Describe a Time When you Shared Something with Others: IELTS Cue Card

IELTS^TM CUE CARD

Describe a Time When You Shared Something with Others: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Updated on Nov 12, 2024, 09:51

Overview

The IELTS Speaking test is the simplest of the four modules in IELTS. However, it's important to prepare well to score well.

IELTS Speaking is a module common in both IELTS Academic and General Training tests, and all three parts of the test remain the same.

The easiest way to master IELTS speaking is to become familiar with IELTS cue cards.

Cue Card/Topic:Describe a Time When You Shared Something with Others

You should say

What did you share?
Who did you share with?
Why did you share?
How is it special?

Sample Answers

How to answer

Sample Answer 1 (Book)

Introduction

I think sharing can be a great way to express our feelings towards one another and help strengthen our relationships.

What did you share?

It is good to share your feelings or things with your loved ones. In our everyday lives, when something nice happens, we desire to share it with our loved ones.
There was a time when I bought a book of the thriller genre, and I loved it so much that I wanted my best friend to read it as well.

Who did you share with?

I shared the book with my best friend with a little gist of what it holds.
I tasked her to read it and then tell me her views on it later on.

Why did you share?

I shared because she is also passionate about reading new books, especially thriller and mystery books.

How is it special?

It is special because of its story and the plot twist.

Conclusion

I feel that sharing things or experiences with your loved ones is good.
It brings joy to us and our loved ones as well.

Sample Answer 2 (Incident)

Introduction

I think in our lives, there are times when we need someone to listen to us. That is when we need our one constant person in front of whom we can be ourselves.
In this situation, we can count on that person and share our feelings, which will help us feel less vulnerable.

What did you share?

Twisha is my best friend and even more like my younger sister.
There is an incident I would like to share where she was there for me when I needed her the most.
There was a time when something unexpected broke me emotionally, and I shared it with her.
She listened patiently, consoled me, and made me understand things from a different perspective, which helped me greatly.

Who did you share with?

Whenever I feel low, I go to her and rant everything to her, whatever I have on my mind.
Letting things out of my mind makes me feel less vulnerable and helps me understand the situation better and what I can do to solve things.

Why did you share?

I shared an emotional moment with her, which caused me a lot emotionally.
She listened to me carefully and tried to understand my feelings.
She helped me accept the situation and gave me a solution to what I should do to get more clarity.

How is it special?

The incident caused me a lot emotionally and was related to the person who was very close to me, so in that way it was special and close to my heart.
So, I decided to share it with the one person that is my bestfreind who understands me the best.

Conclusion

I think sharing makes you feel a little better mentally and physically, but mentally more, as things affect our mental health more.

Sample Answer 3 (Shopping/Dress)

Introduction

Sharing experiences and emotions is a great way to bond with your loved ones.
It enhances our fulfilment and fosters a deeper connection to those we hold dear.
Sharing moments of happiness and meaning with people that are important to me made me feel enormous joy.

What did you share?

One day, I stumbled upon a beautiful dress that immediately caught my eye while shopping.
The vibrant colours and exquisite design made it a piece that radiated joy, and I knew I wanted to share this happiness with someone special.

Who did you share with?

I gave my best friend the dress without a second thought.
She has always been a source of inspiration for me, with her contagious optimism and unflagging support.
She was the perfect recipient of such a wonderful surprise because of her lively personality.

Why did you share?

The real desire to show my appreciation for her friendship and celebrate the joy that she has given me was a driving force behind our choice to share this wonderful outfit with her.
I felt that her personality resonated with the dress, and I wanted to ensure she knew how much her presence meant to me.

How is it special?

Sharing that dress with her was not only about the physical item but a symbolic gesture of appreciation, celebrating our mutual friendship.
This experience has become a fond memory, reinforcing the belief that sharing brings extraordinary pleasure and strengthens our bonds.

