew she'd appreciate something thoughtful that captured a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Rather than opting for lavish extravagance, I wanted to give her a token of appreciation from the bottom of my heart, something that reflected the depth of our friendship. The gift completely took her by surprise when she opened it at the reception. The star map now hangs in their hallway, and every time I visit, she points it out to guests with obvious pride.

Another sample answer (3 of 3)

Sample answer by Lingo Copilot · 248 words

Well, let me share the story of a handcrafted wooden music box I gave to my grandfather for his eightieth birthday. It was a small, intricately carved box that played a melody from a folk song he used to sing to me when I was a child, and it took me quite a while to find a craftsman capable of producing exactly what I'd envisioned. The inspiration for this gift came to me on a whim one afternoon while I was browsing an antique market. I spotted a vintage music box and immediately thought of my grandfather, who's always been fond of an era when handmade objects carried far more weight than anything mass-produced. That lucky discovery set me on a path to commission a custom creation from a woodworker I found online. I pulled out all the stops, selecting the wood species, choosing the melody, and even having my grandfather's initials engraved on the lid. I chose this gift because my grandfather is someone who cherishes craftsmanship and tradition. He's always valued heartfelt gestures over material extravagance, and I knew that a generic present would never do justice to what he means to our family. This music box was destined to become a treasured keepsake, something he could pass down as a family heirloom. When he lifted the lid and heard the melody, the room fell completely silent. His reaction of overwhelming gratitude confirmed that sometimes the things money can't buy are the ones that matter most.

Useful vocabulary

thoughtfuladjective: Showing careful consideration of another person's feelings, preferences, or circumstances
sentimentaladjective: Having emotional significance or nostalgic value beyond its material worth
personalisedadjective: Designed or customised to suit an individual's tastes or characteristics
handcraftedadjective: Made skillfully by hand rather than by machine, suggesting care and effort
unwrapverb: To remove the wrapping or covering from a gift or package
reminiscentadjective: Tending to remind one of something; suggestive of a past experience or memory
splurgeverb: To spend money freely or extravagantly on something, often as an indulgence
commemorateverb: To honour the memory of a person, event, or milestone through a symbolic act
bespokeadjective: Made to order according to specific requirements or individual specifications
cherishverb: To hold something or someone with deep affection and protectiveness
keepsakenoun: A small item kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event of sentimental value
extravagancenoun: Excessive or unrestrainedly lavish spending; something beyond what is necessary or expected
token of appreciationnoun phrase: A symbolic gift expressing gratitude, often modest in material value but rich in meaning
labour of lovenoun phrase: A task undertaken for personal fulfilment rather than financial reward, investing genuine care
heirloomnoun: A valuable object passed down through generations of a family, carrying ancestral significance

Useful collocations

heartfelt gesture
The heartfelt gesture of creating a personalised playlist resonated with her far more than any store-bought alternative would have.
meaningful gift
I aimed to select a meaningful gift that reflected both our shared history and her individual passions.
personal touch
Adding a personal touch, such as hand-painting the wrapping paper, transformed an ordinary present into something extraordinary.
emotional reaction
I hadn't anticipated such an emotional reaction; she embraced me tightly and refused to let go for several minutes.
generous gesture
His generous gesture of donating to a charity in my name meant more to me than any physical present could have.
painstaking effort
The painstaking effort I invested in sourcing each component of the gift hamper made the final result enormously satisfying.
sentimental value
The restored pocket watch held immeasurable sentimental value as it had belonged to her great-grandfather.
bespoke creation
The bespoke creation, tailored to her exact specifications, demonstrated that mass-produced alternatives simply would not suffice.
curated selection
I assembled a curated selection of artisanal teas from regions she had expressed a fascination with during our conversations.
overwhelming gratitude
She expressed overwhelming gratitude through a handwritten letter that arrived two days after her birthday celebration.
from the heart
The best gifts are from the heart, not necessarily expensive.
pick out
I spent hours trying to pick out the perfect gift for my mum's birthday.
spot on
The gift was spot on — exactly what I'd been wanting but never bought myself.
think outside the box
I tried to think outside the box and got her an experience rather than a thing.
exchange gifts
We always exchange gifts at our family gathering on Christmas Eve.

Part 3 questions on this topic

In the test, Part 3 continues with wider questions linked to your Part 2 topic. Questions from our question bank:

Do you think the culture of gift-giving has changed over the years?
Is it better to give practical gifts or sentimental ones?
Do you think commercialisation has taken the meaning out of gift-giving?

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