Describe a time when you learned something new from a friend

The cue card

Describe a time when you learned something new from a friend. You should say:

• who the friend was
• what you learned
• how they taught you
• and explain how useful it was

You have 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1 to 2 minutes.

🎙 Practise this card with the examiner

Notes you could make in 1 minute

Write key words only, one line per bullet point:

• friend Anh, budgeting
• after I moved out
• spreadsheet, rules
• saved for a car

Band 7+ sample answer

I'd like to talk about the time my friend Anh taught me how to manage my money properly. We've been friends since university, and she's always been very organised, whereas I used to be terrible with money.

It was about two years ago, just after I moved out of my parents' house and started renting with a flatmate. Every month I'd get to the last week and realise I had almost nothing left, and I genuinely didn't know where the money had gone.

One evening I complained about this to Anh, and she offered to help. She came over the following weekend with her laptop and showed me the simple budgeting system she uses. First, we went through three months of my bank statements and put everything into categories, which was a real eye-opener. I was spending a ridiculous amount on takeaway food and subscriptions I'd forgotten about. Then she showed me how to set up a basic spreadsheet and gave me a couple of simple rules, like moving a fixed amount into a savings account on payday before spending anything else.

It's been incredibly useful. Within a year I'd saved enough for a deposit on a small car, which I'd never have managed before. More importantly, I feel much less stressed about money, because I actually know where it's going. I've tried to return the favour since then by helping her with her English job applications, so I think we both benefited.

🔊 Listen to the sample answer

About 243 words, or roughly 2 minutes at a natural speaking pace.

Useful vocabulary for this topic

• to get my finances in order
• to keep track of spending
• to live within my means
• it was an eye-opener
• to put money aside
• it's paid off

Why this answer works: it covers every bullet point, tells a short story with specific details (names, places, numbers), uses a range of tenses, and finishes with the "explain" point, which is where you show your best vocabulary.

Follow-up and Part 3 questions

Examiner's follow-up (Part 2): Have you taught them anything in return?

Part 3 discussion questions:

• Is it easier to learn from friends or from teachers?
• What can older people learn from younger people?
• Why is it important to keep learning as an adult?
• Should employers pay for staff training?

Answer Part 3 questions in 3–4 sentences: your view, a reason, an example, and the other side.

More cue cards

• Describe a website or app you use often
• Describe a person who has inspired you
• All 30 IELTS cue cards