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IELTSTM CUE CARD

Describe An Exciting Activity That You Experienced With Someone Else: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Updated on Nov 12, 2024, 10:07

Overview

The IELTS Speaking test includes an introduction, an individual long turn (cue card), and two-way discussion rounds. 
 

In the introduction, the examiner will ask basic questions about your life, career, hobbies, etc. The second part will ask you to speak on a cue card topic for 2-3 minutes. The third part will be a discussion round where the examiner can ask questions about the cue card topic. 
 

In this practice test, we will see how to answer the topic ‘Describe An Exciting Activity That You Experienced With Someone Else.’ We will also be discovering some follow-up questions related to our topic.

 

Cue Card/Topic: Describe An Exciting Activity That You Experienced With Someone Else.

You should say

  • What the activity was?
  • Who did you do it with?
  • Where and when you do it?
  • Why did you choose it, and how did you feel during the experience?

 

Sample Answer 1

Introduction
 

  • I had this exciting journey with my best friend, Kunal, six months back. 
  • We went on a zip-lining and had a great adventure together. 
     

What the activity was: 
 

  • We were overjoyed by zip-lining together and enjoying a beautiful view of the forest from the sky. 
  • The enjoyment of flying together in the sky was unforgettable for both of us. 
     

Who did you do it with?
 

  • I was glad to accompany Kunal, who had more fun with his great sense of humour in our adventure. 
  • His funny attitude has reduced my fear and given me the confidence to try zip-lining for the first time.
     

Where and when you do it
 

  • We went on this zip-lining tour in a hilly region surrounded by dense greenery.
  • It was sunny in mid-July when we decided to explore nature on this trip. 
     

Why did you choose it, and how did you feel during the experience?
 

  • We decided to go on a zip-lining to discover new things and create memories. 
  • It was a very soothing experience to zip through the air and overcome the fear with immense joy and happiness. 
     

Conclusion
 

  • The ziplining trip with my friend Kunal has helped me build my confidence in trying and exploring new things.
  • It also made our relationship stronger and created invaluable memories for our lifetime.   
Sample Answer 2

Introduction
 

  • One of my life's most fascinating moments was scuba diving with Gargi, my younger sister. 
  • The underwater experience was full of excitement and many things to discover. 
     

What the activity was
 

  • We dived deep into the clear waters of the Andaman, going beneath the surface and experiencing the marine life.
  • The underwater experience was fascinating; I saw varied plants, animals, and other organisms.

 

Who did you do it with? 

 

  • I had the opportunity to have fun with Emily, who is more interested in marine life.
  • Her interest in and dedication to seeing marine life has also encouraged me to overcome my hesitation.

 

Where and when you do it?
 

  • Our scuba diving trip began on the Phuket coast, where the clean water provided a good setting. 
  • This unforgettable experience started on a sunny morning with solid enthusiasm to explore the marine life. 
     

Why did you choose it, and how did you feel during the experience?

 

  • We chose scuba diving to experience marine life on the sea's surface.
  • We were mesmerised by seeing the diverse marine life around us as we descended the sea. 

 

Conclusion
 

  • This scuba diving trip with my sister was a memorable experience I will treasure forever. 
  • The pleasure and satisfaction of exploring the underwater world have also enriched me with the vibrant nature. It has encouraged me to explore new adventures and explore the beauty of nature. 
Sample Answer 3

Introduction
 

  • My friend Ritesh and I planned a hot-air balloon trip to Turkey, one of my life's best experiences. 
  • As we prepared for the adventure, the excitement increased to explore the world from the sky.

 

What the activity was
 

  • The adventure started, and soon, we were high above the ground, exploring Queenstown above the sky.
  • We wanted to capture the precious moment of seeing the mountains, beautiful valleys and the green surroundings. 

 

Who did you do it with?
 

  • I was thrilled to have my friend Ritesh, with whom I enjoyed this unforgettable experience of the sky tour.
  • His intense passion for travel has made him a faithful companion for our hot balloon adventure. 
     

