Describe a change that you made recently: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What the change was
What caused the change
What you did for the change
And explain how you feel about the change

1 unique answers with expert feedback

What other changes have you considered making in your lifestyle?

I've thought about improving my diet further by incorporating more fruits and vegetables. Additionally, I want to focus on mental health practices like meditation and mindfulness to enhance my overall well-being.

How do you stay motivated to maintain your exercise routine?

I stay motivated by setting small, achievable goals and tracking my progress. I also enjoy working out with friends, which makes it more fun. Listening to music while exercising helps keep my energy levels up too.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start exercising?

I would advise them to start slowly and not to overwhelm themselves. Finding an exercise they enjoy is crucial, and having a workout buddy can provide support and motivation. Consistency is key, so setting a regular schedule helps.

Show all 1 answers

Cue 1:What the change was

Clearly state the change you made, whether it was a lifestyle change, a new habit, or a decision.
Make sure to explain why this change was significant to you.

Example

Recently, I decided to adopt a healthier lifestyle by incorporating regular exercise into my daily routine. This change was significant for me as I had been feeling lethargic and wanted to improve my overall well-being.

Cue 2:What caused the change

Discuss the reasons that motivated you to make this change, such as health concerns or personal goals.
Mention any specific events or realizations that prompted you to take action.

Example

The main reason for this change was my recent health check-up, where my doctor advised me to lose some weight and increase my physical activity. Additionally, I realized that I was often tired and lacked energy, which pushed me to make a change.

Cue 3:What you did for the change

Describe the steps you took to implement this change, such as creating a workout plan or joining a gym.
Include any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

Example

To implement this change, I started by joining a local gym and set a goal to work out at least four times a week. Initially, it was challenging to find the motivation, but I started with simple exercises and gradually increased the intensity. I also sought advice from a trainer to ensure I was on the right track.

Cue 4:And explain how you feel about the change

Share your feelings about the change and its impact on your life.
Reflect on any positive outcomes or benefits you have experienced since making the change.

Example

I feel incredibly proud of myself for making this change. Since I started exercising regularly, I have more energy, feel healthier, and my mood has improved significantly. It has also boosted my confidence, and I am now more motivated to maintain this lifestyle.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, making the change to adopt a healthier lifestyle has been a rewarding experience for me. It has not only improved my physical health but also positively affected my mental well-being. I encourage others to consider making similar changes for a better quality of life.

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

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your answer unclear. It's important to provide specific details about the change you made to engage the listener.

Tip

Use clear examples and specific details to describe the change, such as when it happened and what exactly you did.

2: Neglecting Emotions

Failing to express how you feel about the change can make your response less personal and relatable. Emotions add depth to your answer.

Tip

Include your feelings about the change, such as excitement or anxiety, to make your response more engaging and personal.

Lack of Structure

A disorganized response can confuse the listener. It's essential to follow a clear structure to convey your thoughts effectively.

Tip

Organize your answer by addressing each cue in order: what the change was, why it happened, what you did, and how you feel.

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.