Receiving unexpected good news is a common topic in IELTS Speaking tests. It allows examiners to assess your ability to narrate personal experiences, express emotions, and use a range of vocabulary. This article will guide you through answering questions related to this topic, providing sample answers and valuable tips to help you achieve a high score in your IELTS Speaking test.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview
In this section, the examiner may ask you general questions about good news and surprises. Here are some potential questions and sample answers:
Q: Do you like receiving surprises?
Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, I do enjoy surprises. They often bring excitement to my life and make me feel special. It’s always nice when someone puts effort into surprising you.
Band 8-9 Answer:
Absolutely! I’m quite fond of surprises. They tend to inject a sense of spontaneity into my routine and often leave me feeling genuinely appreciated. There’s something truly heartwarming about knowing someone has gone out of their way to create a special moment for you.
Q: What kind of news do you usually share with others?
Band 6-7 Answer:
I usually share positive news with others, like getting good grades or finding a new job. I think it’s important to spread happiness and celebrate achievements with friends and family.
Band 8-9 Answer:
I tend to share a diverse range of news, but I particularly enjoy conveying positive developments in my personal and professional life. This could encompass anything from academic accomplishments to career milestones. I believe in the power of shared joy and find that celebrating successes with loved ones enhances the experience and strengthens our bonds.
IELTS Speaking Test
Part 2: Long Turn
In this section, you’ll be given a cue card with a topic and some bullet points. You’ll have one minute to prepare and then speak for 1-2 minutes. Here’s a sample cue card related to unexpected good news:
Cue Card
Describe a time when you received good news unexpectedly.
You should say:
- What the news was
- When and where you received it
- Who gave you the news
- And explain why it was unexpected and how you felt about it
Sample Answer (Band 6-7)
I’d like to talk about a time when I unexpectedly received good news. It was about getting accepted to my dream university.
I received this news on a Tuesday afternoon in July, while I was at home. I was just relaxing in my room when my phone buzzed with an email notification.
The news came directly from the university’s admissions office. They sent an official email congratulating me on my acceptance into their Computer Science program.
It was unexpected because I had applied to this university as a reach school. Their program is highly competitive, and I wasn’t sure if my grades and extracurricular activities were strong enough. I had almost given up hope of getting in.
When I saw the email, I felt a rush of excitement and disbelief. I had to read it several times to make sure I wasn’t misunderstanding. I felt incredibly happy and proud of myself for achieving this goal. It was a life-changing moment that I’ll never forget.
Sample Answer (Band 8-9)
I’d like to recount an instance when I was pleasantly surprised by some unexpected good news. The news in question was my acceptance into my aspired university’s prestigious Computer Science program.
This momentous information reached me on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday afternoon in July. I was idly browsing my phone in the comfort of my bedroom when a notification heralding an email from the university’s admissions office caught my attention.
The message was a formal communiqué from the admissions committee, extending their congratulations on my successful application and welcoming me to their esteemed institution.
The serendipitous nature of this news stemmed from my perception of this university as a long shot. Given the program’s notoriously competitive nature and my self-assessed modest academic profile, I had relegated my application to the realm of wishful thinking.
Upon comprehending the email’s content, I was overwhelmed by a maelstrom of emotions. Disbelief quickly gave way to euphoria as the reality of my achievement sank in. This watershed moment not only validated my hard work but also opened up a world of possibilities for my future. The experience was nothing short of exhilarating, leaving an indelible mark on my memory.
Follow-up Questions
- How do you usually celebrate good news?
Band 6-7 Answer:
I typically celebrate good news by sharing it with my close friends and family. We might go out for a nice meal or have a small gathering at home. It’s important to me to mark these positive moments in life.
Band 8-9 Answer:
My approach to commemorating positive developments typically involves a two-pronged celebration. Firstly, I make it a point to share the news with my inner circle, often organizing an intimate gathering or a special outing. Secondly, I like to engage in some form of personal reflection, perhaps through journaling or a quiet moment of gratitude. This allows me to fully appreciate the significance of the event and contextualize it within my broader life journey.
- Do you think it’s important to share good news with others?
Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, I believe it’s important to share good news. It helps strengthen relationships and allows others to be happy for you. Sharing good news can also inspire and motivate others to achieve their goals.
