Describe an activity you enjoyed in your free time when you were young.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What it was?
Where you did it?
Who you did it with?
Why you enjoyed it?

5 unique answers with expert feedback

What other activities did you enjoy during your childhood?

Besides spending time with my dog, I loved riding my bicycle and playing soccer with my friends. We would often have matches in the park, and I enjoyed the thrill of competition and teamwork. Those activities kept me active and helped me build friendships.

How did having a pet influence your childhood?

Having a pet like Google taught me responsibility and empathy. I learned to care for another living being, which made me more compassionate. It also provided me with companionship and comfort during my introverted moments, making my childhood more enjoyable.

Do you think pets can help children develop important skills?

Absolutely! Pets can teach children valuable life skills such as responsibility, empathy, and social interaction. Caring for a pet can also boost a child's confidence and provide emotional support, which is crucial during their formative years.

Band 6-7

00:00

When I am young I used to play badminton. As a young student I want to concentrate on studies for a long time like I want to spend 8 to 10 hours on my school or college concentrating on studies. I don't really have so much time to relax. And after completing my studies or homework or assignments I used to play badminton with my cousins and my fellow school students. And it gives me some physical pleasure and it also helps me to mentally unwind and it will also improve my mood when I am playing badminton. And of course it is a very good way to stay physically fit. It gives me some sort of internal happiness when I am playing it. I don't play for any teams or tournaments but I still continue playing badminton whenever I feel disappointed or my mood is not so good. It helps me to relax and it also makes me feel refreshed.

Follow up questions

How did playing badminton impact your studies?

Playing badminton helped me unwind after long hours of studying. It provided a necessary break, allowing me to return to my studies refreshed and more focused, which ultimately improved my academic performance.

What other activities did you enjoy during your free time?

Besides badminton, I enjoyed reading books and spending time outdoors with friends. These activities also provided a balance to my academic life and contributed to my overall happiness and well-being.

Do you still play badminton or engage in any sports now?

Yes, I still play badminton occasionally. It remains a great way for me to relieve stress and stay active. I also try to engage in other sports like jogging and swimming to maintain my fitness.

Band 6-7

00:00

An activity that I really enjoyed when I was young would probably be playing badminton. I used to play badminton at a badminton court near my home. And I used to play with my brother and his friends. Sometimes I would also have my friends over at my home and we would go to the badminton court to play badminton. The reason I enjoyed it is because it challenged me. It was also a very physical activity. So I had to run around, used to sweat a lot and it used to help me be in shape.

Follow up questions

What other sports did you enjoy playing as a child?

Besides badminton, I also enjoyed playing soccer and basketball. Soccer was great for teamwork, while basketball helped improve my coordination. I loved being active and trying different sports with my friends.

How did playing badminton influence your life as you grew older?

Playing badminton instilled a love for physical activity in me. It taught me discipline and teamwork, which have been valuable in my adult life. I still enjoy staying active and often play sports to maintain my fitness.

Do you think children today have similar opportunities for physical activities?

I believe children today have both opportunities and challenges. While there are many sports programs available, screen time can limit outdoor play. It's important for parents to encourage physical activities to ensure kids stay active and healthy.

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Band 6-7

00:00

So, I like to do drawing, painting, not only in my free time, I make time for that and do it. I will do it in my home, I will just make space for myself, do the drawing, do the art, do the painting and all. So, I like that art work and there are many paintings in my home as well. So, I do oil pastes, painting, color like with crayons I do and with sketch pens I do. I do different kind of painting and I also do bottle painting, glass painting. So, whenever there is a time, I just keep my entire focus in this. So, these art and craft I have learnt in my childhood and I am making these things implemented throughout my career, throughout my life. So, whenever I get a free time, I will just make time for this and do it because I like it very much. And in my house, I have done wall painting also in my bedroom and in hall as well. So, I have done good painting, good crafts. I have these things done from my childhood. So, I have the collection of all of these paintings. I won a prize in it when I was in 6th standard. I won a prize in an international competition where they gifted me iPad. So, tab they have gifted me and that was the first prize that the topic was technology, how technology develops. So, this is the way I do, I use my free time.

