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IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.

[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]

Describe a gift you bought that took you a long time to find.

You should say:

• what gift item it was
• who you bought it for and where you bought it from
• why it took you so long to find the gift

and explain how he/she felt after receiving this gift.

[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

Model Answer 1:
Buying a perfect gift for someone or for an occasion is always a challenging task. And it becomes even more challenging when the gift is sought for a barely 5-year-old who is not too sure about what he really wants as a gift.

Anyway, this 5-year-old little boy was my one and only nephew, who was very hard to please. Therefore, I wanted to do my best to find the perfect gift for him so that he would actually like it and use it instead of leaving it in some corner of his room.

So, his mother (my elder sister) and I decided that we would buy a very nice-looking tricycle for him on his 5th birthday. The idea of buying a perfect-looking tricycle was a good one, except, of course, we didn’t know what size and colour he would prefer. But, an even bigger problem was that there weren’t many tricycle stores in our home town, and therefore, we actually needed to be extra careful in choosing a good quality tricycle.

But, still, we started to check whatever tricycle we came across thoroughly to make sure that they were the right size and colour. Of course, it was a very time-consuming and confusing effort, but in the end, we somehow got lucky to find a perfect-looking tricycle which was both nice-looking and safe for a 5-year-old. By the way, we spent about 6 hours purchasing that tricycle because it was the first time that we were buying such a gift, and that too for a boy who is never sure about what he really wants for a birthday gift.

Anyway, after receiving the gift, my little nephew seemed elated since he started to ride it immediately after receiving it. He also seemed grateful to us for buying such a decorated tricycle for him, after all, since he gave me a big “thank you”.

Model Answer 2:
I think a thoughtful gift is much more likely to delight both the giver and the receiver than the most expensive of trophies. Sometimes it’s really easy to think of something and just go out and buy it, at other times it’s much more of a challenge and time-consuming. Here, I’m going to tell you about an occasion when I knew exactly what it was I wanted to find as a gift for someone, but it was a real problem to find.

I used to live in a terraced house in a town called Leamington Spa. By chance, I moved into my house just a couple of weeks after my next-door neighbours had also moved in. Fortunately, we got on really, really well together. After a few years, one of them came round to tell me some ‘bad news’. It turned out that they had decided to sell up and move away. I was really sad to see them go, but happy they would be moving to a lovely new house, which was more suited to their lifestyle.

In the meantime, I’d been trying really hard to think of a suitable housewarming present for my dear friends to wish them well in their new home, but it was tricky. To be blunt, they were a lot wealthier than I, and in any case already had most things they needed following a recent wedding and the associated gifts from well-wishers. I couldn’t afford to spend a lot of money, but I wanted to choose something that I knew they would like and would be really thoughtful. I decided I'd try to give an identical "soap dish" that they had to leave with the house to the new buyer, even though they did not want to!

It took me a long time, a couple of months. I searched the internet and eBay for second-hand items. I scoured second-hand shops and looked everywhere. I almost gave up hope. However, one day, I couldn’t believe it! There it was, on eBay! An identical product, in near-new condition, just sitting there waiting for me. I snapped it up immediately with a ‘buy now’ price rather than risking losing out in a bidding war. It really wasn’t very much, it was an unlikely item to desperately want after all! I was so delighted when it arrived through the post, and it was indeed exactly as advertised!

I rushed round one evening to their new home when they would both be there, and presented it to them - carefully gift-wrapped. I asked them to try and guess what it might be, but they had no idea. Eventually, they ripped off the wrapping paper and… were absolutely delighted! It wasn’t just that they had their soap dish back, it was that they were really touched I’d worked so hard to find it for them, and persevered long after they’d given up any hope of replacing their original one for themselves.

[ Written by - Lucy Marris (2016):  Careers Adviser (UK), TEFL teacher (Vietnam)]

Sample Answer 3: 

Introduction:
Thank you for giving me this topic to talk about. Here, I’d like to talk about a gift that took me quite a long time to find, but in the end, it was totally worth the effort.

