IELTS Cue Card Archives

IELTS CUE CARD – Describe a book that had a major influence on you

February 11, 2026 IELTS Research Leave a comment

Describe a book that had a major influence on you.

You should say:

what the book was

how you first heard of the book

what is the main story of the book

and why it plays such an important role in your life.

Sample Answer:

Reading has been a very integral part of my life. I try to read books as and when I can find time and my interests vary vividly, from philosophy to fantasy, horror to religions, non-fiction to autobiography. The book that has changed my perspectives and helped me become a better person is Autobiography of a Yogi written by the celebrated philosopher guru Paramahansa Yogananda.

I found that most of the religious societies and philosophers highly recommend it due to the values it helps inculcate in the young minds. Fans have recommended this book all over the internet.‘ Some people even commented that this is the best book ever written in the century. I decided in my head that this should be on number 1 of my reading list. I ordered the book immediately from amazon and it was delivered to me in a week. I started reading it the same day.

The book was first published in 1946 in New York, USA and archived in the philosophers library. The book was an international success and reached No. 1 position on the New York Times best-selling book list. Autobiography of a Yogi talks about the life of Paramahansa Yogananda and his numerous encounters with spiritual figures of both the East and West. The book begins with his childhood, to finding his guru, to becoming a rebellious monk and establishing his teachings of Kriya Yoga meditation. The book further talks about 1920 when Yogananda accepts an invitation to speak in a religious congress in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He then travels across America lecturing and establishing his teachings in Los Angeles, California. In 1935 he revisits India for a year. When he returns to America, he continues to establish his teachings, including writing this book. The book is an enchanting source for understanding the methods of attaining God-realization .The author also announces that the writing of the book was prophesied long ago by the nineteenth-century master Lahiri Mahasaya.

The story telling of author is magical and brief. With Every passing page the urge to read more increased which further tempted me gather more knowledge about the same man. Not for a single moment, I could have stopped thinking about the events and characters of the books and that had a breath-taking influence on me. The characters have their own charismatic powers and followed their own paths and that was such a huge inspiration.

The story was told like a good story teller should and I thought it was a wonderful read. It surely left a powerful lasting impression on me.

Part 3 Follow Up Questions.

Q1. Why do you think reading books is important?

I think reading books is the cheapest and simplest way of acquiring knowledge. It is one of the best forms of entertainment and books help build our personality. A lot of research has shown that people who are in the habit of reading books tend to be more successful in life. In my opinion, it is one of those habits which every person should try to inculcate in them.

Q.2 What kinds of books are popular in your country?

People read all kinds of books in my country. Since my country is very religious, spiritual books are most common here. It also depends on the age of the readers. Young people have significantly different tastes when it comes to books compared to older people. Many children of my generation used to read comic books when we were in school. However, I don’t see many children doing it these days. They are busy on their mobile phones chatting with friends. It is sad that students, nowadays, are under a lot of pressure to perform in exams, and never get the time to read for pleasure, thus losing the idea of reading for fun.

Q.3 How is rapidly growing technology affecting our reading habits?

This is another of my pet peeves. People are so immersed in their gadgets and devices that they have forgotten the art of reading. A book, a cup of coffee, a comfortable chair- this used to be the idea of happiness for many people. Good authors were celebrated and felicitated by the readers. But now with the internet and social media, people have lost the pleasure that reading brings, and are more into things which probably are not good for their mental and physical health over the long run. No wonder mental problems are going through the roof in today’s society.

Pet peeve: something that a particular person finds especially annoying.

Felicitate: to congratulate

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

IELTS BAND7

8439000086

8439000087

7055710004

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

email: info at ieltsband7.com

IELTS online simulator

The officially registered trademark ‘BAND7’ (Trademark No. 4717489) is allocated to Anuj Kumar.

IELTS Speaking Cue Card – A visit to a quiet place

January 16, 2026 IELTS Research

IELTS Speaking Cue Card: A visit to a quiet place

Describe a visit to a quiet place.
You should say:

Where the place is?

How you reached there?

What did you feel as you reach there?

