Cambridge IELTS 20 Speaking Test-2 with Answer / Cambridge Book-20 Speaking Test -2/ IELTS Speaking- Cambridge Book-20 Test 2 Questions with Answers / IELTS Speaking - Cambridge Book's Answers

Cambridge IELTS 20 Speaking Test- 2

Speaking Part 1

Fruit

• What’s your favourite fruit?

• Are there any kinds of fruit that you don’t like eating?

• Do you like eating cooked food that has fruit in it?

• Where’s the best place to buy fruit where you live?

Speaking Part 2

Describe a time when you changed a plan you had made

You should say:

• What your original plan was

• Why you changed it

• What new plan you madeand explain how you felt about changing your plan.

Speaking Part 3

Making Plans with Friends

• What kinds of plans do friends make together?

• Do you think it’s better to discuss future plans with friends or with family?

• When making plans for the future, is it important not to copy friends?

Career Planning and Development

• When people are choosing what to study, how important is it that their course should lead directly to a career?

• Why is it a good idea to get some work experience before deciding on a future career?

• How easy do you think it is for people to change from one career to another?

Questions and Answers

Part 1: Fruit

What’s your favourite fruit?

I would definitely have to say mangoes. Here in Doha, especially during the summer, we get these incredible, sweet mangoes imported from South Asia. When they are perfectly ripe and in season, nothing really beats them. I could honestly eat them every single day without ever getting bored.

Are there any kinds of fruit that you don’t like eating?

Yes, I really can’t stand papaya. I know a lot of people love it because it’s super healthy, but I just can't get past the texture. It feels a bit too mushy for my liking, and it has this strange, earthy smell that completely puts me off. It’s definitely an acquired taste that I haven't acquired yet!

Do you like eating cooked food that has fruit in it?

Generally, I prefer my fruit fresh, but I do have a massive sweet tooth when it comes to baked desserts. I absolutely love warm apple pie or peach cobbler, especially when the fruit gets soft and caramelized with cinnamon and sugar. However, I draw the line at savory dishes—like putting pineapple on a pizza. That just feels wrong to me.

Where’s the best place to buy fruit where you live?

If you want the best variety, large hypermarkets like Family Qatar or Lulu are usually my go-to spots because they import fresh produce from all over the world, so you can find almost anything. But if you want the absolute freshest, seasonal stuff at a bargain, going to the central wholesale market early in the morning is the best option, though it requires waking up super early.

Part 2: Describe a time when you changed a plan you had made

A time I had to drastically change my plans was just a couple of months ago, right after our midterm exams. My friends and I had been planning this massive outdoor barbecue at Al Bidda Park for weeks. We had everything sorted out—who was bringing the marinated chicken, who was bringing the drinks, the picnic blankets, and the speakers. We were incredibly excited just to be outside and celebrate the end of a very stressful exam week.

However, on the actual morning of the picnic, we woke up to a massive sandstorm. The sky was completely orange, the wind was howling, and the air quality was terrible. It was one of those days where the authorities advise everyone to just stay indoors. Obviously, sitting in a park eating sand-covered burgers wasn't going to work, so we had to cancel the outdoor idea immediately.

Instead of just calling the whole day off, we quickly pivoted to an indoor plan. We decided to meet up at the Mall of Qatar instead. We grabbed lunch at a nice indoor burger joint, watched the latest action movie at the cinema, and then spent a couple of hours playing bowling.

At first, I was honestly pretty bummed out. I had really been looking forward to the fresh air and the whole grilling experience. But as the day went on, I realized the change of plans was actually a blessing in disguise. The mall was heavily air-conditioned, there were no bugs, and nobody had to deal with the messy cleanup of a barbecue. We ended up laughing for hours and having an absolute blast, so I felt really happy and relieved that we managed to save the day.

Part 3: Making Plans with Friends & Career Planning

What kinds of plans do friends make together?

At my age, as high school seniors, our plans are a mix of fun and serious stuff. On the fun side, we are constantly planning weekend hangouts, like going to the cinema, trying out new cafes, or organizing gaming nights at someone's house. But on the more serious side, we also plan study schedules together, especially with board exams coming up. We organize group study sessions at the local library and even brainstorm ideas for our university applications.

Do you think it’s better to discuss future plans with friends or with family?

I think you genuinely need both, but for different reasons. When you discuss future plans with your family, especially your parents, they bring a lot of practical wisdom and financial reality to the table. They think about long-term security. Friends, on the other hand, are great for emotional support. They understand exactly what you are going through because they are in the exact same boat. They are usually more open to modern, unconventional career paths that older generations might not fully understand.

When making plans for the future, is it important not to copy friends?

It is incredibly important not to just follow the herd. It’s natural to want to go to the same university or pick the same major as your best friend so you can stay together. But doing that is a total recipe for disaster. Everyone has completely different aptitudes, passions, and weaknesses. If you force yourself into a computer science degree just because your best friend is doing it, but you secretly hate coding, you are going to be miserable. You have to chart your own course based on who you are.

When people are choosing what to study, how important is it that their course should lead directly to a career?

