Band 9 Sample for IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Topic: Interesting Event at School

Describe an interesting event in your school

You should say

–        What was the event?

–        When was the event?

–        Why was it interesting?

–        And explain how you felt about it

(What was the event?)

I’m going to describe an interesting event in my high school. Actually, there were numerous
extra-curricular activities during my high school years, but the one that I consider most
fascinating was the camping day, which is held for all students in three grades. During the
event, besides building a campsite together, each class also opened a small stall to sell food or
souvenirs for customers of all ages, even the parents or graduate students.

(When was the event?)

It is celebrated annually, and it frequently falls in the middle of March. As the camping days
take place in the spring, the weather is always nice and comfortable, which offers students the
chance to enjoy the event to the fullest. We had two camping days with an overnight, so
there were a lot of preparations to make before the event, and we had to work together as
team players to get everything ready in time.

(Why was it interesting?)

Well, the event includes a wide range of activities, which cater for students of different
interests, preferences and talents, which endears it to every student in my high school. The
most exciting part was the sale of our own products during the first morning, which was quite
chaotic and even competitive, as all of us had to entice as many customers as possible.
Therefore, apart from creative marketing, we also sang or danced flashmob to captivate the
crowd, which gave us a lot of pleasure in the end.

(And explain how you felt about it)

I really enjoyed the camping day, as it was one of the most memorable events during my high
school career, when all of us were so enthusiastic and carefree. The event united all the
students in my school and relieved our burdens of intensive studying a great deal. As time
went by, when preparing to step into university, we seemed to be too preoccupied with
sitting exams and making the grade to take part in these kinds of events and, most
importantly, few of us were able to derive the same feeling of enjoyment we used to
experience in the past.

Vocabulary For IELTS 

Education:

1.        extra-curricular activities

Meaning: not part of the usual course work or studies in school or college

Example: Most UK universities offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities, such as

sport, music or drama to help students enjoy university life to the full.

2.       to sit an exam

Meaning: to take an exam

Example: Some students claim that they feel more motivated to study when they have to sit
an exam at the end of their course.

3.         to make the grade

Meaning: to successfully reach the necessary standard

Example: Nobody can succeed in their studies if they rely on luck rather than hard work to
make the grade.

Communication and Personality

1. To be a team player

Meaning: to be a person who willingly cooperates with others

Example: Employees who are good team players are more likely to be selected for
promotion.

Other Words 

• Fascinating [adjective]

Meaning: extremely interesting and attractive
Example: Your trip to Alaska sounds absolutely fascinating.

• Souvenir [noun]:

Meaning: a thing that you buy and/or keep to remind yourself of a place, an occasion or a
holiday/vacation; something that you bring back for other people when you have been on
holiday/vacation

Example: I bought the ring as a souvenir of my trip to Greece.

•  Annually [adverb]:

Meaning: once a year, yearly

Example: The exhibition is held annually every July for architecture buffs

• to the fullest [Phrase]:

Meaning: to enjoy something to the greatest possible degree
Example: Janie tried her best to enjoy the show to the fullest after the exam.

• Preparation [noun]:

Meaning: something that you do to get ready for something or make something ready

Example: We made preparations to move to new offices.

•  To cater for sb/sth [verb]:

Meaning: to provide the things that a particular person or situation needs or wants

Eg: The class caters for all ability ranges.

• To endear oneself to sb/sth [verb]:

Meaning: to make somebody/yourself popular

Example: She was a talented teacher who endeared herself to all who worked with her.

•  Chaotic [adjective]:

Meaning: in a state of complete confusion and lack of order
Example: The traffic in the city is chaotic in the rush hour.

•  To entice [verb]:

Meaning: to persuade somebody/something to go somewhere or to do something, usually by
offering them something

Example: The bargain prices are expected to entice customers away from other stores.

•  Enthusiastic [adjective]:

Meaning: feeling or showing a lot of excitement and interest about somebody/something

Example: She was not enthusiastic about going to Spain, because she preferred to stay at
home.

•  Intensive [adjective]: involving a lot of work or activity done in a short time

Example: These are highly intensive courses for business and professional people.

• To derive [verb]: to get something from something

Example: He derived great pleasure from painting.