Category: Cue Card

Describe a special event (e.g. a festival, carnival or other celebration) that takes place in your country.
You should say:

• When the event takes place
• Why it takes place
• What people do
• And explain why the event is special.

Sample Answer:

I would like to talk about Bagwal, a festival which takes place near the Deivdhura temple in the Champawat district of Uttarakhand, a state in the Northern part of India. It is celebrated on the 11th day of the 5th month (of the Hindu lunar calendar) i.e. in the month of August.

I think, the festival dates back to 8 AD. It was started to appease a Hindu Goddess called Varahi, by sacrificing animal and human blood. Villagers from the surrounding area form two groups, and they start pelting stones at each other, which results in people bleeding. Once the head priest feels that enough blood has been shed he calls for, to stop the fight. Post the event injured people are taken care of and the festival comes to an end with recitation of prayers. People from throughout the state and neighboring state come to witness the festival.

As the date suggest Bagwal is the oldest festival known to mankind, which has managed to live through ages, as well it keep us linked to our tradition. Off lately, no animals are sacrificed, which shows responsible behavior towards the animals. (187 Words)

IELTS BAND 7

Gone are the days when people were born in one place and died at the same place. We are in times when people are always on movement, always shifting, changing places, friends and so much more. This time we are looking at a cue card that talks about how one feels when moving to a new school or home.

Talk about a time when you moved to a new school.

• What were the reasons for moving to the new school?
• explain how did you feel about it
• do you think it is a good idea to change schools frequently?

SAMPLE ANSWER

Over the period of my school days, I have changed schools three times. Sometimes the shifting was because of my father’s transfer, the other time because of my education. Changing schools has always been a piece of cake for me because I do gel up with people. But one time that I really did not enjoyed changing school was when I came to Dehradun for my higher studies. Usually changing schools meant going along with parents, this time it was all new, making the experience entirely different.

Having changed so many schools, I think they do help in developing the personality of a child. It teaches how to gel up with people and be ready for change. But, then it also takes away the stability that sometimes we need in life. Children who frequently go to new schools are often not able to make lasting friendships which are required later in life.

Phrases

Over the period

Meaning – an amount of time

piece of cake

Meaning – something that is very easy to do

Synonym – child’s play, doddle, snap, nothing, breeze, cinch, gift

lasting friendships

Friendships that stay for a longer period of time

IELTS BAND 7

In recent times, people have become more social, making them to attend conferences and meetings, social gatherings and so much more! This time we are looking at a cue card that was recently asked in the IELTS exam about an interesting conference that a person attended.

Describe an interesting conference that you attended. You should say –

• why it was interesting
• who the speaker was
• what was talked about

Also, explain why you found it interesting and educating.

SAMPLE ANSWER

I have recently joined the Toastmasters community and it is all about public speaking and leadership. Last Friday, I attended a meeting held in my office. It was a district level conference and people from all of the communities in the district came to attend it. Like in all meetings, there were two main speakers and lot of table topics. But the one thing that made the meeting different from others was the quality of the speakers.

There were two main speakers. The first speaker explained how in the latest of times we have philosophized life to an extent that we have stopped living. It was a humorous speech and in the end the message was clear, life is about doing what you love and letting everything else pass by. The second speaker talked about dreams. How dreams have been the driving force for so many eras and the beautiful concept of understanding the present circumstances through dreams.

I really loved the speakers and the way they presented their thoughts. There was drama in the speech and one could visualize the words of the speakers making it impactful.

philosophized

Meaning – speculate or theorize about fundamental or serious issues, especially in a tedious or pompous way

Synonyms – theorize, speculate, pontificate, preach, sermonize  moralize

circumstances

Meaning – a fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event or action

IELTS BAND 7