Describe a book you recently read.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What is it called?
When did you read it? What was it about?
Explain how you felt about it.

44 unique answers with expert feedback

What did you find most inspiring about the book?

I found the way John Abraham described his struggles and how he overcame them to be very inspiring. His resilience in the face of adversity really resonated with me, and it encouraged me to reflect on my own challenges and how I can approach them differently.

How does this book compare to others you've read?

This book stands out because it's an autobiography, which gives a personal insight into someone's life. Unlike fictional books, it offers real-life lessons and experiences. I usually read fiction, so this was a refreshing change that provided a different perspective on life.

Would you recommend this book to others? Why?

Yes, I would definitely recommend it. The book offers valuable lessons and insights that can help readers understand different perspectives on life. It's not just about John Abraham's life, but also about learning from his experiences, which can be beneficial for anyone facing challenges.

Band 6-7

00:00

Recently, I have read Robin Sharma's book titled, The 5 AM Club. I completed it a month ago. The one-liner of the book would be, Early bird catches prey. So, it was an eye-opener to me because how an ordinary person can become an extraordinary leader by consistent practice. It's all about waking up earlier and completing all your tasks before the world wakes up. So, it was an eye-opener to me to a new perspective of life, how efficient we can use the 24-hour cycle in our day without wasting even a minute. So, it changed my life completely and I also pushed myself to waking up a bit early from my routine to be productive and effectively complete all my daily chores. So, the book gives a practical application. It goes like a story between three people, one a great leader, another two are a depressed person, how the great leader's speech.

Follow up questions

What specific changes did you make to your morning routine after reading the book?

After reading The 5 AM Club, I started waking up an hour earlier than usual. I use that time for meditation, exercise, and planning my day. This shift has helped me feel more energized and focused throughout the day, allowing me to accomplish more tasks efficiently.

How do you think waking up early can impact one's productivity?

Waking up early can significantly enhance productivity by providing uninterrupted time for personal development and planning. It allows individuals to tackle important tasks before distractions arise, leading to a more organized and fulfilling day.

Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?

Absolutely! I would recommend The 5 AM Club to anyone looking to improve their life and productivity. The practical insights and relatable storytelling make it easy to understand and apply the concepts in daily life, making it a valuable read for personal growth.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

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

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

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

Reported by

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.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

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.

Absolutely! I would recommend Twisted Love because it's engaging and offers a fresh perspective on love. The twists keep you on your toes, and the character development is well-crafted, making it a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys romance.

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Cue 1:What is it called?

Start by clearly stating the title of the book and the author.
You can also mention the genre of the book to give context.

Example

The book I recently read is called 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho. It is a philosophical novel that falls under the adventure and self-discovery genre.

Cue 2:When did you read it? What was it about?

Mention when you read the book and the circumstances that led you to choose it.
Summarize the main plot or themes of the book in a few sentences.

Example

I read 'The Alchemist' last month during my vacation. The story follows a young shepherd named Santiago who dreams of finding treasure in Egypt. It beautifully explores themes of destiny and personal legend.

Cue 3:Explain how you felt about it.

Share your personal feelings and thoughts about the book.
You can discuss what you learned from it or how it impacted you.

Example

I felt incredibly inspired after reading this book. It encouraged me to pursue my own dreams and reminded me that the journey is just as important as the destination. I found myself reflecting on my own life choices and aspirations.

Conclusion

Summarize your overall impression of the book.
You can recommend it to others and explain why.

Example

In conclusion, 'The Alchemist' is a remarkable book that I would highly recommend to anyone seeking motivation and guidance in their life. Its powerful message about following one's dreams resonates deeply with me.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.