Describe something that Surprised You Cue Card

Jan 2, 2026

Describe something that Surprised You IELTS Speaking Cue Card model answers have been provided below. The answers are centred upon questions - Where it is, What it is like, What you do there and explain why you feel relaxed there

What is a Cue Card: IELTS Speaking Part 2 includes cue cards containing topics on which candidates are to speak. Candidates get 2-3 minutes time to speak and 1 minute for note-taking. In IELTS Speaking part 2, candidates' proficiency in grammar and vocabulary is assessed along with their confidence to speak in English.

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Topic: Describe something that Surprised You Cue Card

You should say:

who/ what surprised you
when it happened
how you found about it
and explain why this person or thing surprised you so much.

Answer 1:

who/ what surprised you?

One of the most astonishing moments in my life was a birthday surprise planned by close friends and family. It happened last year on my birthday-a day I thought would be very ordinary.

when it happened?

That day, I thought everybody was busy with their respective works. My family behaved just like always; none of my friends discussed anything special. In the evening, I was called to a nearby café on the pretext of a casual meeting. As soon as I entered the room, suddenly all the lights were turned on, and everybody shouted, "Happy Birthday." I was fully shocked.

how you found about it?

That was the moment when I came to know about the surprise. I had no idea, until then, that something of this sort was being planned. My friends, along with my family, had been planning in secret for weeks, getting the place decorated, ordering a cake, and even inviting people that I hadn't seen in ages.

and explain why this person or thing surprised you so much?

It really surprised me, since I am not the kind of person to expect big celebrations. Seeing so much effort being made, especially for me, was overwhelming. It made me realize how much people cared about me. The surprise not only made me happy but also emotional. It came along unexpectedly, was so thoughtful, and unforgettable; that is why it still remains one of the biggest surprises of my life.

Answer 2:

who/ what surprised you?

One thing that really amazed me was finding support from a teacher at college, which I had never expected. It happened during a pretty challenging academic phase when I was struggling with my confidence.

when it happened?

Then, I did very badly in one of the important internal exams. I thought my teacher would scold me like all others. Days went by, and after class one day, she took me to one side and spoke to me alone. She told me that she believed in my potential and motivated me not to give up.

how you found about it?

Through that conversation, I came to know about her support. She even revealed that she had observed my improvement in the previous assignments and felt that I required only motivation, not pressure. She offered extra guidance and suggested better study techniques. I was utterly surprised because I never thought a teacher would pay so much personal attention. Most teachers just focus on the marks, while she focused on my mindset and growth. Her words raised my confidence level and changed my whole attitude towards learning.

and explain why this person or thing surprised you so much?

What surprised me most was her kindness and her belief in me when I doubted my abilities. That particular moment stayed with me throughout my academic life and taught me the value of encouragement. To this day, whenever I feel less sure about myself, I remember her advice.

Answer 3:

who/ what surprised you?

One of the most unforgettable moments for me was last year when my friends pulled off a total surprise birthday party. It was on my actual birthday, and I had zero clue it was coming.

when it happened?

I’d been slammed with work and figured the day would just come and go quietly. My best friend, who orchestrated the whole thing, knew I wasn’t expecting much. She’d apparently been plotting for weeks—inviting my family, rounding up close friends, booking a venue, all without me suspecting a thing.

how you found about it?

The way she got me there was genius She casually texted me that afternoon saying, “Hey, want to grab dinner tonight?” I thought it was just the two of us unwinding after a long week, so I said sure without a second thought. When I walked into the restaurant, everyone jumped out yelling “Surprise!” and I legit froze—I couldn’t believe all these people I love were there just for me. The place looked amazing: decorated with my favorite flowers in all the right colors. And then there was the cake. It was my favorite flavor, but what really got me was how they’d customized it with little fondant details from my job—tiny syringes, pills, capsules, a stethoscope, even a little nurse figure. It was so thoughtful and personal; I stood there staring at it, completely blown away.

and explain why this person or thing surprised you so much?

I remember feeling this rush of emotion because I genuinely never expected anything that big. They nailed the secrecy—nobody slipped up, not even once—and when I realized just how much work everyone had poured into pulling this off, it honestly hit me like a wave. In the best possible way, though. I stood there feeling ridiculously lucky to have friends who’d bother with all that just to make me feel loved.

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