Interesting Conversation: IELTS Speaking Part 2 & 3 Sample Answers

This article contains sample answers for the cue card topic – Talk about an interesting conversation you had as well as Part 3 questions related to the topic – interesting conversation.

In the Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking section, the most common question type is the cue card. The provided prompts will help you to formulate a response and speak on the given topic. You will have exactly one minute to prepare and speak on a specific topic. 

In this cue card, you have an opportunity to share about an interesting conversation you had or an interesting speech or talk you heard recently. Also, the sample answers given below will guide you to learn how to communicate clearly and successfully.

Are you confused about how to complete your speech within only a minute?

Check the video provided below and learn from the expert himself!

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Speaking Part 2

Sample Answer 1

I consider myself very social and have a proclivity for talking to people. As a result, there are certain conversations that I have etched in my mind. This specific conversation I will talk about today happened roughly four to five months ago, and that too with a stranger.

I was travelling by bus to Lucknow for an exam. This person boarded the bus at the later stop. He sat next to me, and we casually started talking. The conversation began with everyday things like the increasing traffic jams and the sweltering summer heat. After a while, he started telling me about his profession. He communicated that he was in the merchant navy.

As soon as he told me about his vocation, I flooded him with my questions. He told me about the challenges and also about the fun part of being in that profession. Some things were exciting. He told me that he works for about eight months a year and the rest of the four months he spends with his family. He plays cricket, goes on vacations and does whatever he wants during those four months. I remember that he was a bit sad, though, as it was that year’s last day of those four months.

After this discussion, all I could think about was the merchant navy. Like other childhood fantasies, the passion disappeared as I was not prepared to sacrifice the time I spent with my family. Nevertheless, this conversation will always be a part of my memories.

Sample Answer 2

This is my favorite topic. So when I was a student, I wasn’t very interested in any speech or talks. However, since I started my job as a teacher, I have enjoyed these talks a lot. I did hear a talk from a lecturer who comes from ABC University. He is a TESOL teacher, so the way he spoke really impressed me. Sitting in a big hall and listening to a talk isn’t actually boring. The lecture presented different methodologies in teaching high school students English. Then, the talk visualized a variety of games to motivate students’ interests, such as snakes, battleships or puzzles. I have to admit that they are very creative and funny. Moreover, I did learn a lot from this talk, especially the games since I’ve never thought that games are really effective in class but they proved me wrong. The students like them a lot, which makes me believe in those new teaching methods. I think I will listen to these talks more when I have time.

Vocabulary for Cue Card

• Lecturer: someone who teaches at a college or university
  Eg: My grandmother was a physics lecturer in the University. 
• Impress: to cause someone to admire or respect you because of something that you have done or said
  Eg: His fluency in French impressed me highly. 
• Admit: to agree that something is true, especially unwillingly
  Eg: It was really hard for Rose to admit that her dog had died. 
• Present : to give, provide or make known
  Eg: My teacher presented me a watch. 
• Methodology: a system of ways of doing, teaching or studying something
  Eg: The faculty members adopt the methodology of case studies, projects, and assignments. 
• Motivate: to make someone want to do something well
  Eg: Rose was motivated by her parents to continue her passion. 
• Creative: producing or using original and unusual ideas
  Eg: From a very young age, John was a diligent and a creative student. 
• Effective: successful or achieving the results that you want
  Eg: The introduction of new schemes was effective
• Prove: to show that something is true
  Eg: The teacher told her to prove her innocence.

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Speaking Part 3

1 Why do people feel nervous when they are giving a speech to others?

Public speaking has always been one of the utmost challenges for anyone, especially those lacking practices. Like any interpersonal skills, being able to deliver a thorough, yet captivating speech to a group of strangers requires certain factors. Reasons why most people fail, for me, fall into two main categories: the fear of audience’s reaction and the topic itself. People are judgmental creatures and can cast aspersions on almost everything; therefore, presenters may suffer from the pressure of perfecting every detail. In addition, if someone is going to talk about topic that is unfamiliar to him or too sophisticated for listeners, it is possibly not as well-received as the one he knows more about.

2 How can people improve their public speaking skills?

Thanks to the Internet, information is now disseminated worldwide and easily accessible that you can get help from anyone about anything, including public speaking. There are several means to acquire and harness such skill as long as people are willing to such as enrolling in an online course or participating in forum where people with the same goal gather and share their experience. This is quite effective, flexible and most importantly, free of charge. If you want something more official and academic, talk to some experts in public speaking at some conferences or workshops. They will provide you more insights and tips to begin. Last but not least, practice makes perfect.

