[SEP – DEC 2021] IELTS Cue Card 21 Sample Band 8 Topic: Describe a piece of good news that you received

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic: Describe a piece of good news that you received.

You should say
what the news was
where you were when you received this news 
who gave you this news
and explain why you felt this was good news.

MODEL ANSWER 1

I’m going to share with you about an occasion when I received the official news about my scholarship approval to study in Japan a couple of years ago.

It’s been a long time since then but I still remember that day so well. I was having a quick nap at the time I got the news. I suddenly woke up and followed my instinct to check my email box. Unexpectedly, I saw an email from International Affairs Office of a university in Japan informing that I had been chosen to be one out of 10 students to receive a scholarship there. I was so surprised by this news that It took me several minutes to sink in. Then I was on cloud nine and leapt out of my bed and called my parents to inform them of it. I had been waiting for this  for two months since I got the official admission. Without this scholarship, I would have had to bear a heavy financial burden when applying for this university. So thanks to the scholarship that I received, I could enjoy my time to study in Japan without being worried about financial problems.

I really appreciate this surprising news so I still keep this lucky email in my mailbox til now to remind me of that day.

VOCABULARY FOR IELTS SPEAKING PART 2

✓ Have a nap: take a short sleep, especially during the day.
✓ Sink in: be fully understood or realized.
✓ On cloud nine: extremely happy
✓ Leap: to move or do something suddenly and quickly.
✓ Admission: the act of accepting somebody into an institution, organization, etc.
✓ Burden: a duty, responsibility, etc. that causes worry, difficulty or hard work.

 

Sample Answer 2

(What was the good news?) Life is not always a bed of roses. Sometimes we meet with hardships, and at other times it seems like everything is perfectly fine. I’d like to talk about a time when I heard the good news that my sister is getting married to her best friend. (How did you receive the news?) In today’s fast-paced technological world, everything is updated on social media, and that’s how I received the news. She had updated it on her Instagram page. My joy knew no bounds when I saw the post. Immediately, I called and congratulated her. (Who was the news about?) Although her parents are strict, they are open-minded as well. My sister and her fiance were childhood friends, and it was her childhood dream to get married to him, and the wish was being fulfilled. (Explain your reaction to hearing the news?) I was pleased that she had found her soulmate, and only a few fortunate ones get to marry their best friends. And they will enjoy the rest of their lives.

Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic Describe a time when you received good news

Life is not a bed of roses: Not as pleasant as it seems.

Eg: She knew that life would not be a bed of roses in London.

Turmoils: a state of disturbance or confusion.

Eg: John was in a deep turmoil.

Broke the news: to tell something very important to someone.

Eg: She broke the news through WhatsApp.

Knew no bounds: feeling strong or intense

Eg: The passion of cricket fans knew no bounds.

Roller-coaster: having ups and downs.

Eg: Life is like a roller-coaster ride.

 

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topic (Discussion)

Is it important to read the news?

Yes, It is imperative to read news and keep ourselves updated about day-to-day affairs so that we come to know what is happening around us and the entire world. With newspapers, we figure out how bad or good our society is. Thus, we can protect our loved ones accordingly.

What kind of news do people in your country like to read?

There are plenty of sections that newspapers in my country cover. There will be a dedicated section for every category of news. Generally, people like to read the news on sports, weather updates, politics, employment, recruitment, entertainment, etc.

Why do some people like to share news on social media?

Some people like sharing news on social media as it has a very great impact on the younger generation. Sharing news helps people know what is happening around them even if they’re least interested in reading newspapers.

Is it important to keep reading up to date news?

Yes, We must update ourselves with daily news to be prepared for any unforeseen event in the future. E.g., Evacuation plans in case of a flood. Not just that, but it also helps us come out of the bubble of imagination and meet the reality.

How do people in your country get news?

It depends on the age-group. These days, in my country, youngsters get news directly on their mobile phones with notifications telling them what is happening. On the other hand, older people get their news from TV, Radio, Newspapers, etc.

Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking Part 3

Imperative: important

Eg: It is imperative to finish this task by end of the day.

Affairs: a situation or event

Eg: The current affairs show how bad the situation of our country is.

Recruitment: to hire

Eg: A lot of global companies are going to start their recruitment process this month.

Impact: effect

Eg: The impact of this earthquake was so severe that most of the buildings got shattered.

Unforeseen: unexpected

Eg: The flood in the coastal area was unexpected.