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Describe a job that one of your grandparents did: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What was the job about?
  • Was this only the one job she or he did?
  • How you felt about it?
Show all 31 answers

Cue 1:What was the job about?

  • Begin by describing the job in detail, including the responsibilities and tasks involved.
  • Mention any specific skills or qualities that were important for this job.

Example

My grandfather worked as a school teacher for over 30 years. He taught mathematics and science to high school students. His job involved preparing lesson plans, grading assignments, and mentoring students. He was very passionate about education and believed that every child had the potential to succeed.

Cue 2:Was this only the one job she or he did?

  • Discuss whether your grandparent had other jobs or careers throughout their life.
  • If they had multiple jobs, briefly explain what they were and how they differed from the teaching profession.

Example

Teaching was not the only job my grandfather did. Before becoming a teacher, he worked as a clerk in a government office for a few years. However, he found his true calling in teaching and dedicated his life to it. He also took on tutoring students in the evenings to help them with their studies.

Cue 3:How you felt about it?

  • Share your personal feelings about your grandparent's job and its impact on you or your family.
  • Reflect on any lessons or values you learned from their work.

Example

I have always admired my grandfather for his dedication to teaching. His passion for education inspired me to value learning and hard work. I remember how he would often share stories about his students' successes, which made me realize the importance of making a difference in others' lives. His job taught me the value of patience and perseverance.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, my grandfather's career as a teacher not only shaped his life but also had a lasting impact on our family. His commitment to education and the values he instilled in us continue to inspire me every day.

    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: Avoid Vague Descriptions

    Using vague language can make your answer unclear and unengaging. Specific details about the job will help the examiner understand your response better.

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    Tip

    Provide specific examples of tasks your grandparent performed in their job to make your answer more vivid and interesting.

    2: Don't Focus on Irrelevant Details

    Including too much unrelated information can distract from the main topic. Stay focused on the job and its significance.

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    Tip

    Stick to the cues provided and ensure your answer relates directly to the job and your feelings about it.

    Avoid Negative Tone

    Expressing negativity about your grandparent's job can reflect poorly on your attitude. It's important to show respect and appreciation.

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    Tip

    Even if the job had challenges, highlight positive aspects and what you learned from your grandparent's experience.

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    All Answers

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

    Band 6-7

    The job that my grandparents did, first of all, my grandfather was a teacher and my grandmother was a housewife. My grandmother was a homemaker. She was a perfect homemaker. She was a blessing to our family. And my grandfather was a teacher. He was a very strict teacher. His subject of specialization in teaching was in English. Moreover, all his English books were taught nowadays in the school of West Bengal government. He was a very good teacher and a writer. At last, he became the principal of that school which he was teaching according to his merit on the subject and administrative powers. My grandfather was teaching English since he was 25 years old and he used to teach English correctly. Furthermore, he used to teach students personally when they had lack in the areas which he taught in the school. The poor students used to come to his house to teach, to study English. His dream job was to become a teacher and he did it. It was

    Band 6-7

    My grandfather was a tuition master. He was a well known teacher around our city. He would go to different places for taking classes for the students and also many of the people would come to our house looking for him for their children and I was not born when he was a teacher and I knew about him from my father who is also a teacher. After all this his legacy still remains the same. The main subjects that my grandfather taught was mathematics and English. My father used to say that he would clear all his doubts very trickily and easily and my grandfather was a well known person for his ways of teaching and his kindness towards his students. He never bored any of his pupils and

    Band 6-7

    One job of my grandparents was a dedicated school teacher, a profession that played a significant role in building the foundation of a society. Their job involved teaching subjects like math, science, language and so on to young minds and helping students not only acquire knowledge but also develop critical thinking, problem solving and life skills. They spent hours to make lesson plans, assignments, make learning enjoyable using creative methods to ensure that every child could understand and grow. Teaching was more than a job for them, it was a calling. Beyond the classroom, they often mentored students, providing guidance and encouragement to those who struggled academically and personally. However, teaching was not the only role they undertook. During school days, they also provided private tuitions in the rural areas where education resources are limited. Sometimes, they also provided free classes to underprivileged students who are not able to pay high tuition fees and private tuitions and also they created many job opportunities for them to succeed in their life. Additionally, they were active in community programs. I have always felt a deep sense of pride and admiration for my grandparents' work, knowing that they devoted their life to educating others and leaving a lasting impression on their students inspires me a lot. Their story motivated me to make a meaningful impact whatever I do, they just do. They also helped students to develop many abilities like how to solve problems during the critical situation, how to handle all the expenses financially as well.

