IELTS Speaking Part 2,3 - 2. Describe a time you made a promise to someone

🎤 Speaking Part 2: 

Describe a time you made a promise to someone.

You should say:

• Who you made the promise to
• What the promise was
• Why you made the promise
• And explain whether it was difficult to keep

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 Sample Answer

One of the most important promises I've ever made was to my mother. I promised her that I would stop being addicted to mobile games and take my studies seriously again.

It happened after I got some terrible results in my end-of-term exams.At that time, I was completely glued to my phone and could easily lose track of time while playing games. 

As a result, I neglected my homework and barely studied. My mother had warned me many times, but I simply turned a deaf ear to her advice. When she finally saw my results, she was furious and smashed my phone. She was so disappointed that she refused to speak to me for two weeks.

At first, it was incredibly difficult. Without my phone, I felt restless and frustrated. However, those two weeks gave me time to take a step back and reflect on my life.

I started reading, working out, and studying seriously again. Gradually, I realized how much time I had wasted on something that added very little value to my life.

That's why I promised my mother that I would never let my phone control my life again. Looking back, it was a real wake-up call. It taught me that a promise means nothing unless you keep your word.

💡 Speaking Structure

1. WHAT – What was the promise?

One of the most important promises I've ever made was to my mother. I promised her that I would stop being addicted to mobile games and take my studies seriously again.

📚 Vocabulary:

🔹 take something seriously: nghiêm túc với điều gì

2. WHEN & WHO – When and who did you make the promise to?

It happened after I got some terrible results in my end-of-term exams. At that time, I was completely glued to my phone and could easily lose track of time while playing games. 

As a result, I neglected my homework and barely studied. My mother had warned me many times, but I simply turned a deaf ear to her advice. When she finally saw my results, she was furious and smashed my phone. She was so disappointed that she refused to speak to me for two weeks.

📚 Vocabulary:

🔹 be glued to my phone: dán mắt vào điện thoại

🔹 lose track of time: quên mất thời gian

🔹 neglect my homework: sao nhãng bài tập

🔹 turn a deaf ear: phớt lờ lời khuyên

🔹 be furious: rất tức giận

3. HOW DIFFICULT – Was it difficult to keep the promise?

At first, it was incredibly difficult. Without my phone, I felt restless and frustrated. However, those two weeks gave me time to take a step back and reflect on my life.

I started reading, working out, and studying seriously again. Gradually, I realized how much time I had wasted on something that added very little value to my life.

📚 Vocabulary:

🔹 restless: bồn chồn, không yên

🔹 take a step back: lùi lại để nhìn nhận vấn đề

🔹 reflect on something: suy ngẫm về điều gì

🔹 work out: tập thể dục

4. WHY – Why did you make the promise?

That's why I promised my mother that I would never let my phone control my life again. Looking back, it was a real wake-up call. It taught me that a promise means nothing unless you keep your word.

📚 Vocabulary:

🔹 a wake-up call: hồi chuông cảnh tỉnh

🔹 keep your word: giữ lời hứa

🧠 Vocabulary to Remember

🎤 Speaking Part 3:

1. What kinds of promises do people often make?

I’d say people often make promises about their relationships or future plans. For example, they may promise to be there for someone or follow through on something they’ve said they’ll do.

People also make promises to themselves, like working out more or cutting down on social media. The hard part, of course, is actually sticking to them.

📚 Vocabulary:

🔹 be there for someone: luôn ở bên, hỗ trợ ai đó

🔹 follow through on something: thực hiện đến cùng điều đã nói

🔹 cut down on: cắt giảm

🔹 stick to something: kiên trì thực hiện điều gì

2. Do parents make promises to their children?

Yeah, I’d imagine so. Parents probably make promises about things like taking their children on a trip, buying them a gift, or giving them a reward if they do well at school.

I think these promises can also be a way to motivate children and give them something to look forward to. Of course, parents should only make promises they can realistically keep.

📚 Vocabulary:

🔹 motivate someone: tạo động lực cho ai

🔹 look forward to: mong chờ

🔹 realistically: một cách thực tế

3. Do children keep their promises?

I think it depends on their age and how seriously they take the promise. Older children are usually more likely to stick to their word because they understand the importance of being trustworthy.

Younger children, on the other hand, may simply forget or change their minds. I don't think they're necessarily trying to break their word.

📚 Vocabulary:

🔹 stick to one's word: giữ lời hứa

🔹 trustworthy: đáng tin cậy

🔹 change one's mind: thay đổi ý định

🔹 break one's word: thất hứa

4. Why do some people fail to keep their promises?

Sometimes people make promises on the spur of the moment without really thinking about whether they can keep them. Later on, they may realize they’ve taken on more than they can handle.

Another reason is that circumstances can change unexpectedly. Something might come up, making it difficult for them to follow through on what they promised.

📚 Vocabulary:

🔹 on the spur of the moment: một cách bộc phát

🔹 take on more than one can handle: nhận nhiều việc hơn khả năng

🔹 come up: xảy ra, phát sinh

🔹 follow through on: thực hiện đến cùng

5. Do you often keep your promises?

Yeah, I try to live up to my word, especially when other people are counting on me. If I make a promise, I think it's my responsibility to do my best to keep it.

That said, if something unexpected gets in the way, I'd rather explain the situation honestly than make empty promises.

📚 Vocabulary:

🔹 count on someone: tin tưởng, trông cậy vào ai

🔹 get in the way: cản trở

🔹 make empty promises: đưa ra những lời hứa suông

6. Is it useful to write down promises?

Yeah, I think it can be really helpful, especially when the promise involves a long-term goal.

Writing it down makes it feel more concrete and gives people something to hold themselves accountable for. It can also serve as a reminder when people start to lose motivation, helping them stay on track.

📚 Vocabulary:

🔹 concrete: cụ thể, rõ ràng

🔹 hold oneself accountable: tự chịu trách nhiệm

🔹 stay on track: đi đúng hướng, duy trì tiến độ

🔹 long-term goal: mục tiêu dài hạn