IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe an old friend you have lost touch with and got in touch with again

Describe an old friend you have lost touch with and got in touch with again

Suggested Ideas for Each Part

• Who he/she is: 👩‍🎓 A childhood friend / 🏫 A high school classmate / 🧑‍💻 A former colleague
• How you knew each other: 🏀 Used to play sports together / 📖 Studied in the same class / 🎤 Joined the same club
• Why you lost contact: 🚶‍♂️ Moved to different cities / 📅 Got busy with work and studies / 😞 Had a misunderstanding
• How you got in contact again: 📱 Found each other on social media / 🎉 Met by chance at an event / 📞 A mutual friend reconnected us
• How you felt after getting in contact again: 😊 Excited / 😍 Nostalgic / 🥹 Grateful

Useful Grammar Structures

1. Past simple: We were very close friends when we were in high school.
2. Past perfect: We had lost contact for almost 10 years before we finally reconnected.
3. Used to + verb: We used to spend hours talking about our dreams.
4. Present perfect: We have stayed in touch ever since we reconnected.
5. Third conditional: If I hadn’t checked my messages that day, I wouldn’t have reconnected with her.

Collocations

1. Long-lost friend 🕰️ (người bạn đã lâu không gặp)
2. Drift apart 🚶 (trở nên xa cách dần)
3. Lose touch 📉 (mất liên lạc)
4. Catch up on old times 🎞️ (ôn lại kỷ niệm cũ)
5. Take a trip down memory lane 🛤️ (hồi tưởng về quá khứ)
6. Cherish the friendship ❤️ (trân trọng tình bạn)
7. Social media reconnection 📱 (tái kết nối qua mạng xã hội)

Full Spoken Sample (about 2 minutes)

I’d like to talk about a long-lost friend 🕰️ whom I recently reconnected with after many years. His name is Minh, and we used to be best friends in high school. We used to do everything together—studying, playing basketball, and even going on school trips. We were practically inseparable!

However, after graduation, life took us in different directions. I moved to another city for university, while Minh went abroad to study. We promised to keep in touch, but as time went by, we drifted apart 🚶. With our busy schedules and different time zones, we gradually lost touch 📉. I always wondered how he was doing, but I never really made the effort to reach out.

Then, just a few months ago, something incredible happened! While scrolling through Facebook, I saw a post from Minh, and I couldn’t believe my eyes! He had moved back to Vietnam and was living in the same city as me. Without hesitation, I sent him a message, and he replied almost instantly. We decided to meet up at a café the following weekend.

When we finally met, it was like taking a trip down memory lane 🛤️. We talked for hours, catching up on old times 🎞️, laughing about silly things we did in school, and sharing stories about our lives. It felt as if no time had passed at all. The best part was realizing that, even after all these years, we still had so much in common.

After reconnecting, I felt truly grateful. It made me realize how important it is to cherish the friendship ❤️ and make an effort to stay in touch. Since then, we have stayed in contact, and we even meet up regularly. If I hadn’t checked my Facebook that day, I wouldn’t have had the chance to reconnect with such a great friend!

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. Is it better to have a lot of friends than just a few friends?

Ideas

• 🎉 Many friends = More social connections, fun events
• 🤝 Few close friends = Deeper and more meaningful relationships
• 💡 Quality over quantity is important

Collocations

1. A wide social circle 🌎 (mạng lưới quan hệ rộng rãi)
2. A handful of true friends 🤗 (một nhóm bạn thân thiết)
3. Strong emotional bond 💕 (mối liên kết tình cảm mạnh mẽ)

Sample Answer

It depends on the person. Some people enjoy having a wide social circle 🌎 because it gives them more opportunities to network and attend social events. However, I personally believe that having a handful of true friends 🤗 is more valuable. Close friends create a strong emotional bond 💕 and are always there when you need support. In the end, quality matters more than quantity.

2. Why do old friends lose touch with each other?

Ideas

• 🏙️ Moving to different places
• ⏳ Busy schedules
• 😞 Misunderstandings or conflicts

Collocations

1. Drift apart over time ⏳ (xa cách theo thời gian)
2. Life gets in the way 🔄 (cuộc sống bận rộn cản trở)
3. Lack of communication 📵 (thiếu giao tiếp)

Sample Answer

There are many reasons why old friends drift apart over time ⏳. One of the main reasons is distance—when people move to different cities or countries, it becomes harder to stay in touch. Also, as we grow older, life gets in the way 🔄 with work, family, and responsibilities. Sometimes, friendships fade simply because of a lack of communication 📵, where neither side makes the effort to stay connected.