Explain what you liked about the place?

IELTS SPEAKING CUE CARD: A VISIT TO A QUIET PLACE, IELTSBAND7, DEHRADUN

Sample Answer

As I travel frequently, I was able to avail the opportunity to visit a quiet place in my country. I shall be discussing about this exotic place in detail as I found it to be extremely peaceful, soothing and serene. The place is located in Tawang which is in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal is also known as the Land of Rising Sun and is situated at the altitude of around 10000 feet.

One has to travel a long distance and it takes three days to reach there from Delhi. Initially I boarded a three hours flight from Delhi to reach Guwahati. Since there is no further flight connectivity, for further journey, I commenced my movement by road to reach midway by evening. Third day before dawn, I started again to reach my destination.
The very next day I decided to trek my way to a monastery as I was keen to witness its beauty. My friends who had visited Arunachal advised me to visit it.

The local name of the monastery is Gumpha and it is located at a Hill Top. There is a treacherous track to reach the place. As I reached there, I was thrilled by the solace which I found in this place. There was no other inhabitation and construction .A stream was flowing next to it which added to the beauty and splendor of that architectural masterpiece. I could hear the chirping birds and noise of breeze. I appreciated the Monastery’s peculiar pagoda kind of construction.

The atmosphere was full of warmth and had a magical affect on my mind. After spending three days I reached back rejuvenated and full of energy. The memories of this quaint place are still fresh in my mind.

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

IELTS BAND7

8439000086

8439000087

7055710004

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

email: info at ieltsband7.com

IELTS online simulator

The officially registered trademark ‘BAND7’ (Trademark No. 4717489) is allocated to Anuj Kumar.No.

IELTS Cue Card – TALK ABOUT A TIME YOU WERE TRAVELLING BUT WERE DELAYED

January 15, 2026 IELTS Research

IELTS Cue Card

Talk about a time you were travelling but were delayed.

You should say:

Where were you travelling to?

Why were you delayed?

How did you overcome the delay?

And describe the entire episode in detail.

Sample Answer

My story happened quite a while ago; I believe it was in December 2017. I was going to Sri Lanka for a vacation with my family. We were set to arrive at the airport at 4 pm so we could board our 7 pm international flight on time. A tip for travel I always keep in mind is to be as unhurried as possible, be it driving or train travel. Having extra time is always better as it takes away the unnecessary stress.

We reached the airport on time. As we entered the terminal gates, we were greeted by the classic coffee scent that permeates most airports. So far, the situation was looking good. We managed to get past check-in, baggage, security and customs with no hiccups at all with an hour to spare. Boarding, too, went on smoothly.

Everyone was waiting for the flight to take off. All of a sudden, there was an announcement. That’s when the trouble started. We were asked to deboard as the flight was facing technical issues. So, we boarded the airport bus and were all relocated to a new flight. Our baggage relocation took us another hour. At this point many people were getting very antsy, and for good reason too. This was supposed to be a short 3-hour flight and we already had to endure more than 2 hours of waiting time. It was annoying.

My family and I dealt with it by simply getting out our travel pack Uno game. That’s another great tip for anyone who’s travelling with kids; always bring travel-friendly games along because the kids will get bored. We played the original Uno and a couple of other games my kids came up with. Finally, the announcement of the flight being ready for take off came.

We arrived very late in Sri Lanka. It took us some more time to find our waiting cab and reach the hotel. The journey ended up pretty smoothly despite the technical delay we faced. As the saying goes, “all is well that ends well”.

Speaking part 3 follow up questions:

Q.1 What are the most common reasons that cause travel delays?

I think severe weather conditions and technical defect are the two biggest causes of travel delays. Traffic congestion, diversion of routes due to accidents or repair work also lead to travel disruptions.

Q.2 Do you think too many people are dependent on cars as a means of transport?

Definitely, yes. The number of people who depend on cars for commuting and travelling has gone up considerably in the past few decades.

Q.3 Why do people prefer to travel by car?

