IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a friend you have known for a long time

Get access to 97+ Part 2 topics given between January and November 2019. Click here. 

In this lesson, you are going to read a Part 2 topic and a sample answer to give you an idea how to organise your talk on this specific subject. 

Spend 1 minute to plan so that you stay on the subject while talking. 


Describe a friend you have known for a long time. (Heading) 

You should say: 

• how long you have known them (Point 1) 
• how you met them (Point 2) 
• what kind of person they are (Point 3) 

and say what you like doing together. (Point 4) 


Tips: 

• Make brief notes about the heading “a friend” and each of the 4 points. 
• Just write a few words to help you remember what to say on each point. 
• Your notes will help you organise your ideas and prepare your mind for speaking. 
• Speak for roughly 30 seconds on each of the 4 points you have made notes about. 
• You need to keep an eye contact with the examiner while speaking, and only occasionally look at your notes. 

Notes: 

A friend 

How long: 

• 15 years 

How we met: 

• at high school 

Personality: 

• cold and distant 

What we do together: 

• chat over a coffee 
• meet during the holidays 

​

I’d like to describe someone I used to study with. Her name is Irene. We first met at high school and that was the start of a long friendship. I met her 15 years ago after I had moved to a new school. It was a completely different environment for me and I knew no one, so I really wanted to socialise and make new friends. 

What I noticed about her was that she wasn’t interested in starting a friendship with any of our classmates. She was cold and distant, and would spend time on her own. She caught my attention from the very beginning and I was eager to learn more about her. I would actually describe myself as a friendly, easy-going person. 

In the beginning, I initiated conversations with her and our friendship started to grow slowly. I think she was friends with me and a few other people in our class. I sat next to her in most classes and we were inseparable. 

Our relationship developed into a firm friendship and we spent time together at school and hanging out after classes. We would normally chat over a coffee and see each other during the holidays. 

I guess we were on the same wavelength. Sadly, we kind of lost touch after school because we majored in different subjects and met other people, but for me she is still special. Overall, we spent our teenage years together. 

​
VOCABULARY 

• the start/end of a friendship (phrase) 
• make friends (collocation) - make someone your friend 
• interested in something | interested in doing something 
• start a friendship (collocation) 
• a friendship starts (collocation) - (Example: Our friendship started after we met at school.) 
• a friendship develops (collocation) - (Example: Friendships usually develop based on shared interests.) 
• a firm friendship (= strong and not likely to change) 
• be on the same wavelength (informal) - to have the same opinions and feelings as someone else 
• lose touch with someone (phrase) - to no longer communicate with someone 

Other IELTS related lessons: 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 
Social Media Addiction: Causes, Effects and Possible Solutions 

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics and Sample Answers: 
Describe your perfect holiday 
Describe a website you like to visit a lot 
Describe one of your possessions you couldn't live without 
Describe an area of your country that is well known for its natural beauty 

IELTS Speaking Test Part 3 Questions and Answers (+ Vocabulary): 
IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport 
IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient 
IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist 


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