Describe a natural talent you want to improve.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What is it?
How do you want to improve it?
How do you feel about it?

32 unique answers with expert feedback

How do you feel when you dance?

Dancing makes me feel incredibly free and joyful. It's a form of expression for me, allowing me to convey emotions that words can't capture. Each movement feels like a release, and I often lose track of time when I'm dancing, which adds to the pleasure of the experience.

What styles of dance are you interested in learning?

I'm particularly interested in learning contemporary and hip-hop styles. Contemporary dance allows for a lot of emotional expression, while hip-hop has a vibrant energy that I find exciting. I believe that mastering these styles will enhance my overall dancing ability.

Have you ever performed in front of an audience?

Yes, I have performed at a few local events and school functions. The experience was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. Performing in front of an audience boosts my confidence and allows me to share my passion for dance with others, which is incredibly rewarding.

Band 6-7

00:00

My natural talent is to write. I love writing and I want to improve it by doing some few courses on creative writing, on analytical writing. The idea of pursuing this is that not everybody is so good at expressing their thoughts into words. It's a natural talent that I feel I have. I love putting my thoughts into words. I keep writing journals and my everyday journal diary has thoughts ranging from 5 sentences to 50 pages. Doing some courses on writing maybe can help me structure my thoughts in a beautiful way so that I can someday publish a book of my own and can use this naturally gifted talent in a better way. A lot of people in this world I know who can speak well, who can talk well, who can suggest well, but they can't really put in their thoughts on the paper. And hence those writers who write their thoughts beautifully are the ones that I really feel a deep admiration for because obviously writing is a beautiful skill and not everybody has it. It's a tough one to even build because it has to come naturally from within. Practice cannot make one a better writer. It's a natural gift.

Follow up questions

What specific writing courses are you considering?

I'm looking at courses that focus on creative writing and analytical writing. These will help me learn different styles and techniques, which can enhance my ability to express my thoughts more clearly and effectively.

How do you think writing can impact your life?

Writing allows me to express my emotions and thoughts, which can be therapeutic. It also opens up opportunities for sharing my ideas with others, potentially leading to a career in writing or publishing.

Who are your favorite authors or writers, and why?

I admire authors like J.K. Rowling and Gabriel Garcia Marquez for their unique storytelling abilities. Their way of weaving words together inspires me to improve my own writing skills and to find my unique voice.

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.

Speaking is essential because it allows us to communicate our thoughts, ideas, and emotions effectively. It helps build relationships, facilitates learning, and opens up opportunities in both personal and professional contexts.

Show all 32 answers

Cue 1:What is it?

Clearly identify the natural talent you possess and want to improve.
Provide a brief background on how you discovered this talent.

Example

I have a natural talent for playing the guitar. I first discovered this talent when I was in high school, as I could easily pick up songs by ear and play them without much effort.

Cue 2:How do you want to improve it?

Discuss specific methods or resources you plan to use for improvement.
Mention any goals or milestones you hope to achieve in your improvement journey.

Example

To improve my guitar skills, I plan to take online lessons from a professional instructor. I aim to practice for at least an hour every day and learn new techniques, such as fingerpicking and improvisation, to enhance my playing.

Cue 3:How do you feel about it?

Express your emotions regarding your talent and the desire to improve.
Reflect on any challenges or motivations that drive you to enhance this talent.

Example

I feel excited about the prospect of improving my guitar skills. However, I also feel a bit anxious because I know it will require dedication and hard work. The thought of being able to perform confidently in front of an audience motivates me to push through the challenges.

Conclusion

Summarize your main points succinctly.
Reiterate your enthusiasm for improving your talent.

Example

In conclusion, my natural talent for playing the guitar is something I truly cherish. By taking lessons and dedicating time to practice, I am eager to enhance my skills and hopefully perform in front of others one 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: Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your answer unclear. Avoid general statements that do not provide specific details about your talent or improvement plans.

Tip

Be specific about your talent. Describe it clearly and provide examples of how you plan to improve it.

2: Lack of Personal Connection

Failing to express your feelings about the talent can make your response less engaging. It's important to share your personal connection to the talent.

Tip

Discuss why this talent matters to you and how it impacts your life. Share your emotions to make your answer more relatable.