Follow up questions

How has your interest in art influenced your career choices?

My passion for art has led me to explore creative fields, and I often incorporate artistic elements into my work. It has helped me develop a unique perspective and problem-solving skills, which are valuable in any career.

What other hobbies did you have as a child besides painting?

In addition to painting, I enjoyed activities like playing sports, reading books, and crafting. Each of these hobbies contributed to my creativity and helped me develop various skills that I still use today.

Do you think art is important for children? Why?

Absolutely! Art encourages creativity, self-expression, and critical thinking in children. It also helps them develop fine motor skills and can be a therapeutic outlet, making it an essential part of their development.

Band 6

00:00

I love playing with my friends when I was young because we have a ground near to my home especially I have so many friends in my childhood nearly 5-6 members moreover all are near to my age and all we love to play all we loves to play a wide variety wide range of games whatever that whatever comes to us minds we play that spending time with my friends make me more refreshing and enjoying it makes me

Follow up questions

What types of games did you enjoy playing with your friends?

We played a variety of games like football, cricket, and tag. Sometimes we would invent our own games, which made it even more fun. The creativity involved in coming up with new rules and challenges added to the excitement of our playtime.

How did playing with friends impact your childhood?

Playing with friends greatly enriched my childhood. It taught me teamwork, communication, and how to resolve conflicts. Those experiences helped me build strong friendships and created lasting memories that I cherish to this day.

Do you think children today have similar play experiences?

I believe children today have different play experiences due to technology. While some still enjoy outdoor games, many are more inclined to play video games. However, I think the essence of friendship and fun remains the same, regardless of the medium.

Show all 5 answers

Cue 1:What it was?

Begin by clearly stating the activity you enjoyed, such as a sport, hobby, or game.
Share a brief description of what the activity involved and why it was significant to you.

Example

One of my favorite activities during my childhood was playing cricket. It was not just a game for me; it was a passion that brought excitement and joy.

Cue 2:Where you did it?

Mention the specific location where you engaged in this activity, such as a park, school ground, or your neighborhood.
Describe the environment and how it contributed to your enjoyment of the activity.

Example

I usually played cricket in the local park near my home. The park had a large open space, which was perfect for playing with my friends, and it was always filled with laughter and energy.

Cue 3:Who you did it with?

Identify the people you played with, such as friends, family, or neighbors.
Explain the role these individuals played in making the activity enjoyable.

Example

I played cricket with my friends from the neighborhood. We formed a close-knit group, and the camaraderie we shared made the games even more enjoyable. We would often compete against each other, which added a fun competitive spirit.

Cue 4:Why you enjoyed it?

Discuss the reasons that made this activity enjoyable for you, such as the thrill of competition or the joy of teamwork.
Reflect on the skills you developed or the memories you created during this activity.

Example

I enjoyed playing cricket because it taught me teamwork and discipline. The thrill of hitting a six or taking a wicket was exhilarating. Those moments created lasting memories that I cherish even today.

Conclusion

Summarize your feelings about the activity and its impact on your childhood.
Mention how this activity has influenced your interests or hobbies in later life.

Example

In conclusion, playing cricket was a significant part of my childhood. It not only provided me with joy and excitement but also instilled values of teamwork and perseverance that I carry with me to this day.

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: Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your answer less engaging and informative. It may leave the examiner confused about your experience and feelings.

Tip

Be specific about the activity, using descriptive words to paint a clear picture of what you enjoyed.

2: Ignoring Key Cues

Failing to address all the cue prompts can lead to an incomplete answer. This may result in a lower score for coherence and task achievement.

Tip

Make sure to cover all the cues, such as who you did it with and why you enjoyed it, to provide a well-rounded response.

Overly Short Answers

Providing very short answers can make your response sound unprepared and lacking in detail. This can negatively impact your fluency score.

Tip

Expand on your answers by adding personal anecdotes or feelings related to the activity to create a more engaging narrative.

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Anonymous student Band 7.5

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Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

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Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

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Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

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Anonymous student Band 7

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Answer

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Describe a book you recently read

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Anonymous student Band 7.5

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Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.