3 Can you suggest any methods that would help reduce nervousness?

Each of us will surely experience at least once in our lifetime the feeling of anxiety. It can be before our job interview or big presentation, when meeting your family-in-law for the first time and so on. Nervousness could be a good sign since it shows that we care. However, to better perform at such life-changing events, you should control your feelings. Firstly, take a deep breath. You can’t be at your best without breathing easily. Second, don’t try convince yourself that you’re not anxious. Accept it just like any other feelings then you don’t have to keep reminding yourself to ignore it. Lastly, use positive self-talk. Encourage yourself and remember that you are in this place for a reason.

4 Is it good for people to visit schools and give a talk to children about different things?

As far as I’m concerned, it would be a valuable experience for children to hear real-life stories and personal insights from their predecessors who have been through ups and downs for useful lessons and advice. Nowadays, many schools have already invited some guests that could be their alumni or influential local figures to talk to students. A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark. Therefore, the sooner we sow a good seed and inspire them, the better they will grow.

5 What type of person is best suited to give a talk to a group of students?

Well, I see no special talents are needed to be able to deliver a highly motivating and inspiring speech to students as long as their experiences and messages are relevant and meaningful. Hence, people who could grab students’ attention and make them question their goals and purposes are those leading an eventful life. And by this, I mean someone who has related experiences and been through ups and downs during his career to reach success. This is because I believe that if one has never tasted failures and disappointments, he can’t realize his inner strength to overcome setbacks and truly appreciate his success, which is what students should think about when they’re still in school.

6 Is it hard to strike up a conversation with a stranger?

I don’t know about other people, but it is for me. Unless there’s a specific question I want to ask someone, I would hesitate for ages before going up and talking to them. I really should get over this fear of mine.

Vocabulary for Speaking Part 3

• Utmost (a): greatest; most extreme
  Eg: Global warming is a topic of utmost concern. 
• Captivating (a): taking all your attention; very attractive and interesting
  Eg: The diamond jewellery looked captivating. 
• Judgmental (a): judging people and criticizing them too quickly
  Eg: Rose is a judgemental woman. 
• Cast aspersions on: to criticize someone or someone’s character
  Eg: His opponents cast aspersions on his generosity. 
• Sophisticated (a): complicated
  Eg: The HR manager of the company was suave and sophisticated.
• Well-received (a): getting a good reaction from people
  Eg: The Minister was well-received by the villagers. 
• Disseminate (v): to spread information, knowledge, etc. so that it reaches many people
  Eg: The results of the experiments were disseminated through newspapers 
• Accessible (a): that can be reached, entered, used, seen, etc.
  Eg: The institute is easily accessible by this road. 
• Acquire (v): to gain something by your own efforts, ability or behaviour
  Eg: Children go to school to not only acquire knowledge, but also to learn good habits. 
• Harness (v): to control and use the force or strength of something to produce power or to achieve something
  Eg: We must harness the skill and creativity of our team. 
• Practice makes perfect: a way of encouraging people by telling them that if you do an activity regularly and try to improve your skill, you will become very good at it
  Eg: After years of practising, John can now play the piano perfectly. 
• Nervousness (n): the feeling of being anxious about something or afraid of something
  Eg: Rose smiled to cover her nervousness. 
• Life-changing (a): having an effect that is strong enough to change someone’s life
  Eg: It was a life-changing incident which I’ll never be able to forget. 
• Valuable (a): very useful or important
  Eg: These valuable earrings are gifted by my uncle. 
• Predecessor (n): a person who did a job before somebody else
  Eg: The new doctor is much younger than his predecessor. 
• Ups and downs: the mixture of good and bad things in life or in a particular situation or relationship
  Eg: Everyone goes through ups and downs in their life. 
• Alumni (n): the former male and female students of a school, college or university
  Eg: Our institute has a very good alumni network. 
• Influential (a): having a lot of influence on somebody/something
  Eg: As a public speaker, John was very influential. 
• Motivate (v): to be the reason why somebody does something or behaves in a particular way
  Eg: My mother motivated me to pursue my dreams. 
• Inspiring (a): exciting and encouraging you to do or feel something
  Eg: The story of Kalpana Chawla is very inspiring.
• Relevant (a): having ideas that are valuable and useful to people in their lives and work
  Eg: Although Meera is well-qualified, she did not have relevant work experience. 
• Setback (n): a difficulty or problem that delays or prevents something, or makes a situation worse
  Eg: There has been a temporary setback in our plans.
• Grab someone’s attention: to draw or attract someone’s attention
  Eg: The pastel colored gown in the boutique grabbed my attention. 

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