The IELTS Speaking exam often features topics that touch upon personal values and interpersonal relationships. One of the most frequently occurring prompts in recent months is the task to describe a time when you made a promise to someone, which requires you to reflect on your integrity and storytelling abilities. In this comprehensive guide, we provide a Band 9 model answer, a detailed breakdown of the scoring criteria, and advanced vocabulary to help you excel in your test.

The Cue Card

Describe a time when you made a promise to someone.
You should say:
• To whom you made the promise
• What the promise was
• Why you made the promise
• And explain how you felt about keeping (or not keeping) the promise.

Band 9 Sample Answer

To be perfectly honest, I’m the kind of person who takes their word very seriously, but there was one specific occasion about two years ago that really tested my resolve. I had made a solemn promise to my younger brother, Toby, who was then in his final year of high school. He was the captain of the school’s basketball team, and they had miraculously made it to the state championships. Since I had moved away to another city for my university studies, I hadn’t been able to attend any of his games that season. During a particularly emotional phone call, I gave him my word—a concrete guarantee—that regardless of my heavy academic workload, I would be there in the front row to cheer him on during the finals. I made this promise because I knew how much he looked up to me, and I didn’t want him to feel like his achievements were secondary to my own career. However, a few days before the game, my most demanding professor scheduled a mandatory, last-minute seminar that coincided exactly with the match. It was a massive dilemma; I’m usually a stickler for the rules, but I knew that breaking my word to Toby would be devastating for our relationship. I ended up pulling three consecutive all-nighters to complete every single piece of coursework ahead of time, and I spent hours negotiating with my tutor for a formal leave of absence. When the day finally arrived, I caught a grueling five-hour bus back to my hometown just in time for the tip-off. Seeing the look of pure, unadulterated joy on Toby’s face when he spotted me in the bleachers was a moment I’ll never forget. I felt an incredible sense of relief and a deep surge of integrity. It wasn’t just about the basketball game; it was about proving that I was reliable. Keeping that promise solidified our bond, and it taught me that while keeping your word can be incredibly inconvenient, the emotional reward is always worth the sacrifice.

Band 7 Sample Answer

I would like to talk about a time I made a promise to my best friend, Sarah. About a year ago, she was moving to a new apartment and was very stressed because she didn’t have much help. I promised her that I would spend my entire Saturday helping her pack boxes and move her furniture. I made this promise because she has always been there for me, and I wanted to return the favor. However, on the Friday night before the move, I got a call from my boss asking me to work overtime. It was a difficult situation, but I decided to keep my promise to Sarah. I told my boss I couldn’t come in, and I went to her house early Saturday morning. We spent about ten hours moving heavy boxes and cleaning the old place. By the end of the day, I was exhausted, but I felt very happy that I had helped my friend. Sarah was so grateful, and she even bought me dinner to say thank you. I felt good about myself because I think it is important to be a person who does what they say they will do. If I had gone to work instead, I would have felt very guilty and I think our friendship would have been hurt. It was a simple promise, but it meant a lot to both of us.

How the Band 9 Answer Scores Top Marks

Fluency and Coherence

The speaker demonstrates a high level of fluency by using natural fillers like “To be perfectly honest” and “Actually” to bridge thoughts. The narrative arc is logical, moving from the context of the promise to the conflict and finally the resolution. Cohesion is achieved through sophisticated linking words such as “Regardless of,” “However,” and “Consequently,” which ensure the listener can follow the story without effort. This is much more effective than the repetitive “and then” or “so” found in lower band scores.