What gift item it was:
The gift was a rare, hard-to-find book - a first edition of a classic novel that my best friend has always admired. He’s a passionate reader and often talks about collecting special editions, so I knew this would be the perfect gift for him.

Who you bought it for and where you bought it from:
I bought it for his birthday last year. After searching for weeks in local bookstores without any luck, I finally managed to get it from an antique bookshop located in another city. I even had to order it through the shop owner who sourced it from a private collector.

Why it took you so long to find the gift:
It took me so long, mainly because first editions of classic books are not widely available, and even when they are, they’re usually very expensive. I was on a tight budget as a student, so I had to spend a lot of time looking for an option that was both authentic and affordable. On top of that, I wanted the book to be in reasonably good condition, not something falling apart, which made the search even trickier.

And explain how he/she felt after receiving this gift:
When I finally gave it to him, he was absolutely delighted. I remember the look of surprise and genuine happiness on his face when he opened the wrapping. He kept saying that it was the most thoughtful gift he had ever received. Seeing him so happy made all my effort completely worthwhile, and honestly, I felt a real sense of satisfaction and pride at being able to give something so meaningful.

Model Answer 4:
Thank you very much for this interesting topic. It reminds me of a time a few years ago when I went on a real quest to find the perfect gift for someone very special to me.

The gift item was a vintage fountain pen. It wasn't just any pen, though. My goal was to find a specific model from the 1980s, a brand that was no longer in production. It was a very particular and difficult item to track down.

I was buying it for my grandfather, who is an avid writer and has a deep appreciation for classic writing instruments. For his 70th birthday, I wanted to find a gift that was both unique and deeply personal. After some research, I found out that the very first fountain pen he had ever owned and loved was a specific model from that era, one that he had lost many years ago. I thought that finding an identical one would be the perfect nostalgic gift for him.

It took me so long to find this gift for several reasons. Firstly, as I mentioned, the pen was a vintage item, and the brand was no longer making that model. This meant I couldn't simply walk into a store and buy a new one. I had to look in very niche places, which was a challenge in itself. My search began online, on antique forums, and on specialised collector websites. I also visited several antique shops and small stationery stores that were known for carrying older items. Most of the places I checked either didn't have it or had a similar model in poor condition. For about three months, I was constantly on the lookout, checking new listings and asking around. I finally found it in a small, dusty antique shop in a quiet corner of the city, run by a very knowledgeable old gentleman who had a collection of vintage pens.

When my grandfather received the gift, his reaction was priceless. He opened the box and, for a moment, he just stared at the pen, completely silent. Then, a huge smile spread across his face, and his eyes welled up with tears. He immediately recognised the model and told me it was exactly like the one he had owned many years ago. He was incredibly touched that I had gone to such great lengths to find something so meaningful to him.

Idea Generation for this Topic:

This topic asks you to describe a gift you bought that took you a long time to find. You should mention what the gift was, who you bought it for, where you found it, and why it was so difficult to get. To make your answer great, try to explain your feelings during the search, the effort you put into choosing the gift, and the reaction of the person who received it. Here are some ideas to help you build your own answer:

1. A rare book:
I once searched for an old poetry book for my father because he loves literature. It took me weeks of visiting second-hand bookstores before I finally found it. He was overjoyed when he received it because it reminded him of his youth.

2. A handmade necklace:
I wanted to buy a unique handmade necklace for my sister’s birthday. I went to several craft fairs and online stores until I found one that matched her taste. She was so happy because it showed how much effort I put into choosing it.

3. A signed football jersey:
For my best friend, I looked for a signed jersey of his favourite football player. It was very hard to find, and I had to wait for weeks until I got one from an online auction. He was speechless when he opened it and wore it with pride.

4. A customised photo album:
I decided to make a customised photo album for my parents’ anniversary. It took me a long time to collect and print all the old photos and arrange them beautifully. They felt deeply touched and emotional when they received it.

5. A vintage watch:
I searched for a vintage wristwatch for my grandfather, something similar to what he used to wear in his younger days. It was not easy to find, but after weeks of searching antique shops, I finally bought one. He looked so proud wearing it again.

