Describe A Time When You Helped Someone: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Whom you helped?
How you helped?
How this person reacted to your help?
How did you feel after helping him/her?

12 unique answers with expert feedback

What motivated you to help your sister overcome her fear of water?

I was motivated by my desire to see her live a fuller life without the limitations of her fear. I knew that overcoming this fear would open up new experiences for her, like enjoying the beach or swimming with friends, and I wanted to support her in that journey.

How did you feel when your sister finally learned to swim?

I felt an immense sense of pride and joy. Seeing her overcome her fear was incredibly rewarding, and it made all the effort worth it. It was a moment of triumph not just for her, but for both of us, as we had worked together to achieve this goal.

Do you think helping others can change your own perspective on life?

Absolutely! Helping others often gives you a new outlook on your own challenges and fears. It fosters empathy and understanding, and it can be a transformative experience that enriches your own life while positively impacting someone else's.

Band 7

00:00

Recently, I attended various expos representing a company called Audible and through that I was assigned the work of onboarding FPOs on ONDC network. So FPOs are farmer producer organization and we onboarded them on a digital platform so that they can sell their products on that platform. So this was very helpful for the FPOs as they had gained digital market access and widened their market to whole India rather than their just city or town. Moreover, we also provide training on how to use this platform on ONDC and how it can benefit them. It also had the features of inventory management and checking orders from all the accounts simultaneously. Furthermore, we also provided assistance for packaging because FPO products are usually agricultural products or somewhat value-added products. So we provide them help regarding packaging so that your products should look good on online websites like Paytm and Mystore. It should be competing with other products so packaging is the first thing that the customer sees before buying your product. Therefore, packaging suggestions were provided, ideal packaging samples were shown to them so that they can gain better prices by the same product with better packaging. To conclude, helping these FPOs, I registered 45 plus FPOs on ONDC platform reaching out to around 4500 people, basically farmers. So this was very enriching for me as I am an agriculture student. This was a very fruitful event for me and I gained a lot of insight and also this will be a significant growth in my career.

Follow up questions

What motivated you to help FPOs with digital onboarding?

As an agriculture student, I wanted to bridge the gap between traditional farming and modern technology. Helping FPOs gain digital access was a way to empower them and enhance their market reach, which aligns with my passion for sustainable agriculture.

How did you ensure the training was effective for the FPOs?

We tailored the training sessions to be hands-on and practical, focusing on real-life scenarios they would encounter. Feedback was encouraged, and we provided ongoing support to ensure they felt confident using the platform.

What challenges did you face while assisting the FPOs?

One major challenge was the varying levels of digital literacy among the FPOs. Some were hesitant to adopt new technology. We addressed this by providing additional support and simplifying the onboarding process to make it more accessible.

Band 6-7

00:00

So, I think that helping is a quality that everybody should have in their lives because that is what separates us from other living organisms and speaking about this, I would like to talk about a time I helped my friend Rishi. So this story dates back to my school days when my friend Rishi needed a guitar for an upcoming music contest in our school. So when my brother came back from Canada recently, so he bought a guitar for me and since I was still in my learning stage and I wanted to, I was still learning and my friend Rishi needed help. He came up to me and said that he really needs that guitar to perform on the day and if that does not happen, he would lose a chance to perform in front of his favorite celebrity Diljit Dosanjh and being the friend I am, I lended my guitar to Rishi and sure enough, he did really well in the competition and in fact, he won the competition in front of his favorite star Diljit Dosanjh and it made me feel really proud of Rishi and I felt really great in contributing in some way to help my friend achieve his goal. So that is the story I would like to share and about speaking, otherwise helping is such a great quality, like it makes you feel involved in the other person's life.

Follow up questions

Why do you think helping others is important?

Helping others fosters a sense of community and connection. It enhances relationships and creates a supportive environment. When we help others, we not only contribute to their well-being but also enrich our own lives, making us feel more fulfilled and connected to those around us.

Can you describe another time when you helped someone?

Certainly! There was another instance when I helped a classmate who was struggling with math. I spent extra hours tutoring him, and it was rewarding to see him improve and gain confidence. It reinforced my belief in the importance of supporting one another in our challenges.

How do you feel when someone helps you?

When someone helps me, I feel grateful and appreciated. It creates a bond of trust and respect between us. I believe that receiving help is just as important as giving it, as it allows us to learn from others and strengthens our relationships.

