55 NEW IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics for IELTS Exam (September – December, 2016) & Band 8.0 Sample Answers

To be well-prepared for the IELTS test (both IELTS Academic & IELTS General Training Module) for the third quarter in 2016, you can download 55 New Topics for IELTS Speaking Part 2 (September – December 2016) and practice with your IELTS study partners. 

Band 8.0+ suggested answers for these 55 topics will be updated daily on IELTS Material website. You can download these topics and model answers (PDF File) at the end of the post to practice at home before sitting the IELTS speaking test.

NEW UPDATED TOPICS (These topics haven’t been appeared in the previous actual IELTS speaking tests and they will be used for these upcoming months (from September to December 2016)

Describe a time you needed to use imagination

You should say :

what the situation was;
why you needed to use imagination;
what the difficulties were;
and explain how you felt about it.

Also check: IELTS Speaking Part 2

Band 8.0 Sample Answer :

I would like to talk about the time I had to get out of my comfort zone to join an Innovation Challenge Contest which made me think out of the box and work flat out to become the runner-up.

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This annual contest is open to all undergraduates and post-graduates around the world. Each year this contest draws the attention of more than 30 000 people so it was really competitive and challenging for me. Therefore, when I was awarded the runner-up prize, I was deliriously happy and extraordinarily excited.

The goal of the Challenge was to recognize individuals and organizations that were working on internet-based solutions to promote education and economic empowerment in countries throughout the world. Therefore, it really required creativity and imagination from each team joining the contest.  I had to buckle down and brainstorm ideas for the challenge until I came up with the best one to be accepted for 4 consequent rounds.

At the end of the day, my team and I had really gone extra miles to become the runners-up and it was really an unforgettable experience to me. After all, I can take pride in myself for all the thing I achieved with my imagination and creativity.

Vocabulary :

Get/Step out of the comfort zone: Do things that you wouldn’t normally do

Example: If you want something you never had, I should step out of your comfort zone and work flat out to fulfil your dream.

Think out of the box: Think differently, unconventionally or from a new perspective

Work flat out: work very hard

Runner-up: A team/player/competitor finishing in second place

Deliriously happy [collocation] very happy

Extraordinarily excited [collocation] very excited

Empowerment: the giving of an ability, enablement or permission

Example: The government believes strongly in the empowerment of women.

Buckle down: to begin to work seriously at something. Example: If you don’t buckle down to your job, you’ll be fired.

Brainstorm: a good idea; an idea that enters one’s head suddenly.

Example: I had a sudden brainstorm and got out of bed to write it down.

Go the extra miles: to do more than one is required to do to reach a goal

Example: My teacher goes the extra mile to help us.

Take pride in: to feel pleased about someone or what they have done

Example: They take pride in their son’s many accomplishments. He takes pride in the fact that he’s never asked his parents for any money.

At the end of the day: in the end
Example: We interviewed many people or the job, but at the end of the day, we don’t think any of them could handle it.

Describe a time when you are very busy

You should say

When it was
What you had to do during that time
How you managed it
And explain how you felt about being busy

Band 8.0 Sample Answer :

One such busy time I really remember was the time when I had the deadline to submit my thesis paper which is the ultimate assignment to gain a Master Degree in International Relations.

This thesis paper is of great importance to me because it will decide whether I can get through the master course with flying color or not. I had just 1 month to complete my thesis paper but I had a full-time job which accounted for 8 hours per day so I had hardly few hours left for this graduation paper. I was also a procrastinator who always waits until the last minute to do anything which made me fall behind my schedule for my thesis paper submission.

Moreover, the thesis was really complex and challenging, therefore, I had tons of tasks waiting for me to be carried out such as collecting data for the report in the thesis, doing group discussions to brainstorm good ideas for the thesis and surfing high and low to collect information online as references for the thesis. I even didn’t have time left for my personal stuff. To be more specific, I did not spend time on visiting my parents for the whole month even though they were in the same town.  I couldn’t also visit some close friends, maintain my social networking profiles and update my blog. I did not feel good about it so it was particularly stressful to me.

However, I knew that I had to stay motivated and productive to get through this hard time. I worked flat out and put a lot of time and effort into it to meet worked flat out and put a lot of time and effort into it to meet tight deadlines and get the best results for the thesis paper.  For the sake of that, I got a straight ‘A‘ in my thesis, continued my job and did well in my term final.  I had to sacrifice a lot and maintain a strict routine and stop lots of my other activities that I usually do.  At the end of the day, it was well worth the effort and time!

Describe a person who you have met and want to know more about

You should say
Who this person is
When and where you met
What you did or talked about

Band 8.5 Sample Answer :

I’m going to talk about an acquaintance who I’ve recently met at my local English club. His name’s Dave and he’s about the same age as me, I mean… most people would agree that he looks quite young for his age, I think it’s mainly due to his hairstyle.

Dave has recently completed his postgraduate degree at Melbourne University in Australia and he’s currently looking for a job in Vietnam, well, he told me that he would like to become an IELTS teacher, despite the fact that he holds an MBA, I guess teaching English has always been one of his
passions.
I have to say that I don’t know him really well, because we only had a few brief conversations at the local English club, but he seems like a fascinating person that I would like to get to know better in the future.

Anyway, when it comes to his personality….
Honestly, as I’ve said earlier, we’ve only had a few brief conversations, so I don’t know him really well…However, I would guess that he’s a very friendly and approachable individual, in fact, he actually made an effort to break the ice because I was just too shy to strike up a conversation.

