IELTS speaking audio Archives

IELTS Cue Card: A book someone recommended

March 5, 2026 IELTS Research Leave a comment

A book someone recommended, that you would like to read again.

what kind of book

when did you read it first

why was it recommended to you

why would you like to read it again

Sample Answer:

I prefer reading in my leisure time. Today, I would like to speak about a book hat was recommended to me. I found it quite insightful and would love to read it again, whenver time allows me to do so.

The name of the book is Onward. It is written by Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks, America’s leading coffee company and coffee house chain. This book falls under the genre of Business and Leadership.

In the Year 2010, I was working for Cocoberry, India’s first frozen yogurt brand. That’s when I came across the book as my company’s CEO gifted it to all employees and suggested us to read it. In this book, Howard shares the remarkable story of his return and the company’s ongoing transformation under his leadership. He reveals how during one of the most tumultuous economic times in history, Starbucks again achieved profitability and sustainability.

It’s been 2 years since I read this book. I’d like to go through it again. The main reason behind this is the beautiful manner in which the book is written. It keeps you motivated and tells you how not to lose hope in tough times. It includes information about the time when Howard comes to terms with his limitations and how he evolves his leadership style during that time. It represents his central leadership philosophy: It’s not just about winning, but the right way to win. It gives the readers a sense of hope that no matter how tough times get, the future can be just as or more successful than the past.

Q.

How does the literature help you understand the culture of a particular place?
Ans: Books have been the source of knowledge from the ancient times and they have acted as a medium of passing information. They have known to be an authentic source of information be it related to culture, science, medicine, history etc. culture has known to evolve overtime, being passed on generation to generation. And the best way to understand about the culture of a new place is to read about it through the books.

Talking or listening to someone might help you to an extent in understanding about the culture, but that will be a version of his or her understanding or of someone who he/she might have heard from. Thus, the authenticity could never be really gauged and relied upon. Ergo, the need of writing literature, in the ancient times. It was the prime responsibility of the historians to write the literature in such a manner that it could be referred to and easily understood by the masses as and when required, by the common masses and by those who were yet to come.

Q.

Why is it important for parents and adults to read books to their children?
Answer: A child’s mind is a clean slate, and it is up to the parents and adults what to fill it up with. Books are the vast source of knowledge and educating your kids with them is the best way to nourish their mind and help it grow. Reading books to your kids helps in enhancing their knowledge, creativity/ imagination, listening skill as well it helps in bonding the family as a whole.

Writer: Akshay Tomar

Words Meaning

Transform- Change Example- ‘Digital India’ movement has transformed the image of India globally
Genre – Class/Category/Style Example- Movies like ED and Koi Mil Gaya come under Sci-Fi genre.

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IELTS Cue Card 2017 Questions # Shifting

February 28, 2026 IELTS Research

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

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8439000086

8439000087

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IELTS BAND 7 Dehradun, Best Coaching in Dehradun
323 GMS Road, Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

email: info at ieltsband7.com

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CUE CARD – Describe something that helps you concentrate

February 26, 2026 IELTS Research

Speaking -Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe something that helps you concentrate
You should say:

What it is ?

When you do it ?

How did you learn about it

How it helps you concentrate ?

Sample Answer

In a physical growing world, It is quite impossible to concentrate, as, there is too much to achieve and too little time. Here, I would like to talk about meditation which is the key to my good concentration.

I do meditation on my terrace, whenever I feel there is a lot on my plate, and to achieve all my tasks with a calm mind before the deadline hits. I think it is one of the best ways to clear my stress out and feel relaxed. I generally start my day at five in the morning with meditating for at least half an hour everyday. It rejuvenates me for the day, and, prepares me better to achieve my daily targets.

I was very young when my mother told me about the merits of practicing it regularly. So, I was just a kid when I first started following my mother. It really does help me to concentrate on the work that I have to do. In fact, the huge corporate sectors are adapting to the necessary once a week meditation session now a days, in order to make sure the well being of their employees. According to the recent studies, it has been found that, the principal advantages of meditation rests in upgraded memory, better cognitive skills making me feel more joyful and grounded, and immunes me to everyday stresses of life.

Therefore, meditation is something which helps me in maintaining better work-life balance by enhancing my concentration.

