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IELTSTM CUE CARD

Describe Something you Taught to Your Friend: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Updated on Nov 13, 2024, 05:10

Overview

In the topic ‘Describe something you taught your friend,’ The term "Cue Card" suggests that you will be given a card with specific information or prompts related to the topic to guide your response.
 

It's important to use a variety of vocabulary, sentence structures, and clear pronunciation during your response to showcase your English language proficiency.
 

After the cue-card task, you will be asked follow-up questions in part 3. The questions in part 3 will be related to the cue-card topic given by the examiner. 

 

Cue Card/Topic: Describe Something You Taught To Your Friend

You should say

  • What did you teach him/her?
  • When was it?
  • How long was it for?
  • And explain how you felt about it.
Sample Answer 1 on Photography

Introduction:

 

  • A month ago, I got to teach a skill I am passionate about. 
  • I taught my friend the basics of photography, a subject I have been keenly interested in for several years. 
  • The learning session took place on the weekends, giving us a focused yet relaxing environment.
     

Explain the duration of your teaching period to your friend:

 

  • The duration of the teaching period was over 3 afternoons at the weekends, without being in a rush. 
  • I started with the basics of photography, such as composition, lighting, and camera settings. 
  • To enhance the learning experience, I demonstrated the basic features of my own camera. I introduced him to hands-on activities like capturing nature and gave feedback help him understand.
     

Describe your feelings after teaching your friend:

 

  • After teaching my friend, I felt satisfaction in sharing my skills with someone close to me. It was about transferring knowledge and igniting a passion with a valuable skill. 

 

Conclusion

 

  • Teaching photography to my friend was one of the best decisions I have ever taken. 
  • Apart from helping my friends, it helped me strengthen my bond with them and the joy of fostering a shared interest.
Sample Answer 2 on Guitar

Introduction:

 

  • Recently, I had the opportunity to share my knowledge and skills in guitar with a friend. 
  • My friend had expressed interest in learning the skill, and I saw it as an opportunity to introduce him to the fundamentals. 
  • The teaching period spanned over three afternoons on weekends without being rushed. 

 

Explain the duration of your teaching period to your friend:

 

  • Our teaching period lasted a few hours, ensuring it was not overwhelming for my friend. 
  • I familiarised him with the various parts and taught them how to tune it properly.
  • For practice, we began with a simple song and basic chords to make the learning experience engaging. 
     

Describe your feelings after teaching your friend:

 

  • After teaching the skill I am passionate about, I had a mixed feeling of joy and satisfaction. 
  • It was a very happy moment when my friend successfully played their first few chords, and the notes were fulfilling.

 

Conclusion:

 

  • Teaching my friend to play the guitar was a boosting experience that went beyond the technicalities of music. 
Sample Answer 3 on cooking a three-course meal

Introduction:

 

  • Recently, I had the chance to share a valuable skill with my friend. I taught my friend the art of cooking a simple yet delicious three-course meal, primarily focusing on basic culinary principles and rules.
  • I conducted sessions on a cold Sunday afternoon, allowing us to share knowledge without the restrictions of a hectic schedule.

 

Explain the duration of your teaching period to your friend:

 

  • The teaching duration spanned a couple of hours, providing us with ample time to cover the fundamentals of each dish without feeling rushed. 
  • I taught my friend by explaining the importance of recipe selection, ingredients, hands-on cooking, cooking techniques and tasting and adjustment.

 

Describe your feelings after teaching your friend:

 

  • I was feeling overwhelmed to share my knowledge on teaching my friend how to prepare a three-course meal. 
  • Witnessing her newfound confidence in the kitchen and the excitement as they tasted the dishes they had created was truly fulfilling. 

 

Conclusion:

 

  • The cooking learning period provided my friend with hands-on experience in culinary skills and strengthened our bond through the joy of creating something delicious together and making new memories.

A good answer for the IELTS cue card section should include a strong introduction, some context to the topic, reasons to support your answer, and how you relate to the topic.
 

Once part 2 begins, you will be handed a cue card and 4 questions related to it. In our case, the cue card will look something like this: 

 

The examiner will assess your answer based on your ability to communicate in English. We have divided the answer for the topic, ‘Describe something you taught to your friend,’ into 4 parts.
 

Introduction

 

  • What did you teach your friend?
  • Set some context on when did you taught your friend?
     

Explain the duration of your teaching period to your friend

 

  • What were the ways you followed to teach your friend?
     

Describe your feelings after teaching your friend

 

  • Share your experience in teaching your friend.
     

Conclusion

 

  • Summarise your context

Follow-Up Questions

Part 3 of the IELTS speaking section is the Two-way Discussion round. The certified examiner will ask you related questions to the topic given to you in the Individual Long-Turn task. You can use this section to share your opinions and ideas on the topic. 

 

In this section, you will discuss the topic in general, showcasing to the examiner that you can justify your opinions and your ability to discuss the topic in depth. The total duration of the discussion round will be 4-5 minutes. 

 

You should avoid rephrasing the question without adding meaningful content in this section. Pay attention to the time allocated by the examiner for each section, especially during the discussion round. 

Q1. What would you prefer learning from teachers or your friends?

Answer 1: I prefer learning from teachers because they are experts in their field and can provide accurate information and explanations. They hold credible knowledge and experience and can offer constructive feedback to help students improve. 
 

