The IELTS Speaking test often includes topics related to personal experiences and relationships. One such topic that has appeared in past exams and is likely to continue being relevant is describing an old friend you’ve reconnected with. This article will guide you through answering questions on this topic effectively, helping you achieve a high score in your IELTS Speaking test.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview
In this section, the examiner may ask you some general questions about friendships and staying in touch. Here’s an example question with a suggested answer:
Question: How do you usually keep in touch with your friends?
Sample Answer (Band 7-8):
“I tend to use a variety of methods to stay connected with my friends. For close friends, I prefer face-to-face meetings whenever possible, as I believe nothing beats personal interaction. However, given our busy schedules, I often rely on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to keep up with their lives. For more immediate communication, I use messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram. Occasionally, I’ll make phone calls for longer, more meaningful conversations, especially with friends who live far away.”
Part 2: Long Turn
Here’s a sample cue card related to the topic:
Describe an old friend you reconnected with
You should say:
- Who this person is
- How you lost touch
- How you got back in contact
- And explain how you felt about reconnecting with this person
Sample Answer (Band 6-7):
“I’d like to talk about my old school friend, Sarah, whom I recently reconnected with after nearly a decade. We were inseparable during high school but lost touch after graduating when we moved to different cities for university.
We lost contact mainly due to our busy schedules and the lack of social media back then. It was before Facebook became popular, so keeping in touch required more effort.
Interestingly, we got back in contact through a mutual friend who organized a high school reunion. Seeing Sarah’s name on the guest list sparked my curiosity, and I reached out to her via email before the event.
Reconnecting with Sarah was a mix of emotions. I felt excited to catch up on her life but also a bit nervous about how much we might have changed. However, when we finally met at the reunion, it was as if no time had passed. We immediately fell back into our old rapport, laughing and reminiscing about our school days.
Overall, I felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity to rekindle our friendship. It made me realize the value of maintaining connections with people who were once an important part of our lives.”
Sample Answer (Band 8-9):
“I’d like to share the story of how I reconnected with my childhood friend, Alex, after a prolonged period of separation. Alex and I were inseparable companions during our formative years, sharing countless adventures and creating indelible memories.
Our paths diverged dramatically after high school when we pursued higher education in different countries. The geographical distance, coupled with the demands of our respective academic pursuits, led to an unintentional but gradual loss of communication.
The serendipitous nature of our reconnection is quite remarkable. I stumbled upon Alex’s professional profile on LinkedIn while researching potential collaborators for a work project. The wave of nostalgia that washed over me upon seeing his name was overwhelming, prompting me to send an immediate connection request.
The experience of reconnecting with Alex was nothing short of exhilarating. There was an initial trepidation about potential changes in our personalities or life perspectives. However, our first video call dispelled any such concerns. We seamlessly picked up where we left off, our conversation flowing effortlessly as if the intervening years had never existed.
This reunion has been profoundly enlightening and emotionally rewarding. It’s served as a poignant reminder of the enduring nature of true friendships and the importance of nurturing these relationships, regardless of time or distance. Moreover, it’s sparked a renewed appreciation for the shared experiences that shape our identities and the joy of rediscovering a part of oneself through reconnection with old friends.”
Follow-up questions:
- How has your friendship changed since reconnecting?
- Do you think it’s important to maintain old friendships? Why or why not?
Sample Answers (Band 8-9):
- “Since reconnecting, our friendship has evolved in fascinating ways. While we still share the foundation of our shared childhood experiences, we’ve also developed a new dimension to our relationship based on our adult lives and experiences. We now have more mature conversations about our careers, relationships, and life goals. Interestingly, we’ve found that our different life paths have given us complementary perspectives, allowing us to offer each other unique insights and advice. This blend of old familiarity and new depth has made our friendship even more enriching and valuable.”
- “I firmly believe in the importance of maintaining old friendships. These relationships are invaluable repositories of shared history and often form a significant part of our personal identity. Old friends have a unique ability to remind us of our roots and how far we’ve come, providing a sense of continuity in our ever-changing lives. Moreover, these long-standing friendships often offer a level of comfort and understanding that’s hard to replicate in newer relationships. They can serve as a support system during challenging times and a source of genuine joy during celebrations. However, it’s crucial to note that maintaining these friendships should be a mutual effort and should not come at the expense of personal growth or new experiences.”
Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Examiner: How do you think social media has changed the way people maintain friendships?
Sample Answer (Band 7-8):
“Social media has revolutionized the way we maintain friendships in several ways. Firstly, it’s made it much easier to stay connected with friends, regardless of geographical distance. We can now see updates about our friends’ lives in real-time, which helps us feel more involved even when we’re physically apart.