6. A limited-edition handbag:
I wanted to surprise my mother with a limited-edition handbag she always admired. It was sold out almost everywhere, and I had to wait months before getting it. She was extremely happy and said it was the best gift she had received.

7. A musical instrument:
I once searched for a particular type of guitar for my cousin, who is passionate about music. Finding the right model took me several months. When I finally gave it to him, he couldn’t stop smiling and immediately started playing it.

8. A piece of artwork:
I wanted to gift my friend a painting from her favourite local artist. It was hard to get because the artist’s work is very popular, and most pieces were already sold. She was thrilled when she saw it and hung it in her living room right away.

9. A perfume brand:
I searched for a perfume that my sister loved but was no longer available in local shops. After a long search online, I finally managed to get one delivered. She was very surprised and thankful because it brought back many memories.

10. A customised cake design:
For my brother’s graduation, I wanted a cake designed with his favourite cartoon character. It took a lot of time to find the right bakery that could do it. When he saw it, he was extremely excited and even refused to cut it at first.

11. A traditional dress:
I once looked for a traditional dress for my cousin to wear at her wedding. Finding the right colour, design, and size took me a long time. She felt beautiful and grateful when she wore it on her special day.

Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:

When describing a gift that took a long time to find, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey what the gift was, who it was for, why the search was difficult, and how the recipient felt. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the effort, the emotional value of the gift, and the sense of accomplishment you felt upon finding it, making your response both personal and compelling. Here are some relevant words and phrases:

Meticulous search: – A very careful and precise search for something.
Example: Finding the perfect gift required a meticulous search online and in various stores.

Time-consuming: – Taking a great deal of time.
Example: The process was very time-consuming, but the effort was worth it in the end.

Quest: – A long or arduous search for something.
Example: My quest for this rare item took me to many different shops and markets.

Elusive: – Difficult to find, catch, or achieve.
Example: The gift was elusive, and I almost gave up trying to find it.

Sentimental value: – The value of an object to a person because of its associations with a person or a memory.
Example: I wanted to find a gift with great sentimental value rather than an expensive one.

Unique: – Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.
Example: I was looking for a gift that was truly unique and special to the person.

Personalised: – Designed or made to meet the specific requirements of an individual.
Example: I wanted to give a personalised gift that showed I had put thought into it.

Labour of love: – A task done not for reward but because one enjoys doing it.
Example: The whole search and purchase was a labour of love that I was happy to undertake.

Obstacles: – A thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress.
Example: I faced many obstacles in my search, including a very limited supply.

Triumph: – A great victory or achievement.
Example: Finding the gift felt like a huge triumph after so many failed attempts.

Appreciation: – The recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something.
Example: The look of appreciation on her face made all the hard work worth it.

Overjoyed: – Extremely happy.
Example: He was overjoyed when he received the gift, and it was so heartwarming to see.

Priceless: – So valuable that its price cannot be determined.
Example: Their reaction was priceless; they were completely speechless.

Heartfelt: – (Of a feeling or statement) deeply and sincerely felt.
Example: It was a heartfelt gift, and I think they understood the effort that went into it.

Indispensable: – Absolutely necessary.
Example: I wanted to find an indispensable item that would be very useful to them.

One-of-a-kind: – Unique.
Example: The gift was truly one-of-a-kind and impossible to find anywhere else.

If you prepare for the topic "Describe a gift you bought that took you a long time to find", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:

1) Describe a gift you recently gave to someone.
2) Describe a present or gift that someone gave you that you really liked.
3) Describe the best gift/ present you have ever received.
4) Describe a time when someone gave you something that you really wanted.
5) Describe a time when you received an unexpected gift.
6) Describe a handmade gift you gave to someone.
7) Describe a gift you would like to buy for your friend.
8) Describe something expensive you have purchased recently.
 

• IELTS Cue Card
• IELTS Speaking
• Candidate Task Card
• Speaking Part 2
• Speaking Sample

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