IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample – Topic: Describe a time that you changed your mind

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic:

Describe a time that you had to change your plan/ changed your mind

You should say:
When this happened
What made you change the plan
What the new plan was
How you felt about the change.

(When this happened)
Two years ago, I was on a trip to Thailand with my cousins until we had to change our plans at the last minute due to bad weather conditions.

(What made you change the plan)
In fact, we were in Phuket that day. Everything was on track. The weather was forecast to be perfect and we decided to pay a visit to Koh Phi Phi Island, a holiday resort which is one of the must-visit islands in the world. I was really excited about this trip until the local authorities made an announcement that there would be a tropical storm coming by in 2 days and Phuket would be heavily affected by the storm. Then, we faced the decision whether to stay there and wait until the storm passed by or to book a flight back home.

(What the new plan was)
After a lot of discussion, we ended up putting off our plan and returning to my country. The next day, we arrived at the airport as early as possible since the storm was predicted to sweep the island sometime that night. Luckily, we were able to buy last-minute plane tickets and got home safe and sound.

(How you felt about the change)
Surprisingly, we soon forgot all about our misfortune over the trip. In addition, there was no serious injury or damage in Phuket after that storm. At the end of the day, I realized that our safety must be prioritized. However, I was really sad since I hadn’t been able to enjoy my trip to Koh Phi Phi Island. Anyway, I will definitely go back to explore this beautiful place in the near future.

Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking Part 2

1. a holiday resort
Meaning: a place where lots of people go for a holiday
Example: If you like to sunbathe on the beach, Thailand offers some very popular holiday resorts.
2. to book
Meaning: to reserve something, such as a hotel room or a ticket
Example: I’d like to book a table for two at 8pm this evening, please.
Vocabulary:
 at the last minute (expression): at the latest possible time
Eg: The referee made his decision to postpone the match at the last minute.
 bad weather conditions (expression): a period in which the weather is bad, such as heavy rain, snow or storms
Eg: Tropical storms are frequent in the region, and the people are accustomed to bad weather conditions.
 to be on track (expression): to be doing the right things to achieve a successful result
Eg: After months of careful preparation, they were on track to perform well in the competition.
 to pay a visit (expression): to visit a place or person
Eg: If you go to London, you must pay a visit to the British Museum.
 must-visit (adjective): a must-visit place is one which it is strongly recommended to visit
Eg: If you enjoy the beach, Thailand is a must-visit destination.
 tropical storm (noun): very bad weather, with strong winds and rain, typical of a tropical country
Eg: Today, people on the island are cleaning up after the tropical storm which passed through yesterday.
 heavily affected (expression): producing a very strong change in something
Eg: Train services today have been heavily affected by snow and ice.
 to pass by (phrasal verb): to go past
Eg: While we were waiting at the bus stop, three police cars passed by.
 to end up (phrasal verb): to be in a situation in which you did not expect to be
Eg: I took the wrong road, and ended up getting completely lost.
 to put off something (phrasal verb): to postpone something until a later time or date
Eg: He put off taking the exam until January.
 to predict (verb) to say that something will happen in the future
Eg: Few people predicted that she would become President of the country
 to sweep (verb): to move quickly and with force
Eg: A fire swept through the department store on Tuesday night.
 last-minute plane ticket (expression): a plane ticket bought at the latest possible time before departure
 safe and sound (expression): safe and unharmed
Eg: After our plane had passed through a bad storm, it was a great relief to arrive safe and sound.
 to forget all about (expression): to completely forget about something
Eg: I was so interested in the programme that I forgot all about my appointment.
 injury (noun): harm done to a person’s body, for example after an accident
Eg: The injury to his leg was the result of an attack by sharks while he was surfing.
 at the end of the day (expression): when everything is considered
Eg: At the end of the day, Germany deserved to win the World Cup.
 to prioritize (verb): to treat something as more important than other things
Eg: The system in the hospital aims to prioritize the treatment of patients with serious injuries or illnesses.
 in the near future (expression): very soon
Eg: The new road is expected to be open in the near future, perhaps next month.