Well, in terms of the core reasons why I think we could get along quite well…
Firstly, we are both passionate about English, actually, he had just scored a band 8 in his IELTS test and it would be great if he could give me all the advice that I need to be at the same level. Secondly, I’m also planning to study abroad in Australia, so he would be the ideal person to lead me
in the right direction, you know., like…enrolling into the right course, getting a part-time job and so on.

Describe a tall building in your hometown you like or dislike

You should say
Where this building is
What it looks like
What it is used for
And explain why you like or dislike

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read the Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Recent Actual Test in September, 2016

Describe a person/something that made you laugh

You should say :
What made you laugh
Where you were when it happened
Who you were with
And explain why it made you laugh

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read the Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe your favorite movie

You should say
When and where you saw it
What type of film it was
What the film was about
And explain why it is your favorite film

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read the Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe a piece of (electrical or electronic) equipment in your home

You should say :
What it is
How often you use it
Who you usually use it with
And explain why this item is important to you

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read the Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe a gift that you gave someone recently

You should say
What the gift was
Who you gave it to
Why you chose that gift

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read the Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe a garden you have visited and liked

You should say :
Where it was
What it looked like
What you did there
And explain why you liked it there

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read the Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe something you did with a group of people

You should say :
What the activity was
When and where you did it
Who you were with
And explain how you felt about being part of this group

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read the Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe a place where you go to relax

You should say
Where it is
How often you go there
What you usually do there
And explain why it relaxes you

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read the Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe a small business you want to have in the future

You should say :
What it would be
What you need to prepare for it
Where you would have this business
And explain why you would like to do this business

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read the Sample Answer for this topic by checking the posts : IELTS Speaking Practice Test 28 – A Small Business or IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe a place in other countries where you would like to work.

You should say :
Where you would like to go
What kind of work/job you would like to have
When you would like to go
Why you want to work in that place

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read Suggested Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe a wild animal

You should say :
What it looks like
Where you can see it
What it likes to eat or do
And explain why you like it

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read Suggested Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe an interesting photo

You should say :
Who look it
Who was in the photo
When the photo was taken
And explain why it was interesting

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read Suggested Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Cue Card Sample – Interesting Photo  or  IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe a special meal you would like to have

You should say :
Where you would like to have it
Who you would like to have it with
What you would like to ca
And explain how you would feel about the meal

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read Suggested Answer for this topic by checking the post:  IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe an interesting song you like

You should say :
What it is
Which country the song comes from
What story the song tells
And explain why you think it is interesting

Band 9.0 Sample Answer

I love listening to music, so I like a multitude of songs. However, one of my favorite songs that I want to talk about today is “Hall of Fame” by The Script and Will.i.am. This song was written for the 2012 Olympic Games.

When it came out, it quickly became a hit on every single music chart throughout the world, not just because of its catchy melody, but also for its meaningful lyrics. The song talks about how each of us can be a champion or anything we want to be as long as we dedicate our time and efforts to doing what we are passionate about. The song is played at big athletic events to pump up the crowd, but you can easily relate to the song at other times as well, especially when you are about to give up.

I think this song has such a powerful message that whenever I was tired or  had decided to quit, it would lift me up right away. It made me think about why I had started in the first place and that I needed to finish the job that I was currently doing.

Vocabulary :

• became a hit: when a song becomes a hit, it means that it is super popular and that people are listening to it on the radio and buying it on iTunes or elsewhere.

Example: Taylor Swift‟s song “Bad Blood” became a hit instantly.

• catchy melody: the melody is the part that you sing along with and if it is catchy, it means that it is easy to sing along with and people like it, you easily remember it and it sticks in your mind.

Example: The song “Uptown Funk” has a catchy melody that people love to sing.

• meaningful lyrics: lyrics are the words in a song and if they are meaningful, it means that they actually mean something or have some sort of importance or significance; they aren‟t just silly, meaningless words.

Example: His sister writes meaningful lyrics for her songs.

• champion: someone who wins, a winner.

Example: He didn‟t see himself as a champion until he had reached his goals.

• dedicate: to commit your time to doing something; to make a promise to yourself to do something.

Example: You were able to get a high score on the test because you dedicated 2 hours every day to studying and preparing yourself.

• effort: the work that you put into doing something.

Example: The time and effort he spent improving his English paid off when he got a $10,000 raise.

• passionate: if you are passionate about something it means you have a strong desire to do something or a strong interest in something.

Example: Elite athletes are passionate about their sport and want to become the best.

• played at: to play a song at an event means to broadcast it over loudspeakers so everyone can hear it.

Example: They always play the song “We Are the Champions” at basketball games.

• to pump up the crowd: to get the people excited about the game or event.

Example: The cheerleaders tried to pump up the crowd during the football game.

• relate to: to see yourself in something or to understand it in a personal way.

Example: She can relate to the lyrics of that song about love and loss.

• give up: to quit; to stop doing something.

Example: He decided to give up smoking after 10 years.

• quit: to stop doing something; to give up.

Example: She convinced her son not to quit the soccer team.

• lift me up or lift someone up: to make someone feel better.

Example: His brother is good at lifting others up when they are feeling down.

Describe a creative inventor or musician

You should say :
Who this person is
What this person does
How he knew this person
And explain why you think this person is creative

Band 8.5 Sample Answer :

I’m going to talk about a musician/songwriter that I admire, called Adam Levine. He’s also a singer who plays the guitar and writes his own songs. I think he recorded his first album about 10 years ago with his band called Maroon 5, and he’s released several other CDs since then.

