Describe A Historical Period: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Introduction
What period do you want to know about?
Why do you want to know about it?
How do you think you can know about it?

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Cue 1:Introduction

Begin by briefly introducing the historical period you want to discuss.
Mention its significance or impact on society.

Example

Today, I would like to talk about the Mughal Empire, which was a significant period in Indian history from the early 16th to the 18th century. This era is known for its remarkable contributions to art, architecture, and culture in India.

Cue 2:What period do you want to know about?

Clearly specify the historical period you are interested in.
Provide some context about what happened during that time.

Example

I am particularly interested in the Mughal Empire, especially during the reign of Shah Jahan, who is famous for building the Taj Mahal. This period was marked by great advancements in architecture and the flourishing of arts.

Cue 3:Why do you want to know about it?

Share your personal reasons for wanting to learn about this period.
Connect it to your interests or studies.

Example

I want to know more about the Mughal Empire because I have always been fascinated by its rich history and cultural heritage. As a student of history, I believe understanding this period helps me appreciate the diverse influences that shaped modern India.

Cue 4:How do you think you can know about it?

Discuss the methods you plan to use to learn about this historical period.
Mention specific resources like books, documentaries, or museums.

Example

To learn more about the Mughal Empire, I plan to read books by historians like William Dalrymple and watch documentaries available on platforms like YouTube. Additionally, I hope to visit historical sites like Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal to gain a deeper understanding of the architecture and history.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, the Mughal Empire is a fascinating historical period that has greatly influenced Indian culture. By exploring its history through various resources, I hope to gain a better appreciation of its legacy.

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: Lack of Specificity

Being vague about the historical period can lead to a weak response. Candidates should provide specific details to engage the listener and demonstrate knowledge.

Tip

Choose a specific historical period and include key events, figures, or cultural aspects to enrich your answer.

2: Ignoring Personal Connection

Failing to explain why the period is significant to you can make your answer less compelling. Personal connections add depth and interest.

Tip

Share a personal reason for your interest in the period, such as a family story or a book that inspired you.

Overloading with Information

Providing too much information can overwhelm the listener and dilute your main points. It's important to be concise and focused.

Tip

Select a few key points to discuss and elaborate on them clearly, rather than trying to cover everything.

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.

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