Where and when you do it?
 

  • Our precious adventure occurred in Queenstown, a city well known for its natural beauty. 
  • We began this trip on a beautiful autumn morning, passionately awaiting the fantastic aerial views. 
     

Why did you choose it, and how did you feel during the experience?
 

  • We chose to go on a hot-air balloon ride to witness the beauty of the famous Queenstown from the sky. 
  • The feeling of roaming between the skies and exploring the beautiful world from above gave me a fantastic experience.
     

Conclusion
 

  • It has become one of the best moments that I would like to restore forever in my life.
  • I couldn’t forget the beauty of nature from above the skies, and I would love to explore the world's beauty whenever possible. 

Here is how the cue card for our topic, ‘Describe an exciting activity that you experienced with someone else,’ will look like: 

 

Below is how we should answer the above questions related to our topic:
 

Introduction: 

 

  • Briefly elaborate on the enjoyable experience you had with someone.
  • Mention how the activity has excited you. 
“During the summer holidays, I had an exciting experience going on a river rafting trip with my cousin. It was a fun experience that I can never forget.”

What the activity was: 
 

  • Describe the activity shortly and sweetly.
  • Mention the most exciting part of the activity to make it more attractive for the listener. 
“There was a lot of turbulence while rafting, which worried us. However, we managed to get through it and started enjoying the moments.”

Who did you do it with?
 

  • Introduce the person with whom you had this fantastic experience.
  • Focus on how having the person has added more fun to your trip. 
“I was glad to do river rafting with my cousin. Like me, he was also super excited and enthusiastic about the adventurous trip.”

Where and when you do it?

 

  • Talk about the location and the specific period of your life.
  • Give a detailed insight into your experience. 
“It was during the summer when we planned an adventure. We landed on a rafting spot in a mountainous region near our city.”

Why did you choose it, and how did you feel during the experience?
 

  • Discuss what made you choose that particular activity.
  • Specify your emotions while performing the activity. 
“We chose rafting to push ourselves to try new things and enjoy the process. The trip was a mix of emotions, sometimes fun, fear and excitement.”

Conclusion:
 

  • Provide a gist of all the things that you discussed while speaking.
  • Also, elaborate on the importance of that activity and its impact on you and the person who was together with you.
“It was a fantastic experience to enjoy river rafting with my cousin. It gave us a memorable experience and made our bonding even stronger.”

Follow-Up Questions

For our given topic, ‘Describe An Exciting Activity That You Experienced With Someone Else,’ here are the possible questions which the examiner can ask: 

 

Q1. How did you and your companion prepare for the activity beforehand?

Answer 1: Before trying scuba diving, my sister and I attended a safety briefing given by the instructor. We learned about the diving methods, how to dive safely, and how to manage hurdles while diving in the sea. He also taught us to double-check and ensure everything is in order before entering the sea.  
 

Answer 2: Before trying the hot air balloon ride, my friend and I considered all the options and found the best one to help us explore safely in the sky. We also checked the weather to see if it was a good day to venture into the sky. Besides this preparation, we packed up quick snacks for our exploration. 

Q2. What was the most memorable part of the activity for you?

Answer 1: The most memorable part was when I reached the highest point of the zip-lining and saw a vast forest cover below. Another memorable moment was when we found a scarce and colourful bird sitting on a tree, which I had never seen before. These scenes fascinated me, and I wish I could hold them forever. 


Answer 2: The most unforgettable memory was passing a waterfall and feeling the mist on our faces. We also saw a beautiful canyon surrounded by cliffs on either side, adding more wonders to our trip. Each turn of the zipline gave us a new experience and surprising views that we will never forget.

Q3. Would you consider trying similar adventurous activities in the future, or do you prefer different types of experiences?

Answer 1: Absolutely, yes. My friend and I are highly adventurous and keep venturing and trying new things. Whether it's river rafting or bungee jumping, we are always ready to take on new challenges. However, we also like to go on long trips, travel around unique places and stay connected to nature. 