He became successful after many years of writing songs and performing live in small venues all over the country. Gradually he built a following of people who liked his music. I think the key to his success was one of his songs that was used on a TV advertisement. This meant that more people became aware of his music.

I found out about Adam because one of my friends got tickets to see him in concert. I hadn’t heard any of his music before, but I went along to the gig and really enjoyed it. After that I bought the first CD, and now I’ve got all of them.

The reason I’m into Adam is that he has worked hard for his success: it takes years of practice to become a good singer and guitarist, and he spent several years playing to very small audiences before he became successful. I also like the fact that he writes his own music. I admire people who have worked hard to get where they are.

Describe a time you missed an appointment for something

You should say :
When and where it happened
What the appointment was for
What happened when you missed it
And explain how you felt about missing the appointment

Band 8.5 Sample Answer :

I missed my first job interview two years ago because of my carelessness. Once I lost it, I feel regret for that late even today.

At that time, as a fresh graduate, an interview appointment is valuable. I applied for Unilever as Sale executive, one of the best global companies with dynamic working environment and good benefits. I waited for about two months after attending at the IQ written test. I received an email announcing that I was one the tenth applicants who successfully passed the test. I was overjoyed when they asked me to join at the formal interview. However, I lost that chance.

The appointment was at sharply 14:00 which I thought would be at 4pm. Thus, I planned to celebrate my friend’s birthday around 2pm and leave her house around 3pm for the interview because the journey would take around 45 minutes.

I prepared for the interview carefully and left my friend’s house a little bit early as the city I live in has several serious problems of traffic jam. Unfortunately, it started to rain and the bus came late around 3.15pm. The traffic was very bad so the bus was moving very slowly due to the unavoidable traffic jam under heavy rain. At that time, I received a call from the company. With an angry voice, the authority informed that I missed the appointment and lost the opportunity to work at Unilever. Initially, I felt that my luck is not favoring me and felt a deep sense of anger because I thought it was not my fault but the traffic congestion. However, when I checked email again, I felt pity for me as I could not go to the appointment in time.

It becomes my invaluable experience. Since then, I always read emails and note down carefully the schedule.

Describe a sport stadium that’s important in your city

You should say :
Where it is
How often you go there
What people do there
And explain why you think it is important

Band 8.5 Sample Answer :

The My Dinh National Stadium is one of the biggest stadiums in Vietnam which plays an important role not only for domestic sport events but also international ones. Therefore, as Hanoi people, I am so proud of this stadium.

I still remember back to 2003, the My Dinh National Stadium was the main venue for the Southeast Asian Games and was a hosting place for the opening and closing ceremony. The My Dinh National Stadium has a capacity of more than 40,000 seats; therefore, at that time, thousands of Vietnamese and visitors from different countries were there. It was gorgeous with fireworks and the whole stadium was filled with colorful light and music.

It is a multi-functional stadium with a football pitch, athletic competitions combined with curve run, straight line running, jump pitches, throw pitch, etc. Besides, there are training facilities for the teams with two convenient football training grounds next to the stadium.

My Dinh Stadium is also a place hosted AFF Suzuki Cup, AFC Champions League, V-League or VFF Cup. Most significantly, in 2013 and 2015, the stadium held an international friendly football match between Vietnam and Arsenal and another match between Vietnam and Manchester City, respectively. Therefore, My Dinh Stadium becomes more and more important in Vietnam.

Describe an area of subject that you are interested in

You should say :
What it is
When it started to become interested in it
What we have learned from it
And explain why you have interest in it

Band 8.5 Sample Answer :

Biology is my favorite subject. Thanks for learning biology, I have a deep insight about living life around me from a tiny baterium to a complex human. Among different organisms, I love to elucidate the intricate mechanisms in plants.

Why am I interested in plant biology? Well, it’s hard to explain. Plants, even though they are unable to move and speak, they are living things. They have their own language and have a wonderful life. Have you ever asked yourself that why plants are the only organism that have upground part and ground part? It is because carbon dioxide, light and water are the main sources for plants to grow. Water is obtained from soil through a complex root system. Roots keep a plant anchored tightly to the soil as well. Water moves up the plant’s stem to the leaves. Sunlight and carbon dioxide are taken by leaves. Therefore, plants use water, light energy and carbon dioxide to make glucose, a kind of sugar and this is the food for plant to grow.

You see? Just a very simple example, plants are worth to study about. That’s also a reason why I choose Plant Biotechnology as my major. By using molecular technology, I can learn more inside of plant cells and discover the mechanisms in plants. Thanks for understanding of plant biology, it is applicable to manipulate and improve crop yield. It pours more and more passion to me for my future career.

