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Describe A Skill That You Learned In Your Childhood: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

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Updated on Jul 02, 2024, 09:03

The IELTS Speaking Test is one of the four modules of the IELTS. In this module, the examiner assesses your speaking skills and gives you marks depending on your performance. They look into fluency, accuracy, grammatical range, and pronunciation of your speech. Then, they give you a band score based on how well you have handled these factors. 
 

At first, they will provide you with a cue card containing a topic. Then, they will ask you to speak on the topic for 2-3 minutes. In this practice test, we are taking the topic ‘Describe a skill that you learnt in your childhood’ as an example to show how to tackle these questions.

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1. Describe a Skill That You Learnt in Your Childhood: How to Answer?

In this topic, you should describe a skill you learned in childhood. It may be playing guitar, managing money, or solving life problems. It’s a very subjective question; hence, you must be realistic while answering it.

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2. Describe a Skill That You Learnt in Your Childhood: Sample Answers

Find the Sample Answers for Describe a Skill That You Learnt in Your Childhood IELTS Cue Card here.

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3. Describe a Skill That You Learnt in Your Childhood: Follow-Up Questions

The IELTS Speaking test includes Part 3: discussion round. There will be an interaction which will take place between you and the examiner. 

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1.

Describe a Skill That You Learnt in Your Childhood: How to Answer?

Here’s how the cue card related to this topic will look like:
 

Cue Card Topic: Describe a Skill That You Learnt in Your Childhood.
You should say

  • What skill did you learn?
  • When did you learn the skill?
  • How did you practise and develop this skill?
  • Why do you think it's essential to learn such skills?

 

 

This is how we should speak about the questions mentioned above within our topic:
 

Introduction:
 

  • Briefly introduce the short, gripping story related to the skill. 
  • Use clear, simple, and friendly language while speaking this part. 

 

Example: ‘When I think back to my childhood, one good memory is when I started riding a bicycle. It was a challenging yet enjoyable experience, creating a sense of freedom for me.’
 

What skill did you learn?
 

  • Provide a context for the skill that you learned.
  • Keep your tone enthusiastic and determined. 
     

Example: ‘I learnt to ride a bicycle on my 8th birthday. I truly remember the happiness of receiving my first bicycle as a surprise birthday gift from my aunt.’
 

When did you learn the skill?
 

  • Mention the period when you started learning the skill.
  • Use time-related vocabulary, for example:  At the age of, during my childhood, etc. 
     

Example:I began riding a bicycle during my summer vacation in primary school. Every evening, I used to go outside and take short rides near my home.’
 

How did you practise and develop this skill?
 

  • Add some instances that took place while learning the skill. Like any situation or challenge, the people who helped you overcome these challenges. 
  • Describe how you practised learning the skill. For example: consistently, frequently, regularly, etc.
     

Example: ‘I have received constant support and encouragement from my father while learning bicycling. He used to go with me every evening and provided me with back support to save me from falling.’
 

Why do you think it's essential to learn such skills?
 

  • Bring out some context from the event to explain why you felt it was essential to learn the skill. 
  • Explain how the skill has benefited you.
     

Example: ‘Riding a bicycle creates a sense of freedom. It has boosted my physical activity and helped me create a healthy lifestyle.’
 

Conclusion
 

  • Summarise your experience of learning the skill.
  • Maintain a confident and positive tone at the end of your speech. 
     

Example: ‘Learning how to ride a bicycle was a major achievement in my childhood. It also taught me how to push myself to take up new challenges and acquire new skills that can be helpful in the future.’

2.

Describe a Skill That You Learnt in Your Childhood: Sample Answers

Find the Sample Answers for Describe a Skill That You Learnt in Your Childhood IELTS Cue Card here.

Sample Answer 1
Sample Answer 2
Sample Answer 3

Introduction:
 

  • It all started in the initial days of my primary schooling. 
  • It was the vacation time when my family taught me how to swim. 
     

What skill did you learn?
 

  • I learned to do floating, front crawl and freestyle stroke while swimming. 
  • It was more than a fun activity; I truly enjoyed learning about different styles. 
     

When did you learn that skill?
 

  • I was 6 when I started to learn swimming.
  • Every summer holiday, we spend much time in the local swimming pool. 
     

How did you practise and develop this skill?
 

  • I attended regular swimming classes and spent much time with my family and trainers. 
  • Sooner, I started gaining confidence and continued practising to learn different strokes.

 

Why do you think it's essential to learn such skills?

 

  • I think learning to swim for physical fitness and strength is essential.
  • It also helps us to safely swim out of the danger zone and save ourselves from water-related incidents. 

 

Conclusion

  • Swimming has helped me build my inner strengths and motivation.
  • It has also become one of my best activities, and I genuinely enjoy it during my leisure time.
  • It’s a skill I am truly proud of learning, and all the credit goes to my childhood experiments.  
3.

Describe a Skill That You Learnt in Your Childhood: Follow-Up Questions

In our topic ‘Describe a skill that you learnt in your childhood’, here are the possible questions the examiner might ask you during the test:

Follow-Up Question 1

Q1. How has the skill you learned in childhood added value to your life? 
 

Answer 1: 
 

The skills I learnt in childhood have genuinely added value to my life. It has allowed me to respect nature and make my surroundings clean and green. I can live between the flourishing greenery and fresh air all because of the gardening efforts I learned during my childhood. 
 

Answer 2:
 

Learning the piano during my early childhood was one of my life's best decisions. It developed an intense passion and love for music and made me take it up as a career. Also, while learning music, I have learned many invaluable life lessons, like learning through mistakes, holding patience, and being disciplined. 

