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Describe a photo that you enjoy looking at: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What the photo is?
  • When and where it was taken?
  • What is shown in the photo?
  • Why you enjoy looking at it?
Show all 118 answers

Cue 1:What the photo is?

  • Begin by describing the photo clearly, mentioning its subject and any significant details.
  • Use vivid language to create a mental image for the listener.

Example

The photo I enjoy looking at is a beautiful landscape shot of the Himalayas. It captures the majestic snow-capped peaks under a clear blue sky, with a lush green valley in the foreground.

Cue 2:When and where it was taken?

  • Provide context about when and where the photo was taken, including any relevant details about the occasion.
  • Mention any emotions or thoughts you had during that moment.

Example

This photo was taken last year during a family trip to Manali. We visited in the summer, and I remember standing on a hilltop, feeling a sense of peace and awe as I looked at the breathtaking view.

Cue 3:What is shown in the photo?

  • Describe the elements in the photo, such as people, objects, or scenery, and their significance.
  • Share any interesting stories or memories associated with the elements in the photo.

Example

In the photo, you can see my family members smiling and posing together, with the mountains towering behind us. It reminds me of the fun we had hiking and exploring the area, creating lasting memories.

Cue 4:Why you enjoy looking at it?

  • Explain the emotional connection you have with the photo and why it resonates with you.
  • Mention how it makes you feel or any lessons it reminds you of.

Example

I enjoy looking at this photo because it brings back wonderful memories of our family trip. It reminds me of the beauty of nature and the importance of spending time with loved ones. Every time I see it, I feel a wave of happiness and gratitude.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, this photo is more than just an image; it represents a cherished moment in my life. It inspires me to appreciate nature and the time spent with family, making it a truly special photo for me.

    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: Being Vague About the Photo

    Candidates often give unclear descriptions of the photo, which can confuse the listener. Specific details help create a vivid image in the examiner's mind.

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    Tip

    Provide clear details about the photo, including colors, subjects, and emotions it evokes to make your description more engaging.

    2: Ignoring the Context

    Failing to mention when and where the photo was taken can lead to a lack of context. This makes it harder for the examiner to understand the significance of the photo.

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    Tip

    Always include the time and place of the photo to give your answer more depth and context.

    Rushing Through Your Answer

    Candidates often rush their responses, leading to incomplete answers. This can prevent them from fully expressing their thoughts and feelings about the photo.

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    Tip

    Take your time to think and structure your answer. Use pauses to emphasize important points and ensure clarity.

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    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
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

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    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
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 8

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    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
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 6.5

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    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
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7

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    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
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

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    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

    The photo I most enjoy looking at is the picture of my pet dog Arlo. It was taken on a hot sunny day a few months ago when Arlo and I decided to visit a park. We took the picture after we played a game of fetch. So he was lying on the ground tired and smiling when I happened to click it. I enjoy looking at the picture because although it is a very cute and memorable photo of Arlo, it also reminds me of the happy day we had that day and all the memories we shared.

    Band 7

    So one of my favorites would be a photo that was gifted to me by my dearest friend Komal while I used to live back in my hometown in Nasik. It was gifted to me when I was leaving for my higher studies, that is my bachelors in architecture and I was leaving for Mumbai. And she gifted me that photo to remember her by. That is a photo of us that we are hugging each other. It was taken on her birthday and it was the very first photo in my phone. Not only did she preserve it but she also kept it with her for a very long time and then she framed and gifted it to me on the last day in Nasik. It mesmerizes me whenever I'm feeling low in life or I'm facing any troubles here, I just look at that photo and recall all the memories that we shared together, how happy we were together, how we enjoyed each and every moment in our life, how we used to not care about silly things that we usually are tensed by in our day-to-day life these days. Just by having a glance at it, I forget everything, I forget my sorrows and troubles and I just enjoy it. I enjoy the moment. I miss her at the same time but then again it gives me a reason to call her and tell her all my day-to-day dramas and everything. And she on the other hand will never lose a chance to roast me for the same. That photo is nothing but a window of happiness for me.

