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.