Author: Pooja Ph.D. CELTA

IELTS Cue card: A plant that you find useful

IELTS Cue card: A plant that you find useful

Describe a plant that you find useful.
You should say:

  • Its name?
  • Where it is commonly grown?
  • What it looks like?
  • And explain why you find it useful.

IELTS Cue card: A plant that you find useful

Sample answer

I’m a nature lover. I have planted many different types of plants in my garden. All of them have their own special features. Today, I will talk about one plant which I think is highly beneficial.

The name of the plant is aloe vera. It’s a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant. The average height of the plant is around 60-100 cm. It has triangular, fleshy green leaves with serrated edges. These prickly leaves act as a defence against animals and insects.

There are different species of aloe vera, and they are commonly found in most parts of the world. Aloe can grow indoors as well as outdoors. A certain amount of sunlight is essential for these plants to thrive.

I’ve read many reports about the health benefits of aloe vera. This plant is not only used in medicine but is also a vital ingredient in cosmetic products. It’s packed with antiviral and antibacterial properties which make it ideal for curing skin problems. My mother always uses aloe vera mixed with coconut oil to moisturise her hair before washing it, and I have to say, she’s nearly fifty years old, but there are no signs of white, fragile or dry hair. It really is an incredible plant, and it’s so easy to grow too!

High level words and their meanings:

succulent: a plant in which the leaves and stem are thick and can store a lot of water,

serrated: having a row of sharp points along the edge,

 thrive: to grow, develop, or be successful, fragile: easily damaged, broken, or harmed

Another Similar Cue Card

Talk about a plant that you find useful.

  • What is the common name of the plant, mention scientific name if you know it?
  • Who informed you about the plant and where did you see it for the first time?
  • Which climate is suitable for its growth and where is it found?

And what are its uses and when did you use it last time?

SAMPLE ANSWER TWO –

We have several useful plants in our environment. Knowledge of botany enables us to know the species, botanical names and several utilities of the plants. For instance, roses are used for perfumery and decorations, primarily. Well, for this conversation, I would like to discuss the plant that goes by the common name of ‘Neem’. Fortunately, I can remember its botanical name too, as it is a common species. Azadirachta Indica is its botanical name, and it’s a species of mahogany called Meliaceae.

My grandfather first made me see the plant on our patio. We had a big house with a large courtyard, where my grandfather used to pick a twig of neem to cleanse his mouth in the morning. I still remember him calling the name of the tree aloud to me when I was nearly 7 years old. I never forgot the name since then, although I read the botanical name later out of my own curiosity.

A tropical climate with average rainfall is most conducive for its growth. It is a deciduous tree that sheds its leaves for a very brief period in autumn. It takes a few years for a neem plant to grow into a full tree. Mostly, it is found in the Indian subcontinent and a few other tropical regions with average rainfall.

The neem tree has several uses because of its herbal and medicinal properties. As told by me earlier, its twigs are used for teeth cleaning and overall mouth cleansing. Its leaves and bark find applications in several herbal medicines for dermatitis and other disorders related to several organs like liver, stomach and heart. It is also used in naphtha balls. I used it last in my fields as fertiliser, as the govt has recently come up with neem-coated urea for its ecological friendliness.

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IELTS Cue Card #Describe a mistake you made

Here is latest cue card question.

Describe a mistake you made

    • what the mistake was
    • when you made it
    • why you made it

And explain how it affected you.

Here is latest cue card question November 2016. Describe a mistake you made. Sample answer is on Level IELTS Band9. Best BAND7 IELTS Dehradun IELTS online simulator IELTS BAND 7 Coaching Classes

Sample Answer

To err is human. Today, I’m going to talk about a mistake I made when I was in 6th class.

One day my sister was quite unwell. She was suffering from fever. There was only one doctor in my village and there were no mobile phones at that time. The only way to call the doctor was to send someone to fetch him. Unfortunately, my father had gone somewhere.  My mother asked me to go to the doctor. Since it was quite cold and dark outside, I told her that I would fetch the doctor tomorrow.

