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IELTSTM CUE CARD

Describe A Time When You Felt Bored: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Updated on Nov 12, 2024, 09:55

Overview

An IELTS Speaking cue card is a prompt given to you in the Speaking test, asking you to talk about a specific topic for 1-2 minutes. It's a crucial part of the exam as it assesses your ability to speak fluently and coherently.

 

In this topic, “Describe A Time When You Felt Bored”, you'll reflect on a particular moment when boredom struck. Think about when it happened, who was with you, what you were doing, and why you felt bored.

 

On this page, we'll explore sample answers for this topic, providing detailed explanations to help you prepare effectively.

 

Cue Card/Topic: Describe A Time When You Felt Bored

You should say

  • When was it?
  • Who were you with?
  • What were you doing?
  • Why did you feel bored?
Sample Answer 1

Introduction ( Covers: When was it?)

 

  • I remember feeling extremely bored during a long summer holiday last year. It was a particularly hot day in June, and there wasn’t much to do.
  • This happened on a Sunday afternoon when I had no plans or activities lined up. The weather was unbearably hot, and staying indoors seemed like the best option.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest  ( Covers: Who you were with?)

 

  • I was at home with my younger cousin, Anil. We had initially planned to play some games, but the intense heat made us lazy.
  • My parents were out visiting relatives, so it was just the two of us trying to pass the time. Anil suggested watching TV, but there was nothing interesting.
  • We tried to chat and come up with some fun activities, but every idea seemed dull and uninspiring due to the oppressive heat.

 

Key Highlights ( Covers: What were you doing?)

 

  • We ended up sitting in the living room, staring at the ceiling fan as it lazily spun around. The slow-moving fan seemed to mirror our lethargy.
  • We attempted to play a board game, but halfway through, we lost interest. Even our favourite game, Ludo, couldn't hold our attention.
  • After a while, we decided to browse through some old family photo albums. Although it was a bit interesting, it wasn’t enough to shake off the boredom completely.

 

Conclusion (Covers: Why did you feel bored?)

 

  • The boredom peaked when we realised there was absolutely nothing engaging to do. The heat and inactivity combined to make it one of the most monotonous days I’ve ever experienced.
  • I felt like the day was dragging on endlessly, with nothing to break the monotony. I wished for anything exciting to happen, just to relieve the tedium.
  • Reflecting on that day, I learnt the importance of planning activities, even during lazy holidays. Now, I make sure to have a list of things to do so I don’t end up feeling bored like that again.
Sample Answer 2

Introduction  (Covers: When was it?)

 

  • I recall feeling incredibly bored during my college winter break last December. It was a cold, dreary day, and I had no plans at all.
  • This was on a Saturday afternoon, and I found myself with nothing to do. The chilly weather made it difficult to go out, so I stayed indoors.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: Who you were with?)

 

  • I was at home with my elder sister, Priya. We had initially thought of cooking something special, but neither of us felt motivated enough.
  • My parents were attending a wedding, leaving Priya and me to figure out how to spend our time. Priya suggested reading, but we couldn’t decide on a book.
  • We tried to brainstorm some engaging activities, but everything seemed tedious and unexciting due to the gloomy weather.

 

Key Highlights ( Covers: What were you doing?)

 

  • We ended up sitting in the living room, scrolling aimlessly through our phones. Social media felt repetitive and didn’t help with our boredom.
  • We tried to watch a movie, but halfway through, we lost interest. Even our favourite genre, comedy, couldn't lift our spirits.
  • Eventually, we decided to organise our wardrobe. It was mildly productive but still quite boring and didn’t fully engage us.

 

Conclusion (Covers: Why did you feel bored?)

 

  • The boredom reached its peak when we realised the day was slipping away without anything enjoyable happening. The cold and lack of activity made it a very dull day.
  • I felt like time was moving incredibly slowly, and I wished for something exciting to break the monotony. The inactivity was stifling.
  • Looking back, I understand the need to have planned activities, even during breaks. Now, I always ensure there are things to do to avoid feeling as bored as I did that day.
Sample Answer 3

Introduction (Covers: When was it?)

 

  • I distinctly remember a time last July when I felt extremely bored during the monsoon season. It was a particularly rainy day, and I was stuck indoors.
  • This happened on a Saturday afternoon with no activities planned. The heavy rainfall made it impossible to go outside, so I stayed home.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: Who you were with?)
 

  • I was at home with my younger brother, Raj. We had planned to play cricket in the park, but the rain disrupted our plans.
  • My parents were at work, leaving Raj and me to entertain ourselves. Raj suggested playing video games, but even that felt dull after a while.
  • We tried to come up with alternative activities, but nothing seemed interesting or engaging due to the relentless rain.

 

Key Highlights  (Covers: What were you doing?)
 

