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Describe a reunion or farewell party that you attended

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 reunion or farewell party that you attended.

You should say:

  • who the event was for
  • where it was held
  • what happened there

and explain how you felt about it.

Ready

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

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Band 8 sample answer

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

I'd like to describe a farewell party that my colleagues and I organised last summer for a friend of mine, Kamila, who was moving to Canada to continue her studies. We had worked in the same office for four years, and she was one of the people who made going to work enjoyable, so we wanted to give her a proper send-off.

We held the party on a Friday evening in a small restaurant with a terrace, and about twenty people came. A few of us arrived early to decorate the table and hang a banner that said good luck in several languages, since she was heading to a new country. We kept it a surprise, so when she walked in, she put her hand over her mouth and couldn't speak for a moment.

During the evening, we ate, took lots of photos and reminisced about funny things that had happened at work, like the time she accidentally sent an email to the entire company. Our manager made a short speech, and then we gave her a book of messages and a small gift. She read a few of them aloud and had to stop, because she was crying.

I had mixed feelings that night. On the one hand, I was so pleased for her, because she was following her dreams. On the other hand, I knew the office would feel different without her. It was a bittersweet evening, but we promised to keep in touch, and honestly, we still message each other almost every week.

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
lose touchto stop communicating with someone
reminisce aboutto talk about happy memories
bittersweethappy and sad at the same time
keep in touchto continue to communicate
say our goodbyesto say farewell
old acquaintancespeople you know but not closely

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 school reunion ten years after leaving
  • A farewell party for a friend moving abroad
  • A leaving party for a colleague who changed jobs

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swho the event was for
  2. 25 swhere it was held
  3. 25 swhat happened there
  4. 45 sand explain how you felt about it.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Why is it hard to stay in touch with old friends?
  2. Do you think social media helps friendships or makes them weaker?
  3. What are the benefits of keeping in contact with former classmates?
  4. How do people usually say goodbye to colleagues in your country?
  5. Is it easy to make close friends as an adult?
  6. Why do some people feel sad at farewell parties?

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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