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IELTSTM CUE CARD

Describe An Occasion When You Helped A Family Member/Relative With Something

Updated on Oct 09, 2024, 06:15

Overview

When preparing for the IELTS Speaking Test, one engaging topic you may encounter is "Describe an occasion when you helped a family member or relative with something." This topic invites you to reflect on personal experiences, emphasising the importance of family bonds and support systems. By sharing a meaningful story, you can demonstrate your ability to articulate emotions, showcase vocabulary related to relationships, and illustrate your problem-solving skills—essential elements for achieving a high IELTS score.

 

Practising this topic not only helps you enhance your storytelling abilities but also builds confidence in using descriptive language. Focusing on key factors like specific details, emotional connections, and the impact of your assistance will allow you to structure your response more effectively. Regularly revisiting such topics will improve your fluency and coherence, ultimately preparing you for upcoming IELTS dates ahead and boosting your overall performance in the Speaking section.

 

 

Cue Card/Topic: Describe An Occasion When You Helped A Family Member/Relative With Something

You should say

  • Who did you help?
  • What did you help them with?
  • How did you help them?
  • Why did you help them?
  • How did you feel about it?
Sample Answer 1

Introduction (Covers: Who did you help?)

 

  • Last Diwali, I helped my cousin Riya, who was preparing for her first major exam in college. 
  • Riya had been feeling overwhelmed with the syllabus and the pressure to perform well, as it was crucial for her to maintain her scholarship.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: What did you help them with?/ How did you help them?)  

 

  • I assisted her with her studies, particularly in subjects she found challenging, like mathematics and statistics. 
  • Riya was struggling to grasp certain concepts, and I could see her frustration growing as the exam date approached.

 

Key Highlights (Covers: How did you feel about it?)

 

  • To help her, I set aside a few days to create a study schedule that broke down her topics into manageable sections. 
  • We worked together, reviewing her class notes and solving practice problems. I explained difficult concepts in a simpler way, and we had discussions that made the subject more relatable. 
  • I decided to help her because I remembered how stressful my own exam preparations were, and I wanted to support her during this critical time.

 

Conclusion

 

  • I felt a sense of satisfaction and pride while helping Riya. Watching her confidence grow as she understood the material better was rewarding. 
  • When she finally took her exam, I felt hopeful for her success. It reinforced the importance of family support and reminded me of the joy that comes from helping others.
Sample Answer 2

Introduction (Covers: Who did you help?)

 

  • A few months ago, I had the opportunity to help my younger brother, Aarav, with his school science project. 
  • He was really anxious about it because it was a significant part of his grade, and he wasn’t sure how to start.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: What did you help them with?/ How did you help them?)  

 

  • Aarav needed to create a working model for a project on renewable energy. He had some ideas but didn’t know how to execute them effectively. 
  • I offered my assistance to guide him through the process.

 

Key Highlights (Covers: How did you feel about it?)

 

  • I sat down with Aarav to brainstorm ideas and settled on building a simple wind turbine model. 
  • We gathered materials from around the house and headed to the local hardware store for some essentials. 
  • I helped him design the turbine, explaining the science behind how wind energy works as we built it together. 
  • I chose to help him because I wanted to encourage his interest in science and alleviate some of his stress.

 

Conclusion

 

  • The experience was incredibly fulfilling. Seeing Aarav’s eyes light up as the turbine spun for the first time filled me with joy. 
  • Not only did he learn about renewable energy, but he also gained confidence in his abilities. 
  • It was a wonderful reminder of how rewarding it is to support family members in their learning journeys.
Sample Answer 3

Introduction (Covers: Who did you help?)

 

  • Recently, I assisted my aunt Meera, who was organising a community event to raise awareness about environmental conservation. 
  • She had taken on a lot of responsibilities, and it was becoming overwhelming for her.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: What did you help them with?/ How did you help them?)  

 

  • Meera needed help coordinating the logistics for the event, including venue arrangements, speaker invitations, and promotional materials. 
  • She wanted to ensure everything went smoothly, but with her busy schedule, she was struggling to keep track of everything.

 

Key Highlights (Covers: How did you feel about it?)

 

  • I stepped in to help her create a checklist of tasks and deadlines. We divided the responsibilities: I took charge of reaching out to local businesses for sponsorships and designing flyers to promote the event. 
  • I decided to help because I believe in the cause and wanted to support my aunt’s efforts to make a positive impact in our community.

 

Conclusion

 

  • Helping Meera was an eye-opening experience. On the day of the event, seeing the turnout and the enthusiasm of participants made all the effort worthwhile. 
  • I felt a sense of accomplishment knowing that I contributed to something meaningful.
  • It also strengthened my bond with my aunt, as we worked closely together towards a common goal.

