Describe a food that people eat on special occasions/events: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What it is
What the special event/occasion is
How it is cooked/made
And explain why people eat it on that special occasion/event

6 unique answers with expert feedback

What other dishes are popular during special occasions in your culture?

In addition to Undhiyu, other popular dishes during special occasions in Gujarat include Dhokla, a steamed savory cake made from fermented rice and chickpea batter, and Khandvi, which are rolled up savory snacks made from gram flour. These dishes also reflect the rich culinary heritage of the region.

How do food traditions vary across different regions in your country?

Food traditions can vary significantly across regions in India. For example, in Punjab, people enjoy rich dishes like Butter Chicken and Sarson da Saag during celebrations, while in South India, dishes like Biryani and Payasam are popular. Each region has its unique flavors and ingredients that reflect local culture.

Why do you think food is an important part of celebrations?

Food is an essential part of celebrations as it brings people together, fosters a sense of community, and creates shared memories. It often symbolizes cultural heritage and traditions, allowing families and friends to connect over meals that have been passed down through generations.

Band 6-7

00:00

It's basically shwira. People usually eat on special occasions or events. And it's especially made on festivals and people like to eat it. It's sweet, we add cashews, peanuts, almonds, we crush them and then put it into milk and boil it. And then put rice in it and then cook it very well and it tastes very delicious. And it's like the festival or a special occasion is Diwali, Holi and more festivals in India. And even made for both like all kind of people can eat it but it's not good for diabetic patients.

Follow up questions

What other foods are commonly prepared for festivals in your culture?

In addition to shwira, there are many other traditional foods prepared for festivals in India, such as biryani, sweets like gulab jamun, and savory snacks like samosas. Each festival has its own special dishes that reflect the cultural significance and traditions associated with the celebration.

How do you think food plays a role in bringing people together during celebrations?

Food is a central part of celebrations as it fosters a sense of community and belonging. Sharing meals allows families and friends to bond, create memories, and enjoy each other's company. It also reflects cultural heritage and traditions, making the occasion more meaningful.

Are there any special rituals associated with preparing or eating shwira?

Yes, preparing shwira often involves family gatherings where everyone participates in the cooking process. There may be rituals such as offering the first serving to deities or sharing the first bite with elders. These practices enhance the festive spirit and strengthen family ties.

Band 6-7

00:00

Very tasty So I Love eating puddings especially coconut pudding as a small town Child or teenager of 11 years. I still remember eating a coconut pudding In a function. It was such flavorful such such a delight in the mouth And I still remembers its flavor Mild Aromatic and soothing Then another thing that comes to my mind is the Gulab jamun That is being served in weddings of Kerala today The first time I saw Gulab jamun being eaten in a Wedding was my own sister's marriage There after it became a trend in Kerala and still I Remember that I remember that Still I remember the taste of the Gulab jamun mixed with the ice cream

Follow up questions

What other special foods are popular in your culture?

In my culture, we also enjoy biryani during festivals and special gatherings. It's a flavorful rice dish with spices and meat or vegetables. Another favorite is payasam, a sweet dessert made with rice or vermicelli, often served during celebrations.

How do you think food contributes to celebrations?

Food plays a vital role in celebrations as it brings people together. Sharing special dishes creates a sense of community and joy. It also evokes memories and traditions, making the occasion more meaningful and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Do you think food preferences change over time?

Yes, food preferences can change over time due to various factors like exposure to different cuisines, health trends, and personal experiences. As people travel and try new dishes, they may develop a taste for foods that weren't part of their childhood.

Practice other cue cards

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

View answers

Describe A Dinner You Really Enjoyed

View answers

Describe A Bad Service You Received In A Restaurant Shop

View answers

Describe A Restaurant That You Enjoyed Going To

View answers

Describe Your Favourite Food

View answers

Band 6-7

00:00

So, I am going to talk about Ugadi Pachadi. So, this pachadi is made on Ugadi. It is very much special for every person in India, especially for people in Andhra Pradesh. We call it Ugadi and people of Kerala call it Onam. So, this pachadi is, you can call it as pickle. So, this is prepared by using 5 types of tastes like sweet, sour, salt, etc. Bitter and etc. So, for sweet we use bellam, also known as jaggery. We call it bellam. And for sourness we use tamarind. And for bitterness we use this thing, neem flowers. And for salt we use salt and pepper. We also use pepper to create some spiciness in the pickle. So, we savor it with itself. We don't use any other things. So, this represents all kinds of tastes in our tradition, in our life. We eat it to represent, there is every kind of emotion, every kind of feelings towards the life. So, we take it.

Follow up questions

What other traditional foods are associated with Ugadi celebrations?

