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IELTSTM CUE CARD

Describe a Piece of Good News: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Updated on Nov 12, 2024, 10:20

Overview

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

 

Imagine the examiner giving you a cue card with topics like ‘Describe A Piece Of Good News’. 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. 

 

Cue Card/Topic:Describe a piece of good news

You should say

  • What was it?
  • When did you receive this news?
  • How did you receive this news?
  • Why do you feel it was good news?
Sample Answer 1

Introduction:

  • The piece of good news that brightened my day was the acceptance letter from my dream university. I received this exciting news a few weeks ago, marking a significant moment in my life.

 

Describe how you received the news:

  • The news came to me via email. I vividly remember anxiously checking my inbox, and there it was – the subject line that held the key to my aspirations.
  • The email was from the university's admissions office, and as I read through the lines, a wave of joy and relief swept over me. I had been accepted into the program I had been eagerly anticipating.

 

Explain how you felt about the news:

  • The feeling that enveloped me was a mix of sheer joy, gratitude, and a touch of disbelief. Knowing I had secured a spot in my dream university brought me immense accomplishment. 
  • The journey of hard work and dedication led to this moment, which was both surreal and fulfilling. Sharing the news with family and friends amplified the joy, creating a celebration of this significant achievement. 

 

Conclusion:
 

  • In conclusion, receiving the acceptance news was a pivotal moment that marked a new chapter in my academic journey. 
  • The email notification symbolised the culmination of effort and determination, making it a cherished moment. It brought personal joy and became a source of inspiration for future endeavours.
Sample Answer 2

Introduction:

 

  • The discovery of a breakthrough treatment for a rare and challenging medical condition was one of the good pieces of news I received a few days ago. 

 

Describe how you received the news:

 

  • I received this news from my father, who knows my keen interest in medical advancements.
  • My father thought this news would resonate with me and promptly showed me on the television. 

 

Explain how you felt about the news:

 

  • As I researched more into the news of the breakthrough treatment, I felt a sense of satisfaction. 
  • This news was like a ray of hope amid the gloomy updates about the dangerous medical condition that flooded our screens, leaving me genuinely uplifted.

 

Conclusion:

 

  • The discovery of a breakthrough treatment for a rare medical condition, shared with me by my father, brought a ray of hope. 
  • This good news is a reminder that even in the phase of challenges, human perseverance can lead to remarkable breakthroughs with the potential to improve lives.
Sample Answer 3

Introduction:

 

  • The news recently caught my eye was the announcement of the revised subsidised rates in India. 
  • I didn't receive this news personally, but I saw it on television last night.

 

Describe how you received the news:

 

  • The news telecasted the remarkable progress made by a developing nation in addressing poverty by subsidising rates. 

 

Explain how you felt about the news:
 

  • I felt mixed emotions after hearing about the government’s initiative to address poverty. 
  • I was satisfied for the people who would have benefited from the government's initiative. 

 

Conclusion:
 

  • The news of a significant change in the subsidised rates in a developing country, India, delivered through a television telecast, left me with relief for the affected population and a missing touch of personal connection to the good news.

A good answer for the IELTS cue card section should include a strong introduction, some context to the topic, 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 and your proficiency in the language.

 

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: 

 

We have broken down the answer for our topic, ‘Describe a piece of good news’ into 4 parts. 

 

Introduction

 

  • What was the news?
  • When did you receive the news?
     

Describe how you received the news

 

  • Mention who gave the news to you.
  • Share the experience of receiving the news.
     

Explain how you felt about the news

 

  • How did you feel about the news?
     

Conclusion

 

  • Summarise the key highlights on the topic.

Follow-Up Questions

Part 3 of the IELTS speaking section is known as the discussion round. The follow-up questions for “Describe a Piece of Good News.” are a part of the discussion round. 
 

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 avoid rephrasing the question without adding meaningful content in this section. Pay attention to the time allocated by the examiner for each section, especially during the discussion round. 


 

Q1. Why do people share news on social media?

Answer 1: Nowadays, people from all age groups are on social media and tend to gather information. Social media is used for sharing news as it spreads widely immediately. It helps some people to curate their own brands online by sharing specific types of news content. 
 

Answer 2: Individuals not only use social media to share serious or hard news, but it can also be used for sharing humorous and lighthearted news content that brings joy and laughter to their social network. Besides news, it is also widely used to spread awareness as it is consumed easily by most people. 
 

Q2. How does modern technology affect the delivery of information?