Follow-Up Question 2

Q2. Can you share any memorable experiences or challenges you faced while learning this skill in your childhood?
 

Answer 1: 
 

If I could explain my memorable experiences while learning to swim, it was the fear. I was very fearful of the water. But later on, with the dedicated support of my family and mentors, I built confidence and began swimming. I also felt breathing issues and problems in learning different strokes. But with patience and the right guidance, I have won over it.
 

Answer 2: 
 

It was a very sweet memory during my gardening journey when I successfully grew up with different types of vegetables. They all were ready to harvest, and I was so much excited about it. It was really a very satisfying experience to witness the fruits of my efforts. But there were many challenges faced, like the attack of germs and frequently changing weather which harmed the vegetables. But yes, with the right guidance, I have overcome it. 

Follow-Up Question 3

Q3. Do you believe that children today have the same opportunities to learn practical skills like the one you learned in your childhood?
 

Answer 1:
 

Children in today’s date have many available resources to learn various practical skills, and all the credit goes to the advancements in technology. However, due to rapid growth, there is less possibility of exposure to nature. Because of fast urbanisation, forests and villages are being transformed into cities. 
 

Answer 2:
 

In this digital world, children have access to so much information in their hands. They will not have to struggle a lot to learn a lot of skills. However, it has its disadvantages as well. They have become more confined to indoor activities and lost their connection with the outer environment.

Follow-Up Question 4

Q4. Have you had the chance to pass on this skill to others, such as teaching it to younger family members or friends? If so, what was that experience like?
 

Answer 1:
 

Yes, I have passed on this invaluable experience to my young cousins. I have taught them how to sow seeds, water the plants properly and take care of them. This has made them stay connected to nature and also understand our responsibilities towards taking care of the natural environment. 

 

Answer 2: 
 

Passing on my knowledge to younger siblings and close friends has been a good experience for me. It was so satisfying to see how they have made progress and started playing the music of their favourite songs. By teaching them, I have also brushed up on my skills and learned modern techniques for playing music.

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FAQs

Q. How can we answer the cue card topic ‘Describe A Skill That You Learned In Your Childhood’?

A. In order to address the given topic, you should first explain the skill you have learnt and the importance of the skill in your life. For example: ‘In my childhood, I was fascinated about learning to ride a bicycle. It gave the immense pleasure while riding in the city park.’ After this, you should explain the process of learning, talk about the challenges, and then end it with the benefits which the skill has brought to your life.

Q. Is there a specific structure I should follow when responding to speaking test topics?

A. While the structure is not strictly defined, you should always structure a proper sequence while responding to the given topic. Begin the topic by providing an overview in the introduction, then explain the skill you learnt and how itr has changed you, and a conclusion. Ensure that there is a proper flow of your speaking and consistent use of grammar and vocabulary.

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

A. In the IELTS Speaking test, the cue card topics can talk about your precious memories, skills you learnt, your choices, the places you have visited, your memories, or some turning points of your life. They may also give you topics based on your childhood experiences, your future goals, your career, and inspiration.

Q. Can I change the topic for speaking in IELTS?

A. It is not possible to change the topic mentioned in the cue card. So practising is the only best way to perform better in this area. You should start practising on different topics to understand how to tackle these questions. If you find the topics challenging, try to approach the topic based on the related experience of your life. This will help you to speak smoothly and accurately.

Q. Can I express my personal opinions during the speaking test?

A. Of course, yes. Sharing your opinions will make your answer more natural, and also explain how expressive you are in speaking. To perform better in this, you can also support your opinion with relevant examples or instances from my life. It will add more weight to your answer and also will impress the examiner.

Q. What can I do if I need help understanding the cue card topic?

A. It is quite usual to find the topics challenging at the first go. But there is no need to be worried about it. Just take a deep breath and read the questions in mind. Try to understand the question, and interpret it based on your observations. Relate it with some of the instances from your life, and start speaking confidently on that part. But make sure to follow a logical sequence (as shown in this practice test) while speaking on the topic.

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

A. The examiner rewards a band score ranging from 0 to 9 depending on the performance of the candidate. They focus on the 4 key areas: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource (Vocabulary), Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. All these areas contain a certain weightage and the total marks given will be an average of your score in all these three areas.

Q. How should I prepare for the IELTS Speaking Test topics?

A. The best way to prepare for the IELTS Speaking test is by practising. Search on the internet regarding the IELTS speaking topics and start practicing as much as you can. Try to be familiar with the common topics related to life, your experiences, skills, hobbies, etc. Also, start recording yourself to self-analyze your speaking skills and correct yourself. You can also seek help from your friends and relatives and seek their feedback too.

Q. Is eye contact important in IELTS speaking?

A. Yes, it is essential to maintain eye contact with the examiner. This will make you look confident and also better interact with the examiner. But speaking without maintaining eye contact will not leave a good impression. Also, avoid making excessive eye contact because that will create a bad impression too. Try to balance between both to create a good presentation. 

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

A. Every exam is formal in nature. Hence, it is highly recommended that you try to maintain formal language while discussing your cue card topic. But if you want to sound a bit natural, then you can use limited use of informal words but only while speaking on your topic. Also, make sure you are respectful to the examiner, and avoid talking in an informal tone with them. 

Q. What are common mistakes in IELTS speaking?

A. The most common mistakes which happen in the IELTS Speaking test are due to the lack of consistency while discussing the cue card topic. Many of the candidates are hesitant and due to this, they often end up making incorrect use of grammar. To avoid these situations, you can regularly practice the topics and work on the loopholes in your speaking skills.