Describe a famous person in your country

You should say
Who this person is
How you know this person
What this person is famous for
And explain why you like this person

Describe an interesting or unusual thing you did recently (in your free time)

You should say
What you did
When and where you did it
Who you did it with
And explain why you think it was interesting or unusual

Band 8.5 Sample Answer :

In all seriousness, between school and the office where I am working as an intern, I barely have time for entertainment. Though, when I do, I take it seriously. Once or twice, I managed to get out of the city and indulged myself in secluded areas where Internet service and its distracting minions like social media and advertising emails ceased to exist. My latest sweet escape was my trip to Binh Ba island last summer.
Binh Ba was one of the four deserted, yet beautiful islands located in Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam due to little exposure to tourism. This, however, would change drastically within the next few years since Binh Ba had been drawing lots of attention thanks to positive feedbacks from those who had wandered there. I went here alone just to take a break from the fast-paced city life and have time to contemplate myself, which I rarely do with people around. It had been an intriguing 2-day journey with full of surprises. That was the first time I traveled alone, first time riding on a speedboat, first time scuba diving and first time having dinner with a life jacket on my back and water as my chair. Other than that, seafood here was a bomb which came in different kinds and varieties. People I met during my stay at a villager’s house were ultra-friendly and helpful, both locals and visitors whom shared their stories as though you were a long lost friend stopping by to catch up. And there was nothing better than enjoying great company over a nice meal and bonfire.
Binh Ba left an unforgettable impression on me where I learnt to appreciate precious moments with those I cared about and be grateful for whatever life had to offer. Life is tough but it would be lifeless without its toughness.

Describe an advertisement you have seen/heard recently

You should say :
When and where you saw it
What was advertised
What the contents of the advertisements were
And explain how you felt about it

Band 8.5 Sample Answer :

We have been bombarded with an array of information every single day. Whether it is newspaper, television or social media like Facebook or LinkedIn, the news always has their own way to reach us. One of the most frequent pieces of news I have encountered these past few days is about Echelon Vietnam 2016 – Discover Asia’s Next Dragon.
As an avid Facebook user, I scroll down my newsfeeds board practically every 30 minutes to stay abreast of every nuance of my social network circle. Admittedly, there are some better things I can do but I just can’t help myself. Therefore, the fact that Echelon Vietnam 2016 repeatedly popped up on my newsfeed really caught my attention. Some of my friends are already “interested” in Echelon official page, others are even “going”. It piqued my interest so much that I paid a visit to their page to figure out what their gig is. As far as I am concerned, Echelon Vietnam 2016 is a 2-day international technology and investment event for entrepreneurs and business leaders within and outside Vietnam. It’s appealing not only to big tech companies but tech savvy individuals as well. The event aims to reach out to foreign investors, raising funding opportunities and developing the tech and startup community in Vietnam in the era where tech disruptions are leading almost every industry. With some of the most brilliant and world-class speakers, attendees are going to get some food for thought and inspiration during and after the event. I personally believe that this could be a golden opportunity for Vietnam to shine as a promising land where young and talented engineers, developers and entrepreneurs are thriving non-stop toward a better future, a better life within Vietnam and beyond. If I am able to schedule my time and afford the tickets, I will definitely be there to enjoy the vibe and explore many potentials in this rising industry.

Describe a bicycle/motorbike/car trip that is interesting

You should say :
Where you would like to go
How you would like to go there
Who you would like to go with
And explain why you would like to go there by car, motorbike or bike

Band 8.0 Sample Answer :

There is a thing that troubles me more often than not when living in Vietnam is the majority of people are riding motorbikes rather than cars. As a result, most people don’t know how to drive a car, I included, which also itches me since I have always wanted to take a road trip across the country. A road trip by car from the south to the north of Vietnam would be tough, and adventurous even, due to hundreds of marvelous destinations are awaiting to be explored. However, it is worth to take risk and step out of your comfort zone to truly experience what life has to offer when your legs can still drag you rather than to regret in your later life. “If you wanna go fast, go alone. If you wanna go far, go together.” It might be fun if you were a lone traveler and didn’t enjoy getting lagged behind your schedule. Still, the adventure could be more colorful and unexpected, hopefully in a good way, when you got company, especially during a long journey like this. Hence, picking up a close friend or two who share the same viewpoints, the same eager desire to capture the beauty of Vietnam with me would be my choice. We would start from the south where we are living and move north on the go, stopping at our favorite beaches like Phu Quoc, Nha Trang… a little longer than other places because ain’t nobody don’t have time for juicy coconut and white sand paradise. Vietnamese cuisine would also be our utmost priority whenever we reach a new place as there is no better way to live like a local other than eat like a local and I really look forward for that. The car would give us room to comfortably converse with each other and shelter from inclement weather, if any. It is not about the destinations but also about the time I would love to spend with my dear friends as we would share the same space in a four-wheel vehicle along the road; because at the end of the day, it’s people that matters.

Describe a sport that you prefer to do and is a little expensive

You should say What it is
How much it usually costs
Who usually do it with
And explain why you like to do this activity

Band 8.0 Sample Answer :

Even though people say it’s quite costly, it’s meant for the rich, but I would love to play tennis one day.
I knew just a bit about this sport, but it’s not too hard to estimate the price. As an amateur, at least I should have a nice Nike or Adidas which up to now is about 50 USD, not to mention other fancy sportswear like T- shirt, shorts and socks. For equipment, bats, bat bags and also I should never forget safety equipment, sadly, it’s said that the higher it costs the better, so I’m gonna give it around 200 USD. So that would be 250 USD in total. Quite expensive I’m afraid. Anyway, my dad, who is not only motivated, but also knowledgeable about the sport, would definitely be my go-to partner. I guess the reason why I’m into this quite-expensive sport firstly is because of its intense, intensive practice, intensive competitivenes, for example, which helps increase my patience and focus. In addition, such independent sport meakes me feel rewarded, feel proud because what I’ve won actually is myself.