  • We ended up in the living room, flipping through TV channels without finding anything worth watching. Every programme seemed repetitive and unexciting.
  • We attempted to play some card games but lost interest quickly. Even our favourite game, Uno, couldn’t keep us entertained for long.
  • After a while, we decided to bake some cookies. Although it was a bit fun, the activity was short-lived and didn't fully alleviate our boredom.

 

Conclusion (Covers: Why did you feel bored?)

 

  • The boredom peaked as we realised there was nothing to do. The rain and lack of engaging activities made it one of the dullest days ever.
  • I felt like the day was dragging on endlessly with nothing to break the monotony. I wished for the rain to stop so we could go outside and play.
  • Reflecting on that day, I learned the importance of having a backup plan for such situations. Now, I ensure I have indoor activities lined up to avoid feeling as bored as I did that day.

When the cue card section starts, the examiner will hand you a card with a topic and some prompts. You'll have one minute to prepare your responses, and then you'll need to speak for 1-2 minutes.

 

The best way to answer a cue card is to break it down into smaller pieces: introduction, describing your experience, key highlights, and conclusion. To structure your response effectively, you can explore various tips and tricks for the IELTS speaking test.

 

Here’s how you can approach the topic "Describe A Time When You Felt Bored:

 

Introduction:

 

  • Introduce the time you felt bored.
  • Mention when it happened.
  • Briefly state who you were with and what you were doing.

 

Describing Your Experience:

 

  • Describe the setting and circumstances in more detail.
  • Explain what led to the feeling of boredom.
  • Include any specific thoughts or feelings you had at that moment.

 

Key Highlights:

 

  • Mention any particular events or activities that contributed to your boredom.
  • Explain how you tried to cope with or alleviate the boredom.
  • Share any interactions or observations that stood out.

 

Conclusion:

 

  • Summarise how the experience ended.
  • Reflect on what you learned from this experience.
  • Mention any changes you would make to avoid such boredom in the future.

 

By following this structure, you can ensure your response is clear, organised, and within the two-minute limit.

 

Also Read:

 

Follow-Up Questions

In the follow-up question round of the IELTS Speaking test, the examiner will ask you additional questions related to the topic you've just discussed. This part assesses your ability to express opinions, provide explanations, and elaborate on ideas. 

 

You should be prepared to discuss the topic in more depth, drawing on personal experiences or general observations. These questions help demonstrate your ability to think critically and articulate your thoughts clearly.

 

Here are some sample follow-up questions and answers for the topic "Describe A Time When You Felt Bored." 

Q1. Where do young people like to meet?

Answer 1: People often feel bored when they have nothing engaging to do or when they are stuck in repetitive situations. For example, waiting for a bus or sitting through a long lecture can be boring. Boredom usually strikes when there is a lack of stimulation or variety in activities.

 

Answer 2: People tend to feel bored when their environment lacks excitement or when they are not mentally challenged. This can happen during routine tasks like cleaning or during events that don’t interest them. Boredom often occurs when people feel that their time is being wasted.

Q2: On what occasions should one remain silent?

Answer 1: Yes, people can get bored with their daily routines, especially if they are monotonous. Doing the same tasks every day without any variation can make life feel dull. For instance, commuting to work on the same route every day can become tiresome.

 

Answer 2: Absolutely, daily routines can lead to boredom if there is no change or excitement. When people follow a strict schedule without any breaks or new activities, they might feel trapped in a cycle of repetitiveness. This can make even enjoyable activities feel mundane over time.

Q3: What do young people talk about when they meet up?

Answer 1: When people feel bored, they can try engaging in new hobbies or activities. Reading a book, going for a walk, or learning a new skill can help. Sometimes, simply changing the environment, like going to a café, can make a big difference.

 

Answer 2: To combat boredom, people can reconnect with friends or family. Social interactions often provide a fresh perspective and break the monotony. Additionally, physical activities like exercise or sports can be invigorating and reduce feelings of boredom.

Q4: Do you think people should be honest when talking with friends?

Answer 1: I believe younger people might feel bored more easily because they often crave constant stimulation and excitement. Their shorter attention spans and desire for new experiences make them more susceptible to boredom compared to older individuals who might appreciate routine more.

 

Answer 2: Yes, younger people tend to get bored more quickly as they are generally more energetic and curious. They seek out new adventures and can find repetitive tasks tedious. In contrast, older people may have developed better coping mechanisms for dealing with boredom.

FAQs

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

Ans. The IELTS Speaking test is marked based on four criteria: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Each criterion is equally weighted and scored from 0 to 9, and the scores are averaged to form the final band score. 

Q. How many hours is the IELTS speaking test?

Ans. The IELTS Speaking test lasts about 11-14 minutes. It is divided into three parts: an introduction and interview, a long turn where you speak on a cue card topic, and a discussion related to the topic.

Q. How to find resources for practising cue-card topics?

Ans. You can find resources for practising cue-card topics on IELTS preparation websites, online forums, and YouTube channels. Additionally, IELTS study guides and mobile apps often provide a wide range of sample cue-card topics with model answers. 

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