Discuss an unexpected experience - Sample IELTS Speaking part 2, 3

Topic: Describe something that surprised you

Initially, you might encounter a topic revolving around recounting something that surprised you, such as:

Vocabulary to portray an unexpected event

Here are some helpful terms that you can utilize in IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe an incident that caught you off guard.

• Astonish (verb) – Kinh ngạc, sửng sốt

E.g.: I was astonished when I found out that my favourite band was going to perform in my city.

• Astounding (adjective) – Đáng kinh ngạc

E.g.: The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely astounding.

• Baffling (adjective) – Khó hiểu, rối trí

E.g.: The instructions for the game were so baffling that we gave up trying to play.

• Bewildering (adjective) – Làm mê hoặc, lúng túng

E.g.: The maze of streets in the old town was bewildering, and we got lost several times.

• Dumbfounded (adjective) – Ngạc nhiên đến ngỡ ngàng, chết lặng

E.g.: I was completely dumbfounded when my boss told me that I was getting a promotion.

• Electrifying (adjective) – Làm choáng ngợp, sửng sốt

E.g.: The concert was so electrifying that the audience was cheering and dancing non-stop.

• Flabbergasted (adjective) – Ngạc nhiên đến bất ngờ, choáng váng

E.g.: I was flabbergasted when my friend told me that she was getting married to her boyfriend for two weeks.

• Incredible (adjective) – Không thể tin được

E.g.: It was incredible to see the amount of food that people were able to eat at the all-you-can-eat buffet.

• Mind-blowing (adjective) – Làm choáng váng, sửng sốt

E.g.: The special effects in the movie were absolutely mind-blowing.

• Miraculous (adjective) – Thần kỳ, kỳ diệu

E.g.: The doctors said that it was a miraculous recovery, as the patient had been given only a 10% chance of survival.

• Overwhelming (adjective) – Quá mức, áp đảo

E.g.: The amount of work that I had to do was overwhelming, and I didn’t know where to start.

• Perplexing (adjective) – Gây khó hiểu, khó giải thích

E.g.: The strange behaviour of my neighbour was perplexing, and I couldn’t figure out what was going on.

• Phenomenal (adjective) – Phi thường, xuất sắc

E.g.: The performance by the gymnast was phenomenal, and everyone in the audience was amazed.

• Shocking (adjective) – Gây sốc, gây sửng sốt

E.g.: The news that the company was going bankrupt was shocking, and everyone was worried about their jobs.

• Startling (adjective) – Bất ngờ, bất thình lình

E.g.: The sudden noise startled me, and I jumped out of my seat.

• Stunned (adjective) – Chết lặng, hết hồn

E.g.: I was stunned when I heard that my best friend had been in a car accident.

• Surprising (adjective) – Bất ngờ, khó tin

E.g.: It was surprising to hear that the movie had won an award, as I didn’t think it was that good.

• Unbelievable (adjective) – Không thể tin được

E.g.: The amount of money that the company had made was unbelievable, and everyone was amazed.

• Unforeseen (adjective) – Không lường trước được, bất ngờ

E.g.: The unforeseen rainstorm ruined our plans for the picnic.

• Unexpected (adjective) – Không mong đợi, bất ngờ

E.g.: The unexpected arrival of my parents spoiled my surprise party.

• Unpredictable (adjective) – Không thể đoán trước, không chắc chắn

E.g.: The weather in this region is very unpredictable, and it can change quickly.

• Unusual (adjective) – Không thông thường, lạ lùng

E.g.: The unusual behaviour of the cat made us think that it was sick.

• Astonished (adjective) – Kinh ngạc, sửng sốt

E.g.: He looked astonished when he heard the news of his promotion.

• Astoundingly (adverb) – Đáng kinh ngạc

E.g.: The view from the top of the mountain was astoundingly beautiful.

• Shocked (adjective) – Gây sốc, gây sửng sốt

E.g.: She was shocked when she heard that her best friend had betrayed her.

• Startled (adjective) – Bất ngờ, bất thình lình

E.g.: The sudden loud noise startled the cat, and it ran away.

• Stunningly (adverb) – Làm choáng ngợp, sửng sốt

E.g.: The sunset was stunningly beautiful, and we took many pictures.

• Surprised (adjective) – Bất ngờ, khó tin

E.g.: We were surprised to see so many people at the party, as we didn’t expect it to be so crowded.

• Unbelievably (adverb) – Không thể tin được

E.g.: The cake was unbelievably delicious, and everyone wanted the recipe.

• Unexpectedly (adverb) – Không mong đợi, bất ngờ

E.g.: The meeting was unexpectedly cancelled, and I had to reschedule all my appointments.

Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe an incident that caught you off guard

Suggestions for structuring Describe something that surprised you

Introduction – setting the scene

At the beginning, you can briefly introduce the context of the story. Be mindful not to have a lengthy introduction as in written language because we only have about 2 minutes to speak in IELTS Speaking Part 2.

Body – description

Describe, recount the story according to the “you should say” guideline:

• Đó là điều gì?
• Làm sao bạn tìm thấy nó?
• Bạn đã làm gì?
• Bạn có cảm thấy vui về điều đó không?

Conclusion – summarize

For the conclusion, summarize everything in 1 or 2 brief sentences. You can skip this part if time is limited. However, ensure to convey the entire story as required by the prompt.

Sample Describe something that surprised you

Listen to Mytour's Part 2 sample podcast here:

One thing that surprised me was when I found out that I had won a scholarship to study abroad. I had applied for the scholarship a few months prior, but I had forgotten about it because I thought the chances of getting it were slim.

I found out about the scholarship through an email from the scholarship committee. At first, I thought it was a joke or some sort of scam email, so I double-checked the sender and the content of the email. After confirming its authenticity, I was overjoyed and overwhelmed with emotions.

I immediately called my parents and close friends to share the good news with them. I also started researching the country where I would be studying and planning my trip. I had to complete some paperwork and attend a few orientation sessions before leaving.

The news of winning the scholarship not only surprised me but also made me extremely happy. I felt like all my hard work and dedication had paid off. I was excited to embark on a new journey, explore a new culture, and meet new people. It was an opportunity of a lifetime that I never thought I would have.

• Scholarship (n): học bổng
• Abroad (adv): ở nước ngoài
• Slim (adj): mong manh, không chắc chắn
• Committee (n): ủy ban
• Authenticity (n): tính xác thực
• Overjoyed (adj): rất vui mừng
• Overwhelmed (adj): bị áp đảo, quá tải
• Research (v): nghiên cứu
• Paperwork (n): giấy tờ thủ tục
• Orientation (n): hướng dẫn, hướng dẫn sơ bộ
• Hard work (n): công sức, nỗ lực
• Dedication (n): sự tận tụy, cống hiến
• Embark (v): bắt đầu, khởi đầu
• Explore (v): khám phá, tìm hiểu
• Opportunity (n): cơ hội, cơ hội đặc biệt

Sample IELTS Speaking Part 3: Describe something that surprised you

Listen to Mytour's Part 3 sample podcast here:

How do individuals express happiness in your culture?

In Vietnamese culture, people express happiness in various ways. Smiling and laughing are common ways to show joy, while celebrations such as weddings and festivals involve food, music, and dance. Hugging, handshaking, and giving gifts are also used to express happiness and affection. Vietnamese people value social interactions with others, and expressing happiness often involves sharing these positive feelings with friends, family, and even strangers.

• Joy (n): sự vui vẻ
• Handshaking (n): bắt tay
• To value (v): đề cao
• Interaction (n): tương tác
• Stranger (n): người lạ

Do you believe happiness impacts people?

My answer is yes. Happiness can have a significant effect on people’s well-being and overall quality of life. When people experience happiness, they tend to feel more positive emotions, have better physical health, and form stronger relationships with others. Happiness can also increase creativity and productivity, leading to greater success in various areas of life. Conversely, a lack of happiness can lead to feelings of sadness, stress, and even depression. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize happiness and take steps to cultivate it in our lives.

• Significant (adj): quan trọng
• Well-being (n): hạnh phúc
• To tend to (v): có xu hướng
• Productivity (n): năng suất
• To lead to (v): dẫn đến
• Conversely: ngược lại
• A lack of: sự thiếu hụt
• Essential (adj): cần thiết 
• To prioritize (v): ưu tiên
• Cultivate (n): vun đắp

What are the ways people can achieve happiness?

There are many ways people can cultivate happiness in their lives. Some strategies include practicing gratitude, engaging in physical exercise, spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies and interests, and engaging in mindfulness. Setting goals and working towards them can also contribute to a sense of purpose and fulfilment, which can lead to greater happiness. Ultimately, it is important to find what works for each individual and prioritize activities and habits that bring joy and fulfilment.

• Strategy (n): chiến lược, bí quyết
• Gratitude (n): lòng biết ơn
• To engage (v): tham gia
• To pursue (v): theo đuổi
• Mindfulness (n): chánh niệm
• To contribute (v): đóng góp
• A sense of purpose: ý thức về mục đích
• Fulfilment (n): hoàn thành