Table of Contents
Describe A Plan That You Had To Change Recently
Part 2
You should say:
- When this happened
- What made you change the plan
- What the new plan was
- And how you felt about the change
Sample Answer 1
Speaking of this plan that I had to change, I would like to talk about one that I planned to take my mom to a town nearby Shanghai to go hiking and to spend the whole weekend.
However, there had to be a change because she made a change to her schedule. She told me that she hadn’t finished her online classes yet, which was supposed to be completed before this week. However, there was a change, which means that I also need to reschedule this plan. But I couldn’t put it off until March because by then I wouldn’t be able to have this time to take her to play and to hang around and go hiking and stuff like that. So instead of letting her come visit me, I just decided to go visit her. So I asked my husband whether he could be able to book a flight and apply for a business trip to Beijing, which is the nearest city to my hometown. So luckily we managed to get the flight ticket to Beijing and we decided to departure on this Sunday.
Honestly, about this kind of sudden change, I’m not that type of person who’s very good at handling this kind of situation. So it got me feel a little bit anxious, honestly. Fortunately, everything just goes smoothly and I was so looking forward to see my mom and then spend some quality time with her. So that was a change that I had to make recently.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| go hiking | B2 | Verb phrase | To take a long walk in the countryside or mountains, usually for exercise or pleasure. | I’d originally planned to take my mum to a small town to go hiking for the whole weekend. |
| reschedule | B2 | Verb | To change the time or date of a plan or event that was already arranged. | Because her schedule changed, I had to reschedule the whole trip at short notice. |
| put (something) off | B2 | Phrasal verb | To delay something to a later time; to postpone. | I couldn’t put it off until March, or I wouldn’t have any free time to spend with her. |
| hang around | B2 | Phrasal verb | To spend time somewhere in a relaxed way, without any particular purpose. | I just wanted some time to take her out, hang around and go hiking together. |
| business trip | B2 | Noun phrase | A journey made for work rather than for pleasure. | My husband applied for a business trip to Beijing so we could travel together. |
| manage to (do something) | B2 | Verb phrase | To succeed in doing something, especially something difficult. | Luckily, we managed to get flight tickets to Beijing at the last minute. |
| quality time | C1 | Noun phrase | Time spent giving someone your full attention, in order to strengthen your relationship. | I was really looking forward to spending some quality time with my mum. |
| handle a situation | B2 | Collocation | To deal with a difficult set of circumstances calmly and effectively. | Honestly, I’m not the type of person who handles sudden situations very well. |
| sudden change | B2 | Collocation | An unexpected alteration to a plan or situation that happens quickly. | A sudden change like this always makes me feel a little bit anxious. |
| anxious | B2 | Adjective | Feeling worried or nervous about something uncertain that might happen. | When my plans fall apart last minute, I do get a bit anxious. |
| go smoothly | B2 | Collocation | To happen without any problems or difficulties. | Fortunately, everything went smoothly in the end and I could relax. |
| look forward to | B2 | Phrasal verb | To feel excited and pleased about something that is going to happen. | I was so looking forward to seeing my mum after such a long time. |
Topic: rescheduling a weekend hiking trip and flying to visit your mother instead. Band 7+ items (CEFR B2–C2).
Sample Answer 2
Well, today I’d like to talk about a weekend getaway that I had to cancel rather abruptly, which was about three weeks ago.
My friends and I had been planning a short trip to the beach for nearly a month. We booked accommodation, mapped out an itinerary, and were genuinely looking forward to a much-needed break from work. However, just two days before we were due to leave, one of my closest friends came down with a nasty bout of food poisoning, and she was in no state to travel. Since the trip was really her idea in the first place, and she was the one who had organized most of it, going without her just didn’t feel right. We had a quick group chat and decided unanimously to postpone the whole trip. And the new plan that we came up with was much more low-key. We ended up staying in the city and arranged a small get-together at my place instead.