In the night my sister’s condition deteriorated, her fever was touching the mark of 104-105 degree Fahrenheit. She started murmuring. That was the most difficult time for me and my mummy. I was cursing myself. If I had gone to the doctor on time, my sister would not have been in this situation.

I made this mistake without realizing that I was making a mistake. I was a child and I had no idea about how high fever can be life threatening for someone.

This incident affected me a lot. With God’s grace and my mother’s efforts, my sister survived. But, her complete recovery took a long time. Now, I am much more careful about health and I never ignore any kind of health problems.

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IELTS Speaking Cue card: a piece of furniture you have in your house

IELTS Speaking Cue card: a piece of furniture you have in your house

Describe a piece of furniture you have in your home.
You should say:
• What kind it is and what you use it for
• What materials it is made of
• How the piece of furniture was chosen for your home
• And explain how you feel about this piece of furniture.

Sample Answer

It is said that a home is the reflection of its inhabitants. In the quest of keeping it as beautiful and comfortable as possible, we all keep collecting showpieces, furniture and furnishings etc. Although, there are many things which are dear to me, I’d like to talk about my dining table which I purchased from Kashmir, a north Indian state known for its wood carving.
It is a four-seater rectangular dining table made of walnut wood. The entire table top is carved intricately by hand. The motifs are primarily composed of maple leaves which signify the maple trees of Kashmir. It is a masterpiece of brilliant craftsmanship as everything is painstakingly made by hand. What makes it unique is that not even an inch of the table surface is left without carving. The whole surface is polished in natural wood color after which it has been varnished to impart it a shine. We have covered it by a glass top which besides enhancing its beauty also protects it from dust. The table has four matching dining chairs which make it perfect for our family of four members.
I am extremely fond of this dining table as it reminds me of the lovely time we spent in the most splendid Kashmir valley. Also, it is a unique piece of furniture which is not commonly available everywhere.

Sample Answer Two by Pooja

My house is fully equipped with indoor and outdoor furniture. Today, I’m going to talk about my study table.
This table is in my bedroom. It’s a brand new piece of furniture and is probably very expensive. It’s a large table with two shelves to keep books. It has a separate drawer for keeping a laptop and small electronic devices. It even incorporates an inbuilt LED bulb for late night reading. I don’t exactly know what material it is made of but I think it’s made of oak.
I received it as a present from my parents on my last birthday. My mum is very selective. She must have visited many furniture showrooms before buying this modern, unique piece of furniture for my room.
I love the design of this table. It’s just perfect. It has transformed the appearance of my room. In fact, this table has made me more organized. Everyone who visits me appreciates the table for its brilliant quality. They even ask about the place from where it was bought. At this point of time, I can say that I’ll keep this table for my life. Even if I move to a new place, I’ll get it transported carefully.

IELTS CUE CARD – Describe a work of art you saw

IELTS Speaking: Most common cue card topics

This is a list of most common cue card topics that were given to IELTS candidates in the speaking test.