Band 8-9 Answer:
Absolutely, I consider the act of sharing good news to be paramount in fostering strong interpersonal connections. It serves multiple purposes: it allows us to bask in collective joy, reinforces social bonds, and often provides a morale boost to those around us. Moreover, sharing our successes can serve as a catalyst, inspiring others to persevere in their own pursuits. It creates a positive feedback loop within our social circles, promoting an atmosphere of mutual support and encouragement.
Part 3: Two-way Discussion
In this section, the examiner will ask you more abstract questions related to the topic. Here are some sample questions and answers:
Q: How do you think social media has changed the way people share news?
Band 6-7 Answer:
Social media has greatly impacted how we share news. It’s made it much faster and easier to spread information. People can now instantly update their friends and family about important events in their lives. However, this can sometimes lead to oversharing or the spread of fake news.
Band 8-9 Answer:
Social media has fundamentally transformed the landscape of news sharing. It has democratized the process, allowing individuals to become news broadcasters in their own right. This shift has led to an unprecedented speed and breadth of information dissemination. While this has its advantages, such as rapid communication during emergencies, it also presents challenges. The viral nature of social media can sometimes lead to the unchecked propagation of misinformation or the trivializing of significant events through excessive sharing. Moreover, the curated nature of social media posts can create unrealistic expectations and social pressure, potentially impacting mental health.
Q: Do you think people receive more good news or bad news in general?
Band 6-7 Answer:
I think people generally receive a mix of good and bad news, but we tend to remember the bad news more. This might be because negative events often have a stronger emotional impact. However, I believe there’s probably more good news in our daily lives than we realize, we just don’t always recognize or appreciate it.
Band 8-9 Answer:
This is a nuanced question that requires careful consideration. While the balance of positive and negative news varies for each individual, I believe there’s a psychological tendency to give more weight to negative information. This negativity bias is well-documented in cognitive psychology and may lead us to perceive a higher prevalence of bad news. However, objectively speaking, our lives are often peppered with numerous small positive occurrences that we may overlook or take for granted. The challenge lies in cultivating mindfulness and appreciation for these everyday positive events, which could significantly shift our perception of the good-to-bad news ratio in our lives.
Social Media News Sharing
Key Vocabulary and Phrases for High Scores
Serendipitous /ˌserənˈdɪpɪtəs/ (adj): Occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Example: The serendipitous discovery of penicillin revolutionized medicine.Elated /iˈleɪtɪd/ (adj): Extremely happy and excited.
Example: I was elated when I heard the good news about my promotion.To come out of the blue (idiom): To happen unexpectedly.
Example: The job offer came out of the blue, as I hadn’t even applied for the position.Over the moon (idiom): Extremely happy or delighted.
Example: She was over the moon when she found out she had won the competition.To take something in stride (idiom): To deal with something difficult in a calm way.
Example: Despite the unexpected nature of the news, he took it in stride and remained composed.Watershed moment (noun phrase): A critical turning point.
Example: Receiving that scholarship was a watershed moment in my academic career.To be on cloud nine (idiom): To be extremely happy.
Example: After hearing the good news, I was on cloud nine for days.To catch someone off guard (idiom): To surprise someone.
Example: The unexpected promotion caught me off guard, but I was thrilled.
Examiner’s Advice
To achieve a high score in the IELTS Speaking test, particularly when discussing unexpected good news:
Use a range of vocabulary: Incorporate advanced words and phrases related to emotions and surprises.
Provide detailed responses: Elaborate on your answers, giving specific examples and explanations.
Show fluency: Practice speaking smoothly without long pauses or hesitations.
Demonstrate grammatical range: Use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences.
Be coherent: Organize your thoughts logically and use appropriate linking words.
Express opinions: In Part 3, provide thoughtful answers that show your ability to analyze and evaluate ideas.
Practice regularly: Familiarize yourself with common IELTS topics and practice speaking about them.
Remember, the key to success in the IELTS Speaking test is not just about what you say, but how you say it. Confidence, clarity, and the ability to express yourself naturally in English are crucial factors in achieving a high score.
By following these guidelines and incorporating the sample answers and vocabulary provided, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle questions about unexpected good news in your IELTS Speaking test. Good luck with your preparation!
For more IELTS speaking practice, you might find it helpful to review how to describe a time you had to change your plans in IELTS speaking, as unexpected good news might sometimes lead to such changes.