Of course! "An important letter" is a very common and high-quality topic for IELTS Speaking Part 2. It allows you to demonstrate a range of vocabulary and grammar structures.

Here is a complete guide to help you answer this question, including a sample answer, key vocabulary, and tips for a higher band score.

The Cue Card (Part 2)

Describe an important letter or email you received. You should say:

• who it was from
• what the letter was about
• why it was important
• and explain how you felt about it.

Sample Answer (Band 8-9 Level)

"Alright, I'd like to talk about a letter that I received a couple of years ago, which I still consider to be one of the most significant pieces of correspondence I've ever gotten.

It was from my university's scholarship committee. I had applied for a prestigious merit-based scholarship to help fund my final year of studies, and to be honest, I wasn't expecting much, as the competition was incredibly fierce. The letter itself was quite formal, on official university letterhead, which immediately made me feel it was important.

The letter informed me that I had been selected as one of the recipients of the scholarship. It went on to detail the amount of money I would receive, which was substantial enough to cover my tuition fees for the entire year. More importantly, it outlined the conditions, like maintaining a certain grade average, but the core message was one of recognition for my academic performance over the previous three years.

This letter was profoundly important for several reasons. Firstly, from a practical standpoint, it was a massive financial relief. University tuition was a huge burden on my family, and this scholarship lifted that weight completely. It meant I could focus entirely on my studies and my final thesis without the constant stress of working multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, it was a huge confidence booster. To be chosen out of hundreds of applicants was a powerful validation of all the hard work and late nights I had put in. It made me feel that my efforts were genuinely valued and recognised by the institution.

When I first read the letter, I was absolutely over the moon. I remember I was in my dorm room, and I had to read it twice just to make sure I wasn't misinterpreting anything. A wave of relief and happiness washed over me, and I immediately called my parents to share the good news. They were just as thrilled as I was. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy and a sense of accomplishment that I'll never forget."

Why this answer is strong (Analysis for a higher band)

1. Fluency and Coherence: The answer flows naturally. It uses linking words and phrases effectively: "to be honest," "more importantly," "firstly," "secondly," "perhaps even more importantly."
2. Lexical Resource (Vocabulary):
   • Sophisticated Vocabulary: "significant pieces of correspondence," "prestigious merit-based scholarship," "incredibly fierce," "selected as one of the recipients," "financial relief," "burden," "confidence booster," "validation," "over the moon," "unadulterated joy."
   • Topic-specific Language: "scholarship committee," "merit-based," "tuition fees," "academic performance," "grade average," "final thesis."
3. Grammatical Range and Accuracy:
   • Complex Sentences: The answer uses a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences. For example: "It informed me that I had been selected..., and it went on to detail..., which was substantial enough to cover..."
   • Perfect Tenses: "I had applied," "I wasn't expecting," "it had lifted."
   • Passive Voice: "I had been selected," "it was a massive financial relief" (used appropriately and naturally).
4. Pronunciation: The speaker would use clear stress, intonation, and rhythm to convey emotion, especially when describing their feelings ("over the moon," "pure, unadulterated joy").

Key Vocabulary & Phrases to Use

You can mix and match these phrases to create your own unique answer.

Tips for Your Answer

1. Tell a Mini-Story: Don't just list facts. Structure your answer like a short story with a beginning (the context), middle (the content and why it's important), and end (your feelings and the outcome).
2. Be Specific: Instead of saying "it was about money," say "it was a scholarship that covered my entire tuition fees for the year." Specific details make your answer more believable and impressive.
3. Focus on "Why it was important": This is the core of the question. Dedicate the most time to this part. Give at least two strong reasons, one practical and one emotional, to show depth.
4. Show, Don't Just Tell: Instead of saying "I was happy," describe the situation: "I remember I was sitting at my desk, and I had to read it three times because my hands were shaking. I immediately called my best friend, and we just screamed with joy." This is much more powerful.
5. Practice, Practice, Practice: Time yourself. You have 1 minute to prepare and 1-2 minutes to speak. Record yourself and listen back to check for fluency, grammar mistakes, and pronunciation.