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Describe a New Year celebration that you remember

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

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Part 2 · Candidate task card

Describe a New Year celebration that you remember.

You should say:

  • when and where it took place
  • who you celebrated with
  • what you did

and explain why you remember it.

Ready

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

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Band 8 sample answer

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

The New Year celebration that I remember best was three years ago, when I spent it with a group of friends in a small mountain village. We had rented a wooden house for four days, and there were eight of us, so it felt like a real adventure.

On the thirty-first of December, we spent the morning skiing, and in the afternoon, we split into teams to prepare dinner. I was in charge of the salads, which wasn't a great success because I'd forgotten to buy half of the ingredients, but everyone was understanding. By ten o'clock, the table was full of food, and we had decorated the house with paper snowflakes that we'd made ourselves.

As midnight approached, we all went outside, because someone had brought a few fireworks. It was freezing, and snow was falling slowly. We counted down together, shouting the numbers, and then the fireworks went up and lit the whole valley. We hugged each other, clinked glasses and wished each other good luck for the new year. Afterwards, we went back inside and played board games until the early hours.

I remember it so clearly because it was so different from my usual New Year, which I normally spend at home watching television. Being away from the city, in the snow, with people I care about, felt magical. I also made a resolution that night to travel more, and I'm happy to say I have kept it.

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
ring in the new yearto celebrate the start of a year
countdown to midnightcounting the final seconds of the year
New Year's resolutiona promise to change something in the coming year
festive decorationsitems that make a place look celebratory
clink glassesto touch glasses together as a toast
a fresh starta chance to begin again

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 New Year's Eve at home with family and a decorated tree
  • A New Year spent with friends in the mountains
  • A New Year when you were a child and stayed up for the first time

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhen and where it took place
  2. 25 swho you celebrated with
  3. 25 swhat you did
  4. 45 sand explain why you remember it.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Why is New Year such an important occasion in many countries?
  2. Do people in your country make New Year resolutions?
  3. Why do many people fail to keep their resolutions?
  4. How have New Year celebrations changed over time?
  5. Is it better to celebrate New Year at home or in public?
  6. Do you think people should make fresh starts at fixed times of year?

Frequently asked questions

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

Set the scene with when, where and who was there, then walk through what happened in order. Finish with why it was memorable. If you were not at a big event, a small one you remember well works better.

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