IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a Gift You Would Like to Buy for Your Friend 🎁✨

Describe a Gift You Would Like to Buy for Your Friend 🎁✨

Suggested Ideas for Each Part

• When it happened ⏳

  • On my best friend’s birthday last year 🎂
  • Before my friend moved abroad ✈️
  • During a special occasion like graduation 🎓

• What gift it was 🎁

  • A personalized photo album full of our memories 📸
  • A smartwatch to help with fitness goals ⌚
  • A book by their favorite author 📖

• Who you gave it to 👤

  • My childhood best friend 👫
  • A close colleague who supported me at work 🤝
  • My cousin, who is like a sister to me 💕

• Why you chose that gift 🎀

  • It had sentimental value and showed our friendship ❤️
  • It was something they had been wanting for a long time ⏳
  • It was useful and meaningful for their future 🚀

Useful Grammar Structures

1. Past Simple & Past Continuous for storytelling

   • I was browsing through a shopping mall when I came across the perfect gift.
   • Last year, my friend turned 25, so I decided to buy something special for her.

2. Relative Clauses for additional details

   • The book, which was written by their favorite author, was the perfect gift.

3. Conditionals for reflection

   • If I had more money, I would have bought something even more special.

4. Comparatives for describing gift choices

   • A smartwatch is more practical than a regular watch.

Collocations & Vietnamese Translations

1. A thoughtful gift 🎁 (món quà chu đáo)
2. A sentimental value 💖 (giá trị tinh thần)
3. Go the extra mile 🏃 (cố gắng hết sức để làm điều gì đó tốt hơn)
4. Make someone’s day 😊 (khiến ai đó vui cả ngày)
5. A token of appreciation 🎖️ (món quà thể hiện sự trân trọng)
6. Wrap up nicely 🎀 (gói quà đẹp đẽ)
7. A memorable present 🎊 (món quà đáng nhớ)

Full Sample Answer (2 Minutes)

One of the most special gifts I have ever bought for a friend was a personalized photo album full of our memories together. It was for my best friend’s birthday last year, and I wanted to give her something that had sentimental value 💖 rather than just something expensive.

I remember I was browsing through an online gift shop when I came across the idea of a custom-made photo album. Since we had been friends for over 10 years, we had countless pictures together from school trips, birthdays, and late-night study sessions. I carefully selected the best moments and added little notes to each picture. To make it even more special, I included a heartfelt letter at the end of the album, expressing my gratitude for our friendship.

When I finally gave her the album, she was so surprised and even teared up a little. She told me it was one of the most meaningful gifts she had ever received. Seeing her reaction truly made my day 😊 and reminded me that gifts don’t have to be expensive to be valuable. If I had chosen something like jewelry, it wouldn’t have been as personal and touching. This experience taught me that the best gifts are the ones that come from the heart.

Part 3: Discussion Questions & Sample Answers

1. When do people normally send gifts to others? 🎉🎁

Ideas

• On special occasions like birthdays, weddings, and graduations
• During festivals such as Tết or Christmas
• As a way to show appreciation or apologize

Collocations

1. A heartfelt gesture ❤️ (hành động chân thành)
2. Mark a special occasion 📅 (đánh dấu một dịp đặc biệt)
3. A token of gratitude 🙏 (một món quà thể hiện lòng biết ơn)

Sample Answer

People usually send gifts on special occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, or graduations, to mark a special occasion 📅. In Vietnam, it is also common to exchange gifts during traditional festivals like Tết as a heartfelt gesture ❤️ of respect and good wishes. Sometimes, people give gifts to express appreciation or even as a token of gratitude 🙏 when someone has helped them.

2. Do people give gifts or red packets on traditional festivals? 🧧🎁

Ideas

• Red packets (lì xì) are given during Lunar New Year, mainly to children
• Gifts like food baskets or tea sets are exchanged among families and colleagues
• Red packets symbolize good luck, while gifts show thoughtfulness

Collocations

1. Symbolize prosperity and good fortune 🍀 (tượng trưng cho sự thịnh vượng và may mắn)
2. A long-standing tradition 🏮 (một truyền thống lâu đời)
3. A meaningful token 🎗️ (một món quà mang ý nghĩa đặc biệt)

Sample Answer

In Vietnam, people usually give red packets, or lì xì, during Tết as a way to symbolize prosperity and good fortune 🍀, especially to children and elderly family members. However, gifts are also popular, especially among colleagues and business partners. Giving tea sets, fruit baskets, or local delicacies is a long-standing tradition 🏮 that shows respect and good wishes. Whether it’s money or a gift, the most important thing is the thought behind it, making it a meaningful token 🎗️.

3. Is it easy to choose clothes as gifts? 👕🎀

Ideas

• Not easy because size, style, and color preferences vary
• Safer to choose accessories like scarves or watches
• Some people prefer giving gift cards instead

Collocations

1. A tricky choice 🤔 (một lựa chọn khó khăn)
2. Fit someone’s personal style 👗 (phù hợp với phong cách cá nhân của ai đó)
3. Play it safe 🎯 (chọn cách an toàn hơn)

Sample Answer

Buying clothes as gifts can be a tricky choice 🤔 because it’s hard to guess someone’s size or whether it will fit their personal style 👗. If the clothes don’t match their taste, they may never wear them. That’s why some people play it safe 🎯 by giving fashion accessories like scarves, bags, or even gift cards instead.

4. Will people feel happy when receiving an expensive gift? 💎💰

Ideas

• Expensive gifts can be appreciated but not always necessary
• Thoughtful gifts are often more meaningful than costly ones
• Some may feel awkward receiving expensive gifts

Collocations

1. A genuine expression of love/appreciation 💕 (sự thể hiện tình cảm chân thành)
2. Create unnecessary pressure 🤯 (tạo áp lực không cần thiết)
3. It’s the thought that counts 🧠 (quan trọng là tấm lòng)

Sample Answer

Receiving an expensive gift can make people happy, especially if it’s a genuine expression of love 💕. However, in some cases, it might create unnecessary pressure 🤯 on the receiver, especially if they feel obligated to return the favor. Personally, I believe it’s the thought that counts 🧠—even a small, meaningful gift can bring more joy than an expensive one.