Conclusion

This shared moment with her is always a testament to the profound joy of giving and receiving.
It reminds us that an experience's real beauty is to possess and share it with others who make life wonderful.

The second part of the IELTS Speaking test is the Individual Long Turn. It is also called the IELTS Cue Card section. The examiner provides you with a task or cue card in this section.

Check out the symbolic representation of the cue card:

During the preparation time, the examiner will give you a pen/pencil and a rough sheet to make notes if needed. You can use this time to structure your answer.

Afterwards, the examiner will instruct you to begin your answer and remind you of the ending time.

Once you are given a cue card, the next step is to plan your answer. During the 1-minute preparation time, you have to structure your answer. Begin your answer by providing a short introduction to the topic. Then, explain your topic in detail. In the end, give a brief conclusion to your speech.

One of the effective ways to answer a cue card topic is by breaking down the topic into 4 parts that are: Introduction, Cue Card Questions, Your feelings regarding the topic and Conclusion. This way, you can cover all the major sides of the topic.

Introduction

Start your answer with a catchy phrase or idiom. This will act as a good opener for your answer.

For example, “There is no joy in possession without sharing”.

Brief your central opinion or idea.

For example, “I love sharing my happiness with the people I care about”.

What did you share?

Explain what you shared. Here, you can provide details about the object, idea, stories, or emotions you shared with the person.

For example, “I was shopping for myself, and then I came across this beautiful dress. I felt like gifting it to someone.”.

Who did you share with?

Here, you can mention the person to whom you shared the object or whatever you prefer.
Along with mentioning the person's name, you can add 1-2 lines about the person.

For example, “I gifted the dress to my roommate, who loves wearing frocks”.

Why did you share?

Provide reasons why you shared this with the person.
You can explain the context and reasons why you felt like sharing.

For example, “It was her birthday, so I thought it would be a nice gift”.

How is it special?

This is your place to be creative and expressive. Explain the experience with passion and emotion. Explain how it is a special event for you.
Give reasons for why it is memorable.

For example, “The day is so special for me because she told me how my gift was special for her and how it was the best birthday gift she ever received”.

Conclusion

End your speech on a positive note.
Here, you can conclude your speech by recalling your main idea.

For example, “Gifting our loved ones always gives us happiness, and it makes us feel good about ourselves by seeing smiles on the faces of people we love”.

Follow-up Questions

We have given four follow-up questions for ‘Describe a time when you were sharing something with others’ IELTS Speaking Cue Card. The examiner will engage the test taker in a more detailed discussion of the topic introduced in Part 2 in Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking test. The purpose of this section is to assess your ability to express your views, by giving explanations and discussing ideas in relation to the topic.

You have 4-5 minutes to elaborate on your previous responses and express your opinions. Listen carefully, speak clearly, and use appropriate vocabulary and grammar to engage in a discussion.

Q1. Do you like to share?

Answer 1: I like giving things to others. I never had lunch alone in college; I shared it with all my friends. Besides, to my friends and classmates, I often help them either with photocopies of my notes or any other

Answer 2: Sharing is something that I truly value. I feel that sharing your emotions or even material possessions is important. It not only brings happiness and strengthens relationships, but it also has the power to impact the world around us positively.

Q2. Do you think sharing material possessions is more meaningful than sharing emotions?

Answer 1: I believe that sharing material possessions and emotions can be meaningful in different ways. Sharing material possessions can create practical benefits and help meet basic needs while sharing emotions can create emotional connections.

Answer 2: The nature of a relationship, the individuals involved and the context in which they share are all relevant to whether it is more important to share material assets or emotions. Deep emotional connections can be more meaningful to some, while others can appreciate tangible acts of generosity.

Q3. In what situations do you find sharing more difficult and why?

Answer 1: The difficulty of sharing can be very different between individuals, and each individual's experiences and perceptions have a major impact on the extent to which they are willing to share in various situations.

Answer 2: I feel that understanding and addressing the underlying factors contributing to sharing difficulties can help them break down barriers and build stronger bonds of mutual support.

