# Describe a memorable event in your life: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Events

Describe a memorable event in your life.

You should say:
- what the event was
- when and where it happened
- who was with you
- and explain why it was memorable

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

The event I'd like to talk about is my university graduation, which was about a year and a half ago, in the main hall of my university in the capital city. It was a really important day for me, and also for my family, because I'm the first person in my family who get a degree.

My parents, my younger brother and my grandmother all came. My grandmother is nearly eighty and she doesn't like travelling, but she took the bus for five hours just to be there, which meant a lot to me. Some of my close friends from my course were there too, of course, with their own families.

The ceremony itself was quite formal. We all wore black gowns and those square hats, and we had to wait in a long line before walking onto the stage when they called our name. I was so nervous that I almost tripped on the steps, which my brother still makes fun of. Then the dean shook my hand and gave me my certificate, and I could hear my family cheering really loudly from the back. After the ceremony we made hundreds of photos outside and then we went to a restaurant to celebrate.

It was memorable for a few reasons. First, it was the end of four years of really hard work, and I remember feeling very proud and also relieved. Second, it was emotional to see my parents so happy, because they worked very hard so I could study. My dad isn't someone who shows his feelings, but he actually cried a bit, which I had never seen before. That's the moment I remember the most.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer is sincere and well developed, with vivid moments such as almost tripping on the steps and the father crying. Vocabulary like "meant a lot to me", "makes fun of", "relieved" and "cheering" is used appropriately. The reasons are signposted simply ("First ... Second"), and some errors persist: "the first person in my family who get a degree" (rather than "to get a degree") and the collocation "made hundreds of photos" (rather than "took"). For Band 8, the speaker would express emotions with more precise, idiomatic language and use a wider range of accurate complex structures.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-a-memorable-event-in-your-life).

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.