Describe a Course That You Want to Learn: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Updated on Apr 02, 2024, 12:21

In IELTS Speaking, it is divided into 3 parts. The whole conversation is only 11-14 minutes- not too much, right? Now, let’s talk about the part 2 or cue card task.

Imagine the certified examiner giving you a cue card with topics like ‘Describe a course that you want to learn’. You get a preparation time of 1 minute to frame your answer. In the next 2-3 minutes, you can speak your answer about the topic.

After the cue-card task, you will be asked follow-up questions in part 3. The questions in part 3 will be related to the cue-card topic given by the examiner.

On this page

1. Describe a Course That You Want to Learn: How to Answer?

A good answer for the IELTS cue card section should include a strong introduction, some context, reasons to support your answer, and how you relate to the topic.

The examiner will assess your answer based on your ability to communicate in English.

Once part 2 begins, you will be handed a cue card and 4 questions related to it. In our case, the cue card will look something like this:

1/ 4

2. Describe a Course That You Want to Learn: Sample Answers

Find the Sample Answers for Describe a Course That You Want to Learn IELTS Cue Card here.

2/ 4

3. Describe a Course That You Want to Learn: Follow-Up Questions

Here are some common questions and sample answers about ‘Describe a course that you want to learn.’

3/ 4

More for you

Boost your IELTS Speaking score

Book Free Speaking class

See how to score 8+ in Reading.

Get proven strategies to ace your IELTS Reading test.

Learn More

4/4

Describe a Course That You Want to Learn: How to Answer?

Cue Card/Topic: Describe a course that you want to learn.
You should say

What is this course?
When do you want to learn it?
Where can you learn it?
And explain why you want to learn it.

We have divided the answer for our topic, ‘Describe a Course that you want to learn.’ into 4 parts.

Introduction:

What is a course?
Set some context by mentioning the course name you want to learn.

Overview of the course:

Mention when you want to learn the course.
Explain how you heard about the course.

Describe the learning process of the course:

Explain how you will learn the course.
Mention your reason for learning the course.
Set some context about the learning process of the course.

Conclusion:

Summarise the key highlights.

Here are some sample answers to help you understand this section better.

Tip:

You should avoid repeating vocabulary while speaking during the test.

Describe a Course That You Want to Learn: Sample Answers

Find the Sample Answers for Describe a Course That You Want to Learn IELTS Cue Card here.

Sample Answer 1

Sample Answer 2

Sample Answer 3

Introduction:

Learning various skills can play an important role in an individual’s life. I would like to take the course in academic writing.
Nowadays, apart from academics, it is also important to learn new skills, be they driving, swimming, or painting. The course I would like to learn will be academic writing.

Overview of the course:

I want to finish this course before the start of the next semester. After completion, I will be an academic writing expert, which will help me in the course. I heard about the course from one of the videos I watched while working on my assignment.
Before the start of the next semester, I'd like to finish this course. After completion, I will be an academic writing expert, which will help me in the course. I learned about the course through one of the videos while working on my assignment.

Describe the learning process of the course:

I can start my course from online platforms like YouTube or Edx. Various institutions also offer the same course. I plan to start this course as it is one of the most crucial for achieving higher education, and since my native language is not English, it is difficult for me to interact with professors and peers.
I want to start the course through online platforms like YouTube or language classes. This course is essential for building strong writing skills, can help me publish my research, and will help me present ideas at conferences and seminars.

Conclusion:

To summarise, the course will help build a strong foundation in writing, and later, it can result in huge success in respective fields. It facilitates presenting ideas and thoughts in interactions with other individuals.

Describe a Course That You Want to Learn: Follow-Up Questions

Part 3 of the IELTS speaking section is the discussion round. The follow-up questions for “Describe a skill that you can teach other people” are a part of the discussion round.

Part 2 and Part 3 are interlinked. In this section, the examiner will ask you questions related to the topic given in part 2 of the IELTS speaking. The discussion round's duration, part 3, will be 4-5 mins.

You should only rephrase the question if you add meaningful content in this section. Pay attention to the time allocated by the examiner for each section, especially during the discussion round.

