Home ›IELTS Cue Cards › Clothing someone gave you
This IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card asks you to talk about clothing someone gave you, covering what the piece of clothing is; who gave it to you; when and why they gave it; and explain how you felt about it.. Below is a band 9 sample answer with tips on structuring a two-minute talk.
Describe a piece of clothing that someone gave you.
You should say:
You have one minute to prepare and may make notes. Then speak for one to two minutes; the examiner may ask one or two short follow-up questions.
I would like to talk about a hand-knitted navy blue sweater that my grandmother gave me a few winters ago. She presented it to me when I visited her during the holidays, just before I moved to another city for work. Apparently she had been knitting it secretly for almost two months, working in the evenings after everyone assumed she had gone to sleep. The sweater itself is quite simple — a classic round-neck design with a small cable pattern down the front — but the details show her care: the sleeves are exactly my length because she had quietly measured an old shirt of mine, and she used a wool blend that does not itch, because she remembered I complained about scratchy sweaters as a child. When she gave it to me, she said something I still think about: that the city would be cold in more ways than one, and she wanted me to carry something warm from home. I honestly had a lump in my throat. I have worn it every winter since, and although I now own more expensive branded jackets, none of them feels remotely as valuable. To me it is less a piece of clothing and more a wearable letter from her.
After your talk, the examiner moves to more abstract questions linked to this cue card.
Clothes sit in a sweet spot: they are practical, personal and suitable for almost any occasion. Choosing clothes for someone also signals knowledge of their taste and size, which makes the gift feel considered. In many cultures, gifting clothes at festivals also symbolises wishing the person prosperity and renewal.
Emotionally, almost always — a handmade gift contains time, which is the one thing money cannot manufacture. A bought gift can be more useful or higher quality, though. I would say handmade gifts win for close relationships, where meaning matters more than function, while bought gifts suit formal relationships better.
Many do, and I partly understand it — brands are a shortcut to identity and belonging at an age when both feel uncertain. It becomes a problem when logos replace judgement, or when families feel financial pressure. Ironically, the most confident young people I know dress well without caring about labels at all.
Band 9 model essays, letters and templates from the Writing library. Browse all 118 in the Learning Hub.
Daily articles on IELTS changes, visa rules and university admissions.
Cue cards, speaking questions and Writing Task 1 questions with band 9 sample answers, plus a free band score calculator.