I cooked a simple meal, we put on a couple movies, and our sick friend joined us via video call so she wouldn’t feel completely left out. And it wasn’t anywhere near as exciting as the beach trip, but it had its own charm in a way. As for how I felt, my emotions were quite mixed. Initially, I was rather gutted because I’d been counting down the days and had already taken off time from work for this trip. But once we settled into the new plan, I realized that it was a blessing in disguise. I got to recharge at home, save a bit of money, and we were now planning for a longer trip next month, which we’re all really looking forward to.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a weekend getaway | B2 | Noun phrase | A short holiday, usually of a couple of days, taken to relax away from home. | We’d planned a little weekend getaway to the beach to unwind. |
| abruptly | C1 | Adverb | Suddenly and unexpectedly, without any warning. | The trip had to be cancelled rather abruptly just before we left. |
| a much-needed break | B2 | Noun phrase | A rest that you really need, especially after a busy or stressful period. | After weeks of overtime, we were all looking forward to a much-needed break. |
| map out an itinerary | C1 | Collocation | To plan the details of a journey or trip in advance. | We booked a hotel and mapped out an itinerary for the whole weekend. |
| come down with | B2 | Phrasal verb | To become ill with an illness, usually one that is not serious. | She came down with food poisoning two days before we were due to leave. |
| a nasty bout of | C1 | Noun phrase | A short but unpleasant period of an illness. | A nasty bout of the flu kept me in bed for almost a week. |
| in no state to (travel) | C1 | Fixed phrase | Not in a suitable physical or mental condition to do something. | She was so unwell that she was in no state to travel anywhere. |
| unanimously | C1 | Adverb | With everyone in a group agreeing completely. | We unanimously decided to postpone the trip until she felt better. |
| postpone | B2 | Verb | To arrange for an event to take place at a later time than planned. | We had to postpone the whole trip because one of us was ill. |
| low-key | C1 | Adjective | Quiet, relaxed and not involving a lot of fuss or excitement. | In the end we went for something much more low-key, just staying in. |
| a get-together | B2 | Noun | An informal, casual social gathering of friends or family. | We arranged a small get-together at my place with some food and movies. |
| feel left out | B2 | Fixed phrase | To feel excluded or not included in an activity that others are enjoying. | She joined us on a video call so she wouldn’t feel completely left out. |
| have its own charm | C1 | Fixed phrase | To be appealing or pleasant in a special, distinctive way. | It wasn’t as exciting as the beach, but the evening had its own charm. |
| gutted | C1 | Adjective (informal) | Extremely disappointed or upset about something. | I was absolutely gutted when I found out the trip was off. |
| count down the days | C1 | Idiom | To wait eagerly for something, being very aware of how soon it will happen. | I’d been counting down the days and had even booked time off work. |
| a blessing in disguise | C2 | Idiom | Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good. | Staying home was actually a blessing in disguise — I saved money and recharged. |
| recharge | C1 | Verb | To rest and relax so that you get your energy and enthusiasm back. | A quiet weekend at home gave me the chance to recharge properly. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: A trip I had to cancel
Sample Answer 3
When this happened
It was just a few weeks ago when I was finalizing our travel plans.
What made you change the plan
Originally, my friends and I had our hearts set on visiting South Korea, especially Jeju Island, which we had heard was incredibly popular. However, when we started looking into flight prices, we realized that tickets to Japan were much cheaper. Given our budget constraints, we decided to make a switch.
What the new plan was
We changed our destination to Japan, an island nation in East Asia, famous for its culture, nature, and fashion. We were excited about exploring the seaside, such as the Yokohama Coast. I rode my bike there with my friends, and we also enjoyed taking a leisurely walk since the area was relatively quiet. I thought it was such a romantic idea to stroll down the lovely path hand-in-hand with someone special.
And how you felt about the change
At first, I was a bit hesitant about changing our plans, but I’m so glad we did. Japan turned out to be an incredible destination, and we had the time of our lives. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable travel experience.
