IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a time when you received money as a gift (e.g., for your birthday or a wedding)

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card:

Describe a time when you received money as a gift (e.g., for your birthday or a wedding).

You should say:

• When it happened

• Who gave you the money

• Why he/she gave you the money
  And explain how you felt about it.

Speaking Expressions:

• To be honest… (Thành thật mà nói…)

• It came as a surprise… (Thật bất ngờ…)

• I was over the moon… (Tôi vui sướng khôn tả…)

• It meant a lot… (Nó có ý nghĩa rất lớn…)

• I’ll always remember… (Tôi sẽ luôn nhớ…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Thoughtful gesture (hành động chu đáo)

• Wedding envelope (phong bì mừng cưới)

• Birthday cash gift (tiền mừng sinh nhật)

• Rainy day fund (tiền để dành cho lúc cần)

• Make a wish come true (biến ước mơ thành hiện thực)

Sample Answer:

To be honest, I can still picture the day vividly. It was my 21st birthday, and my family threw me a small gathering at home. It came as a surprise when my grandmother handed me an elegant wedding envelope—except it wasn’t a wedding this time but a birthday cash gift. She smiled and said, “Use this to follow your dreams.” I was over the moon.

My grandmother gave me 2 million Vietnamese dong, which may not sound like a fortune, but for me, it was a thoughtful gesture packed with love. She explained that she remembered how I’d always been hesitant to spend on my art supplies. So, she wanted to help me build a little rainy day fund for materials—paints, canvases, brushes—anything I needed to make a wish come true and pursue my passion for painting.

When I opened the wedding envelope, the crisp banknotes felt like a token of trust. It meant a lot that she believed in me enough to invest in my hobby. I’ll always remember that warm afternoon, the scent of jasmine tea on the table, and her gentle words encouraging me to chase my goals.

In the weeks that followed, I used that money to buy a high‑quality watercolor set I’d had my eye on. Every stroke of my brush reminded me of her faith in me. As I painted, I felt a mixture of gratitude and motivation, determined not to let her down.

Looking back, receiving that money taught me two key lessons: the real value of a thoughtful gesture, and the importance of family support when you’re chasing a dream. Even now, whenever I stash away a few dong for my art, I think of my grandmother’s gift and how it helped spark my creative journey. She didn’t just give me cash—she gave me confidence, inspiration, and a priceless memory.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions

1. Why do people rarely use cash now?

2. When do children begin to understand the value of money?

3. Should parents reward children with money?

4. Is it important to teach children to save money?

Question 1

Speaking Expressions:

• In my view… (Theo tôi…)

• Cashless payments… (thanh toán không tiền mặt…)

• Convenience factor… (yếu tố tiện lợi…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Mobile wallets (ví điện tử)

• Contactless transactions (giao dịch chạm không tiếp xúc)

• Digital banking (ngân hàng số)

Sample Answer:
In my view, the rise of mobile wallets and contactless transactions means people hardly carry banknotes anymore. The convenience factor of tapping your phone or card beats fumbling with coins or digital banking apps makes managing money so much easier.

Question 2

Speaking Expressions:

• Generally speaking… (Nói chung…)

• They start to… (Họ bắt đầu…)

• It depends on… (Còn tùy thuộc vào…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Pocket money (tiền tiêu vặt)

• Basic budgeting (lập ngân sách cơ bản)

• Financial responsibility (trách nhiệm tài chính)

Sample Answer:
Generally speaking, children start to understand the value of money when they receive their first pocket money around age seven or eight. It depends on parental guidance: teaching basic budgeting and financial responsibility helps them grasp that money isn’t just for spending.

Question 3

Speaking Expressions:

• I believe that… (Tôi tin rằng…)

• It can motivate… (Nó có thể khích lệ…)

• There’s a risk… (Có một rủi ro là…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Performance incentive (động lực dựa trên thành tích)

• Conditional rewards (phần thưởng có điều kiện)

• Entitlement mindset (tư duy hưởng thụ)

Sample Answer:
I believe that giving conditional rewards like money for chores can act as a performance incentive. However, there’s a risk of fostering an entitlement mindset if children expect cash for every task instead of learning intrinsic values.

Question 4

Speaking Expressions:

• Absolutely… (Chắc chắn rồi…)

• It lays the foundation… (Nó đặt nền móng…)

• Long-term benefits… (lợi ích lâu dài…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Savings habit (thói quen tiết kiệm)

• Interest earning (kiếm lãi)

• Financial literacy (hiểu biết tài chính)

Sample Answer:
Absolutely, teaching kids a savings habit early on lays the foundation for good money management. When they see interest earning in a piggy bank or bank account, they learn the long-term benefits and build real financial literacy.