The IELTS Speaking test often includes questions about personal experiences and relationships. One such topic that frequently appears is describing a time when you felt proud of a friend. This question allows examiners to assess your ability to narrate events, express emotions, and use appropriate vocabulary. Let’s explore how to effectively answer this question and maximize your score.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview
In Part 1, the examiner may ask general questions about friendship and pride. Here’s a sample question with a suggested answer:
Examiner: Do you often feel proud of your friends?
Band 7-8 Answer:
“Absolutely! I’m fortunate to have friends who are constantly striving to better themselves and achieve their goals. Whether it’s academic accomplishments, career advancements, or personal growth, I find myself feeling proud of my friends quite frequently. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness their successes and be part of their journey.”
Describe a time when you stood up for your beliefs can also be an opportunity to showcase your ability to articulate personal experiences and values, much like describing a proud moment of a friend.
Part 2: Long Turn
Here’s a sample cue card for this topic:
Describe a time when you felt proud of a friend
You should say:
- Who the friend is
- What they did
- Why you felt proud of them
- And explain how you expressed your prideBand 6-7 Answer:
“I’d like to talk about a time when I felt incredibly proud of my friend Sarah. Sarah has always been passionate about environmental conservation, and last year, she organized a community clean-up event in our neighborhood.
Sarah spent weeks planning the event, coordinating with local authorities, and promoting it on social media. On the day of the clean-up, over 100 volunteers showed up, which was far more than anyone expected. They collected several tons of trash from our local park and beach area.
I felt proud of Sarah because she took initiative to make a positive change in our community. Her dedication and hard work paid off, and she managed to inspire others to take action as well. It was inspiring to see her transform her passion into tangible results.
To express my pride, I publicly thanked Sarah during the event and wrote a heartfelt post on social media praising her efforts. I also helped her document the event so she could use it as a case study for future environmental projects.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“I’d be delighted to share an experience when I felt immensely proud of my friend, Alex. Alex is a software engineer who has always been passionate about using technology to address social issues. Last year, he spearheaded the development of a mobile application designed to connect food donors with local shelters and food banks.
Alex dedicated countless hours to this project, often working late into the night after his regular job. He collaborated with a diverse team of volunteers, including designers, developers, and non-profit organizations. The app’s user-friendly interface and robust backend made it easy for restaurants and individuals to donate excess food, while shelters could efficiently locate and collect these donations.
I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in Alex because he leveraged his skills to create a tangible solution to food waste and hunger in our city. His initiative not only demonstrated technical prowess but also a deep sense of social responsibility. The app’s success was a testament to his vision, perseverance, and ability to inspire others to contribute to a meaningful cause.
To express my pride, I actively promoted the app within my professional and social networks. I also nominated Alex for a local tech innovation award, which he subsequently won. This recognition not only validated his efforts but also brought more attention to the cause. Moreover, I volunteered to help expand the app’s reach, assisting with user testing and gathering feedback for future improvements.
Alex’s achievement serves as a powerful reminder of how individual initiative can spark significant positive change in our communities.”
Follow-up Questions
Examiner: How did this experience affect your friendship?
Band 6-7 Answer:
“This experience definitely strengthened our friendship. Seeing Sarah’s dedication and success made me admire her even more. We became closer as I supported her through the project, and now we often discuss other ways to contribute to our community.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“This shared experience profoundly deepened our bond. Witnessing Alex’s unwavering commitment and the tangible impact of his work fostered a new level of mutual respect and admiration in our friendship. It also sparked numerous meaningful conversations about social responsibility and the potential for technology to drive positive change, enriching our relationship with a shared sense of purpose and inspiration for future collaborations.”
Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Examiner: Do you think it’s important for friends to support each other’s achievements?
Band 6-7 Answer:
“Yes, I believe it’s crucial for friends to support each other’s achievements. It helps build stronger relationships and motivates people to pursue their goals. When friends celebrate each other’s successes, it creates a positive environment where everyone feels encouraged to grow and improve.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“Absolutely, I consider mutual support for achievements to be a cornerstone of meaningful friendships. This support serves multiple purposes: it reinforces positive behaviors, boosts confidence, and creates a reciprocal environment of encouragement. When friends genuinely celebrate each other’s successes, it fosters a culture of growth and ambition within the social circle. Moreover, this support can provide crucial emotional sustenance during challenging phases of pursuing goals, ultimately contributing to both individual and collective progress.”
Describe a time when you stood up for someone else is another topic that allows you to demonstrate your ability to discuss interpersonal relationships and support, which is similar to expressing pride in a friend’s achievements.
Examiner: In what ways can people show they are proud of their friends?
Band 6-7 Answer:
“There are several ways people can show pride in their friends. They can offer verbal praise, share their friend’s achievements on social media, or help them celebrate their success. Writing a thoughtful message or giving a small gift can also be meaningful ways to express pride.”
Band 8-9 Answer:
“People can demonstrate pride in their friends through a multifaceted approach that combines emotional support with tangible actions. Verbal affirmation is crucial, but it can be amplified by public recognition, such as sharing achievements on social media or in relevant professional circles. Active engagement in the friend’s success, like attending award ceremonies or project launches, conveys genuine investment in their accomplishments. Additionally, offering practical support – whether it’s helping to prepare for a presentation or providing constructive feedback on a project – demonstrates a deep-seated pride that goes beyond mere words. Personalized gestures, tailored to the friend’s preferences and the nature of their achievement, can add a layer of thoughtfulness that truly resonates.”
Key Vocabulary and Phrases for High Scores
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Spearhead /ˈspɪəhed/ (verb): To lead or initiate (an attack or movement).
Example: “Alex spearheaded the development of the mobile application.” -
Leverage /ˈliːvərɪdʒ/ (verb): Use (something) to maximum advantage.
Example: “He leveraged his skills to create a tangible solution.” -
Testament /ˈtestəmənt/ (noun): Something that serves as a sign or evidence of a specified fact, event, or quality.
Example: “The app’s success was a testament to his vision and perseverance.” -
Profound /prəˈfaʊnd/ (adjective): Very great or intense.
Example: “This shared experience profoundly deepened our bond.” -
Cornerstone /ˈkɔːnəstəʊn/ (noun): An important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based.
Example: “Mutual support for achievements is a cornerstone of meaningful friendships.”
Describe a community event you participated in can provide another opportunity to use these advanced vocabulary items in the context of collective achievements and social interactions.
Examiner’s Advice
To score high in the IELTS Speaking test when describing a proud moment of a friend:
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Provide specific details: Instead of general statements, give concrete examples of what your friend did and why it made you proud.
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Use a range of vocabulary: Incorporate advanced words and phrases related to achievements, emotions, and relationships.
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Demonstrate fluency: Practice speaking about this topic to ensure smooth delivery without long pauses.
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Show reflection: Discuss how this experience affected you and your friendship, demonstrating depth of thought.
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Use appropriate tenses: Ensure you use past tenses correctly when narrating the event and present tenses when discussing its ongoing impact.
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Express emotions effectively: Use varied language to describe your feelings of pride and admiration.
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Structure your answer: For Part 2, organize your response logically, addressing all points on the cue card.
Describe a project you worked on with friends is another topic where you can apply these speaking strategies, particularly in terms of providing specific details and structuring your answer effectively.
Remember, regular practice with a variety of topics will help you become more comfortable and proficient in expressing your thoughts and experiences in the IELTS Speaking test. Describe a time when you helped someone with a difficult task can be another excellent practice topic to further refine your speaking skills and expand your vocabulary related to support and accomplishments.