    Band 6-7

    My grandfather was a very interesting person. He is very energetic for doing any activity at their age. His name is Bachardas. At his age of prime, he did various jobs and several businesses. Whenever I got free time, I sit with him and talk about his past experience which is very helpful for my career guidance. He told me that he did an accountant job where he spent about 12 and a half years. He also did a small business on grocery where he run this business for about 2 and a half years. After retiring, he has also provided his time to a temple for maintaining his trust account. In his belief, he thinks about not spending leisure time without doing any activity because he feels lazy. So, he does some small work everyday for not having free time.

    Band 6-7

    My grandfather was an army driver. He used to work in the Indian Army and he is very very smart and he also worked in different cities while he was working as a driver in Indian Army. So as he was a militant he got many medals because he participated in crucial wars. He retired at the age of 60 with several medals and his designation was such that he had to drive the soldiers to the places where they needed to be as well as he was also taking part in the wars as a militant and I'm really proud and amazed to know that my grandfather worked and was an important citizen who took part in some wars which is in history and his name will always be there and cannot be erased. So being part of such a history is really amazing for me and I'm extremely fascinated by the stories he shared after he retired.

    Band 6-7

    My grandfather was a surgeon and a very well-renowned doctor at that time. I've had the privilege to witness his journey, not for as long, unfortunately, but it definitely taught me the power, the dignity that job has for that matter. Furthermore, it also instilled in me the nobleness of the profession that it is. The fact that he used to work around the clock to make sure that his patients have had the most amazing experience, if we were to say, that is one thing that really inspired me to pursue a profession that has a social impact, where people actually remember you for the good deeds that you have done, for the remarkable journey that you have had. And I think doctors today are...

    Band 6

    My, we never, me and my brother never let us, like we never spent most of our time with our grandparents. But I do remember that my grandfather was working as an army officer and my grandmother used to work as a housewife. But my grandfather came as a retired army officer, it happened a lot of time ago and currently he is working as a parish. I always adored him that he worked as an army officer and I always wanted to be an army officer same like as him and he used to tell us about the stories that how they work as an army officer and how they ensure that everyone feels safe in the country and I always got many, many and many respect from people around us and also from the country like those people know that we are from army background so they treat us like we are doing something from them and currently after he came as a retired person then he started working in a temple as a parish and this also bring us respect to us and we used to adore him like working as a parish and all of the people around our neighborhood also bow him that he is doing such a great job for us like firstly he did a great job for the country and now he is

    Band 6

    I didn't really know about my paternal grandparents much because they passed out when I was a child. But I'm pretty well known towards my maternal grandparents and my maternal grandfather is like an ideal figure to me. He was a retired army man and he was also a businessman. So it started when he first joined the army and that army job is the one I respect him for the most. When he was in the army, he fought with Pakistan in 1975's war and he told me the heroic story about India's win and it was really amazing to hear it. And he always told me about the real war experience and hearing that kind of thing from a retired army officer is really quite a good experience. And I really love his army job, though he was quite a successful businessman, when he left the army he ran a business and earned millions. But while in the army, he served the country through his heart and that is what I love. Braveness, encouragement, determination, he has everything an army man needs. But unfortunately, he needs to quit the job because of his father. His father just suddenly passed out of illness and he needs to attend the funeral. In that case, he just quit his job of army. But I really appreciate and I really idealize him. I really respect him for being in the army.

    Band 6

    I want to discuss about the job that my grandparent did. He was a teacher in a school. He was an English teacher and he had only that teacher job and he loved children and a very calm and quiet with each and every one of them. He took care of each and every individual and respect their ideas one by one. He is a very cool personality and he always thinks outside the box. He is a teacher par excellence. Not only he is a good teacher, he is also good human being. He is a kind hearted person who always sits beside his students and help them guide in their studies. He was a person, not only he was an excellent teacher, he was also a good grandparent for me. He always talks about different stories. He also sits with me and teaches me and he always guide me perfectly and I love sitting with him and talking each other. He loves to share stories in his classroom and also in my house and we both spend a lot of time together, playing, sitting and laughing each other and I miss him so much. He was an amazing personality and he is the one who is closest to my heart. I love my grandfather more than my parents and I wish I could be one of them among them and I am very happy that I got a grandfather like him and I am very happy and mesmerized about the teaching that he had done.

    Band 6

    I would like to describe a job that my grandparents did. That is a business, a small business. They owned their footwear shop. When I was a child, I loved to go there. The shop is located in Trinavon, Mumbai. I was always fascinated about the business when I was a child. Since childhood. They always taught me some of the basic things which needed for the business. Whatever I do there. Along with this, they are very good at their business. There are some of the financial issues. We need to close that footwear shop. Find it. That footwear shop. But I still remember. Still remember their work. And how they are highly motivated. Always positive towards their work. The footwear shop.
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