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IELTSTM CUE CARD

Describe a Prize That You Received: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Updated on Nov 13, 2024, 05:11

Overview

In the topic ‘Describe a Prize That You Received’ you should include a small and general introduction about the prizes you have received and the importance of the prize. You should also include about the time you received the prize. Following that, you should describe how you received the prize and what you felt after receiving the award. Finally, end the answer by summarising the context. 
 

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. 

 

Cue Card/Topic:Describe a prize that you received

You should say

  • What was it?
  • When did you receive it?
  • What did you do about it?
  • And explain how you felt about it.
Sample Answer 1 on (Employee of the Month)

Introduction:
 

  • The memorable prize I received recently was for the employee of the month in November.
  • I was awarded this prize for my contributions to an important project in the company.
  • The prize proved to be my stepping stone in my professional career. 

 

Mention how you received that prize:
 

  • My colleagues were the ones who nominated my name for the award.
  • The trophy was awarded based on my monthly performance, willingness to surpass my job opportunities, and positive attitude towards the team.
     

Explain how you felt after receiving the prize:
 

  • Receiving the “Employee of the Month” award was a delightful experience. I had a mix of emotions of pride, gratitude and satisfaction towards my team.
  • It motivated me to work on the upcoming projects efficiently, and I felt valued and confident in receiving recognition from my peers in the organisation. 

 

Conclusion:

 

  • Receiving the prize meant a lot to me. It reflected that hard work pays off and motivates me to keep going. 
  • This achievement marks a remarkable moment in my journey of trying my best and succeeding.
Sample Answer 2 on (Extra-curriculum Activities)

Introduction:

 

  • I have received very few prizes so far. But I know the feeling of recognition and the sense of accomplishment that comes with the prize.
  • My prizes are mostly academic or from the competitions in extracurricular activities.
     

Mention how you received that prize:

 

  • The multiple activities by which I received validation included my participating in extracurricular activities and by actively participating in competitions.  
  • My commitment and enthusiasm earned me the recognition and the prized achievement.
     

Explain how you felt after receiving the prize:

 

  • Receiving the prize led to the evoke of pride, satisfaction and validation.
  • It prepared me for future challenges and made me confident. It increased my productivity at work.
Leap To Learn: Word of the Moment

Evoke: Something to be remembered or expressed.

Conclusion:

 

  • I received awards for competitions in dance, debate and art. 
  • After receiving a prize, the emotional impact is positive, reinforcing the value of hard work and passion to achieve personal and academic goals.
Sample Answer 3 on (Scholar of the Year)

Introduction:

 

  • My most significant achievement to date is the Scholar of the Year award.
  • This award was given to me in class 11 for my exceptional academic and extracurricular activities performance. 
     

Mention how you received that prize:

 

  • I was an average student till class 10, and during last year’s annual award distribution day, I decided to perform equally well in academics and sports. 
  • So, since then, I started working on my weaknesses with my parents and teacher's support.
     

Explain how you felt after receiving the prize:

 

  • I felt overwhelmed to receive the prize in front of the whole school. 
  • Walking down the school auditorium stage with the trophy was an elating feeling. 
  • It was a proud moment for my parents to come on the stage and receive the award with me from the chairperson of the school.

 

Conclusion:

 

  • Awards have always been a motivating step to work harder in the upcoming years.
  • My journey from being an average student to crossing the benchmark and 

The examiner will assess your answer based on your ability to speak 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: 
 

Mentioned below is the detailed breakdown of the 4 parts:
 

Introduction:

 

  • What was the prize?
  • When did you receive it?
  • Set the context by describing the general description of the prize and share your experiences. 
     

Mention how you received that prize:

 

  • Describe what you did to receive the prize.
  • Support your claim with relevant instances. 
     

Explain how you felt after receiving the prize:

 

  • Share your feelings after receiving the prize.

 

Conclusion:

 

  • Summarise the key highlights.

Follow-Up Questions

Part 3 of the IELTS speaking section is the Two-way discussion round. The examiner will ask you related questions to the topic given to you in individual long-turn tasks. You can use this section to share your opinions and ideas on the topic. 
 

In this section, you will discuss the topic in general, showcasing to the examiner that you can justify your opinions and your ability to discuss the topic in depth. The total duration of a Two-way discussion round is 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.  Here are some common questions and sample answers about ‘Describe a prize that you received.’

Q1. Why should people be rewarded?

Answer 1: People should be rewarded as individuals who require encouragement to work actively daily. Rewards act like a stepping stone for people to increase productivity.
 

Answer 2: By rewarding people, creating clear milestones and objectives, and encouraging people to strive for specific goals. It can drive people to overcome obstacles.

Q2. Are awards always good for people?

Answer 1: No, in my opinion, awards are not good for people. Though it allows people to get recognition and motivation to achieve further goals yet individuals might burn out or get stressed in the race or achieving.
 

Answer 2: Awards are good for people as they build motivation for further challenges. However, getting awards often can make the individual overconfident, which might result in putting in less effort.
 

Q3. What are the different types of prizes given to students?

Answer 1: The different types of prizes that students receive are for sports activities and academic performance. The prizes are distributed as certificates, trophies, gifts or sports kits. 
 

Answer 2: Nowadays, students participate in competitions and activities like academics, sports and extracurricular activities. The prize can be a cash prize, too, as many contests are held online, and other prizes are certificates or trophies.

Q4. Is it good for students to compete with other students for prizes?

Answer 1:  Yes, there should be healthy competition among the students in school, and students should be rewarded for their best performance. While in competition, students learn different skills, such as thinking about something outside the box.
 

Answer 2: In my view, it has some drawbacks, such as affecting the healthy relationship among the students to win at any cost in competitions. Not all students can cope in a competitive environment. Thus, it might lead to hindrances in the work done by the student.

FAQs

Q. What are some tips for performing better in the IELTS Speaking test?

Ans. Some good practices to improve your performance for your Speaking test are:

  • Understand the task properly
  • Use the preparation time wisely
  • Do not by-heart your answers
  • Speak clearly and fluently
  • Check Vocabulary and Grammar.
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 only need to retake part of the test. Make sure you prepare well for your retake. 

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

Ans. There is no predefined dress code for the speaking test in IELTS as such. You can wear comfortable and casual clothes which are presentable and decent. 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. You should know there is no marking on the clothes you wear to the exam.

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

Ans. While there are no strict rules for using informal language or slang during the cue card task, sticking to formal language and tone is recommended. This is because the IELTS exam is designed to evaluate your proficiency in the English language in a formal and academic context. Therefore, excessive use of casual language may not be suitable for the test and can lead to negative markings.

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

Ans. Some of the common cue card topics are:
 

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


 

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

Ans. The IELTS speaking parts 2 and 3 are distinctly different. IELTS has 3 parts: introduction round, long turn task and discussion round. Part 2 is the Cue card section, and part 3 is the discussion round. In part 2, a card is given by the examiner, and it has a topic mentioned on it. You are given 1 minute to prepare the answer. After prep, 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. The part 2 and 3 are interrelated.

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. Are speaking tests for Academic and General the same?

Ans. Both academic and general are the same for speaking tests. In both academic and general, there are three parts: the introduction round, the long turn round and the discussion round. However, reading and writing are different for the academic and general tests.

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

Ans. No, you can’t exceed the time limit during the speaking test. 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?

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

  1. Preparation time: 1 min
  2. Speaking time: 3-4 mins.
Q. How can I get 8.5 in IELTS speaking?

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

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