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Describe a family celebration that you are looking forward to or would like to organise

Try the card on the exam timer first, then read the band-8 sample answer and the Part 3 questions that follow it.

Practice it like the exam

Part 2 · Candidate task card

Describe a family celebration that you are looking forward to or would like to organise.

You should say:

  • what the celebration is
  • who will be there
  • what you will do

and explain why it is important to you.

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1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.

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Band 8 sample answer

266 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.

A celebration I'm really looking forward to is my parents' thirtieth wedding anniversary, which falls in the spring. It's a big milestone, and my brother and I have decided to organise a special dinner for them, because they've done so much for us over the years.

We're planning a family dinner at a good restaurant that my parents like, which has a private room that seats about thirty people. We want to invite the closest relatives, such as my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, as well as a few friends who were present at their wedding. Most of them know the plan, but my parents think it's just a small meal with the two of us, so it will be a lovely surprise. We've been discussing the menu with the restaurant, and they've promised to prepare my mother's favourite dishes.

During the evening, we'll put up some old photographs of their wedding and early married life. My brother and I will make a short toast, and my grandfather has already said he wants to say a few words. We're also making a short film with messages from relatives who live abroad and can't attend. After dinner, we'll have a cake and some music, perhaps even a dance, because my father is a surprisingly good dancer.

This celebration is important to me because it's a way of saying thank you. My parents have set an example of what a loving and supportive marriage looks like. Getting the whole family together to honour them in a festive atmosphere is something I'll remember for the rest of my life.

What to notice

  • It takes the points on the card in order, so the examiner can follow it.
  • Each point gets a specific detail or a short story, which is what keeps a talk going for two minutes.
  • The "explain" line at the end gets the most time, because that is where you give an opinion and show your range of language.

We wrote this answer for practice; it does not come from IELTS. Take its structure and phrases and tell your own story, because examiners notice memorised answers.

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Useful vocabulary

PhraseMeaning
a milestonean important stage in life
get the whole family togetherbring all relatives into one place
an anniversarythe yearly date of an event
a toasta short speech before drinking to someone's health
festive atmospherea cheerful holiday mood
make an efforttry hard

Plan it in one minute

Choose what to talk about in the first ten seconds, then write two or three key words for each point. Full sentences take too long to write and to read back.

Who or what you could talk about

  • A parents' wedding anniversary
  • A graduation or engagement party
  • A traditional holiday feast

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat the celebration is
  2. 25 swho will be there
  3. 25 swhat you will do
  4. 45 sand explain why it is important to you.

Part 3 questions

In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Family traditions and celebrations. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.

  1. Why do families celebrate special occasions together?
  2. How have family celebrations changed in your country in recent years?
  3. Do you think large family gatherings are becoming less common?
  4. Which is better for a celebration: a restaurant or the family home?
  5. How important is it for children to take part in family traditions?

Frequently asked questions

How do I talk about future plans in an IELTS cue card?

Say what you would like to do, why, and how you would go about it. Mix future forms: "I'm planning to", "I'd love to", "if I had the chance, I would". A plan you really have gives you more to say than an invented one.

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