Part 3
Sample 1
1. Do people often change their plans?
In my opinion, we can split this into two situations. Being forced to alter plans is common, while adjusting them voluntarily shows maturity. It seems like most people keep changing schedules, yet most of the time they just give in to unexpected matters. Life is full of uncontrollable variables. Sudden work deadlines, family emergencies or travel disruptions all force people to put original arrangements aside, which explains why plan changes happen so often. Yet some adjustments are made voluntarily. Sticking rigidly to a fixed plan is not always the best choice. If we realize our initial goals no longer match our needs, or a more rewarding new option comes along, actively revising our goals can save us from unnecessary detours.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alter (a plan) | C1 | Verb | To change something so that it is different, without replacing it completely. | Being forced to alter your plans at short notice is fairly common these days. |
| adjust | B2 | Verb | To make small changes to something so that it fits a new situation. | People who can adjust their plans calmly tend to cope better with stress. |
| show maturity | C1 | Collocation | To behave in a sensible, grown-up way that shows good judgement. | Changing course when it’s needed actually shows a lot of maturity. |
| give in to | B2 | Phrasal verb | To stop resisting something and accept it, often reluctantly. | Most of the time we simply give in to things beyond our control. |
| uncontrollable variables | C2 | Noun phrase | Factors in a situation that you cannot predict or manage. | Life is full of uncontrollable variables that throw our plans off track. |
| a tight deadline | B2 | Collocation | A time by which work must be finished that leaves very little spare time. | A sudden tight deadline at work can wreck your evening plans instantly. |
| a family emergency | B2 | Noun phrase | A serious, unexpected family situation that needs immediate attention. | A family emergency will always take priority over a night out. |
| travel disruptions | C1 | Noun phrase | Interruptions to journeys, such as delays or cancellations. | Travel disruptions like cancelled flights force people to rethink everything. |
| put (something) aside | C1 | Phrasal verb | To leave something for later or stop dealing with it for the time being. | They had to put their original arrangements aside and start over. |
| stick rigidly to | C1 | Collocation | To follow a plan or rule strictly, without any flexibility. | Sticking rigidly to a fixed plan isn’t always the smartest choice. |
| no longer match our needs | C1 | Collocation | To stop being suitable for what a person actually wants or requires. | If our goals no longer match our needs, it’s wise to rethink them. |
| a more rewarding option | C1 | Noun phrase | A choice that gives greater satisfaction or benefit than another. | Sometimes a more rewarding option comes along and we happily switch. |
| revise our goals | C1 | Collocation | To change or update your aims in light of new information or circumstances. | Actively revising our goals can steer us in a better direction. |
| unnecessary detours | C2 | Noun phrase | Longer or indirect routes that waste time and could have been avoided. | Adjusting early can save you from a lot of unnecessary detours. |
2. What kind of plans do people often make?
Well, the most common ones are definitely study plans. But I think they’re usually short term plans because, you know, there’s a lot of contents you have to cram everything in. So usually the plans are pretty brutal and rigid. And I think for most students, it’s really hard to stick to it like long term. But yeah, I also got some people have like non-goal for English study, like language studying. And so it’s counted by years. Right.
I think another plan is very popular. It’s definitely a travel plan, especially if you want to go abroad. And then you have to do, you know, a lot of prepping stuff. You know, if you don’t do it, then the accommodation fee or like the flight ticket, it can skyrocket. Of course, you don’t want to get ripped off at the moment. So you kind of have to like plan ahead just for the sake of money. Right.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| short-term plan | B2 | Noun phrase | A plan that covers a brief period and aims for quick results. | Most study plans are short-term ones aimed at an exam a few weeks away. |
| cram everything in | C1 | Phrasal verb | To fit a large amount of study or activity into a very short time. | There’s so much material that you end up cramming everything in at once. |
| brutal | C1 | Adjective | Extremely tough or demanding; very hard to cope with. | The revision schedule was pretty brutal, with barely any free time. |
| rigid | C1 | Adjective | Fixed and strict, with little room for change or flexibility. | A rigid timetable is hard to follow when life keeps getting in the way. |
| stick to (a plan) | B2 | Phrasal verb | To keep doing what you have planned and not give up. | For most students it’s really hard to stick to a plan over the long term. |
| long-term goal | B2 | Noun phrase | An aim that you work towards over an extended period, often years. | Learning a language is a long-term goal that’s counted in years, not weeks. |
| go abroad | B2 | Verb phrase | To travel to or live in a foreign country. | If you want to go abroad, there’s a lot of preparation involved. |
| plan ahead | B2 | Phrasal verb | To make arrangements for the future in good time. | You really have to plan ahead so the costs don’t get out of hand. |
| accommodation | B2 | Noun | A place to stay or live, such as a hotel, hostel or flat. | Booking accommodation early usually gets you a much better rate. |
| skyrocket | C1 | Verb | To rise very quickly and suddenly to a high level. | Leave it too late and flight prices can skyrocket overnight. |
| get ripped off | C1 | Idiom (informal) | To be charged far too much for something, or be cheated. | Nobody wants to get ripped off just because they booked at the last minute. |
| for the sake of | C1 | Fixed phrase | In order to help, protect or benefit something or someone. | You plan everything in advance, mostly for the sake of saving money. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: What plans are most common?