When the cue card section starts, the examiner will hand you a card with a topic written on it. You will have one minute to prepare your response, and then you will need to speak about the topic for one to two minutes. This is your opportunity to showcase your ability to speak fluently and coherently on a given subject.


The best way to answer these cue cards is by breaking down your response into four parts: Introduction, describing your experience/opinion/interest, key highlights, and conclusion.

 

Introduction (Covers: Who did you help?)

 

  • Start by mentioning who the family member or relative was.
  • State the occasion or situation where you helped them.
  • Keep it brief and engaging to capture the examiner’s attention.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: What did you help them with?/ How did you help them?)  

 

  • Explain the specific problem or task you assisted them with.
  • Describe the context: why they needed help and what led to this moment.
  • Discuss how you helped them: what actions did you take?

 

Key Highlights (Covers: How did you feel about it?)

 

  • Share memorable moments or challenges during the experience.
  • Discuss how your relationship with the family member influenced the situation.
  • Reflect on any lessons learned or skills gained from the experience.

 

Conclusion

 

  • Summarise your feelings about the experience.
  • Reflect on the significance of helping your family member.
  • End with a positive note about the impact this occasion had on your relationship or personal growth.

 

By following this structure, you can ensure that your response is well-organised, clear, and detailed, fitting within the two-minute time limit. Now, let’s look at a sample answer to illustrate how you can apply this structure effectively.

Follow-Up Questions

In the IELTS Speaking Test, the examiner will ask follow-up/ two-way discussion questions after you finish speaking about your cue card topic. This part of the test helps the examiner assess your ability to discuss the topic in more depth, providing detailed answers and expanding on your initial response. You should expect questions that explore your reasoning, experiences, and opinions related to the topic.

Q1: Why do you think helping family members is important?

Answer 1: I believe helping family members is crucial because it strengthens the bonds we share. When we support each other, it creates a sense of trust and unity within the family. Additionally, during difficult times, knowing that someone is there to lend a hand can alleviate stress and boost confidence. It’s a reminder that we are not alone in facing challenges.

Answer 2: Helping family members is important because it fosters a sense of belonging and security. Family support can significantly influence a person’s mental and emotional well-being. Furthermore, assisting one another encourages open communication and understanding, which are vital for maintaining healthy relationships. It’s these small acts of kindness that can make a big difference in someone’s life.

Q2. How do you feel when you help someone in your family?

Answer 1: I feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment when I help someone in my family. Knowing that my support can make a positive difference in their life brings me joy. It also reinforces the idea that family members can rely on each other, which makes me feel proud to contribute in any way I can.

Answer 2: Helping a family member often fills me with a sense of purpose. I genuinely enjoy being there for my loved ones, and it strengthens our connection. At times, I might feel a bit of pressure to ensure I provide the best support possible, but the gratitude and happiness they express afterward make it all worthwhile.

Q3. What are some common ways people help their family members?

Answer 1: People help their family members in various ways, such as providing emotional support during tough times or assisting with practical tasks like cooking, cleaning, or running errands. Additionally, many offer help with academic studies, career advice, or financial assistance when needed. These acts of kindness often create a supportive environment within the family.

Answer 2: Common ways people help their family members include offering advice or guidance in difficult situations, helping with childcare, or supporting them through personal challenges. Many also engage in shared responsibilities around the house, like helping with household chores or maintaining family traditions. Such support enhances family ties and contributes to a sense of togetherness.

Q4. Have you ever received help from a family member? How did it impact you?

Answer 1: Yes, I have received help from my elder sister during my college applications. She guided me through the process, helping me with my personal statement and providing valuable insights about the courses I was interested in. Her support not only made the application process smoother but also boosted my confidence, knowing I had someone experienced by my side.
 

Answer 2: I once received help from my parents when I was struggling with my studies in high school. They dedicated time to understand my difficulties and helped me create a study plan. Their encouragement and patience significantly improved my performance, and it taught me the importance of seeking support when needed. This experience strengthened our family bond.

FAQs

Q. Is it okay to use informal language in the Speaking test?

Ans. While some informal language is acceptable, especially in Part 1, it's important to maintain a semi-formal tone throughout the test, particularly in Parts 2 and 3. Using a mix of formal and informal language can demonstrate your range, but avoid overly casual expressions that might not be appropriate for the context.


 

Q. Can I use idioms in the Speaking test?

Ans. Yes, using idioms appropriately can demonstrate a good command of English and add colour to your speech. However, ensure they fit naturally into your conversation and are relevant to the topic. Overuse or incorrect usage of idioms can negatively affect your score.


 

Q. How should I handle difficult questions in Part 3?

Ans.  If you encounter a difficult question in Part 3, take a moment to think before answering. It’s okay to express uncertainty or to acknowledge the complexity of the topic. Try to answer by discussing what you do know, providing examples, or exploring different perspectives.


 

IELTS Important Information

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