Answer 2: Though I enjoyed the zip-lining trip, I’m more passionate about exploring grounded activities like river rafting, hiking, or the zoo safari. But I'm always up for it when trying new things and meeting new challenges. I also believe in union and always accompany my friends and family in the activities they ask me to join.

Q4. How do you think participating in adventurous activities like this impacts personal growth and relationships?

Answer 1: Participating in adventurous activities like the one I did has boosted my confidence and added to my personal growth. It taught me to overcome fear, push myself out of the boundaries, and try new things. This lesson has taught me how to prepare for future challenges and overcome them with effort.  

 

Answer 2: Trying out new activities like scuba diving gives me the strength and confidence to accept new challenges. It teaches me how to deal with demanding situations and find ways to tackle them ourselves. Also, such experiences help us boost cooperation between friends and family and develop strong bonds. 

FAQs

Q. How can we answer the cue card topic ‘Describe an exciting activity you experienced with someone else’?

Ans. To answer the topic effectively, explain the activity and the person associated with you while enjoying it. Then, briefly describe your experience while doing the activity. Explain the challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Conclude the answer by sharing how doing this activity has added value to your life and your relationship with the person who was a part of it.

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

Ans. Yes, adding your opinions during the speaking test is an excellent idea. It will create a fantastic impression in the examiner's eyes. Bringing out instances from your personal life will make them understand your command of the language, not something artificially portrayed and unnatural.

Q. Is it OK to speak slowly in IELTS?

Ans. You should avoid speaking slowly during the IELTS Speaking test. It will make it difficult for the examiner to listen to and understand your answers. Therefore, keep your tone a bit high so others can easily understand it. It will help you communicate easily with the examiner.

Q. Why is IELTS Speaking difficult?

Ans, The IELTS Speaking test becomes challenging as it requires an excellent command of the language. Many students need help maintaining proper fluency and correct pronunciation, which impacts the candidate's performance. However, you can overcome this when you start practising for the test.

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

Ans. The IELTS speaking test considers four significant factors while determining marks. The examiner will evaluate your performance based on your grammar usage, fluency and coherence, accuracy, and pronunciation. Based on these four areas, you will be given a band score from 0 to 9. 

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

Ans. You can devote some time to understanding the topic. If you need help understanding the cue card, try focusing on the keywords. Start recalling the instances related to the given topic. Then, frame the answers in your mind and start speaking on them. Maintain consistency and a logical flow of your answer while doing so. Don’t worry; you will learn how to frame the answers by practising on different IELTS topics daily. 

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

Ans. You should use formal language during the IELTS Speaking test. However, you can use some informal language while discussing the topic. But make sure it is not pointed towards the examiner and is only limited to the topic. Refrain from responding to the examiner in an informal style.

Q. What are common mistakes in IELTS speaking?

Ans. Many students must improve their fluency and accuracy while speaking during the IELTS test. They even need to learn to use proper grammar The examiner notices all these mistakes and deducts marks for them. Please practice regularly and constantly improve your speaking skills to avoid these mistakes.

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

Ans. The common cue card topics are often related to personal instances from your life. For example, the places you travel, books you read, foods you like, inspiration, childhood memories, favourite games, etc. One of the topics, ‘Describe an exciting activity that you experienced with someone else’, which we discussed in this practice test, is also a perfect example of the common cue card topic. 

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

Ans. Practice is the only key to success in the IELTS speaking test. You should start practising various example topics and recording them yourself. Then, hear it and determine your mistakes during the speech. You can also get the help of your family and friends, perform in front of them, and seek their feedback.

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

Ans. There is no hard and fast rule you must follow while speaking on a given topic. But yes, your answers should have a logical flow of information. Your topic must start with a quick overview and then explain the key areas related to it. Talk about things that match the context of the topic and then conclude with valuable insights, like how learning a particular skill has shaped your career.

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