Part 2 · Band 6

Describe a time when you answered phone call from someone you did not kow in a public place

Illustrative target band for this model answer · 201 words

AI-completed learning example

Well, today I would like to share with you a time when I received and answered a phone call from a stranger in a public place. This occurred last summer when I was at a cafe with my boyfriend at the time, enjoying a pleasant drink. Right in the middle of our conversation, my phone started ringing, and I noticed that I didn’t recognise the number. I hesitated for a moment because I was in a busy cafe, but then I answered and spoke quietly. The man on the other end sounded polite. He asked if he had reached the person he was trying to contact, and I told him that he had called the wrong number. He apologized, and we ended the call after less than a minute. My boyfriend asked who it was, so I explained what had happened, and we carried on talking. The call was ordinary, but I remember it because it interrupted a relaxed afternoon and made me briefly cautious. I think I handled it sensibly: I listened, gave a short answer, and didn’t share any personal information. Since then, I’ve felt more prepared to deal calmly with unexpected calls, even when I’m out in public.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The account moves in a clear sequence: “last summer” establishes the setting, the ringing phone introduces the event, and the ending explains why it stayed in your memory. The brief exchange and your response also make the story easy to follow. To develop it further in speech, practise retelling this answer in two minutes, using the stages setting, interruption, response, and reflection, then check that each stage connects naturally.

Lexical Resource

The vocabulary is relevant and understandable, with useful phrases such as “didn’t recognise the number,” “called the wrong number,” and “unexpected calls.” These let you describe the event and your reaction without losing focus. “Enjoying a pleasant drink” is understandable but slightly unnatural as a collocation. As an optional refinement, use “having a drink together” and practise a few precise feeling words, such as cautious, surprised, or reassured.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

You use a good mix of simple and complex structures, including the time clause “when I was at a cafe” and the sequence “I hesitated for a moment because I was in a busy cafe, but then I answered.” These constructions are clear and controlled in this text. The opening description is a little crowded around “at the time, enjoying,” so consider separating the setting from the event to make the spoken delivery easier.

Pronunciation

Pronunciation cannot be assessed from text, and this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise the word stress in “unexpected” and “apologized,” then group “I hesitated for a moment” and “but then I answered” as two thought units. Record yourself reading the answer once, listen back, and check that the stressed words remain clear and that you pause briefly between the story stages.

A transcript shows language and organisation. Fluency, delivery and pronunciation require an audio recording; the synthetic voice demonstrates the text, not the original speaker.

  • Practise this story aloud in four timed stages: setting (20 seconds), what happened (40 seconds), your response (30 seconds), and why you remember it (20 seconds).
  • Replace “pleasant drink” with a more natural phrase such as “having a drink together,” and prepare two or three precise words for your reaction.
  • Add one short reflective sentence after describing the call, then check that it explains your response without repeating the same point.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Explain why you answered an unknown number instead of ignoring it.
  • Describe the caller’s request and how you tried to help, even if you could not give exact directions.
  • Contrast your initial surprise with how you felt after the short conversation.

Suggested structure

  1. Set the scene with when and where you were having coffee.
  2. Describe the unexpected call and identify that the caller was a stranger.
  3. Explain what the caller needed and how you responded.
  4. Conclude with your feelings and why you remember the incident.
Useful vocabulary & examples
ring unexpectedly
to make a sound suddenly when you were not expecting a call

My phone rang unexpectedly while I was having coffee.

call the wrong number
to telephone someone by mistake

The caller had called the wrong number but asked me for directions.

give directions
to explain how someone can get to a place

I tried to give directions to the restaurant he was looking for.

carry on with my day
to continue your usual activities

After we said goodbye, I finished my coffee and carried on with my day.

Practise your answer →

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