Describe someone who has a great influence on you

You should say :
Who this person is
How she knew this person
What influence this person has on you
And how you think of the influence

Band 8.0 Sample Answer :

For this topic, I would definitely talk about my best guy friend. Probably it’s his personalities that not only makes me feel so proud to be a friend of his, but also inspires me to improve myself.

The first characteristic that makes my friend special is that he’s a typical perfectionist. In almost any situation that he can come up with the best solution and reasons why it’s the best. Sometimes I get a bit lost, his amazing analyzing skill indeed helps get me through. Another characteristic that I’ve found super inspiring is his determination. Well, I suppose that most men are born determined, however, my friend is a different story. He never gives up on things he’s really passionate about. For example, last semester, he slept only 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week continuously to get his group project done. In addition, it’s not a big surprise that his name is always in top-student list. That passion, that determination have encouraged me to keep moving forward.

Generally, for a great shift that he brought to my life, I am thankful for having this friend.

Describe a website you like to visit

You should say :
When you found it
What it is about
How often you visit it
Why you like this website

Band 8.0 Sample Answer :

There is no doubt that online source is essential for everyone nowadays. A vast amount of information is instantly updated every second to meet our needs. For me, in particular, I’d like to check the website called Foody.vn almost everyday.

What I love about the website is a wide variation of food stores is introduced in detail, including the price, the food available, the parking area and the service offered. Posts can also be varied in terms of food, by which the reviewer recommends their top five stores selling it; in terms of design concepts, by which people can choose their favorite surrounding environment or those young photographers can also come to practice and in terms of specific locations. Of course different person has different taste, I also can to go through the comments below or save many posts for references. What is more, the website provides delivery service, which is a huge benefit for those who are living too far away from the store.

For those reasons listed, Foody.vn is definitely one of the websites I’d love to visit daily.

REUSED TOPICS (Theses topics appeared in the actual speaking tests in May – August in 2016 but they are still kept for re-using)

Describe a difficult decision that you once made.

You should say :
What the decision was
How you made your decision
What the results of the decision were
And explain why it was difficult to make.

Band 8.0 Model Answer

Well, the most difficult decision I’ve ever made was whether or not I should study abroad next year. / Well, the most important conversation I had so far was with my parents about whether or not I should study abroad next year.

In the recent couple of years, there’s this growing tendency among high school graduates to embark on a study abroad program. I’ve always wanted to do the same, because it’s a good opportunity to see the world, to experience different styles education, and to improve my language skills. And for a girl who has never been far away from home, studying in a foreign country might bring out my independent nature. But I need to give it some careful thought before I could make the decision. I told my parents who are both open-minded about my plan,and they were pretty supportive, but they also pointed out some disadvantages. My mom told me that being in a new place by myself could be overwhelming sometimes, and it tests my ability to adapt to diverse situations. And it’s highly possible that I would feel lonely and helpless every so often, because all of my close friends and family members are on the other side of the world. I would be completely on my own, and basically everything I took for granted  in the past would then be a challenge, like paying bills, opening bank accounts, communicating with fellow students, and the list goes on and on.

All of a sudden, I felt stuck. All those challenges sounded terrifying, but I really didn’t want to miss this great chance to broaden my horizon and learn more about other cultures around  the world. I weighed up the pros and cons carefully, and after some serious consideration, I finally made up my mind to seize the opportunity to go abroad for study. 

Describe an item that you received and made you happy

You should say
When you received it
What the item was
Who gave it to you
And explain why you felt happy

Band 8.5 Sample Answer :

I would like to describe a coat my parents gave me as a present on my 18^th birthday. I must say that it is really smart and exactly to my liking.

The coat is made of cotton only and by a Vietnamese clothes brand. It is a knee-length black coat, which was in fashion at that time. What I like the most is that there are two deep side pockets, so in winter, I always put my hands into those pockets to avoid the cold. Besides, I can button the coat from top to bottom and it’s also got a decorative waist belt.

I am so fond of this coat that I usually wear it every winter. It fits me perfectly and makes me feel comfortable and warm, no matter how cold the weather is. I keep myself warm by wearing the coat with jeans and boots, which match it well.

In fact, I have never thought whether it will be out of fashion. As this coat is a gift from my parents, I treasure it a lot and – for sure – I will keep wearing this coat in the future.

Describe an activity you do to keep fit

You should say :
What the activity is
When, where you usually do it
How you do it
And explain why it can keep you fit.

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read BAND 9.0 Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe a person that you like to spend time with

You should say :
Who is this person
How do you know this person
What you like to do together
And explain why you like to spend time with this person

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read BAND 9.0 Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe a person who once moved to live with you

You should say :
When and where this person moved in
How you know -.his person
How you got along with this person
And how you feel about living with this person

Model Answer

Well, I’m going to talk about a person who is one of my flatmate in Australia. Her name is Linda. Possibly, she is one of the best friends of mine who lived with me.

First, I would love to talk a little bit about the time and the place where she lived in. It was in a very freezing Sunday night around 2 or 3 degree Celsius. In the very heart of the winter, I mean in July, there was a girl struggling with loads of luggage knocking at the door of my house. She said hi to everyone in a very humble way. This is a sort of the scenario of how I got to know her.

There should be a fate between us, I reckon. What I mean fate here is by accident we got to know each other and we are at the same hometown back in India and we used to live in the same area in India when both of us were going to a university in Mumbai. But we just run across with each other only in Australia.