Lexical Resource

The vocabulary used is both precise and idiomatic. Phrases like “tested my resolve,” “solemn promise,” and “unadulterated joy” show a range beyond basic English. The speaker also uses topic-specific collocations such as “academic workload,” “mandatory seminar,” and “solidified our bond.” By avoiding overused words like “happy” or “difficult” and opting for “devastating” or “grueling,” the candidate demonstrates the “precision” required for Band 9.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

The response utilizes a variety of complex structures. For instance, the use of the past perfect (“I had made a solemn promise”) correctly sets the background before the main events. The speaker also employs a conditional structure (“If I hadn’t shown up, I think our relationship would have suffered”) to discuss hypothetical outcomes. This variety in sentence length and structure—mixing short, impactful sentences with longer, descriptive ones—is a hallmark of high-level English proficiency.

Pronunciation

While the text doesn’t show sound, a Band 9 performance would involve natural intonation to emphasize key points, such as the stress on “absolutely priceless” or the rising intonation when presenting a “dilemma.” The speaker would avoid a robotic, monotone delivery, instead using “chunking” to group words naturally, making the speech easy to understand and engaging for the examiner.

Vocabulary and Idioms to Use

Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example Sentence
To give one’s word	To make a serious promise.	“I gave him my word that I would help him with the project.”
Tested my resolve	To challenge one’s determination.	“The long hours at work really tested my resolve to stay healthy.”
Solemn	Formal and dignified; serious.	“It was a solemn promise that I had no intention of breaking.”
A stickler for the rules	Someone who insists on following rules exactly.	“My teacher is a stickler for the rules regarding late submissions.”
Unadulterated joy	Pure, complete happiness.	“Seeing my parents at the airport brought me unadulterated joy.”
Follow through	To complete an action as promised.	“It’s easy to make a plan, but harder to follow through with it.”
Backtrack	To go back on a promise or statement.	“He tried to backtrack on his offer once he realized the cost.”
Integrity	The quality of being honest and having strong morals.	“Keeping your promises is a fundamental part of personal integrity.”
Dilemma	A situation where a difficult choice has to be made.	“I was faced with a dilemma between my career and my family.”
Solidify a bond	To make a relationship stronger.	“Sharing that experience really helped to solidify our bond.”
Mandatory	Required by law or rules; compulsory.	“Attendance at the safety briefing is mandatory for all staff.”
Inconvenient	Causing trouble or extra effort.	“It was inconvenient to travel so far, but I had to be there.”

Grammar Structures That Boost Your Band Score

• Third Conditional for Regret/Reflection: “If I hadn’t kept that promise, I would have felt incredibly guilty for months.”
• Past Perfect for Backstory: “I had already committed to the trip before I realized I had a deadline.”
• Relative Clauses for Detail: “My brother, who was then in his final year of high school, was relying on me.”
• Modal Verbs of Obligation: “I felt I simply had to be there, regardless of the consequences.”
• Concessive Clauses: “Even though it was a grueling journey, I didn’t regret it for a second.”
• Cleft Sentences for Emphasis: “What mattered most to me was not letting him down.”
• Passive Voice for Formality: “The promise was made during a very emotional conversation.”
• Gerunds as Subjects: “Keeping a promise is often more difficult than making one.”

Part 3 Follow-up Questions

Why do some people find it difficult to keep their promises?

In my opinion, the primary reason people struggle to follow through is that they often make promises impulsively, without fully considering the logistics involved. People are naturally inclined to be people-pleasers in the heat of the moment, so they agree to things to avoid immediate conflict or to make someone feel good. However, when the reality of the commitment sets in—perhaps due to a busy schedule or unforeseen expenses—they realize they’ve overextended themselves. Furthermore, we live in a very fast-paced society where priorities shift constantly, and some individuals lack the integrity or organizational skills to manage their commitments effectively. You can learn more about this in our lesson on IELTS Speaking: Behaviour & Patience.

Is it important for parents to keep promises to their children?

Absolutely, I believe it is vital. Children view their parents as their primary source of security and truth. When a parent breaks a promise, it doesn’t just cause disappointment; it can actually undermine the child’s sense of trust in the world. If a child learns that words don’t necessarily lead to actions, they may grow up to be cynical or may struggle to form stable relationships themselves. By keeping promises, even small ones like going to the park, parents model reliable behavior and teach their children the value of honesty. It’s about building a foundation of mutual respect that will last a lifetime. This is similar to the themes discussed in the cue card about when it was important to tell your friend the truth.

