Describe a time when you met someone who you became good friends with.
You should say:
I'd like to talk about a good friend of mine, who I met during my first year at university.
His name is Daniel, and we met in a shared class, actually on the very first day of term. We were
both a bit nervous and ended up sitting next to each other in the lecture hall. Honestly, my first
impression was that he was quite quiet and a little serious — he was taking notes carefully and
didn't say much. But then, during a break, we got talking about a subject we both found interesting,
and I realised he was actually very funny and really sharp. He just needed a bit of time to warm up.
Looking back, I think we became good friends because we had a lot in common and, just as
importantly, we complemented each other. We shared an interest in the same field of study, and we
both liked to talk about ideas rather than just surface-level things. But we were also different in a
way that worked well: I'm quite spontaneous, while he's more thoughtful and organised. He ended up
being the person I could go to for sensible advice, and I think I helped him loosen up a bit and have
more fun.
Over the years, we've stayed close, and our friendship has only grown. It started as a lucky
accident — sitting in the wrong seat on the first day — but it turned into one of the most
important relationships in my life, because it's built on trust, shared history and genuine respect.
The story is told as a coherent narrative with a clear beginning (first meeting), middle (getting to
know each other) and end (lasting friendship). The cue card points are covered in order but woven
together naturally.
Takeaway: For Part 2, tell the story in time order and let the cue card points guide you rather
than reading them as a checklist.
Good descriptive and relational vocabulary: "a bit nervous", "take notes", "very sharp", "warm up",
"complemented each other", "spontaneous", "thoughtful". The register is natural and warm.
Takeaway: Use a couple of well-chosen character adjectives (*spontaneous, thoughtful, sharp,
laid-back*) to make the person come to life.
Strong variety: past simple for events, past perfect for background ("we'd both been nervous"), and
some present tense for the lasting relationship. Complex relative clauses ("the person I could go to
for sensible advice") are accurate.
Takeaway: Mix past (events) with present (why it lasted) to show good control of tense.
Natural storytelling rhythm with pauses around the key turning points. Warm, engaging intonation on
the personal parts.
Takeaway: Slow down when you reach the "why" of the friendship — it's the heart of the answer.