Moving onto the next point, I would like to approach the idea of our relationship. To be honest, we were not in a very good harmony initially because of some misunderstandings and conflicts during the time we lived in under the same roof, shared the rent, bills and time clash. But gradually, we discovered out that we have a lot of common interests and characteristics.

Living with her is quite enjoyable because we could share lots of things together, but did not have to worry about bothering each other in the daily life.

Describe an interesting tradition in your country

You should say :
What the tradition is
When do you celebrate it
How do you celebrate it
And explain why it is interesting

Model Answer

India is rich in culture and tradition. The tradition I’m going to talk about today is saying ‘namastey”. We celebrate this tradition every day, in fact several times a day.

This is our way of greeting each other. We do it by folding our hands, palms facing each other, fingers pointing towards the ceiling, thumbs pointing towards the chest and this is accompanied by a slight bow.

This tradition is interesting because this is the biggest export of our traditions to the western culture. When I say namastey, I mean to say that I am your humble servant. It creates an aura of respect which is far more than saying hello or shaking hands.

It is said that the human body is composed of immense energy. We can turn it into a positive or negative energy. When we shake hands we transfer positive as well as negative energy. But when we fold hands, we transfer only positive energy. When we greet another person with namastey we have no physical contact because of this the other person cant be affected negatively. Whenerver anyone comes to our house, we always say Namastey, no wonder this word has been adopted by all the English language dictionaries.

Describe something you ate for the first time.

You should say :
What it was;
When you ate it;
Why you ate it;
And explain how you felt about it.

Describe something that you had to share with other people, such as public transport, accommodation, and food.

You should say :
What it was;
Who you shared it with;
Why you shared it with others;
And explain how you felt about sharing

Describe a piece of good news that you received

You should say :
What this news was
When and where you heard it
How you heard it
And explain why you think it was good news

Describe a leader you admire

You should say :
Who this person is;
How you know this person;
What skills he or she has for leadership;
And explain why you think he or she is a good leader.

Describe a creative person that you admire

You should say :
Who is this person
How do you know this person
What creative things this person likes to do
And explain why you admire this person.

Describe a mistake that you once made

You should say :
What the mistake was
When, where you made it
Who was with you
And how the mistake affected you

Describe a big company you are interested in.

You should say :
What is the company called;
How did you know this company;
What kind of business this company does;
What kinds of interesting activities the company has
And why this company is interesting

Describe a course that you want to learn

You should say :

What this course is
When you want to learn it
Where you can learn it
And explain why you want to learn it

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read BAND 9.0 Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe an important skill you learned when you were a child

You should say :
What this skill was
When you learned it
How you learned it
And explain why you think it was important

Model Answer for IELTS Speaking Part 2

One of the most useful skills I have learnt since I was a 10-year-old child is typing on a keyboard without looking at that is a special skill.

When I was 10 years old, my father bought me a computer, it was impossible for me to type without looking at the keys. It took longer hours for me to type a single page by searching the letters on the keys.  When I started to type, it appeared to me that the letters should be placed on the keyboard alphabetically for better use. But gradually I learnt that this way is better than the alphabetical letters.

Basically I learnt the skill at my home using my personal computer. In the very beginning, it was tougher for me to compose anything on the computer with the keyboard attached with it and it took longer hours for me to compose a document of three or four pages. So, I started using internet to get some ways to learn typing. I found some special applications that allow the users to get the desired typing skill. Besides, the applications also helped me to make the typing faster than it was in the beginning.

All of the earned skills are useful in real life but the applications may differ in situations. When I started learning the skill, I thought that it would be of no use in my practical life and I am wasting my times. But when I took part in my work, I was surprised by the applications of typing. I have started serving the office in different ways with the typing skill. As a result, my fame has increased as a typing expert and accordingly the office has evaluated my performance. I have been promoted to senior administrative officer after three months when I applied the skill to my daily works at the workplace. So, it appears to be a very useful skill for me.

Describe an activity that you do in your school after school

You should say :
When and where you do
What you like to do
Who you do it with
And how you feel about it

Band 8.0 Sample Answer :

An activity that I like to do in my school after finishing school is playing badminton which I started to do since I was in 6^th grade.

It is actually a badminton class, so we have teachers and other students too. We practice badminton here for an hour. Sometimes, we even stay there for another half an hour. Just like tennis, you can play badminton as a singles match or doubles match. The rules are pretty much the same as tennis. The only difference is that the badminton shuttlecock is lighter than the tennis ball, thus, it requires less strength.

Due to my short-sightedness, I am not very good at playing this game but I enjoy it anyway. Firstly, it helps keep me fit. In addition, I can train my eyes to look further and faster, and it quickens my reflexes. Last but not least, it helps me a lot in improving my teamwork skills.

Vocabulary :

• badminton: [noun]  an indoor game.  Players hit a small light ball, with feathers round it, across a high net, using a racket,  like tennis.

Example:  A net in badminton is much higher than in tennis, and the ball and rackets are smaller and not as heavy.

• singles match: [noun]  a game in which one player plays against one opponent.
• doubles match: [noun] a game in which two players play against two opponents.

Example:  She won the women‟s singles gold medal in tennis in the Olympic Games.  Then, playing with her friend, they won the women‟s doubles gold medal by defeating two American opponents.

• shuttlecock: [noun]  badminton uses a shuttlecock, not a tennis ball.  It is very light and it has feathers round the edge.

Example:  Players hit the shuttlecock across the net in badminton.

• short-sightedness: [noun]  a person who can only see things if they are very close, is short-sighted.

