Describe a piece of good news you received: cue card and sample answer

Cue card

Describe a piece of good news you received.

You should say:

what the news was
how you received it
who you shared it with

and explain why it was good news for you.

You have one minute to prepare and should speak for one to two minutes.

Try it before you read the sample. Answer this card out loud with our AI examiner and get an estimated band.

Practise with the AI examiner

Sample answer

About 250 words, or roughly two minutes of speaking.

I'd like to talk about the day I found out I'd won a scholarship to study abroad, which was probably the best news I've ever received. It happened about eighteen months ago.

I'd applied for a place on a master's programme in the Netherlands, and I'd been accepted, but there was no way my family could afford the fees. So everything depended on the scholarship, and I'd been checking my email obsessively for weeks. The message finally arrived at about six in the morning. I saw the subject line on my phone while I was still half asleep, and I remember I couldn't bring myself to open it for a minute or two, because I was so afraid it would be a rejection.

When I did read it, I had to go through it three times before it sank in. The first person I told was my mother, who was making breakfast. She burst into tears, which set me off as well. Then I called my older brother, who had helped me with my application essays, and after that I messaged my closest friends.

It was good news for obvious reasons, since it meant I could actually go. But it meant more than that. I'd been turned down for two other scholarships the previous year, and I'd begun to doubt myself. Getting this one felt like proof that the effort had been worth it. It also took a huge weight off my parents' shoulders, which mattered to me even more.

Why this works: it covers every point on the card in order, gives specific details and a short story rather than general statements, and ends by explaining the feeling or reason, which the last line of the card asks for.

Useful vocabulary

there was no way: it was completely impossible
can't bring yourself to: to be unable to make yourself do something
sink in: to be fully understood or realised
burst into tears: to suddenly start crying
be turned down: to be refused or rejected
a weight off someone's shoulders: a worry that someone no longer has

Rounding-off question

After you finish, the examiner may ask one short question, such as:

Do you like sharing good news with others?

Part 3 questions: News and the media

In Part 3, the examiner asks more abstract questions linked to the cue card topic. Give an opinion, explain why, and add an example.

Why do bad news stories get more attention than good ones?

I think it's partly human nature. We pay attention to danger because, in the past, ignoring it could be fatal, so a story about a crime or a disaster catches the eye immediately. News companies know this, and since they earn money from attention, they put those stories first. Good news is often slow and gradual, which makes it much harder to turn into a headline.

How can people check whether the news they read is true?

The simplest way is to see whether several well-known sources are reporting the same thing. If a shocking story appears on only one website, that's a warning sign. It also helps to look at who wrote it and when, because old stories are often shared again as if they were new. Finally, I'd be careful with anything that makes me angry straight away, since that's often the aim.

Now say it out loud

Reading a good answer helps, but speaking is what improves your band. This set includes this cue card, Part 1 questions on the news and social media, and a Part 3 discussion.

Start this Speaking test

This sample answer was written by TestWise Prep to show language that scores well. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas, not to memorise, because examiners mark rehearsed answers down.