Apart from Ugadi Pachadi, other traditional foods include pulihora (tamarind rice), bobbatlu (sweet flatbreads), and various sweets made from rice and lentils. Each dish has its own significance and is prepared with love to celebrate the New Year.

How do people in your region celebrate Ugadi?

In my region, Ugadi is celebrated with family gatherings, prayers, and rituals. People clean their homes, decorate with mango leaves, and prepare special dishes. It's a time for new beginnings, and we also exchange greetings and gifts to mark the occasion.

Why do you think food plays such an important role in celebrations?

Food brings people together and creates a sense of community. It symbolizes love, tradition, and shared experiences. During celebrations, special dishes evoke memories and emotions, making the occasion more meaningful and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Band 6-7

00:00

I would like to talk about the food where people eat on special occasion like we have Diwali, Dussehra and Gudi Padwa or whatever the festival comes we are Maharashtrian so we make pooran poli that is the famous dish on special occasion which makes by chana dal some pulses like chana dal and some people cook with jaggery some people cook with sugar and it's a sweet dish along with that we make amti some people make amras and then rice and some bhaji and some papad and kurudis like on specially Diwali every people like in Maharashtrian house they make we make and we eat we enjoy that food that is the special occasion on like I said Diwali and about about other food like as of now not in not coming in my mind but pooran poli it comes all the time because I love pooran poli my mother-in-law makes pooran poli but however rather than my mother-in-law but my mother makes awesome pooran poli we eat from my childhood and she makes with less sugar which I loved it all time my mother cooks it's a magic in her hand to cook this pooran poli thank you

Follow up questions

What other special foods are popular in your culture?

In addition to pooran poli, we also enjoy dishes like modak during Ganesh Chaturthi and puri bhaji during weddings. Each festival has its own unique dishes that bring families together and celebrate our traditions.

How do you think food plays a role in celebrations?

Food is central to celebrations as it brings people together and creates a sense of community. Sharing special dishes during festivals strengthens family bonds and allows us to honor our cultural heritage.

What is your favorite memory related to food during festivals?

One of my favorite memories is helping my mother make pooran poli during Diwali. The aroma filled the house, and it was a joyful experience to cook together, share stories, and enjoy the delicious food with family and friends.

Show all 6 answers

Cue 1:What it is

Begin by clearly stating the food item you are describing.
Provide a brief description of its appearance and taste.

Example

The food I want to talk about is biryani, a fragrant rice dish that is often layered with marinated meat and spices. It has a rich aroma and a delightful blend of flavors, making it a favorite among many.

Cue 2:What the special event/occasion is

Mention the specific occasion when this food is typically served.
Explain the significance of this occasion in your culture.

Example

Biryani is commonly served during weddings and festive celebrations like Eid. These occasions are significant in Indian culture, as they bring families together to celebrate joy and unity.

Cue 3:How it is cooked/made

Describe the cooking process in a simple way.
Highlight any special ingredients or techniques used.

Example

To make biryani, the rice is partially cooked and then layered with marinated meat, which is cooked with spices like saffron, cardamom, and cloves. The dish is then sealed and cooked on low heat, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.

Cue 4:And explain why people eat it on that special occasion/event

Discuss the cultural or emotional reasons behind eating this food during the occasion.
Mention how it enhances the celebration.

Example

People eat biryani on special occasions because it symbolizes celebration and abundance. The rich flavors and the effort put into making it make it a dish that everyone looks forward to, enhancing the festive spirit.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, biryani is more than just a dish; it represents the joy of coming together during special occasions. Its unique flavors and the love that goes into preparing it make it a cherished part of our celebrations.

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. Avoid general terms that do not provide specific details about the food or occasion.

Tip

Be specific about the food's ingredients, flavors, and the unique aspects of the occasion to create a vivid picture.

2: Ignoring Cooking Methods

Failing to explain how the food is cooked or made can leave your answer incomplete. This is an important part of the cue.

Tip

Include details about the cooking process, such as techniques, ingredients, and any special preparations involved.

Lack of Personal Connection

Not sharing personal experiences or feelings about the food can make your response less engaging and relatable.

Tip

Explain why the food is meaningful to you or your culture, and share a personal story related to the occasion.

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.

All Answers

Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

Band 7

Band 6-7

i would like to talk about biryani which is the food that people eat on every special occasion such as wedding housewarmings and birthday parties like all the functions we always serve biryanis as well and biryani is very famous and very popular for its aromatic smell and very delicious taste and it is very popular in our area especially in Kannur biryani is made up with kaima rice and ghee and some spices and masalas it's made with chicken or any kind of non-veg ingredients such as fish, prawns, chicken, beef and mutton etc. we usually use biryani in the kind of every special occasions we are making for that biryani is very aromatic food and tastes very delicious it is well known for

Band 6-7