Speaking IELTS - Part 2 & 3 (Model notes)

PART 2

Describe an occasion when you bought a special gift or present for someone.

You should say:

• What you bought [Describe the gift – size, color, price, use]
• Where you bought it from [Shop]
• Why you chose that present [Person likes that item, reasonable price, fashionable]
• And explain how you felt when you gave the present to the other person [Happy to see their reaction, satisfied that choice was good]

PART 3

GIVING PRESENTS

When do people give presents in your culture? [Birthdays, graduation, New Year, weddings, Christmas etc.]

What kind of presents do you think adults should give children? [Small gifts, age appropriate, safe]

Is it ever acceptable to give money as a present? [At weddings, Chinese New Year, when a person needs money, when you don’t know what to get someone]

RECEIVING PRESENTS

What are some ways people show gratitude when they receive a present?

[Say 'thank you', invite you for a meal, give you something in return]

Is there anything people should avoid doing or saying when they receive a present in your country?

[It’s not polite to open a gift in front of someone or saying that you don’t like it]

Are there any situations where a person should not accept a gift?

[When the gift is given to bribe someone]

WHY PEOPLE GIVE AND RECEIVE PRESENTS

Would you agree or disagree with the statement that “people sometimes give expensive presents instead of spending time with a person”?

[Today people compensate for not spending enough time with a person by buying an expensive gift]

Do you agree that, when people give presents, they usually expect something in return?
[When they are celebrating an event they expect a gift in return]

Does giving and receiving presents sometimes have negative rather than positive results?

[Sometimes a person doesn’t want to accept a gift from someone especially if it is very expensive and they feel uncomfortable when it is offered to them]

Questions taken from Focusing on IELTS Academic Practice p.117