A celebration you attended
IELTS Speaking Part 2 · cue card
Describe a celebration or party you attended that you enjoyed.
You should say:
- what it was for
- where it was held
- what people did
- and explain why you enjoyed it
You have one minute to prepare and should speak for one to two minutes.
Free account required for the live AI partner.
Band 7+ sample answer
About 234 words, roughly two minutes spoken. Use it for ideas and language, not to memorise: examiners notice rehearsed answers.
The celebration I'd like to talk about is my cousin's gaye holud, which is a traditional pre-wedding ceremony in Bangladesh. It took place last January at my aunt's house in Mymensingh.
A gaye holud usually happens a day or two before the wedding. The main idea is that family and friends put turmeric paste on the bride or groom's face, which is believed to make the skin glow and to bless the couple.
My aunt's house has a big courtyard, and they'd decorated it with yellow and orange marigolds and fairy lights hanging from the mango trees. Almost everyone wore yellow or orange, and my cousin sat on a decorated stage. One by one, relatives went up, put a little turmeric on her cheeks, fed her a bite of sweets and took photos. After that, the younger cousins performed dances we'd practised for weeks, and later everyone sang old Bangla songs together until almost midnight, while the older aunties gossiped and served biriyani.
I enjoyed it mainly because of the atmosphere. Weddings in Bangladesh can be very formal, but the gaye holud is relaxed and playful. I hadn't seen some of my relatives for years, so it felt like a family reunion as well. I also loved performing, even though I'm not a good dancer, because everyone cheered for us anyway. It reminded me how important these traditions are for keeping big families connected.
Useful vocabulary
- pre-wedding ceremony
- an event held before the marriage
- turmeric paste
- a yellow spice mixed with water
- bless the couple
- wish them good fortune
- gossiped
- talked about other people
- family reunion
- a meeting of relatives after a long time
- relaxed and playful
- informal and fun
Part 3 follow-up questions
- Are traditional celebrations losing importance?
- Why do people spend so much money on weddings?
- How do young people prefer to celebrate special occasions?
- Are public holidays important?
- How have celebrations in your country changed over time?
Tip: in Part 3, give an opinion, a reason and an example, and consider another point of view. Aim for 3–5 sentences per answer.
How to practise this card
- Set a one-minute timer and write keywords for each bullet, not full sentences.
- Speak for two minutes and record yourself on your phone.
- Listen back: did you cover every bullet and the "explain" part? Note one phrase from the vocabulary list to use next time.
- Answer two Part 3 questions out loud, then try the card again with the AI Speaking Partner.