Answer 2: Learning from friends is more relaxed and informal, as they can provide peer support, share experiences with each other and offer alternative perspectives.

Q2. Why do older people face problems in learning and adapting to new things?

Answer 1: Some older people face problems in adapting and learning new things due to cognitive, physical, and psychological factors. One of the major reasons is the technological gap. For example, If an individual starts using a new app and uses the app daily, they can follow the updates. However, if they don’t use it regularly, it becomes difficult to operate the app.


Answer 2: Older people face issues due to physical health issues. It hampers their ability to interact with and learn about new technologies as it declines their processing speed and working memory.

Q3. Why are teachers important in our lives?

Answer 1: Teachers play a critical role in our lives. They facilitate in imparting knowledge and help students acquire the essential skills needed to succeed in their chosen fields and achieve something huge in career.
 

Answer 2: Teachers serve as mentors, helping students through academic challenges, personal growth, and decision-making. They create an environment that stimulates curiosity and intellectual curiosity among the students.

Q4. What are the things that the young generation can teach the older generation?

Answer 1: The younger generation can teach the older generation valuable lessons in various areas, like technology and digital skills. The younger generation is typically more tech-savvy and can teach older individuals how to utilise technology, including smartphones, social media, and various applications.
 

Answer 2: Younger individuals are often well-versed in the latest trends in communication, including social media platforms, messaging apps, and online etiquette. They can share insights into effective digital communication.

FAQs

Q. What are common mistakes in IELTS speaking?

Ans. Some of the common mistakes made during the IELTS Speaking test are:
 

  • Poor pronunciation: Make sure you pronounce words clearly with proper pronunciation. 
  • Lack of vocabulary: Do not use the exact words.
  • Taking too many pauses: Do not take too many pauses between your answers. This might look like you are stammering for words. 
  • Lack of Confidence: Answer confidently and calmly. 
  • Being inaudible: Encouraging candidates to speak audibly and clearly is crucial.
Q. Which part is the most important in IELTS speaking?

Ans. The three parts of your IELTS Speaking test are not marked separately. You will receive a band score for your overall IELTS Speaking test performance. Make sure your ideas are organised logically. Link and explain your ideas using more lexical resources, such as new words and phrases. 

Q. Can I use idioms in my IELTS Speaking test?

Ans. Yes, you can use idioms and phrases in your IELTS speaking test. Using popular idioms relevant to your topic will give a positive impression on your examiner. Idioms are words or phrases that have figurative, non-literal meanings attached to them. Some examples of idioms are ‘beating around the bush,’ ‘the early bird catches the prey,’ and ‘from A to Z.’ 

Q. What is the lowest score in IELTS speaking?

Ans. The band score range for your IELTS Speaking test is 0-9. The lowest score you can get in your IELTS Speaking test is 0. Here, 0 is the lowest score, and 9 is the highest score. The probability of getting a zero is relatively lower. Generally, a score above 6 and 6.5 is considered good. 

Q. Can I change the topic in IELTS speaking?

Ans. No, you cannot get your topic changed in your IELTS Speaking test. Try to stick to your topic and provide all the related subtopics or points. Remember that the examiner is not checking your awareness of the subject. Instead, the focus is on your language usage and how well you frame it. Even if you do not know much about the topic, try to frame it properly and deliver it confidently with the help of supporting statements.

Q. How can I get 8.5 in IELTS speaking?

Ans. Proper preparation and constant practice are the quickest ways to achieve a higher score on your IELTS Speaking test. Some good practices you can obey are:
 

  • Start with a catchy and pleasant introduction
  • Give definitions, examples, and scenarios for your answer
  • Stick to your topic
  • Use good vocabulary
  • Use proper pronunciation
  • Maintain eye contact and speak confidently with the examiner.
Q. Is there any dress code for speaking in IELTS?

Ans. It might be useful to mention that candidates should choose attire that reflects a professional and respectful demeanour, which contributes to creating a positive first impression.

Q. How do I improve my speaking skills?

Ans. Improving your speaking skills is a long-term process. Some good habits to ensure this are:
 

  • Listen to daily podcasts, movies, news, and other videos in english
  • Interact with native english speakers
  • Listen to a variety of accents and try them
  • Try to watch movies without subtitles and try to figure out the words on your own
  • Try learning new words and applying them in your speech.
Q. What are some tips for performing better in the IELTS Speaking test?

Ans. Some good practices to improve your performance for your Speaking test are:
 

  • Understand the task properly
  • Use the preparation time wisely
  • Do not by-heart your answers
  • Speak clearly and fluently
  • Check that you have not repeated your vocabulary and proofread for grammar mistakes.
Q. What is the duration of the IELTS cue card section?

A. The duration of your cue card section is 3-4 minutes. The first minute is the preparation time. You can use this to prepare and structure your answer well. Later, you will be given 2-3 minutes to speak. Speak confidently and make sure your speech is audible, clear, and concise. 

Q. What if I fail my IELTS speaking test?

Ans. If by chance you fail your IELTS Speaking test, you can apply for a retake. The IELTS One-skill retake facility allows you to retake just one IELTS module at a time. If your score is low for a single module, then you do not need to retake the entire test. Make sure you prepare well for your retake. 

Q. How many hours is the IELTS speaking test?

Ans. The IELTS speaking test is only 11-14 minutes long. You have three parts in your IELTS Speaking test. The duration of each part is as follows:
 

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