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Band 6-7

00:00

When I was in college, I happened to help my junior with the decoration part as we had Pongal festival the next week. So, let me show you how to make Pongal. Back then when I was in college, I happened to help one of my junior with the decoration part for the Pongal celebration and she is very sweet girl. She is very sweet. Back then when I was in college, I happened to help my junior with the decoration part for the Pongal celebration and I liked her very much. Even though I was occupied with heavy work, I was interested to help her. It was a hectic day, I didn't have any rest. I was occupied in lab with my project work but as soon as she asked for help, I managed time and went to the venue and helped her with the decoration part. I made some roses with paper and some decorations by pasting balloons on the wall and with the rangoli part. She felt very happy and it was overwhelming for me also to look her that happy and she is someone very close to me. She started thanking me from bottom of her heart but I am someone who can never say no to people who ask for help. So it was another day for me to randomly help people. Usually I will feel good about myself because someone who look for help, I will volunteer and help with whatever I can possible. I also helped my friends with studying because they weren't regular to the classes and they never had notes with them. So I will teach them how the mechanism works and how.

Follow up questions

How did you feel after helping your junior with the decorations?

I felt a great sense of satisfaction and happiness. Seeing her so joyful made all the effort worthwhile. It reminded me of the importance of helping others and how it can strengthen relationships.

What other ways do you think you can help people in your community?

I believe there are many ways to help, such as volunteering at local shelters, tutoring students who struggle academically, or organizing community events. Each small act of kindness can make a significant difference.

Can you share another experience where you helped someone?

Certainly! There was a time when I helped a friend who was struggling with their studies. I spent time explaining the concepts they missed in class, and it felt rewarding to see them improve and gain confidence.

Band 5-6

00:00

so it is the time when I was in my college so it was an evening time and I was just coming coming back to home from my college and I was waiting for a bus at thermage then at that time the bus came and I just go and take my seats the conductor came to me and got my ticket afterwards after after after sometimes a young lady young lady young lady come to next to me young lady who was seated next to me was crying because she don't have money to buy a ticket I just asked her that hello miss what's your what is the problem why are you crying she just tell me with her soft soft voice that she don't have money she forget her wallet and now she don't know that how can she will buy the tickets and what if the conductor not let her seat seated there so the ticket to the tickets the ticket amount of thermage to petalad was just 40 rupees I just gave her 40 rupees and I told her that keep it it's okay you if if you don't if you don't get me back then it's completely alright I feel like at that time I just show I just see the relief on her face because you know having like having no money is very difficult to survive in this world

Follow up questions

Why do you think helping others is important?

Helping others fosters a sense of community and support. It can create a positive environment where people feel valued and cared for. Additionally, it can inspire others to help, creating a ripple effect of kindness.

Have you ever received help from someone? How did it make you feel?

Yes, I have received help during difficult times, and it made me feel grateful and supported. It reminded me that there are kind people in the world, and it motivated me to help others in return.

What are some other ways people can help each other?

People can help each other in various ways, such as volunteering, offering emotional support, sharing resources, or simply being there to listen. Small acts of kindness can make a significant difference in someone's life.

Show all 12 answers

Cue 1:Whom you helped?

Begin by introducing the person you helped, including their relationship to you.
Provide some context about why they needed help.

Example

I helped my neighbor, Mrs. Sharma, who is an elderly woman living alone. She had recently fallen ill and was struggling to manage her daily chores.

Cue 2:How you helped?

Describe the specific actions you took to assist this person.
Mention any challenges you faced while helping them.

Example

I decided to cook meals for her and do her grocery shopping. Initially, I was unsure about what she liked to eat, but I asked her for her preferences and made sure to prepare her favorite dishes.

Cue 3:How this person reacted to your help?

Share the immediate reaction of the person you helped.
Include any expressions of gratitude or appreciation they showed.

Example

Mrs. Sharma was incredibly grateful for my help. She often expressed her thanks and even insisted on paying me, but I refused. Her smile and warm words made me feel appreciated.

Cue 4:How did you feel after helping him/her?

Reflect on your emotions after providing assistance.
Mention any lessons learned or personal growth experienced.

Example

After helping her, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness. It was rewarding to know that I made a difference in her life, and it taught me the importance of community support.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, helping Mrs. Sharma was a fulfilling experience that not only strengthened our neighborly bond but also reminded me of the value of kindness and compassion in our society.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Lack of Specificity

Being vague about whom you helped or how you helped can make your answer less engaging. Specific details help the examiner understand your experience better.

Tip

Include specific names, situations, and actions to create a vivid picture of your experience.

2: Ignoring Emotional Impact

Failing to express how you or the person felt can make your response seem flat. Emotions add depth to your story and show your connection to the experience.

Tip

Describe your feelings and the other person's reactions to highlight the emotional significance of your help.

Rushing Through the Story

Speaking too quickly can lead to unclear answers and missed details. A rushed response may not fully convey the importance of your actions.

Tip

Take your time to structure your answer, ensuring you cover all cues clearly and thoughtfully.

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