Example:  I need glasses for reading, because of my short-sightedness.

• train my eyes: [verb phrase]  I developed my ability to see things quickly and accurately.

Example:  The detective trained his eyes to look for small but important details at the scene of the crime.

• quickened my reflexes: playing badminton improved my ability to move and think quickly when I played the game.

Example:  Many people say that video games quicken your reflexes and you become more expert.

Describe an occasion you got up extremely early.

You should say :
When this happened
What you needed to do that day
Who you were with
And how you felt about getting up early that day

Band 9.0 Sample Answer :

You can read BAND 9.0 Sample Answer for this topic by checking the post: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic in September – December 2016

Describe a method that helps you save money

You should say :
What the method is
When you started to use it
How you knew it
and explain why it is helpful

Band 8.0 Model Answer for IELTS Speaking Part 2

Well, I have to admit that It has been so difficult for me to figure out simple ways to save money and use my savings effective to pursue my financial goals before. But it’s so lucky for me when I complained about it to my friend, she suggested me using Money Lover, a useful mobile application to
most useful one. Thanks to that, I am better at money management.

Let me tell you about it in more detail. The symbol of the app is a very cute piggy bank which impresses me a lot at the first sight. There are many expenses for clothes, food, cosmetics divided so that at the end of the month, I can know exactly what cost me a bomb, what are within my budget to tighten the belt next month.

It is not an exaggeration to say that this way of saving money changes my life for the better. I have used this app for 3 months and up to now, I have a considerable savings in my banking account. To my surpise, my friends consider me as a shining model for them to follow when it comes to talking about money saving. This makes me so proud of myself. In addition, my mom always got shirty with me for my wasting money but at the moment, she hardly loses her temper anymore and we seem to have better relationship than in the past.

If anyone asks which is the most effective way to save money, “Money Lover” is definitely the first thing that comes to my mind. Trust me, it is really helpful.

Describe a positive change in your life

You should say :
What the change was
When it happened
How it happened
And explain why it was a positive change

Band 8.5 Sample Answer

The positive change that I would like to talk about is ‘I started playing outdoor games instead of playing computer games’. After I got my first personal computer when I was only 9 years old or so, I started learning many things. Besides that I started playing the computer games. As computer games are addictive I found that I was playing the games whenever I had spare times. This addiction barred me from playing outdoor games like cricket, football etc.

I found myself very much attracted to the computer games and I preferred to play the games at home instead of going to open spaces or fields to participate in outdoor games that involve physical exercises. Not that computer games are all so bad, but playing them all the time someone has got is not a good thing especially for kids. I found that I was spending more times at home than being outside. After my parents noticed that, they discussed with me about that and explained me the importance of outdoor activities. They gave me strict restriction that I would only be able to play computer games for an hour daily and in the evening I’d have to go outside to play with my friends.

This was obviously a very positive change for me. I’m not against computer games but I feel that if there are more important things to do, then we should not spend time on computer games only.

This change affected me very positively. I became a good cricket player later on, I started maintaining my times more prudently and I am sure this change has affected me positively in terms of physical and mental health.

Describe an interesting public place that you like to visit

You should say :
Where is this place
What you can do there
Who you like to go with
And explain why you think this is an interesting place

Describe a wedding you have been to

You should say :
Where it was
Who you went with
What you saw
And how you felt about the wedding

Band 8.5 Model Answer

Today, I’m gonna share with you a wedding of my friend that I attended. Last month, I received a wedding invitation from my old friend from primary school. The wedding washeldat the beginning of April. We have beenclose toeach other for over 15 years, therefore, I definitely wanted to attendat all costs, due to the fact that we hadn’t had a chance to get togetherfor ages.

Her wedding ceremony took place at The Sum Villa, located near West Lake. It was decorated impressively with a lot of lights, candles and flowers around the room. There were three glamorous wedding photo albums, showing tables right at the centre of the official gate. The principal colours were likely to be white and violet, so all the guests were requested to wear clothes with one or both of these colours. Personally, I wore a white dress with small accessories. 

It was meant to be a casual wedding, which I had never attended before. It turned out to be refreshingly informal.  One of the best moments that really touched me was when the bridegroom sang a song for the bride and all the guests sang along with him. Also, he made a photo clip by himself marking their 4-year romance, to show to everyone in the room. It was no surprise that everyone clapped their hands and cheered them. Of course, I was no exception.

It was also a good chance to catch up with my old friends and we all had a great time. We definitely made the most of the occasion and took a lot of pictures with the bride and the bridegroom. I gave my friend a gift to celebrate her wedding day. I had given much thought to my wedding present when I was choosing it, and I wished her lots of happiness for the future. 

Describe a program or app in your computer or phones

You should say :
What the app/program is
When, where you found it
How you use it
And how you feel about it

Band 8.0 Model Answer for IELTS Speaking Part 2

Well, I’m really into mobile apps so I set up at least 20 helpful apps on my smartphone like Meditation, Tripadvisor, Ted, Lumosity, Dulingo, Wunderlist. But maybe Money Lover is the most useful one and at the top of my list.

Let me tell you about it in more detail. The symbol of the app is a very cute piggy bank which impresses me a lot at the first sight. There are many expenses for clothes, food, cosmetics divided so that at the end of the month, I can know exactly what cost me a bomb, what are within my budget to tighten the belt next month.

It is not an exaggeration to say that this way of saving money changes my life for the better. Thanks to that, I am better at money management. When talking about money saving, my friends consider me as a shining model for them to follow. This makes me so proud of myself.