Follow-up Question 1

Q1. Which kind of course is beneficial for university students?

Answer 1: Apart from the subjects chosen in university, students can opt for oral and written communication courses. These courses can help me professionally and academically.

Answer 2: Students can also take coding and data analysis courses. These courses are trendy, and the job opportunities in this field are increasing daily.

Follow-up Question 2

Q2. What influences the young generation more when selecting a course, income, or interest?

Answer 1: Initially, the young generation is inclined more towards selecting income over a course and interest as the youngsters understand that the job market is dynamic.=

Answer 2: Many young people are influenced by choosing a program that allows personal development. Due to market dynamics, they must focus on the course rather than financial stability.

Follow-up Question 3

Q3. What’s the most popular skill/course to learn nowadays?

Answer 1: The most popular skill or course to learn nowadays is based on individual professional objectives, personal goals and cultural trends. The demand courses are digital marketing, foreign languages and data skills like coding.

Answer 2: Many individuals have the potential to start their own careers. Thus, they need to learn courses like online marketing, data skills such as data analysis and learning a foreign language. These courses can help to build a successful career.

Follow-up Question 4

Q4. Why do some people prefer to study alone?

Answer 1: For some people, studying alone can be the best learning style, such as for introverts. It helps them to create their own study space, minimising noise levels and having the right temperature and lighting.

Answer 2: While studying alone, people tend to identify his/her strengths and weaknesses and gain in-depth knowledge about the subject matter by using the time to reflect on their studies.

Next Up

IELTS Practice Test

Read Now

IELTS Speaking Practice Test

Read Now

IELTS Reading Practice Test

Read Now

IELTS Writing Practice Test

Read Now

IELTS Listening Practice Test

Read Now

IELTS Accepting Countries

Study In USA

Study In Canada

Study In UK

Study In Australia

Study In Ireland

Study In USA	Study In Canada	Study In UK
Study In Australia	Study In Ireland

FAQs

Q. Can I use informal language during my cue card task?

A. While there are no strict rules against using informal language or slang during the cue card task, sticking to a more formal language and tone is advisable. This is because the IELTS is designed to evaluate your proficiency in using English in formal and academic contexts. Therefore, excessive use of casual language may not be suitable for the test.

Q. What vital language elements should I remember while attempting the cue card section?

A. The vital language elements you should remember while attempting the cue card section are:

Punctuation
Fluency
Language
Pronunciation.

Q. Is there any dress code for speaking in IELTS?

A. There is no specific dress code for the speaking test in IELTS. As such, you can wear comfortable and casual clothes to the test. There is no need to wear a suit or tie. However, it is important to dress appropriately and ensure you are well-groomed for the test.

Q. What are some of the common cue card topics?

A. Some of the common cue card topics are:

Describe a Famous Person that you are interested in: IELTS Cue Card
Describe an activity that you do after school/work cue card
Describe a person who impressed you in primary school cue card
Describe an invention that changed people's life IELTS cue card
Describe a person who you believe dresses well.

Q. Can I use informal language during my cue card task?

A.While there are no strict rules against using informal language or slang during the cue card task, sticking to a more formal language and tone is advisable. This is because the IELTS is designed to evaluate your proficiency in using English in formal and academic contexts. Therefore, excessive use of casual language may not be suitable for the test.

Q. What is the difference between IELTS speaking parts 2 and 3?

A. The IELTS speaking parts 2 and 3 are distinctly different. IELTS part 2 is also known as the Cue card section, and part 3 is the discussion round. In part 2, a topic is given by the examiner, and you are given 1 minute to prepare the answer. After completing the time, you are asked to speak about the topic for 3-4 minutes. In part 3, the examiner asks questions related to the topic given to you in part 2.

Q. What if I fail my IELTS speaking test?

A. The IELTS speaking test can be retaken if you have failed. You will need to repay the fees and then sit for the exam. But before you blindly plan to retake the exam multiple times until you don’t reach the score, you need to analyse your mistake and understand what went wrong in the exam.

Q. What is the marking scheme for the IELTS speaking test?

A. The marking scheme for the IELTS speaking test includes:

Fluency
Coherence
Lexical resource
Grammatical range
Accuracy
Pronunciation.