Speaking – Part 3 (Follow up questions)
Here are some examples of follow up questions that examiner may ask during your speaking (part 3) related to cue card ‘describe something that helps you concentrate’.

Q1. Is it important for children to concentrate ?
I think definitely yes, because children at very young age are suffering from stress, and, as a result they are not able to lay emphasis on their studies. So, in order to help them out it is important that we must include important sessions on improving concentration regularly. For instance, it has often been observed that young minds who are indulged in some yogic practices have better concentration power.

Q2. What kind of jobs require higher concentration?
Well, to be honest, almost every field now a days require high concentration, for the world is becoming more competitive everyday, and so, in order be the best, one needs to be well focused towards his goals. But, some precision jobs like that of a surgeon needs greater attention to the patient, as , it is a matter of life and death.

Q3. Have you ever felt difficult to concentrate ?
Definitely I have. I think as humans, sometimes or the other, we all find it difficult to concentrate on our work and so did I. It was a day before yesterday, when I could not complete my office work as my attention was distributed to a lot of other stressful things going in my life, and I was emotionally drained, thus, resulting in poor concentration. So, yes, I have felt difficult to concentrate a lot of times in my life.

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

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8439000087

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IELTS BAND 7 Dehradun, Best Coaching in Dehradun
323 GMS Road, Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

email: info at ieltsband7.com

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CUE CARD – Describe an interesting song

February 25, 2026 IELTS Research

Speaking – Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe an interesting song
You should say:

Who the song is ?

What story does the song tell ? / What it is about ?

Whether the song is popular ?

And, explain why you think it is interesting ?

Sample Answer

Music is one of the most beautiful forms of art, and I listen to it whenever I am feeling the blues. Today, I am going to talk about a motivational song that I love listening to, whenever I am thrown by failures in life. The song’s name is believers, by the worldwide famous band Imagine Dragons.

The song really helps me get through the impossible days when it is really hard for me to get out of bed and kick off my day. It gives a very inspirational message about the failures of life and urges one to push one’s limits and go beyond them. It empowers me to rise like a phoenix from the ashes and keeps me going even at my worst. This song put forth the never give up attitude in life even when everything appears to be the end of the world.

The song is quite popular across the globe and definitely forms a part of every individual’s playlist, especially the young blood. Like many other youngsters, I also listen to this song to work my way out through the hurtful days of life. Thanks to one of my close friends Niya, who suggested I listen to this song when I was going through some personal mid-life crisis.

I was emotionally tormented by the loss of a family member and felt emotionally drained and mentally exhausted. At the time I also was not able to cope with the work and thus, my work-life balance was not very good as there was a lot on my plate. It was at that time, that I started listening to this song and overcame my demons. This song is meaningful in a lot of ways, as it is inspired by the band’s own personal struggles that they went through before actually gaining popularity in the mainstream.

Thus, this is a song that I found particularly interesting.

Speaking -Part 3 (Follow up questions)
Here are some examples of follow up questions that examiner may ask during your speaking (part 3) related to cue card ‘Describe a person you only met once and want to know more about.

Q1. Why are many music competitions popular in India ?

There is a myriad of music competitions that are widely popular as they are really enjoyed by people from across the remotest corners of the country. Singing shows such as the Voice, Indian idol, and Voice Global are some of the very popular music competitions that people like to watch. It is because of these public platforms that a lot of talented individuals are getting an opportunity to display their singing talent.

Q2. What kinds of music do young people like ?

I think young people like listening to a lot of pop and hip-hop music followed by some rap music as well, which is slowly taking over the music industry. Young bloods these days want to listen to something they can relate to and not something that is superficial and fake. Thus, these are the kinds of songs that young people like listening to.

Q3. What kinds of people like to listen to traditional music?

I believe with the advent of western music, we have somehow managed to suppress our traditional music forms, and thus, a very handful of individuals enjoy traditional songs and these are generally the locals of a particular community who are true to their roots and promote their traditional music.

Q4. Why do you think old people like old songs ?

I believe that old person like old songs because they do not relate to the songs that are presently in trend. Moreover, the old songs remind them of their era and their time when life was supposed to be very simple, unlike the modern competitive world. The old songs have slow beats and are full of life with a deep sense of meaning to it. They feel very connected to it. Therefore, old people like to listen to old songs.