Describe a time when you were very surprised
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
Describe a time when you were very surprised.
You should say:
- when and where it happened
- what surprised you
- what you did
and explain why it was such a surprise.
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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
257 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
I'd like to describe a time when I was completely surprised, last year, on my birthday. I'd decided in advance that it would be an ordinary day. My friends had been telling me for weeks that they were busy, and I assumed they'd just send me messages.
In the evening, I was at home, in my pyjamas, when the doorbell rang. I thought it was the delivery of a parcel I was expecting, so I went to the door without thinking. When I opened it, I saw my best friend standing there, holding a cake with candles. But the real shock was that behind him, in the corridor, was my brother, who I thought was still working in another country. He had flown back secretly, and the others had helped him to organise it.
I honestly couldn't believe my eyes. For a few seconds, I stood there with my mouth open and said nothing. Then I started laughing and crying at the same time, and I hugged my brother so hard that he complained. I hadn't seen him for more than a year. Behind them there were another ten friends, who had been waiting on the stairs, trying not to laugh.
It was such a surprise because I had no clue at all. My brother had even sent me messages from his usual time zone, pretending that he was still abroad. We spent the whole night talking, eating cake and looking at photographs. I felt very loved, and it's definitely the best birthday present I've ever had.
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
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| take someone by surprise | to surprise someone completely |
| stunned | so surprised you cannot react |
| I couldn't believe my eyes | I was extremely surprised by what I saw |
| a pleasant surprise | an unexpected event that is nice |
| speechless | unable to speak because of strong emotion |
| totally unexpected | not predicted at all |
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
- Meeting an old friend unexpectedly in another country
- Receiving a gift or award you did not expect
- Discovering something surprising about a person you know well
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhen and where it happened
- 25 swhat surprised you
- 25 swhat you did
- 45 sand explain why it was such a surprise.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Surprise and the unexpected. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why do people enjoy surprises?
- Are children more easily surprised than adults?
- Do you think it is possible to plan for unexpected events?
- How do people usually react when they receive bad surprises?
- Why do films and stories often use surprise endings?
- Is it better to have a predictable life or a life full of surprises?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Experiences
Part 1 topics on the same subject
Frequently asked questions
How should I describe an experience in an IELTS cue card?
Tell it as a story in the past: set the scene (when, where, who), what happened, how it ended. Then explain what you felt or learned. Past tenses used accurately are part of what the examiner is listening for.
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