Q. Can I use informal language during my cue card task?

Q. How can I get 8.5 in IELTS speaking?

A. You can get an 8.5 band score in IELTS speaking with the following tips:

Build up your accent.
Maintain eye contact while answering the questions.
Practice previous topics that are likely to come in the IELTS exam.
Practice speaking by talking to the mirror; it will build confidence.

Q. Can I exceed the time limit during the speaking test?

A. It is crucial to remember that the speaking test has a strict time limit, and if your answer exceeds the time limit, the examiner may interrupt you and move on to the next question. However, this is a normal exam, and your scores won't be affected.

Q. What is the duration of Part 2 speaking IELTS?

A. The total duration of Part 2 IELTS speaking is 3-4 mins

Preparation time: 1 min
Speaking time: 3-4 mins.

Also Read

View All

Describe a Skill That You Can Teach Other People: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Describe a Dinner you Really Enjoyed: IELTS Cue Card

Describe a Toy you Liked in Childhood: IELTS Cue Card

Book Free Speaking class

IELTS Exam	IELTS Exam Date	IELTS Exam Fee
IELTS Modules	IELTS Listening Practice Test	IELTS Speaking Practice Test
IELTS Reading Practice Test	IELTS Writing Practice Test	IELTS Test Centres
IELTS Results	Types of IELTS	IELTS Pattern
IELTS Exam Eligibilty	IELTS Slot Booking	IELTS Band Score
IELTS Registration	IELTS Books	IELTS Preparation
IELTS Practice Test

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology	The University Of British Columbia	Harvard University
University Of Toronto	Conestoga College	University Of East London
Stanford University	University Of Alberta	Coventry University
New York University

IELTS Speaking Practice Test	IELTS Writing Practice Test	IELTS Reading Practice Test
IELTS Listening Practice Test	IELTS Speaking Cue Card	IELTS Speaking Part 1
IELTS Writing Task 1	IELTS Writing Task 2	Task 1 Pie Chart
Task 1 Table Chart	Task 1 Map	Task 1 Bar Graph
Task 1 Line Graph	Task 1 Diagram

Describe a Skill That you can teach other people	Describe a Place you Visited Where the Air was Polluted	Describe a Famous Person that you are Interested in
Describe a Course That You Want to Learn	Describe a Person who Solved a Problem in Smart Way	Describe a Prize That You Received
Describe a Volunteering Experience You Have Had	Describe a Piece of Good News	Describe Something you Taught to Your Friend
Talk About an Interesting Old Person you Met Recently

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Hyderabad	IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Bangalore	IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Chennai
IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Amritsar	IELTS Centre and Dates in Ludhiana	IELTS Test Centre and Dates in Mumbai
IELTS Test Centres and Dates in Ahmedabad	IELTS Centre and Dates in Delhi	IELTS Test Centres and Dates in Chandigarh
IELTS Center and Dates in Pune

Describe a Course That You Want to Learn: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Describe a Course That You Want to Learn: How to Answer?

Describe a Course That You Want to Learn: Sample Answers

Describe a Course That You Want to Learn: Follow-Up Questions

Follow-up Question 1

Follow-up Question 2

Follow-up Question 3

Follow-up Question 4

Next Up

IELTS Important Information

IELTS Accepting Countries

IELTS Accepting Universities

Read More about IELTS Practice Test

Top 10 Speaking Sample with Answers

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

Related Articles

FAQs

Q. Can I use informal language during my cue card task?

Q. What vital language elements should I remember while attempting the cue card section?

Q. Is there any dress code for speaking in IELTS?

Q. What are some of the common cue card topics?

Q. Can I use informal language during my cue card task?

Q. What is the difference between IELTS speaking parts 2 and 3?

Q. What if I fail my IELTS speaking test?

Q. What is the marking scheme for the IELTS speaking test?

Q. Can I use informal language during my cue card task?

Q. How can I get 8.5 in IELTS speaking?

Q. Can I exceed the time limit during the speaking test?

Q. What is the duration of Part 2 speaking IELTS?

Also Read