IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card

Describe a party that you enjoyed

: You should say

what it was about
where the party was held
what people did during the party
and explain what you enjoyed about this party

: Sample Answer

Ooh parties! That conjures up so many different possibilities. Children’s parties with jelly and ice cream and silly games like ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ when I was little, or more ‘serious’ celebratory reception parties after a wedding. However, the most recent party I went to was neither of those things, and it was great

I’m going to tell you what it was about; where it was held; what people did during the party (which might be a bit unexpected) and explain what it was that I enjoyed about this party in particular

So, the occasion was a birthday, but not for a person, for an event. In the UK – and indeed in many other countries world-wide now, there is an organisation called parkrun. This umbrella group sets up free, inclusive running events all over the country. I think at last count there were 406 of these runs taking place every Saturday at 9.00 a.m. at different locations throughout the UK. Parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in. The initiative first started about 10 years ago, with just one run, now it has expanded and new runs start up all the time. It has become something of a tradition that every community run celebrates their ‘birthday’ on the anniversary of the date on which they were first established. It is a good excuse for an annual prize giving, conversation and lots of cake! This particular party was at a parkrun that is reasonably local to me, although not my ‘home’ parkrun, but I made a special trip to their event to join in their celebrations

The ‘party’ was held at a place called Graves Park in Sheffield. It is a lovely public open space, which also has a small animal park, so part of the 5km run takes you past an eclectic mix of animals including highland cows; alpaca; donkeys; pigs and a couple of curious goats. Everyone assembled in time for the usual Saturday 9.00 a.m. start to take part in the run, but because it was the Graves parkrun’s fourth birthday everything was a bit different from normal

So in terms of what people did at the party? Well, we all ran 5 km for a start. That’s not what usually happens at a birthday party, but it is what always happens at a parkrun. In other ways though, the event was a bit more unexpected. The main change was that the course was run in reverse. This was quite comical, as it is confusing running in the ‘wrong’ direction, and meant some of the steep uphill climbs on the usual route were replaces with death –defying downhill scrambles! It’s a bit like trying to cross your arms the wrong way round, you’d think it would be easy or at least ‘no different’ from how you usually do it – until you actually try. Go on, have a go, you’ll soon see what I mean! The next difference, was that lots of us were in fancy dress! I’ll wear fancy dress at any excuse. I have a child’s toy wrap-around pony costume. It looks great, like I’m riding a miniature pony, but is in fact incredibly light and easy to run in. Other people wore onesies (all in one jump suits made to look like animals). A few men wore drag (dressed in women’s clothes) some more imaginative runners came dressed up as Roman soldiers (complete with helmets and large circular shields) or various cloaked super heroes (Batman and Robin and Wonder Woman just for starters). It was great fun, we must have been quite a sight, some 250 runners or so storming round in ridiculous outfits. At the end of the run, lots of people had brought sweets or cake with them to share as part of the birthday celebrations. We all adjourned to a convenient café within the park for a good humoured prize giving. Lots of awards were handed out, not just for running fast but for humorous things too. Champion volunteer; fastest canine (there is a whippet that regularly takes park, and sometimes its owner’s even auction the opportunity to run with the dog as it will drag the runners round and give them a chance of getting a really fast time!) I clapped in recognition as the prizes were awarded, but, most exciting of all, there was one extra prize. For ‘Best Fancy Dress Costume’, I won! My pony is called Roger, and we collected our prize of a big box of sweets together. I am not very athletic, so I’d never win any sports prize for actually running, but I was so delighted to win a prize within the parkrun community I thought I’d burst! After the prizes had been given out, we all stayed in the café, chatting, admiring each other’s costumes and most importantly of all drinking tea and eating cake. Someone had even made a special parkrun cake with the parkrun logo on it. It was a great party indeed

Why did I particularly enjoy it? Well, I think it must be obvious surely. I got to spend my Saturday morning doing my favourite thing, which is taking part in parkrun, with a fantastic group of people, followed by tea and cake. What’s more, I got an excuse to wear party dress, have a good old giggle with friends AND I won a prize. What’s not to like. Parkrun is great and parkrun event birthday parties? Well they are better still