Tag: IELTS Cue Card

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

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. (427 words)

 

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

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IELTS CUE CARD – Describe an important journey that was delayed

Describe an important journey that was delayed
  • Why was it important
  • What caused the delay
  • What happened at the end

IELTS Speaking latest cue card 2020. Describe an important journey that was delayed? Why was it important? What caused the delay? What happened at the end?

SAMPLE ANSWER

I travel often and have had wonderful experience mostly. But there was one particular journey recently which I can recall was delayed and turned into an adventure. I always try to be punctual but on this particular journey when although I was on time, my journey was delayed. It was due to my own error and carelessness. I was supposed to travel from Delhi to Jaipur on a Sunday evening so that I could attend my cousin’s wedding.

Since I wanted to be on time to attend the ceremony I booked a flight for Sunday 4:30 pm and reached the airport accordingly. But, to my horror I was stopped by the security personnel at the entrance and on scrutinizing my ticket was denied permission to enter the airport.

I was informed that I’d missed my flight. For a minute I couldn’t understand how I could miss my flight as I h’d reached the airport 2 hours before the scheduled departure. When I pleaded with the security personnel explaining the urgency of my visit he allowed me to go to the airline counter situated adjacent to the entry gates.

The executive at the desk inspected my ticket. He told me that I h’d booked the morning 4:30 am flight instead of the evening one. I was completely shocked to realise my mistake and at the same time got worried how I would reach Jaipur.

I requested the airline staff to help me out. All of them were very cooperative and they informed me that only one seat was available in the last flight to Jaipur at 7 pm. I could either buy that ticket which was exorbitantly priced or wait for an hour before boarding.

In case no traveler bought  that ticket then the airline had a policy that as a goodwill gesture to its customers it would adjust the price of the ticket for the missed flight and on payment of additional nominal fee I would be allowed to board this last flight.

I was kept waiting for about 45 minutes which were like a nightmare for me. I kept praying to God to help me tide over this crisis. Eventually, the airline staff beckoned me and after completing the formalities I was handed over the boarding pass. I quickly made way back towards the security area and reached the boarding gate on time.

As I sat in the aircraft I sighed with relief, looking forward to attending and enjoying the wedding celebrations.

STRONG WORDS
WORDS MEANING
Exorbitantly unreasonably high
Gesture something said or done to indicate intention
Beckoned (past tense) to summon
Sighed (past tense) a long deep audible exhalation expressing sadness or relief
Part 3 Follow Up Questions.
Q1. Which mode of travel in the most convenient in your country.
In my country people usually choose the mode of journey according to distance and importance. If they want their travel time to be less they would prefer an airplane but if they want it to be pocket friendly the would go by train or a bus.
Q2. What do people prefer more in your country A bus or A train?
I think People in my country prefer Buses more in case the distance is short. If the journey is long people would go by a train. The number of buses available for a short distance journey are more and also with availability of more luxury buses people now take long journeys by bus also.
Q3. How do people enjoy their journey?
Well, people enjoy their journey by taking a more comfortable ride. A private vehicle with just family and friends in it always makes the journey more delightful. Some people prefer to read a novel of their choice to relish their time. These days, People like to watch a movie on their mobile screens as a source of entertainment.
Q4. Do you believe in the saying ‘Journey matters more than the destination’?
Yes, i do believe that the journey is more important than the destination as the journey provides us with the opportunity to explore our potential, expand our horizons, and pursue new opportunities. By focusing on the journey, we can find joy in the process and savor every moment along the way. We remember our achievements by appreciating the hurdles we faced along the way.

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IELTS Speaking: Most common cue card topics 2024

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

Cue card topics 2021

  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 heard recently about your relatives
  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
  64. 2021 Series
  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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CUE CARD – Describe an interesting song

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.

IELTS BAND7

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8439000086

8439000087

7055710003

7055710004

IELTS Band 7 Dehradun
Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

9634777700

7249900007

IELTS Band 7 Saharanpur
Parsvnath Plaza, Saharanpur

email: info@ieltsband7.com

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