3. Why do people need to make new friends?

Ideas

• 🌱 New experiences and perspectives
• 💼 Networking for career opportunities
• 😊 Personal growth and happiness

Collocations

1. Expand one’s horizons 🌍 (mở rộng tầm nhìn)
2. Step out of one’s comfort zone 🚶 (bước ra khỏi vùng an toàn)
3. Build meaningful relationships 💬 (xây dựng các mối quan hệ có ý nghĩa)

Sample Answer

Making new friends is important because it helps people expand their horizons 🌍 and learn from different perspectives. Also, in professional life, having good connections can open up job opportunities. Additionally, meeting new people encourages us to step out of our comfort zone 🚶 and build confidence. More importantly, friendships add joy to our lives and allow us to build meaningful relationships 💬.

4. Would having just a few friends limit your horizons?

Ideas

• ✅ Few close friends = Deeper connections, emotional support
• ❌ Fewer opportunities to meet new people and experience different perspectives
• ⚖️ Balance is key—quality friendships but also networking

Collocations

1. Broaden one’s horizons 🌍 (mở rộng tầm nhìn)
2. Step out of one’s comfort zone 🚶 (bước ra khỏi vùng an toàn)
3. Expose oneself to diverse perspectives 👀 (tiếp cận nhiều quan điểm khác nhau)
4. A close-knit group of friends 🤗 (một nhóm bạn thân thiết)

Useful Grammar

• Conditional Sentences: If you only had a small group of friends, you might not be exposed to new perspectives.
• Comparative Structures: Having a few close friends is better than having many shallow connections.
• Passive Voice: People are often encouraged to expand their social circle.

Sample Answer

I think it depends on the situation. Having a close-knit group of friends 🤗 can be great because these friendships are usually deeper and more supportive. However, if we only stick to a small circle, it might limit our opportunities to broaden our horizons 🌍 and meet people from different backgrounds. By socializing more, we can expose ourselves to diverse perspectives 👀 and step out of our comfort zone 🚶. Personally, I prefer a balance—I value my close friendships, but I also enjoy meeting new people to keep life interesting.

5. Do you think you are good at maintaining good relationships with others?

Ideas

• 😊 Yes: I always stay in touch, check in on my friends, and communicate well
• 📱 Technology helps: Social media, video calls
• ⏳ No: Busy schedules, distance, and different priorities

Collocations

1. Maintain long-lasting friendships 💕 (duy trì tình bạn lâu dài)
2. Put effort into relationships 💪 (nỗ lực để giữ mối quan hệ)
3. Keep in touch 📞 (giữ liên lạc)
4. Drift apart 🚶 (trở nên xa cách dần)

Useful Grammar

• Present Perfect: I have always tried to maintain good relationships with my friends.
• Gerund (as subject): Keeping in touch with friends requires effort and commitment.
• Used to + verb: I used to be better at maintaining relationships, but now life is busier.

Sample Answer

I would say I try my best to maintain long-lasting friendships 💕. I believe that friendship requires effort, so I always try to keep in touch 📞 with my old friends, even if we live in different cities. I often send messages, make calls, or even arrange meetups when possible. However, I must admit that as we grow older, it becomes harder because of work and personal commitments. Some friendships drift apart 🚶 naturally, but I always try to put in effort to stay connected with the people who matter to me.

6. Why do we have to give up some old friends?

Ideas

• 😞 People change over time, and sometimes friendships no longer align
• 🚫 Toxic friendships: Negative influence, lack of respect
• ⏳ Distance and lack of effort can naturally lead to drifting apart

Collocations

1. Outgrow a friendship 🚶 (không còn phù hợp với tình bạn cũ nữa)
2. A toxic relationship 🚫 (mối quan hệ độc hại)
3. Drift apart naturally ⏳ (tự nhiên xa cách dần)
4. Mutual understanding 🤝 (sự thấu hiểu lẫn nhau)

Useful Grammar

• Past Perfect: I had been close to my old friend for years, but we eventually grew apart.
• Modal Verbs (Should/Must): Sometimes, we must let go of negative relationships for our own well-being.
• Relative Clauses: Friendships that are toxic should be left behind.

Sample Answer

There are several reasons why people have to give up some old friends. One common reason is that we outgrow a friendship 🚶. As we mature, our values and lifestyles change, and sometimes old friendships no longer fit into our lives. Another reason is if the friendship becomes a toxic relationship 🚫, where there is a lack of respect, support, or mutual understanding. Lastly, some friendships drift apart naturally ⏳ over time, especially when people move away or get caught up in their own lives. Although it’s sad, I believe it’s a normal part of life, and letting go of certain friendships can sometimes be necessary for personal growth.