Sample Speaking Part 2: Describe a time when someone apologized to you

“Describe a time when someone apologized to you” falls under the "Event & Experience" section of IELTS Speaking Part 2 topics. It's widely recognized as a common subject for those preparing for the IELTS test, right? Approaching this subject is quite straightforward. Simply have a well-thought-out concept for your talk, organize your thoughts clearly, and employ an extensive range of compelling vocabulary. Doing so will surely engage the examiner fully!
Refer to the article below to see how PREP wins the hearts of IELTS Speaking examiners in real test situations when encountering this topic!

I. Cue card: Describe a time when someone apologized to you

Describe a time when someone apologized to you. You should say: 

• When it was
• Who this person is
• Why he or she apologized to you

And how you felt about it.

II. Part 2 Outline: Describe a time when someone apologized to you

III. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a time when someone apologized to you

Below is a sample IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer for the topic "Describe a time when someone apologized to you," prepared by teachers at PREP. Refer to it right away to effectively practice for your IELTS Speaking test at home!

I had quite a laughable experience when I shopped for my mom's Christmas gift last year. I ordered a pair of fuzzy slippers my mom’s size, but when the parcel arrived, it turned out to be ones of a child’s size.

I stumbled upon the pair when I was scrolling through the gift section of Lazada and quickly made an order. They were in velvet shade, with a cross-band and open-toe design that looked fashionable and elegant. They were advertised as “ergonomic pillows under your feet” and would not make one skid on the wooden floor, particularly suitable for my mom who usually walks round and about inside our 4-level home. I thought it would be a perfect gift for my mom. What's more, I made a bargain because they were also on sale. 

After a few days, my parcel was delivered, and I was super delighted. Then to my disbelief, lying in the box were a pair of baby-sized fuzzy slippers. My feeling at that moment was, needless to say, a bit of a shock. The next thing that happened was I heard my mom burst into laughter. Even though she wouldn't think I made the wrong order on purpose, the cute baby-sized slippers were still quite an amusing scene to look at to her. She even mocked me while trying them on, but they only fit her two fingers.

After getting over the moment of disbelief mixed with a sense of embarrassment, I contacted the seller to make a return or exchange. I was actually a bit hesitant to do so at first because the shop wasn't in Vietnam, which means the procedure might be complex. It turned out it wasn't at all. All I needed to do was, first, talk to the owner of the shop via the customer support section. She politely asked me to send her pictures of the faulty items so that she could verify. As soon as everything had been checked, I immediately received an apology.

Not just so, she then offered me compensation for her shop’s mistake. The correct size of the slippers would be sent to me plus a discount coupon of 30% of the total bill for my next purchase. Once everything had been settled, she apologised again and wished me a merry Christmas. 

I found the way the shop owner handled the situation was prompt and professional. I did come back to the shop to buy more things with the coupon. My mom then also got her correct-sized fuzzy slippers, and she said it had been the most comfortable ones she had ever worn, just as what was advertised.

Useful Vocabulary Used in the sample "Describe a time when someone apologized to you":

• laughable (adj): amusing or ridiculous
• fuzzy slippers (n): soft, warm indoor footwear
• parcel (noun): a package or gift
• in velvet shade (phrase): of a red velvet color
• cross-band (adj): having a strap or band that goes across
• Open-toe (adj): exposing the toes
• Ergonomic pillow (adj): a pillow that adjusts to provide comfort and support
• walk round and about (phrase): move around or wander
• make a bargain (phrase): get a good deal or purchase at a low price
• to someone's disbelief (phrase): causing someone to be surprised or astonished
• needless to say (phrase): obviously or without needing to be mentioned
• burst into laughter (phrase): start laughing suddenly and uncontrollably
• Amusing (adj): funny or entertaining (synonym of laughable)
• a sense of embarrassment (phrase): a feeling of shame or self-consciousness
• Hesitant (adj): unsure or reluctant
• Verify (verb): confirm or check the accuracy of something
• not just so (phrase): not only that
• Compensation (noun): payment or reparation for loss or damage
• prompt (adj): immediate or without delay

Note: Candidates can use this sample for other topics such as "Describe a time when you apologize to someone," "Describe an incident where someone apologized to you," or "Describe a person who has apologized to you."

For more reference, check out the article:

• Sample IELTS Speaking Part 1, 2, 3: Describe your mother
• Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2, 3: Talk about your dream job
• Sample Speaking Part 2: Describe an event that changed your life

IV. Conclusion

This article has provided the ideas, development, and a sample answer for the IELTS Speaking Part 2 topic "Describe a time when someone apologized to you." PREP wishes you success in your IELTS exam preparation and achieving high scores in the real IELTS Speaking test!