IELTS Speaking Test, Part 2 question with model answer (Describe an interesting conversation you had with a stranger)

Here is a high-scoring Speaking Test Part 2 model answer for the cue card that was shared by a student from Nigeria. The answer shows a good way to respond to this question. You can find the answers in the other parts here: Part 1, Part 3.

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Start listening to Part 2 from time mark 02:34

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Speaking test

Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe an interesting conversation you had with a stranger. You should say

– who the stranger is
– when and where you met
– and explain what you talked about.

Answer

Let’s see… I recently had an interesting conversation with a stranger I met while out shopping one day. He was an older gentleman, probably in his mid-seventies, wearing a blue plaid shirt and brown slacks. We met at the store’s checkout. He came for some gardening supplies, and I was getting some groceries for dinner.

While waiting in the line, we started talking about the weather, and how it had been unusually warm for this time of year. Then we discussed our hobbies. He was an avid gardener and loved tending to his flowerbeds, and I told him that I prefer to read books or watch documentaries on TV in my free time.

He then asked me what I did for work, so we talked about my job as a teacher at the local elementary school. He shared that he used to be a principal before he retired, and mentioned how much he enjoyed seeing all of his students learn and grow over the years. We talked about the challenges schools were currently facing with budget cuts, reduced staffing levels, and inadequate resources for students.

Eventually, our conversation shifted back towards our hobbies and interests. It turns out that he also liked reading books, but preferred biographies of famous people over fiction stories. We swapped recommendations of authors we liked, which then led to an interesting debate about the best historical novels.

We finally said goodbye after twenty minutes or so, but it felt much longer, because it had been such an engaging conversation!

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