IELTS Speaking Cue Card Archives

IELTS Cue Card: Speak about a difficult thing you did

August 1, 2026 IELTS Research Leave a comment

IELTS Cue Card: Speak about a difficult thing you did

Speak about a difficult thing you did.
You should say:

What was that activity?

When and where did you do it?

How did you do it?

And how do you feel after it.

IELTS CUE CARD # Speak about a difficult thing you did

Sample Answer:

We often come across few difficult tasks in our day-to-day lives. Tasks which are practised less often turn into difficult tasks. When we are performing a task for the first time, at that time, the difficulty level is higher. As we practise more and become proficient, the difficulty level decreases and tasks are performed better in less time. Anyways, we almost always remember the struggle we underwent in those difficult times. I, too, remember my efforts in debugging a software program that was infected very severely and damaging our whole server’s data.

Basically, I am a software engineer and work in an MNC based in Dehradun. We have been offering the software solutions to our clients for the last 20 years, who are spread all over the globe. I am a programmer at Core but also deal in security systems and protection. I just have an average, fair knowledge about malwares and debugging, and from no angle am I an expert. A few months back, our chief engineer for software security was on a long leave. His team used to handle the security issues well, even in his absence, but one day, all the systems suddenly shut down like a blackout except the master computer networked directly to the server.

We acknowledged that it was a virus attack injected intentionally in our cloud space. Our existing programmes were inadequate to counter this superiorly coded malware sent into our network. This could have led to the stealing of private classified data if handled erroneously. I had dealt with debugging programmes earlier also, but here, I needed to include one extra loop in my programme to run it successfully. I scratched my grey cells for 10 hrs at a stretch to run the new programme. After a series of successive futile efforts, I finally managed to crack the code and debug the software. Our whole team shouted with a hurray and lifted me on their shoulders.

I was kind of an on-the-spot hero for my colleagues. I am a serious freak about anything that I do. This was a big leap in my programming skills, and I invented that in an exigency. That forged tonnes of confidence inside me, being fit to perform under pressure. My boss promoted me the next day, and I felt very elated.

STRONG WORDS

Word	Meaning
Erroneously	Inaccurately: The Present approach taken by world leaders to combat climate change seems to be erroneous, as there are no substantial results over so many years
Exigency	emergency: One should remember the exigency numbers provided by state administration

Follow-up Questions

Q.1 Do you like to take up difficult tasks? Why?

Sample answer: Yes, quite often I volunteer for the difficult tasks. Since my childhood days, I used to believe in doing the tasks which were not being done earlier or were very difficult to perform. I think this appetite keeps me high and motivated. Tough tasks appear to me as challenges, and the accomplishment of those tasks after my strenuous efforts gives an immense sense of joy and satisfaction.

Q. 2 How can we shed the fear of taking up difficult tasks?

Sample answer: I think we should not take up the most difficult task in the very beginning. We should follow the slow and steady approach in mastering a particular task, and only later on should we venture into the toughest aspects of it. Even the small and easy achievements in the beginning can be rich motivators and brain openers, preparing us for the next difficult task.

Q. 3 Do you believe in punishment as a tool for improvement in performance?

Sample answer: I may not be able to answer this question absolutely. Because on one hand, I believe that even negative reinforcement or punishment can be instrumental in performance improvement if administered properly and without time delays, while on the other hand, I cannot claim punishment to be the only effective option for corrections. I think one should resort to it as the last available option. Positive reinforcements and right encouragement can be highly effective in performing difficult tasks.

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

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IELTS CUE CARD – EVENT WHEN YOU WERE CONGRATULATED

July 4, 2026 IELTS Research

IELTS Cue Card – Event when you were congratulated

Describe an occasion or event when you were congratulated.
You should say:

what was the occasion

when was it

who congratulated you and why

and explain how did this make you feel.

