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Describe a gift that you would like to give to someone in the future

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 gift that you would like to give to someone in the future.

You should say:

  • what the gift is
  • who you would give it to
  • when you would give it

and explain why you would like to give this gift.

Ready

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

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Band 8 sample answer

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

A gift I would very much like to give in the future is a holiday for my parents, specifically a week-long trip to the seaside, with all the expenses paid. They've never been on a proper holiday in their lives, as they have always worked very hard to support me and my sister.

I would plan it carefully. I'd choose a quiet town on the Black Sea coast, since my mother has always dreamed of seeing the sea in autumn, when it's calm and not crowded. I would book a comfortable hotel with a view and arrange the tickets for the train, because my father likes watching the scenery from the window. I might add a little extra, such as a dinner at a good restaurant on their anniversary. I plan to give it to them when I have my first stable job, hopefully in about three or four years, perhaps on their anniversary or on my mother's birthday. I would put the tickets in an envelope and watch their faces when they open it.

I want to give this gift for a number of reasons. The most important is gratitude. They've given me everything, from my education to emotional support, and I want to show them that I appreciate it. Another reason is that they never spend money on themselves, so they would probably never organise such a trip on their own. And finally, I believe that experiences are more valuable than objects. They will remember the sea, the walks and the time together for much longer than they would remember any item. It will make me extremely happy to see them relax at last.

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
show appreciationexpress thanks for someone's help or kindness
go the extra milemake a special effort
something money can't buya thing with personal rather than financial value
an expression of gratitudea way of saying thank you
put a lot of thought intocarefully consider
make someone's daymake someone very happy

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 trip for your parents
  • A laptop for a younger sibling starting university
  • A handmade present for a close friend

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat the gift is
  2. 25 swho you would give it to
  3. 25 swhen you would give it
  4. 45 sand explain why you would like to give this gift.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Why is giving sometimes more enjoyable than receiving?
  2. Do you think people should give gifts without expecting anything in return?
  3. How has the tradition of giving presents changed over time?
  4. What are the most common reasons people give presents in your country?
  5. Do companies create too much pressure to buy gifts at certain times of the year?
  6. Is it more meaningful to give an experience rather than an object?

Frequently asked questions

How should I describe an object in an IELTS cue card?

Say what it is and how you got it, then talk about how you use it and one moment when it mattered. Objects run out of description fast, so the story around the object is what fills the two minutes.

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