# Describe a time someone apologised to you: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Experiences

Describe a time someone apologised to you.

You should say:
- who apologised to you
- when and where it happened
- why they apologised
- and explain how you felt about the apology

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

## Band 7 sample

I'd like to talk about a time when my close friend Maya apologised to me, which was about two years ago.

We've been friends since we were at primary school, and every year we celebrate each other's birthday, usually with a dinner or a small trip. But that year, Maya completely forgot my birthday. She didn't call, she didn't send a message, nothing. I was quite hurt, because even people I'm not very close to sent me messages on social media. I didn't say anything to her, but for about a week I was a bit cold with her and I didn't reply to her messages quickly.

Then one evening she turned up at my flat without warning. She was holding a small cake with one candle on it, and she looked really embarrassed. She explained that she had just started a new job and she was working until late every night, so she totally lost track of the date. She said she was very sorry and that she understood if I was upset. What I liked was that she didn't make excuses. She admitted it was her fault and she didn't try to make it seem less important.

To be honest, I felt relieved more than anything, because I hated the awkward situation between us. I also felt a little bit guilty, because I hadn't asked her how was her new job going. In the end we sat in my kitchen, ate the whole cake and talked for hours. I think that apology actually made our friendship more stronger, because it showed me she really cares about it.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer tells a clear story with a good sense of emotion, and covers each part of the card. Vocabulary is good, with phrases like "turned up", "lost track of the date" and "make excuses", but some wording is repeated ("she didn't", "really"). Grammar is mostly accurate with a mix of tenses, though there are typical errors: "how was her new job going" (rather than "how her new job was going") and "more stronger" (rather than "stronger"). Band 8 would add more precise and idiomatic language for feelings, more varied sentence openings and a smoother rhythm.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-a-time-someone-apologised-to-you).

## 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.