IELTS CUE CARD #EVENT WHEN YOU WERE CONGRATULATED

Sample Answer:

It’s a common gesture of appreciation that one receives for doing something good and worthy. We get appreciation for the good things we do for others or for our great achievements or personal excellence. One similar occasion when I was congratulated was when my debate team won the district/county-level championship.
It was 2012, and I was in my 10^th grade. I was an influential member of my school debate team and had participated in a lot of different solo and team debate competitions. The yearly inter-school division/county-level championship was considered to be the most amazing and prestigious tournament, and in those days the finals were broadcast on local TV channels as well as on the radio and on the internet.
Our school had a very bad past history, as it was not able to win the championship before 2012. They had their last victory in the 90s, and everyone was waiting to hear the winning bells again. Though some of the debate teams participated till the semi-finals of the championship, they never made it to the finale.
That year I was heading the debate team, and to everyone’s great astonishment, we won the finals. Most of the people of our city watched the finals on TV and were super excited, happy and proud to see me on air, and it was an added attraction that we won.
The school arranged an assembly specifically to congratulate us for our achievement, and I found more than five hundred students, their guardians and local people who were eagerly waiting for us and were present there to join us in this victory. I was so proud of the whole team and excited about the occasion, and when all those people started congratulating me, I felt like I was flying above the sky, and my happiness knew no leaps and bounds.
Later I received many congratulations and appreciations as I grew up in my life, but none of them mattered as much as that one occasion did. We walked through the gushing crowd towards the stage of the auditorium, and people stood up, greeted us and clapped their hands. A lot of teachers, local political leaders, upper-level government employees and renowned personalities were also present there. The ceremony went on for almost 3 hours, and we got many gifts and bouquets as well. I’ll always remember that moment.

(395 Words)

Follow-Up Questions:

Q1. What kind of people are successful in your country?
Ans: In India, generally movie stars, politicians and business tycoons are the most popular and successful people. Influential people who make social and environmental changes are also considered successful.

Q2. Is the definition of success the same today as it was in the past?
Ans: Success has different meanings to different people. People in the past considered success to be more about respect and dignity and paid more focus on the idea of getting known. The idea of popularity still remains the same, but today people evaluate success in terms of money and material possessions acquired.

Q3. Why are some celebrities and movie stars more successful than others?
Ans: Some celebrities are famous because the generation today is biased, and they prefer knowing or watching only those certain celebrities who are more popular, and they don’t really prefer quality. They just go with the brand name, and they prefer to stick with the passive crowd and go along with the fan following.

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

IELTS BAND 7

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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 Cue Card Sample Questions # Speeches

March 10, 2026 IELTS Research

Speeches are the one component of speaking that has the power to make a huge impact on lives of people. It was not just the idea of getting freedom but the right words spoken at the right time made people understand the importance and gave them the power to fight back. It was in the speeches of Hitler the power to move the entire Germany against the world. From times immemorial, it is the speeches that moved the world, influenced people and made things happen. And this time we are looking at a cue card that talks about a speech that you recently heard. responsive poster

Describe a speech that you heard recently. You should say:

who gave the speech

what the speech was about

whether it impressed you or not

and explain why did you like or dislike the speech.

SAMPLE ANSWER

I do love listening to speeches and have heard a lot of Ted Talks and speeches by great men of our times. Today I am going to talk about a speech that I recently heard on youtube. The speech was given by Mohammad Qahtani in 2015 at the world Championship of Public Speaking. The speech was titled “The Power of Words” and he started the speech with a clear message that he was going to carry home. He said,” Sugar is more dangerous than tobacco can ever be because there are so many people dying of diabetes”. For a second I did believe it and then he brings the idea home that words are indeed powerful.

Qahtani then carried forward with examples of how is friend died because his father refused to accept his accolades. Not only did the content fascinated me but the way he spoke it out was truly mesmerizing and impactful. The expressions and the voice modulation, it seemed as if he was telling a story and making people understand that words can make difference in the lives of people.

I really liked the speech for its content, the vividness with which he explained every incident and the purity that the message and the speaker had. It all seemed real and the power the message had moved me.

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

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IELTS BAND 7 Dehradun, Best Coaching in Dehradun
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IELTS online simulator

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.