Describe a Time When You Received Money as a Gift – IELTS Speaking

This topic belongs to the “Describe an experience” category, a common group of questions in the IELTS Speaking test. You will be asked to describe a specific occasion when you were given money as a gift. In this article, IDP IELTS will help you discover unique ideas, sample answers, and essential vocabulary to present your response fluently and naturally.

In IELTS Speaking Part 2, you will receive a cue card with the topic and guiding questions. You will have 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1–2 minutes. This topic asks you to describe a memorable experience when you received money as a gift. The examiner will assess your idea development, vocabulary range, and grammatical accuracy.

Cue Card: Describe a time when you received money as a gift

You should say: 

• Who gave it to you

• When was it given to you

• Why he/she gave you money

• And explain how you felt about it

To perform well in the speaking test, it’s important to understand the IELTS Speaking band descriptors. You can easily impress the examiner with relevant real-life experiences and strong control over vocabulary and grammar.

Who gave it to you

• My grandparents gave me the money as a gift on my birthday last year.

Why he/she gave you money

• They wanted to give me the freedom to decide how to use the money.

• At the age of 18, I was becoming more independent, and they wanted to empower me to make my own decisions.

• Instead of giving something specific like clothes or gadgets, they thought that giving money would allow me to choose something that would benefit me the most.

And explain how you felt about it

• I felt very grateful and excited when I received the money.

• It wasn’t just about the money itself but the thought and love behind it.

• The gift made me feel loved, responsible, and encouraged to make wise decisions with the money.

Describe a time when you received money as a gift

I want to share a story about a time I got a gift of money. My grandparents gave it to me for my eighteenth birthday last year. This time was no different from their usual thoughtfulness and generosity. They made the decision to offer me money rather than clothing or technology.

The reason they gave me money was to allow me the freedom to decide how to use it. At 18, I was starting to become more independent, and they wanted to empower me to make my own choices. They understood that this age is a significant milestone in life, and they thought that giving money would be the best way to let me choose something that would benefit me the most. It wasn’t just about receiving a gift, but about being trusted to make a decision that could be meaningful for my future.

When I received the money, I felt incredibly grateful and excited. It wasn’t just about the money itself, but the thought and love behind it. My grandparents' gesture made me feel truly loved and cared for. It also made me feel responsible, as they were encouraging me to use the money wisely. I knew that they were giving me more than just financial support; they were giving me the opportunity to make a decision that would help me in the long run.

This experience left me with a lasting sense of gratitude. The gift not only made my birthday special but also reminded me of my grandparents' love and belief in me. It was a gift that not only helped me practically but also encouraged me to be thoughtful and responsible with my choices.

Question: Why do people rarely use cash now?

People rarely use cash nowadays because digital payments are more convenient. Mobile banking apps and online shopping platforms have made transactions faster and more efficient. Carrying cash can be risky due to theft or loss, so more people prefer digital wallets and contactless cards for their security and ease of use.

Question: When do children begin to understand the value of money?

Children usually start understanding the value of money when they receive pocket money or want to buy their favorite snacks or toys.

As they learn more about how money works, they begin to see its importance in everyday life. However, their level of understanding depends on personal experience and how parents educate them about financial responsibility.

Question: Should parents reward children with money?

In some situations, it is okay for parents to give money as a reward. It helps children understand the importance of hard work and responsibility.

However, it is also important to reward children with praise, quality time, and encouragement. These non-financial rewards help build confidence and emotional bonds.

Common Vocabulary:

Common Idioms and Phrases:

Practice IELTS Speaking with IDP

The ideas, sample answers, and vocabulary above will help you speak confidently about the topic Describe a time when you received money as a gift in the IELTS Speaking test.

To improve your performance, practice regularly with a variety of topics. You can also take a computer-based IELTS mock test at IDP to get familiar with the test format and time management. IDP offers both IELTS Academic Speaking and IELTS General Speaking, with flexible test dates.

Register for your IELTS test with IDP today and get ready to achieve your goals.