Describe a time when you told your friend an important truth
Describe a time when you told your friend an important truth.
You should say:
- Who your friend is
- What was the truth
- What your friend’s reaction was
- And explain why it was important for you to tell the truth
💡 You have 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1-2 minutes.
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Sample Answer
I would like to talk about a time when I told my close friend Rahul an important truth. We have been friends since school, and we share almost everything with each other, but this situation was a bit different and serious.
What was the truth?
This happened last year when Rahul was preparing for an important job interview. He had made a presentation, and he was very confident about it. When he showed it to me, I noticed that there were several spelling mistakes and also some points that were not explained clearly.
At first, I hesitated because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings or lower his confidence. But then I realized that if I stayed quiet, he might face problems during the interview. So, I decided to be honest with him and told him directly that the presentation needed some corrections.
What your friend’s reaction was?
At the beginning, Rahul was a little surprised, and I could see he felt slightly upset. But when I showed him the exact mistakes and gave him suggestions to improve, he understood that I was being honest for his benefit.
Later, he corrected everything, practiced again, and actually performed really well in the interview. Afterward, he thanked me for being truthful and said that it helped him a lot.
Why it was important?
It was important for me to tell the truth because sometimes friends only say nice things to make each other happy, but real friendship means helping someone improve.
If I had stayed silent, Rahul might not have realized his mistakes. By telling the truth, I supported him in achieving his goal.
Conclusion
So, this was a time when I told my friend an important truth. It made me realize that honesty, even if it is uncomfortable at first, can actually strengthen relationships and build more trust.
Follow-up Questions (Part 3)
Do you think we should always tell the truth?
I think we should try to be honest most of the time because truth builds trust and respect. However, in some situations, being too direct can hurt someone’s feelings, so it’s important to be honest in a polite and sensitive way.
How do you know when others are telling the truth?
It’s not always easy, but usually people who tell the truth sound confident and consistent. Their body language also matches their words. If someone keeps changing their story, it’s a sign they may not be telling the truth.
Do you think it is important to win the game or follow the rules?
I believe following the rules is more important. Winning by cheating does not give real satisfaction, but playing honestly builds character, teamwork, and respect. Winning feels good, but winning fairly feels even better.
Sometimes, people should tell lies. Do you agree?
Yes, I agree in some situations. For example, small lies can be told to avoid hurting someone’s emotions or to protect someone’s privacy. But in important matters, especially where trust or safety is involved, it is always better to be truthful.
- • Use the 1-minute preparation time to make notes and organize your thoughts
- • Speak for the full 1-2 minutes - don't stop too early
- • Use past tense when describing experiences or events
- • Include specific details and examples to make your answer interesting
- • Practice transitions between different points in your answer
- • Stay calm if you can't think of a perfect example - any relevant story works
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