Do you think business promises are different from personal ones?

That’s an interesting question. On the surface, they might seem different because business promises are often backed by legal contracts and financial penalties, whereas personal promises rely on emotional bonds. In a professional context, if a company fails to deliver on a promise, they might face a lawsuit or a loss of reputation that directly impacts their bottom line. However, at their core, both types of promises are about trust. Whether it’s a brand promising a high-quality product or a friend promising to help you move, the social capital involved is the same. If you consistently break promises in business, no one will want to partner with you, just as in personal life, people will eventually distance themselves from you.

How has technology changed the way we make and keep promises?

Technology has definitely made it easier to keep track of our commitments, but it has also made it easier to “flake” on them. On the positive side, we have digital calendars and reminders that ensure we don’t simply forget a promise due to a lapse in memory. We can also stay in constant communication. However, the ease of sending a quick text message means that people often cancel plans or backtrack on promises at the last minute with very little effort. Before smartphones, if you made a promise to meet someone at a specific time, you had to be there because there was no way to reach them. Now, there’s a sense that everything is negotiable, which I think has slightly devalued the weight of our words. You might find similar insights in our post about answering a phone call from someone.

What are the consequences of being a person who frequently breaks promises?

The consequences are quite severe, both socially and psychologically. Socially, such individuals eventually find themselves isolated. Trust is the “glue” that holds societies and friendships together; once that glue is gone, the relationship falls apart. People will stop relying on you, and you’ll lose out on opportunities because you are viewed as unreliable. Psychologically, I think it also harms the person breaking the promise. There is a certain amount of cognitive dissonance and guilt that comes with not being a person of your word. Over time, this can lead to a lack of self-respect. As noted on the IELTS Official Website, being able to discuss such complex social consequences is key to reaching the higher bands in the Speaking test.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Being Too Vague: Avoid saying “I made a promise and it was good.” Instead, describe the specific situation, the conflict, and the emotions involved.
• Focusing Only on the Promise: The examiner wants to hear the *story*. Don’t just say what the promise was; explain the “why” and the “how you felt” sections in detail.
• Repetitive Vocabulary: Using the word “promise” in every sentence. Use synonyms like “commitment,” “word,” “guarantee,” or “oath.”
• Ignoring the Tense: This is a past event. Ensure you are using the past simple, past continuous, and past perfect correctly.
• Lack of Conflict: A good story needs a challenge. If the promise was easy to keep, the answer might be boring. Mention a difficulty you faced in keeping it.
• Speaking Too Fast: Candidates often rush when they are nervous. Take a breath and focus on clear pronunciation and natural pacing.

Practice Tips for This Cue Card

1. Record and Review: Record yourself speaking for two minutes on this topic. Listen back and count how many times you used “and” or “but.” Try to replace them with more advanced connectors.
2. The “Why” Drill: For every point you make, ask yourself “Why?” This will help you expand your answer naturally and meet the two-minute requirement.
3. Vocabulary Mind Map: Create a mind map of words related to “honesty,” “trust,” and “commitment.” Try to use at least five of these in your practice session.
4. Practice with a Timer: It’s crucial to get a feel for how long two minutes actually is. Don’t stop until the timer goes off!
5. Check out our Speaking Course: For more structured practice and expert feedback, consider enrolling in the IELTS English Speaking Course.

Mastering the “describe a time when you made a promise to someone” cue card is all about balancing a personal narrative with sophisticated language. By focusing on the emotional weight of your word and the challenges you faced, you can demonstrate the fluency and lexical range that examiners are looking for. For more strategies and tips, be sure to visit our IELTS Speaking Tips page and keep practicing your delivery!