Answer 1: With the emergence of modern technology, information is disseminated in various ways and for shorter durations. Technology has evoked geographical barriers, enabling information to be shared globally.
 

Answer 2: Modern technology affects the distribution of information in various formats, including video, text, and images. One of the important features is the accessibility of information. In online platforms, information is accessed 24/7.

Q3. When do people share good news?

Answer 1: People share good news depending on the nature of the news. People often share good news about common situations on celebratory occasions like anniversaries, birthdays, and other special events. 
 

Answer 2: Some people prefer to share the good news on holidays and festive seasons to express gratitude, joy, and positivity. Such type of news also provides a counterbalance to negative news around the world.


 

Q4. What kind of good news do people often share?

Answer 1: The nature of the good news can be based on positivity, joy and inspiration. The general categories of good news that people often share are personal achievements like job promotions or successful projects.


Answer 2: It is not necessary that good news shared by people are in personal interest but it can also include common categories like environment and conservation success, scientific breakthroughs, and discoveries such as advancements in medical research

FAQs

Q. How do you find resources for practicing cue-card topics?

Ans. You can find plenty of resources online for your IELTS Speaking preparation. Sample questions, mock tests, and other IELTS resources are available. Make sure you rely on credible sources. You can get cue card topics and sample answers from Leap. This will help you understand how to frame your answers properly. 

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

Ans. Part 2 of the IELTS cue card test is based on a cue card topic you receive from the examiner. These can be general subjects; you can speak on the topic for 3-4 minutes. Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking test is follow-up questions. The examiner will ask you questions based on your cue card topic. 

Q. Can I disagree with the examiner’s opinion in my IELTS Speaking discussion?

Ans. You can disagree with the examiner’s opinions during your IELTS speaking test. It is not your opinion that is important for your test. The language and format with which you express your opinions are important. If you disagree, then express your view politely. 

Q. What can I do if I do not understand my IELTS cue card?

Ans. If you did not understand your IELTS cue card topic, ask your examiner for clarification. It is common and understandable that you did not understand the topic. Here, you can ask the examiner to explain the topic politely. Asking your examiner to clarify the topic will not affect your test score. 

Q. Can I get a preparation time for my IELTS cue card task?

Ans. Yes, you can get a preparation time for my IELTS cue card task. The total duration of your cue card task is 3-4 minutes. At this time, the first minute is for preparation. You can use this time to prepare your answers and make notes on the topic. Make your shorts clear and short. 

Q. What if I fail my IELTS speaking test?

Ans. You can apply for a retake if you fail your IELTS Speaking test by chance. The IELTS One-skill retake facility allows you to retake just one IELTS module at a time. If your score is low for a single module, you do not need to retake the entire test. Make sure you prepare well for your retake. 

Q. How many hours is the IELTS speaking test?

Ans. The IELTS speaking test is only 11-14 minutes long. You have three parts in your IELTS Speaking test. The duration of each part is as follows:
 

  • Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4–5 minutes)
  • Part 2:  Long turn or Cue Card (3–4 minutes)
  • Part 3: Discussion (4–5 minutes).


 

Q. How do I improve my speaking skills?

Ans. Improving your speaking skills is a long-term process. Some good habits to ensure this are:
 

  • Listen to daily podcasts, movies, news, and other videos in english
  • Interact with native english speakers
  • Listen to a variety of accents and try them
  • Try to watch movies without subtitles and try to figure out the words on your own
  • Try learning new words and applying them in your speech.
Q. How can I get 8.5 in IELTS speaking?

Ans. Proper preparation and constant practice are the quickest ways to achieve a higher score on your IELTS Speaking test. Some good practices you can obey are:
 

  • Start with a catchy and pleasant introduction
  • Give definitions, examples, and scenarios for your answer
  • Stick to your topic
  • Use a variety of words.
Q. Which part is the most important in IELTS speaking?

Ans. The three parts of your IELTS Speaking test are not marked separately. You will receive a band score for your overall IELTS Speaking test performance. Make sure your ideas are organised logically. Link and explain your ideas using more lexical resources, such as new words and phrases.

Q. Can I use idioms in my IELTS Speaking test?

Ans. Yes, you can use idioms and phrases in your IELTS speaking test. Using popular idioms that are relevant to your topic will give a positive impression on your examiner. Idioms are words or phrases that have figurative, non-literal meanings attached to it. Some examples of idioms are ‘beating around the bush’,  ‘the early bird catches the prey’, and ‘from A to Z’. 

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