I think there are two main reasons why people prefer to travel by car. Firstly, public transport systems like buses and trains are poorly maintained in many parts of the world. Secondly, cars have become a status symbol. Nobody wants to wait for hours and board an overcrowded bus or train. Those who can afford tend to avoid using public transport facilities and prefer their own mode of transport. It not only saves their time but also gives them comfort and privacy.

antsy	very nervous, worried, or unpleasantly excited
annoying	making you feel slightly angry

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

IELTS BAND7

8439000086

8439000087

7055710004

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

email: info at ieltsband7.com

IELTS online simulator

The officially registered trademark ‘BAND7’ (Trademark No. 4717489) is allocated to Anuj Kumar.No.

IELTS Speaking # Clothes You Like To Wear On Special Occasions

December 9, 2025 IELTS Research

IELTS Speaking about Clothes

Clothing, also known as apparel, attire or clothes is a collective term for items worn on the body. Wearing clothes is restricted to human beings and is a feature of all human societies. The amount and type of clothing worn depend on body type, gender, social and geographical considerations. Apart from making us look and feel good, clothes also serve as a protection from harsh weather, insects, microbes and various human activities. Let us look at a cue card which asks us to talk about clothes that you wear on special occasions. responsive poster

IELTS Cue Card # Clothes you like to wear on special occasions

What is it

On what occasion you wear this

Do other people wear the same dress on special occasions

Explain why you like to wear this dress.

Sample Answer:

Although I like to dress up casually on a day to day basis, I love to wear a sari for a social event, celebration or festivity. Saree is a female garment for the Indian subcontinent that consists of a drape varying from five to nine yards. It is typically wrapped around the waist, with one end hanging over the shoulder. It is one of the oldest and perhaps the only surviving unstitched garment of the past.
A majority of Indian women wear saree as a traditional dress which has a great cultural significance. Over the years it has not only become sensuous, glamorous all-time-wear for women , but also the canvas for printers and weavers to create artistic weaves, prints and jeweled embellishments. Saree is one of the most graceful dresses as it elegantly covers the entire body by showing natural curves in the most dignified way.
Whenever I wear a saree, I feel delicate and feminine. I particularly like the ones which are made of soft flowing materials as they are easy to drape. On festivals and other formal occasions I love to wear the traditionally woven silk sarees like Kantha, Baluchari and Paithani. These are sarees hand woven in different states of India. Each one of them has ethnic weaves typical of that region.
The best thing about sarees is that they never go out of fashion. What’s more, designers have come up with sarees with modern twist which are even easier to wear and handle. There are semi stitched versions available which can be draped in lesser time than the unstitched ones.

Follow Up Questions

Q1.Do you enjoy buying clothes?
Ans. Till a few years back, I loved shopping for clothes and other stuff with my friends. It was more of a fun day having a bit of shopping, sightseeing and spending quality time with loved ones. However, nowadays I prefer online shopping as it is less time consuming and cheaper than going personally to the shopping malls for purchasing garments. Also, there is a vast variety of clothes one can choose from these shopping websites.
Q2.What kinds of clothes you like to wear?
Ans. On a daily basis, I prefer getting dressed up in casual wear like jeans and T-shirt but for special occasions, I stick to formal wear like a saree or salwar suit. I believe that it’s really important to wear clothes according to the occasion so as to be a part of your social group.
Q3.What factors do you think affect the clothes we choose to wear?
Ans. I personally believe that there are many factors that determine our choice of clothes. Firstly, we purchase clothing according to our liking and comfort level. Then comes, the amount of money we want to spend while selecting our clothes for particular occasions. Lastly, we choose to wear our attire according to weather and geographical location. I would also like to add here that in certain circumstances, religion determines what one wears. For instance, muslim women have to wear hijab or burkha while sikh men wear a headgear called turban.
Q4.Is it possible to look good without spending too much on clothes?
Ans.I feel that it dosen’t necessarily mean that only expensive clothes look good. The way that the wearer carries himself or herself matters the most. Also, if one knows the skill to mix and match different items of clothing that go well together, one can actually generate many new looks without spending much. Adding a few accessories can accentuate the dress which is otherwise simple and inexpensive.