The cue card
Describe an interesting conversation you had.
You should say:
- who you talked to
- where and when it happened
- what you talked about
- and explain why it was interesting
Band 7 sample answer
I would like to describe a conversation I had with a tourist from Japan at a café in Samarkand last summer. I was practising my English, and he asked if he could sit at my table because it was crowded.
We started with simple topics like food and travel, but soon we were talking about differences between our countries. He told me about the way people in Japan respect silence on trains, and I explained our tradition of welcoming guests with tea and bread.
It was interesting because I learned something new about another culture, and he was also curious about mine. We talked for almost two hours and forgot about the time.
What also impressed me was how polite and open-minded he was. When I made a few grammar mistakes, he never corrected me in an unkind way; instead, he smiled and repeated the sentence correctly. That helped me relax, and I spoke more confidently as our conversation continued.
Afterwards, we exchanged contact details, and we still send each other messages. That conversation made me realise that talking with people from different backgrounds is the best way to learn.
About 190 words, roughly 1 minutes of natural speech.
Key vocabulary
- strike up a conversation — start talking to someone
- curious — wanting to know more
- cultural differences — ways cultures are not the same
- exchange details — share contact information
- engaging — holding your interest
- background — a person's origin or experience
- lose track of time — forget how long has passed
Tips for this cue card
- Say how the conversation started and where it went.
- Use reported speech simply: “He told me that…”.
- Explain what you learned.
Part 3 follow-up questions
Are people having fewer face-to-face conversations?
Idea: Yes, because of messaging and social media.
What makes someone interesting to talk to?
Idea: Curiosity, good listening and varied experiences.
Is it important to learn about other cultures?
Idea: Yes, it builds understanding and reduces prejudice.
More discussion questions with full answers: IELTS Speaking Part 3 topics.
Study guides
How Is IELTS Scored in Speaking and Writing? Criteria, Weighting and Rounding
The short answer first, then the Speaking and Writing criteria tables, how Task 1 and Task 2 combine and how the overall band is rounded.
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors Explained in Plain English
The IELTS Speaking test is marked on four criteria. Here is what each one means at bands 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, with short examples you can compare with your own answers.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: How Many Minutes to Speak (With a Practice Timer)
How long Part 2 lasts (1 minute to prepare, 1–2 minutes to speak), a practice timer, a four-step structure and a model answer.