Q4. What are the consequences if children do not like to share?

Answer 1: A child may struggle to form friendships if he doesn't want to share. Kids may find themselves in even more difficult situations as they grow older. For instance, when they're asked to split tasks in the workplace. In the worst case, they could be fired if they don't do so.

Answer 2: Children's developmental milestones are different and occasional resistance to sharing is common. However, children can develop this important social skill by promoting a positive attitude towards sharing through encouragement, modelling and consistent reinforcement of shared behaviour.

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FAQs

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

Ans. Yes, you can get a preparation time for your IELTS cue card. The duration of the preparation time is one minute. During the preparation time, plan your answer appropriately. Find the main points to include in your answer. Note them down on a piece of paper for your reference.

Q. How do you frame an answer for the cue card topic?

Ans. Below are some easy ways to frame your answer:

Use your preparation time to frame the answer for your cue card topic.
Refer to the important points asked to include in your cue card topic.
Structure your answer, including all these sub-topics.
Find ideas, examples and other references to include.
Start with an introduction, move to the body part, and end with a short conclusion.

Q. Can I make notes during the speaking cue card section?

Ans. Yes, you can make notes during your IELTS cue card section. The examiner will provide you with a rough sheet and pen/pencil. Write down the relevant points in it. You can use this for your reference. But make sure you do not spend too much time making notes.

Q. What is the duration of the IELTS Speaking test?

Ans. The duration of the IELTS speaking test is 11-14 minutes. During this time, you will have to finish three different parts. The first part is the introduction, which lasts 4-5 minutes. The cue card section is followed by the introductory part, which is 3-4 minutes. The third part is the discussion, consisting of 4-5 minutes.

Q. Can I use informal language or slang in my IELTS cue card task?

Ans. You are supposed to use formal language in your Speaking test. Using informal usage is not prohibited, but it is recommended to maintain formal language and tone of speech. The IELTS analyses your ability to use English in academic and formal contexts. So, overuse of casual language is not appropriate for the test.

Q. Does exceeding time during my cue card section?

Ans. No, the examiner will not reduce your mark for exceeding time during the cue card section. Once you reach the time limit, the examiner will instruct you. Once you are instructed, you can stop answering. Do not argue with the examiner for more time or try to continue speaking.

Q. What are some of the frequently asked IELTS cue card topics?

Ans. Some of the IELTS cue card topics to prepare for your IELTS cue card are

Q. How many parts are there in the IELTS speaking test?

Ans. The IELTS Speaking test consists of three parts. They are:

Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4 - 5 minutes)
Part 2: Individual Long turn or Cue Card (3 - 4 minutes)
Part 3: Discussion (4 - 5 minutes)

Q. Is pausing my speech during the IELTS cue card section okay?

Ans. Yes, pausing in between your speech is acceptable. However, ensure you do not take too many or longer pauses. This will give an impression to your examiner that you are stammering. Taking a moment to catch your breath or to figure out your next point can be done. But do not take too many pauses in between.

Q. Can I disagree with the examiner’s opinion during my Speaking discussion section?

Ans. Yes, you can disagree with your examiner’s opinion during the Speaking discussion section. The examiner focuses on your structuring and delivery of ideas. Language is the priority of the examiner. Your personal views are not important during your cue card section. So, if you have disagreements, express them politely to your examiner.

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

Ans. If you do not understand the cue card topic completely you can ask your examiner to clarify it. Asking your examiner to clarify the topic will not affect your score. But remember to ask politely. For example, you can say “I'm sorry, but I didn't understand the topic completely. Can you please provide more information on the task?".

Q. Can I memorise answers for common cue card topics?

Ans. No, do not memorise your answers before the test. By-hearting your answers for your cue card task can make your answers look very artificial and less genuine. Instead, you can consider memorising important points or examples for your answer. Based on these points, you can build your answer.

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