Cue card topics 

  1. Describe someone who knows a lot about something
  2. A rule formed in your school that you agree/disagree with
  3. Describe a person you work/study with
  4. Describe something you bought recently and you are happy with it
  5. A foreign city you’d like to visit
  6. A plan you’ve been making for long but it didn’t work
  7. Describe a place where people go to spend leisure time
  8. Talk about a friend who cleverly solved a problem
  9. Talk about a language lesson you enjoyed
  10. Describe a good news that you have received recently
  11. Describe recent changes in your life
  12. Talk about your ideal home
  13. A garden you visited as a child
  14. Describe something that you taught to your friend/relative
  15. A special cake you had
  16. A time when you teamed up with an old person
  17. Describe an interesting conversation you had with a stranger
  18. A healthy lifestyle that you follow
  19. An occasion when you helped someone
  20. Describe a person who took a decision for you recently
  21. Describe a time when you visited new school/home
  22. A time when you had to use your imagination
  23. A moment you laughed a lot
  24. Describe a website you have used recently
  25. Describe an interesting person from other country
  26. An organization you’d like to work for
  27. Your perfect holiday destination
  28. Describe a place that is not frequented by people
  29. When someone gave positive comments to you
  30. A book that has influenced you
  31. Describe a visit to a place that is not famous
  32. Describe a special cake you made for someone
  33. A group of people that made you smile
  34. A small business you’d like to start
  35. Describe a shop recently opened in your area
  36. Describe something you got for free
  37. A plant that you find useful
  38. A person who helped you in your studies
  39. Disagreement with a decision someone made
  40. Your favourite item of clothing
  41. Good news about a person you know well
  42. Something you’re planning to do but haven’t done it yet
  43. A gift that made you happy
  44. A happy married couple
  45. An English lesson that has influenced you
  46. Something you got for free
  47. Facilities you want in your hometown
  48. Talk about your favourite sport
  49. An invention you find very useful
  50. A big company/organisation near you
  51. A businessman that you admire
  52. A person’s service in a restaurant
  53. An expensive hobby you can’t pursue daily
  54. Swimming pool(Speaking Sample Answers)
  55. Describe your favourite song
  56. My first mobile phone
  57. State of Public Transport
  58. Describe a subject you enjoyed studying at school
  59. Talk about a time when you searched for some information on the internet
  60. Talk about a beautiful city
  61. Describe a decision that you made
  62. Talk about a skill that takes a long time to learn
  63. Describe something interesting that your friend have done
  65. Important Event
  66. Describe your dream House
  67. Describe a famous person you would like to meet
  68. Describe a time when you got into trouble
  69. Describe a building with architectural interest
  70. Describe a piece of modern technology that you own
  71. Describe a job that you hope to have
  72. Talk about an event when you were congratulated
  73. Describe someone you know who is a good cook
  74. Describe something useful that you learned from a member of your family
  75. An interesting animal in your country
  76. Talk about a season that you enjoy
  77. Describe an open- air or street market which you enjoyed visiting
  78. Describe a song that you like
  79. Describe an unusual meal you had
  80. Talk about a book that you liked
  81. Describe a sport you have seen on tv and would like to try
  82. Talk about a tv series that you remember
  83. Talk about a river or lake in your country
  84. Describe a comic actor who is popular in your country
  85. Design a building you visited and liked
  86. Talk about a talkative person that you liked
  87. Describe an important decision/choice that you made in your life
  88. Talk about a speech which somebody delivered and you heard 
  89. Describe a foreign country you have never been to.
  90. Describe a subject taught in your school.
  91. Describe your dream college/University.
  92. Tell about a time when you had to write a lot
  93. Talk about something important you lost in the past
  94. Talk about a leisure activity you have done with your family
  95. Describe a happy day you would like to have
  96. Describe an interesting conversation you had with someone you did not know
  97. Describe something useful you learned from a member of your family
  98. Describe something useful you borrowed from another person
  99. Describe any practical skill you have
  100. Talk about a recent experience when the internet solved your problem
  101. Talk about a time when you didn’t share a truth with your best friend
  102. Describe a historical period/time you want to know more about
  103. Describe a thing that has become a matter of status nowadays
  104. Describe a plant that you find useful
  105. Describe a rule that you did not like in your school
  106. Describe something you own which has important to you
  107. Describe a famous person whom you admire
  108. Describe a common dress that females in your country wear
  109. Describe a club you organized or involved in it
  110. Describe something you bought but did not use much
  111. Describe an outdoor activity that you did for the first time
  112. Describe an old object which your family has kept for a long time
  113. Talk about an instance when you were cheated, or somebody lied to you, or didn’t tell you the complete truth
  114. Describe your favorite movie
  115. Describe an occasion when the vehicle you were traveling in broke down
  116. Describe an old person you met who has inspired you
  117. Describe an impressive advertisement you remember well
  118. Describe a person you know whom you think is well-dressed
  119. Describe your favorite way to relax
  120. Describe a TV series you like
  121. Describe a good law in your country
  122. A Season you enjoy
  123. Describe an important plant in your country
  124. Describe a foreign cultural festival that you like
  125. Describe someone who knows a lot about something
  126. Describe the job/ career you have or hope to have
  127. Describe a piece of modern technology that you own
  128. Describe someone who learned a foreign language
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