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This IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card asks you to talk about good news you received, covering what the news was; how you received it; who you shared it with; and explain why it was good news for you.. Below is a band 9 sample answer with tips on structuring a two-minute talk.
Describe a piece of good news you received recently.
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 describe the day I learned that my younger sister had been selected for a government scholarship for her engineering degree. The news arrived on an ordinary Tuesday evening. I was cooking dinner when she video-called me, and I could tell immediately from her face that something wonderful had happened — she was trying to speak but mostly just laughing. The scholarship covers nearly her whole tuition, which is significant for our family because my parents had been quietly worried about managing the fees for months. The first thing I did was call my parents so we could all be on the call together, and my mother actually cried with relief. Later that evening, we shared the news with my grandparents and a few close relatives, and my father ordered sweets for the neighbours, which is our family's traditional way of celebrating. It was good news on several levels. Financially, it lifted a real burden from my parents. Emotionally, it validated two years of my sister studying late into the night while her friends were out enjoying themselves. And personally, it made me incredibly proud, because I had helped her prepare for the interview, so I felt a small share in her success.
After your talk, the examiner moves to more abstract questions linked to this cue card.
Mostly instantly and digitally — a message on the family group chat, a call, or a social media post for wider circles. Interestingly, people often layer it: the closest family hears by phone within minutes, while acquaintances see a carefully written post days later. Speed has become part of intimacy.
For the people who matter most, in person or at least by call, because their reaction is half the joy — you cannot hug someone through a status update. Online sharing is efficient for reaching many people, but it turns a moment of connection into an announcement.
Some fear jealousy, which is a real cultural concern in many places. Others feel that announcing plans invites pressure — if the good news later reverses, they must explain publicly. And a few simply believe achievements feel more genuine when they are enjoyed quietly rather than performed.
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