IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample – Topic: Describe a time when you received money as a gift

Describe a time when you received money as a gift

You should say:
 How did you get that money
 Who gave it to you
 When you received it
 And explain why it was the best gift/ present you have ever received.

MODEL ANSWER

In my life, I have had numerous gifts and presents and among them, the most exciting and best gift was a sum of money I received when I was 15 years old. After excelling at an English competition at the national level with flying colors, I was rewarded 1000 USD thanks to school policy. I consider myself a competitive person; therefore, I always try my best at every single English competition, so that I
could get the money as a gift for my effort and dedication.

It was the principal of my high school who gave the money to me. To be honest, I didn’t expect him to give us a lot of money since my school was on a tight budget dedicated to help unprivileged students. The moment I heard the announcement from my head teacher, I was over the moon.

The deputy headmaster was taking school assembly that day and my name and others were announced in a particular order. I still remember walking on stage with pride and everyone gave us a really big round of applause. Then, the principal showed up with certifications and envelopes with money inside them. He gave each of us a warm hug and then shook our hands, and then we received the money from him. While returning home, I found myself flying with joy. I opened the envelope after returning home and showed it to my mother and other relatives.

As a student, that was a long unexpected gift that my principal gave me and till now it’s the best gift I have ever received.

VOCABULARY FOR IELTS SPEAKING PART 2

1. with flying colors (expression): If you do something such as pass an exam with flying colours, you do it very successfully.
Example: He made his parent proud by passing the test with flying colors.
2. Dedication (noun)
Example: He dedicated his life to teaching English to children.
3. On a tight budget (expression)
Example: It is important that we travel on a tight budget.
4. Unprivileged (adjective)
5. Over the moon (idiom)
Example: She was over the moon when her boyfriend came up with a ring.
6. Deputy headmaster (noun)
Example: She was assigned as the new Deputy Headmaster in our university.
7. School assembly (noun)
Example: Wearing uniforms on Monday is a must for students since it’s a school assembly.
8. A round of applause (expression)
Example: We gave him a round of applause after making it to the finals.
9. Flying with joy (expression)
Example: They found themselves flying with joy when their son got admitted to the top 10 school in my country
10. Showed up (verb): appear
Example: He finally showed up at the very last minute.

IELTS SPEAKING PART 3:

Is it important to teach children how to manage their pocket money?
Yes, I totally agree that children should be given financial education, including pocket money management. As children learn to spend or save wisely, they will likely become smart consumers in the future. Plus, being taught about the value of money can promote a sense of appreciation and responsibility, which can prevent future overspending or even running into debt.

What do you think of the saying love of money is the root of all evil?
Personally, I disagree with that opinion. There’s no problem with monetary aspirations, such as becoming a billionaire or pursuing investment opportunities. In fact, people with serious financial problems are statistically more likely to commit crimes than the wealthy. If we properly understand the role of money and learn to avoid manipulation and temptation, we can avoid any wrongdoing.

Is it important for children to have a right attitude towards money?
Definitely. Many people say children are too young to learn about money, but I think having the right mindset about monetary issues early in life has multiple benefits. Firstly, it helps children appreciate what they have and avoid unreasonable demands. Secondly, children will likely be shielded from monetary temptation when they realize money is not their end goal. This not only increases their own safety but also gives parents a sense of security knowing their children are independent and wise spenders.

In your country, do parents give children money for doing the housework?
It depends. Some parents provide monetary reward for their children after they complete household chores as a way to educate them about financial issues. Others, like mine, however, do not because doing housework is considered one of our responsibilities. They apply other methods to teach lessons related to money, such as letting children go shopping when they have to decide what to buy with a limited amount of money.

What kinds of occasions that require people to send money as gifts?
Weddings are a typical occasion when people send money as presents. A traditional wedding party in my country often includes inviting a large number of guests, many of which may be distant relatives. As a result, they may not know what the bride and groom really desire, so gifting money is a practical way to congratulate the couple. Apart from that, people also send money to pay tribute at funerals. This can also act as a means of support for families in sorrow.