In addition, my mom always got shirty with me for my wasting money but at the moment, she hardly loses her temper anymore and we seem to have better relationship than in the past.

If anyone asks what application I like best, “Money Lover” is the first thing that comes to my mind. Trust me, it is really helpful.

Describe a situation that made you a little angry.

You should say :
What it was that made you angry
Where you were when this happened
What you were doing at the time
And explain why you felt angry.

Band 8.0 Sample Answer

A recent situation that made me angry was getting stuck in a traffic jam on the way to meet some friends. It was last Sunday lunchtime, and I didn’t expect there to be much traffic; people don’t work on Sundays, so the roads aren’t usually very busy.

Everything was going well until suddenly I saw a queue of cars on the road in front of me. I had no choice but to join the queue and wait to get past whatever was causing the delay. It turned out that it was caused by some roadworks, and it took me an extra 30 minutes to get past them.

Getting stuck in traffic congestion doesn’t usually make me angry, but this time it did, mainly because I wasn’t expecting it and I knew that my friends were waiting to meet me for lunch. I felt frustrated and powerless because there was nothing I could do to change the situation, and I had no idea how long I would be sitting there waiting. When I finally saw the reason for the congestion, I was relieved that I was close to getting past the roadworks, but I still felt a bit stressed knowing that I was half an hour late.

Describe a (short) journey that you disliked

You should say :
Where you went
Who you went with
What you did
And explain why you disliked this journey

Band 8.5 Sample Answer :

I recently had a journey I wish I hadn’t bothered with. I decided to do some shopping in the capital city. But I had lent my car to a friend for a couple of days and so I thought it would be quite fun to hop on a bus for a change because it’s something I haven’t done for a long time. So I thought that I would set off early and get it done in a couple of hours and be back in time for lunch. The shopping wasn’t anything urgent, it was just that I had some free time that particular morning and thought it would be nice to do something different.

However, the journey did not go as planned. It was a really hot day and when the bus finally arrived and I got on, it was clear that the air conditioner wasn’t working. What’s more, the bus was packed with people, so within minutes I began to feel hot and sticky and extremely uncomfortable.

But what happened next was even worse. After about twenty minutes of traveling the bus started to make some really weird noises and eventually the driver pulled over and told us that there was a problem and that we couldn’t continue. We had to wait for another twenty five minutes or so for the next bus to arrive behind us and then we all got off the first bus and got on the second bus. The second bus already had some passengers on it, and with all of us from the first bus as well there was only room to stand.  The whole experience was rapidly turning into something I was beginning to seriously regret. What had started out as something supposedly fun and different was quickly becoming one of the worst trips ever. Eventually, we arrived in the city and I wasn’t really in a good mood to go shopping so I stopped at a café to drink something and just relax a moment before heading to the shops.

It really has to be one of the worst trips I’ve ever made on a bus and now I wish I had just waited until I had my car back; it would have been so much easier.

Describe an antique or an old object that your family has kept for a long time.

You should say :
What it is
How your family first got this thing
How long your family has had it
And explain why it is important

Model Answer :

When it comes to an old thing I keep in my family, I want to talk about the transformer that I got from my parents on my 10th birthday.

On that day, my parents bought me a transformer as a birthday gift. When I opened the gift box, I was really astonished by what I was seeing in front of me. It was an awesome transformer that I had been dreaming about for ages. The moment I saw this transformer, I fell in love with it. It was pretty huge and looked like a hip yellow car, and it could be shifted from a car to a robot action figure and back again. The transformer had a really nice color scheme and finish. And it came with a nice handgun like the weapon and different accessories. It was super cool! And with the transformer, there was a card from my parents saying, “Sweetie, you mean everything in the world to us and you are forever the apple of our eyes. Happy Birthday! Love parents.” I am telling you, although I was pretty young at that time, those words impressed me a lot.

Until today, I still keep this toy. It has been over ten years since I got it. I love it not only because of the toy itself, but also because of the sentimental value it has for me. The value is irreplaceable.

Describe a character or personality of yours

You should say :
What it is
How it affects your life
Where you get it from
And how you feel about it

Band 8.0 Sample Answer :

It’s fairly tough to talk about someone’s own personality for I firmly believe that the way we judge ourselves fundamentally differs from other people do. Nonetheless, we all have our own idea about our own characteristics and I would like to talk about my honesty which is also one of the characters I find important and proud of.

Honesty is a great virtue and I am in favor of the viewpoint that If people could remain honest during the lifetime, they will be rewarded in the long run. To be honest, honesty inside me leads me to do everything with genuine sincerity. Therefore, I am respected and adored by everyone and especially by my friends and colleagues.

I think that I inherited this personal trait from my mother. In daily life, he also reminds me to be honest in every aspect of my life and I would get through all ups and downs and succeed in life.

Honesty never fails to make me feel better at work and my daily living. In other words, Honesty has made everything for me. I earned the high-paid job because my boss and colleagues always have faith in me.  I have a happy family with beloved parents and brother.

Thereby, honesty is truly the personal trait I take pride in myself and want to share with you today.

Download 55 New Topics for IELTS Speaking Part 2

You can download these new topics to practice at home with your IELTS study partners

55 New Topics for IELTS Speaking Part 2

You can also download Band 9.0 Model Answers for 47 IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics for IELTS Exam (May – August, 2016)  to practice at home with your study partners.