3. Would you tell others if you change your plan?
It depends on the situation. If the change affects other people, for example, if I made a plan with friends or colleagues, then I would definitely tell them as soon as possible, so they can adjust their own schedules. If it’s a personal plan that only involves me, like changing my workout routine or reading list, I probably wouldn’t tell anyone, because it’s my own business and nobody gets involved. So basically, I tell others when the change impacts them.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| it depends on the situation | B2 | Fixed phrase | A way of saying that the answer varies according to the circumstances. | It depends on the situation. |
| affect (someone) | B2 | Verb | To have an influence on or make a difference to someone. | If the change affects other people, I would definitely tell them. |
| colleagues | B2 | Noun | People you work with, especially in a professional job. | If I made a plan with friends or colleagues, I’d let them know. |
| adjust one’s schedule | B2 | Collocation | To change the arrangement of one’s time or activities. | I tell them as soon as possible, so they can adjust their own schedules. |
| personal plan | B2 | Noun phrase | A plan that concerns only yourself and no one else. | If it’s a personal plan that only involves me, I probably wouldn’t tell anyone. |
| involve | B2 | Verb | To include or affect someone as a necessary part of something. | If it’s a personal plan that only involves me, nobody else needs to know. |
| workout routine | B2 | Noun phrase | A regular set of exercises you do to keep fit. | Something like changing my workout routine or reading list. |
| it’s my own business | C1 | Fixed phrase | Used to say that something concerns only you and no one else. | I probably wouldn’t tell anyone, because it’s my own business. |
| get involved | B2 | Phrasal verb | To take part in something or be connected with it. | It’s my own business and nobody gets involved. |
| impact (someone) | B2 | Verb | To have a strong effect on someone or something. | Basically, I tell others when the change impacts them. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Do you tell others when you change plans?
4. Why do you think parents still make plans for their children nowadays?
In today’s world, parents continue to make plans for their children for several key reasons. So one of the main reasons is that many parents want to ensure that their children have a stable and successful future. So they believe that their life experience and knowledge give them the insight into making better decisions about things like education, career, and personal development. So, for instance, parents may choose specific school or extracurricular activities they think will best prepare their children for success based on what they’ve learned through their own experiences. In addition to this, cultural and societal expectations also play a significant role in why parents plan their children’s future. In many cultures, parents are seen as responsible for guiding their children towards certain goals, such as higher education or a stable career. So these societal pressures shape the decisions parents make for their children’s future. For example, in some families, there’s an expectation that children will pursue a prestigious job like becoming a doctor or engineer. Because it’s viewed as a sign of success and security within that community.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ensure | B2 | Verb | To make certain that something happens or is the case. | Many parents want to ensure that their children have a successful future. |
| a stable and successful future | B2 | Noun phrase | A future that is secure, steady and marked by achievement. | They want to ensure their children have a stable and successful future. |
| life experience | B2 | Noun phrase | The knowledge and understanding a person gains from living and doing things. | They believe their life experience helps them make better decisions. |
| insight | C1 | Noun | A clear, deep understanding of a situation. | Their knowledge gives them the insight into making better decisions. |
| personal development | C1 | Noun phrase | The process of improving your skills, character and abilities over time. | They make decisions about education, career and personal development. |
| extracurricular activities | C1 | Noun phrase | Activities done at school but outside the normal lessons, like sport or clubs. | Parents may choose specific extracurricular activities for their children. |
| prepare (someone) for success | B2 | Collocation | To get someone ready so they are able to do well in the future. | They pick activities they think will best prepare their children for success. |
| cultural and societal expectations | C1 | Noun phrase | The things a culture or society assumes people should do or achieve. | Cultural and societal expectations also play a significant role. |
| play a significant role | C1 | Collocation | To be an important factor in causing or influencing something. | Societal expectations play a significant role in how parents plan. |
| guide (someone) towards | B2 | Verb phrase | To lead or direct someone in the direction of a particular goal. | Parents are seen as responsible for guiding their children towards certain goals. |
| higher education | B2 | Noun phrase | Education at university or college level. | They guide their children towards goals such as higher education. |
| a stable career | B2 | Collocation | A steady, secure job that is likely to last. | Many parents hope their children will settle into a stable career. |
| societal pressures | C1 | Noun phrase | The demands or influences that society places on people to behave in certain ways. | These societal pressures shape the decisions parents make. |
| shape (decisions) | C1 | Verb | To have a strong influence on how something develops or is decided. | Societal pressures shape the decisions parents make for their children. |
| pursue (a job) | C1 | Verb | To work towards achieving something, such as a career, over time. | There’s an expectation that children will pursue a prestigious job. |
| prestigious | C1 | Adjective | Respected and admired, usually because of high status or importance. | A prestigious job like a doctor is viewed as a sign of success. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Why parents plan their children’s future
5. How does technology help people make plans?
I think the biggest advantage that technology has when making plans is the speed at which we can collect information and communicate with others. And I’ve got two examples that I think illustrate this really, really well.