However, this ease of connection also has its downsides. The superficial nature of many social media interactions can sometimes lead to a false sense of closeness. We might think we’re up-to-date with a friend’s life based on their posts, but we’re often only seeing a curated version of their experiences.
Additionally, social media has changed our expectations about the frequency of communication in friendships. There’s often pressure to be constantly available and responsive, which can be overwhelming.
On the positive side, social media platforms provide tools for organizing events and meetups, making it easier to facilitate real-life interactions with friends. They also allow us to rediscover old friendships that might have otherwise been lost to time and distance.
Overall, while social media has made maintaining friendships more convenient in many ways, it’s important to recognize its limitations and ensure we’re still investing in meaningful, offline interactions with our friends.”
Sample Answer (Band 8-9):
“Social media has fundamentally transformed the landscape of friendship maintenance in the digital age. Its impact is multifaceted and warrants a nuanced examination.
On one hand, social media platforms have democratized communication, effectively obliterating geographical barriers that once posed significant challenges to long-distance friendships. The ability to share life updates, photos, and experiences in real-time has created a sense of ambient awareness among friend groups, fostering a feeling of continual connection despite physical separation.
However, this constant connectivity is a double-edged sword. While it facilitates ongoing engagement, it can also lead to a superficial depth in relationships. The curated nature of social media posts often presents an idealized version of one’s life, potentially creating unrealistic expectations or feelings of inadequacy among friends.
Moreover, the ease of digital communication has, in some cases, supplanted the effort required to maintain deeper, more meaningful connections. There’s a risk of conflating digital interaction with genuine emotional investment, potentially leading to a false sense of intimacy.
On a more positive note, social media has revolutionized the way we reconnect with old friends. Platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn have made it remarkably easy to locate and re-establish contact with individuals from our past, facilitating reunions that might otherwise never have occurred.
Additionally, these platforms have given rise to online communities centered around shared interests, allowing for the formation of new friendships based on common passions rather than geographical proximity.
In conclusion, while social media has undoubtedly made it easier to maintain a broad network of connections, it’s crucial to recognize its limitations. The challenge lies in leveraging these tools to enhance rather than replace traditional forms of friendship maintenance, ensuring that our relationships retain depth and authenticity in the digital age.”
Key Vocabulary and Phrases for High Scores
- Inseparable /ɪnˈsep.ər.ə.bəl/ (adjective): Very close and always together
Example: “We were inseparable during our school years.” - Rekindle /ˌriːˈkɪn.dəl/ (verb): Revive something that has been lost
Example: “The reunion helped us rekindle our old friendship.” - Serendipitous /ˌser.ən.ˈdɪp.ɪ.təs/ (adjective): Occurring by chance in a happy or beneficial way
Example: “Our reconnection was a serendipitous event.” - Indelible /ɪnˈdel.ɪ.bəl/ (adjective): Not able to be forgotten or removed
Example: “We created indelible memories during our childhood.” - Exhilarating /ɪɡˈzɪl.ə.reɪ.tɪŋ/ (adjective): Making one feel very happy, animated, or elated
Example: “Reconnecting with my old friend was an exhilarating experience.” - Ambient awareness /ˈæm.bi.ənt əˈweə.nəs/ (noun phrase): A sense of knowing what’s going on in other people’s lives through regular, lightweight contact online
Example: “Social media creates an ambient awareness of our friends’ daily lives.” - Curated /kjʊəˈreɪ.tɪd/ (adjective): Carefully chosen and presented
Example: “Social media often presents a curated version of people’s lives.” - Obliterate /əˈblɪt.ər.eɪt/ (verb): Destroy utterly; wipe out
Example: “Social media has obliterated many of the traditional barriers to maintaining long-distance friendships.”
Examiner’s Advice
To achieve a high score in the IELTS Speaking test, particularly when discussing topics like reconnecting with old friends, consider the following tips:
- Vocabulary: Use a wide range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions. Don’t just use basic words like “happy” or “sad” – expand your lexicon with words like “exhilarating”, “nostalgic”, or “bittersweet”.
- Grammatical Range: Demonstrate your ability to use various grammatical structures. Mix simple and complex sentences, and use a variety of tenses appropriately.
- Fluency: Practice speaking on this topic beforehand to improve your fluency. Try to speak at a natural pace without long pauses.
- Coherence: Organize your thoughts logically. Use linking words and phrases to connect your ideas smoothly.
- Elaboration: Don’t just give short, simple answers. Expand on your points with examples and explanations.
- Authenticity: While it’s good to prepare, make sure your responses sound natural and not memorized. The examiner is looking for your ability to communicate genuinely.
- Pronunciation: Work on clear pronunciation and intonation. This doesn’t mean having a perfect accent, but rather being easily understood.
Remember, the key to success in the IELTS Speaking test is practice. Regularly discuss this and other topics with friends or language partners to build your confidence and improve your skills.