The IELTS Speaking Test is your opportunity to demonstrate your English speaking skills across a range of topics. An IELTS Speaking Examiner assesses your performance based on criteria such as fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. One common topic is describing a time when you made a promise to someone. This topic may appear in Part 2: The Long Turn, where you will need to speak for about 2 minutes on a given prompt. Understanding how to structure your response and what information to include can significantly impact your score.
In this article, we will delve into how to effectively answer the question, “Describe a time when you made a promise to someone,” offer a sample cue card, suggest high-scoring vocabulary, and analyze answers to each part of the test to help you prepare better.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview
In Part 1 of the Speaking Test, the examiner will ask you general questions about yourself to ease you into the conversation. Here are a few questions that might relate to promises:
- Do you often make promises to people?
- Do you think keeping promises is important?
Sample Answer for Part 1
Question: Do you often make promises to people?
Answer:
Certainly, I do. I think making promises is a vital part of building trust in relationships. However, I make sure to only promise what I can absolutely deliver. For instance, I frequently promise my friends to help them with their studies because I feel committed to supporting them in their academic endeavors.
Part 2: Long Turn
Cue Card
Describe a time when you made a promise to someone.
You should say:
- To whom you made the promise
- What the promise was
- Why you made the promise
- And explain how you felt about making this promise
Sample Answer for Part 2
Let me tell you about a significant promise I made to my younger sister last year. She was facing a particularly challenging time with her schoolwork, feeling overwhelmed and anxious about her upcoming exams. Observing her stress, I promised her that I would help her study every weekend until her exams were over.
Specifically, I vowed to dedicate at least two hours each Saturday and Sunday to go over her subjects and clarify any doubts she had. I made this promise because I knew she needed moral support and guidance, and I felt it was my responsibility to assist her in any way I could.
Fulfilling this promise required a lot of patience and dedication on my part. Sometimes, it was quite challenging to manage my time between my own commitments and helping her. Nevertheless, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and joy when I saw her gradually gaining confidence and improving her grades. Ultimately, it strengthened our bond, and I realized the significance of being dependable for someone you care about.
Sister helping younger sister study
Follow-up Questions
Examiner: How did your sister react when you made this promise?
Answer: She was extremely relieved and grateful. I could see a sense of reassurance in her eyes, and that made all my efforts worthwhile.Examiner: Do you think you will be able to keep similar promises in the future?
Answer: I believe so. The experience taught me the value of commitment and the positive impact it can have. I will strive to uphold any promises I make in the future with the same level of dedication.
Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Sample Questions and Answers
Examiner: Why is it important to keep promises?
Answer:
Keeping promises is crucial because it fosters trust and reliability in relationships. When people consistently uphold their promises, it establishes a foundation of mutual respect and dependability. Conversely, failing to keep promises can damage relationships and erode trust.
Examiner: Are there any situations where breaking a promise is acceptable?
Answer:
In some circumstances, breaking a promise may be unavoidable or even necessary. For example, if fulfilling a promise endangers someone’s well-being or if unforeseen, significant events occur, it might be justifiable to reassess the promise made. Honesty about the situation and making amends is essential in such cases.
Vocabulary and Phrases for High Scores
Important Vocabulary
Commitment (noun) /kəˈmɪtmənt/: The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause or activity.
- Example: His commitment to helping his sister study was truly remarkable.
Dependable (adjective) /dɪˈpɛndəbəl/: Capable of being trusted or relied on.
- Example: She is a very dependable person who always keeps her promises.
Moral Support (noun phrase): Assurance and encouragement given to someone.
- Example: Her promise provided much-needed moral support to her anxious brother.
Dedication (noun) /ˌdɛdɪˈkeɪʃən/: Complete and wholehearted devotion, especially to a career, ideal, etc.
- Example: The teacher’s dedication to her students is commendable.
Patience (noun) /ˈpeɪʃəns/: The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
- Example: His patience was evident as he consistently helped his friend with math.
Tips for Incorporating Vocabulary
Using vocabulary and phrases effectively not only demonstrates your lexical resource but also helps in achieving a higher band score. Remember to use these words naturally in context, as forced usage can disrupt the coherence of your speech.
Examiner’s Advice
Practice Regularly
Regular practice is key to excelling in the speaking test. Aim to practice speaking English daily, either with a study partner or through recording and evaluating your own responses.
Be Coherent
When speaking, ensure your ideas flow logically from one to another. Using connectors and transition phrases can greatly enhance the coherence of your response.
Stay Calm and Confident
Confidence plays a crucial role in your speaking performance. Even if you stumble over a word or phrase, take a deep breath, and continue speaking. It’s normal to make minor errors, and how you recover from them can demonstrate your fluency and coherence.
Conclusion
Describing a time when you made a promise to someone is a common task in the IELTS Speaking Test. Being prepared with structured responses, using relevant vocabulary, and understanding the key points assessed by examiners can significantly boost your score. Practice consistently, focus on clarity, and maintain confidence to excel in your IELTS speaking endeavors.