Firstly, when booking or planning a holiday. Now, using tools like ChatGPT or DeepSeek, you can do all of that in a matter of minutes. From comparing and booking your hotels, looking at all of the different flights offered by the airlines and choosing the right one for you. And finally, to planning an itinerary. What do you want to do when you arrive at your destination? From entertainment to restaurants and everything else in between.
The second is when making plans with friends. Not so long ago, and again, I remember from my childhood, you would have had to make individual phone calls to all of your friends, hoping that you can come to a consensus on when and where to meet. Nowadays, you stick all of your friends into a group on Weixin and you can communicate and exchange ideas, chat through different options and finally make a decision. It’s made things super simple and really, really easy and convenient to make plans. So there we go. Two great examples of how technology has made making plans a doddle.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| illustrate | B2 | Verb | To make something clear by giving examples. | I’ve got two examples that illustrate this really well. |
| in a matter of minutes | C1 | Fixed phrase | Within a very short period of time; extremely quickly. | Using tools like ChatGPT, you can do all of that in a matter of minutes. |
| itinerary | C1 | Noun | A detailed plan of a journey, listing places and what you will do. | Finally, you get to planning an itinerary for the trip. |
| destination | B2 | Noun | The place someone is travelling to. | What do you want to do when you arrive at your destination? |
| everything (else) in between | C1 | Fixed phrase | All the other things that fall between two extremes already mentioned. | From entertainment to restaurants and everything else in between. |
| come to a consensus | C1 | Collocation | To reach general agreement within a group. | You’d make calls hoping you could come to a consensus on when to meet. |
| exchange ideas | B2 | Collocation | To share thoughts and suggestions with other people. | In the group chat you can communicate and exchange ideas easily. |
| make a decision | B2 | Collocation | To choose what to do after considering the options. | You chat through different options and finally make a decision. |
| convenient | B2 | Adjective | Easy to use and suited to your needs, saving time or effort. | It’s made it really easy and convenient to make plans. |
| a doddle | C2 | Idiom (informal) | Something that is very easy to do. | Technology has made making plans a doddle. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: How technology helps us make plans
Sample 2
1. Do people often change their plans?
Yes, people often change their plans. It could be due to unexpected circumstances like bad weather or sudden work commitments. For instance, someone might cancel, a weekend trip if they have to finish an urgent project at work. Changing plans is quite common nowadays, as people lead busy and unpredictable lives.
2. Would you tell others if you change your plan?
Yes, I would definitely tell others if I changed my plan, especially if it involves them. It’s important to let people know so they can adjust their own schedule. For example, if I planned to meet a friend for lunch but had to cancel, l’d inform them as soon as possible to avoid wasting their time. I think it’s just a matter of being considerate and responsible.
3. Why do you think parents still make plans for their children nowadays?
I think parents still make plans for their children because they want to guide them towards a better future. Parents usually have more life experience and believe they know what’s best for their kids. For example, they might plan their child’s education or extracurricular activities to help them develop important skills or achieve academic success.
Also, in today’s competitive world, many parents feel that planning ahead gives their children an advantage. While some children might not like it, I think most parents do this out of love and concern for their child’s future.
4. How does technology help people make plans?
Technology helps people make plans by making the process faster and more convenient. For example, apps like DingTalk allow users to schedule tasks, set reminders, and stay organized. Navigation apps like Google Maps also help plan trips by showing the fastest routes or real-time traffic updates.
In addition, technology makes it easier to coordinate plans with others through tools like group chats or shared calendars.
Overall, it saves time and helps people manage their plans more effectively.
Some IELTS Speaking part 2 cue-cards you may like :
- (Update 2026) Describe A Tv Series You Like
- (Update 2026) Describe A Sport That You Really Like
- (Update 2026) Describe A Popular/well Known Person In Your Country
- (Update 2026) Describe a Boring Place
Credits
Image : Photo by Felix Rostig on Unsplash