Given how expensive university tuition is these days, I’d say it’s highly important. A lot of young people are very anxious about graduating with mountains of debt and no clear job prospects. So, picking a degree like engineering, nursing, or accounting—where there is a direct pipeline to a specific profession—feels much safer. That being said, I don't think it's the only thing that matters. Degrees that teach broad critical thinking skills are still valuable, but you definitely need a realistic plan on how to turn that degree into a paycheck.

Why is it a good idea to get some work experience before deciding on a future career?

Getting work experience, like through a summer internship or a part-time job, is crucial because it shatters the romanticized image you might have of a job. You might watch a TV show about lawyers and think the job is all about dramatic courtroom speeches, but an internship will show you that it’s actually 90% sitting at a desk reading boring documents. Work experience shows you the day-to-day reality, the office politics, and the actual stress of the job, which helps you make an informed decision before committing four years of your life to studying it.

How easy do you think it is for people to change from one career to another?

I don't think it's easy at all, though it is becoming much more common nowadays. Changing careers usually requires a huge leap of faith. You often have to start right back at the bottom of the ladder, which might mean taking a massive pay cut. There's also the challenge of retraining, which takes time and money. It can be incredibly daunting for someone in their thirties or forties to walk away from a stable career and learn something completely new. But for those who are deeply unhappy in their current jobs, that difficult transition is usually worth it in the long run.

Vocabulary

Words/expressions from the text, with meanings in English and Bangla, and examples.

Vocabulary & Expressions List

Word / Expression	Meaning	Meaning in Bangla	Example
In season	When fruit or vegetables are ready to eat and easily available.	মসুমের / ফলের মৌসুম	Strawberries are very cheap right now because they are in season.
Can’t stand	To strongly dislike something or someone.	সহ্য করতে না পারা	I can't stand the sound of loud traffic outside my window.
Mushy	Soft, wet, and thick in a way that is often unpleasant.	নরম ও থকথকে	I overcooked the pasta and it became completely mushy.
Acquired taste	Something that you dislike at first, but begin to like after trying it several times.	অভ্যাসের ফলে তৈরি হওয়া রুচি	Black coffee is definitely an acquired taste for most teenagers.
Sweet tooth	A strong craving or fondness for sweet food and desserts.	মিষ্টি খাওয়ার প্রবল ইচ্ছা বা শখ	I have a massive sweet tooth, so I always order dessert after dinner.
Draw the line	To set a limit on what you will accept or do.	সীমা নির্ধারণ করা / মেনে না নেওয়া	I don't mind helping you study, but I draw the line at doing your homework for you.
Go-to spot	A place you regularly visit because it is reliable or your favorite.	পছন্দের জায়গা / নিয়মিত যাওয়ার স্থান	That cafe is my go-to spot for studying on weekends.
Bummed out	Feeling disappointed, depressed, or upset.	হতাশ বা মন খারাপ হওয়া	I was really bummed out when the concert got cancelled.
Pivot	To completely change your strategy, plan, or direction.	পরিকল্পনা বা দিক পরিবর্তন করা	When the rain started, we had to quickly pivot and move the party indoors.
Blessing in disguise	Something that seems bad or unlucky at first but results in something good happening later.	শাপে বর / শুরুতে খারাপ মনে হলেও পরে ভালো হওয়া	Missing my flight was a blessing in disguise because the next plane had empty first-class seats.
Have an absolute blast	To have a very fun, exciting, and enjoyable time.	দারুণ মজা করা	We went to the amusement park yesterday and had an absolute blast.
In the same boat	To be in the same difficult or challenging situation as someone else.	একই রকম (কঠিন) পরিস্থিতিতে থাকা	Don't worry about the tough exam; all of us students are in the same boat.
Follow the herd	To do what everyone else is doing without thinking for yourself.	অন্ধভাবে অন্যদের অনুসরণ করা / স্রোতে গা ভাসানো	Instead of just following the herd, you should choose a career that makes you happy.
Recipe for disaster	A situation or set of actions that is highly likely to end very badly.	সর্বনাশের কারণ / বিপদের পূর্বাভাস	Giving a teenager a fast sports car is a complete recipe for disaster.
Aptitude	A natural ability or skill to do something well.	সহজাত দক্ষতা বা প্রবণতা	She has an incredible aptitude for learning foreign languages.
Chart your own course	To decide your own path in life or make your own decisions independently.	নিজের পথ নিজে তৈরি করা	My parents wanted me to be a doctor, but I decided to chart my own course and study art.
Romanticized	Described or viewed in a way that makes something seem better or more appealing than it really is.	বাস্তবতার চেয়ে সুন্দর করে ভাবা / কল্পনার রঙ মেশানো	Hollywood movies have completely romanticized what it means to be a spy.
Leap of faith	An act of believing in or attempting something whose success is not guaranteed.	ঝুঁকির ওপর বিশ্বাস রেখে এগিয়ে যাওয়া	Quitting my job to start my own business was a massive leap of faith.
Daunting	Seeming difficult to deal with; intimidating or causing fear.	ভয় উদ্রেককারী / কঠিন মনে হওয়া	Learning how to drive in a busy city can be very daunting at first.
In the long run	Over a long period of time; ultimately.	দীর্ঘমেয়াদে / পরিশেষে	Studying hard now might be exhausting, but it will benefit you in the long run.