Describe a gift you gave to someone
Describe a gift you gave to someone.
You should say:
- what the gift was
- who you gave it to
- why you chose it
And explain how the person felt about the gift.
Practise this cue card with a timer Use it in a full mock
One-minute preparation plan
Handmade or personal gifts give you a story and reasons, which matter more than the price.
| Cue card point | What to note (keywords only) |
|---|---|
| What the gift was | 1–2 specific details: a name, a place, a time, or an example |
| Who you gave it to | 1–2 specific details: a name, a place, a time, or an example |
| Why you chose it | 1–2 specific details: a name, a place, a time, or an example |
| And explain how the person felt about the gift. | Your main reason plus how it affected you—save 30 seconds for this |
Sample answer
I'd like to describe a photo book I made for my parents' thirtieth wedding anniversary last spring.
It was a printed album of about sixty pages. I collected old photos from relatives, scanned prints from boxes in my grandparents' house, and arranged them in order, starting with my parents' first date and ending with a picture from that year. Next to some photos I added short notes and quotes from family members.
I chose it because my parents always say they don't need anything, and they genuinely aren't interested in expensive things. I wanted to give them something personal that showed how much effort and thought had gone into it, and I knew a lot of those photos were sitting forgotten in boxes.
They were really moved by it. My mother cried when she saw a photo of her own mother she hadn't seen in years, and my father spent the whole evening turning the pages and telling stories. They keep it on the coffee table now, and visitors always end up looking through it.
About 175 words, roughly two minutes at a natural pace. This is an original example written for SpeakingIELTS to show structure and vocabulary—use it for ideas, not as a script to memorise. Real test cards are worded differently, and examiners notice rehearsed answers.
Useful words and phrases
- arranged them in order
- genuinely aren't interested in
- effort and thought had gone into it
- sitting forgotten
- really moved by it
- end up looking through it
Try using three of these in your own answer. For more topic vocabulary, see the vocabulary helper.
Part 3 follow-up questions
After this cue card, the examiner moves to a Part 3 discussion on the same theme. Give an opinion, a reason and an example for each.
- Why do people give gifts?
- Is it better to give money or a present?
- Has gift-giving become too commercial?
- Do expensive gifts mean more than cheap ones?
- What gifts are popular in your culture on special occasions?
Practise these Part 3 questions
Check your own answer
Record yourself, then listen once and ask: did I cover every point, keep talking for close to two minutes, link ideas clearly, and explain my reasons at the end? The self-evaluation checklist covers all four speaking criteria.