    Band 7

    One photo that I really enjoy looking at is a picture taken in my village near Tirupati. It was clicked during last year's Sankranti festival when all my cousins and childhood friends gathered together for the celebrations. The photo shows me standing in the middle of dusty playground with a cricket bat in my hand, smiling after hitting a boundary in our friendly match. I like this photo for several reasons. First of all, it captures the natural beauty and simplicity of village life. You can see small houses in the background, colorful festival decorations, and children flying kites. The whole scene looks warm and lively, and just looking at it makes me feel relaxed. Secondly, the picture reminds me of the strong bond I share with my family and friends. Many of them live far away now, so moments like this are rare. This photo perfectly freezes our laughter, excitement, and the happiness we felt that day. Whenever I feel stressed, I look at the picture and it instantly lifts my mood. Finally, the photo also represents one of my biggest passions, playing cricket. I grew up playing the sport every day, and this picture reminds me of those carefree days. It motivates me to stay active and continue doing what I love. Overall, this photo is very special to me because it brings back beautiful memories and makes me feel connected to my roots. It's not just a picture, it's a reminder of the people and moments that matter the most in my life. I feel the picture has become part of my life. Additionally, the picture makes my life better.

    Band 7

    One of my favourite photos is a picture of my family that was taken during a trip to the mountains about two years ago. In the photo, we're all standing on a hilltop with a beautiful sunset in the background, and the sky is painted with shades of orange and pink. It's a really warm and natural shot. No one is posing too seriously, and everyone's just laughing, which makes it very genuine. What I love most about this photo is the emotion it captures. Whenever I look at it, it instantly brings back memories of that day. The fresh mountain air, the sound of the wind, and the feeling of being completely carefree. It reminds me how important family time is, especially since we all get so busy with our own lives now. I keep the picture framed on my desk, and sometimes I look at it when I'm stressed or overwhelmed. It gives me a sense of peace and motivation, and it reminds me to appreciate the little moments in life. For me, it's not just a photograph, it's a snapshot of pure happiness and togetherness.

    Band 7

    So, one of the photos that I really treasure and often enjoy looking at is the one with my sister in the mountains, specifically on the peak of that mountain. It was a very long and, although it was a very long and tiring journey, but the view at the peak was absolutely breathtaking and amazing. We spent a lot of time, you know, taking just breaks and taking a breather throughout the entire way to the peak, but at the end of the day, I believe it was worth it. Although coming back down from the mountain, it got pretty dark and we got a little late due to all the breaks that we had taken previously on the way up, but still it would be a memory embedded in my mind, I mean, forever. And not just the peak, I would say that the entire journey was very scenic and I liked looking at the rivers. There was even a fox that we spotted and it was a reddish brown, I still remember it was a reddish brown fox with the most beautiful tail ever and luscious tail ever, but yeah, so that is a photo that I would always treasure and keep in my heart. Thank you.

    Band 7

    So, there is a photo wall in my room and there is this one picture that I adore. It is from the winter carnival back when I was in 12th grade in my school. I always used to love winter carnivals but there was something very special about that one. On my birthday that year, I had received a Polaroid camera from my family and it was just so special because I had gotten the perfect opportunity to use it and do something that I could cherish and remember for a lifetime. It was my last year at school and I had decided that I would go there. I would click as many pictures as I can with all the teachers and mentors I love. I would take pictures of the rides that there were, of the campus there is and everything that could remind me of that wonderful time spent when I look back looking at my photo wall in my room. Another thing that was special about it, there was this guy in my room and it was wonderful. He accompanied me to every ride, to all those little games on those stalls. We visited each stall. We would try and play at least one game on each one of them. We had a bet that we would try winning and we would give what we won to each other. Now what happened was, there was this game where we had a stick and we were supposed to hit a vase with it and if we were able to, we would get a prize. My friend did and he gifted me this ski chain. It was a Minions ski chain and it was just so adorable. Somehow I felt like I was in Cloud 9 because it was a memory that I would cherish forever. Of course, I won him a gift too. That picture is really special to me.

    Band 7

    A photo I really enjoy looking at is the sunset over the mountains. It was taken last year during a trip to Manali, a hill station in India. In the photo the sun is setting behind tall mountains and the sky is filled with beautiful shades of orange, pink and purple. A calm river flows at the bottom reflecting the colors of the sky. The mountains are covered with trees adding to the natural beauty. I enjoy looking at this photo because it feels peaceful and relaxing. The colors and the calm river makes it look like a perfect moment in nature and it reminds me of the quiet evenings I spent enjoying the view during the trip. It also inspires me to travel more and appreciate the beauty of nature making it more than just a picture. It's a memory and a feeling. That was just less than one minute. you

    Band 7

    A photo that I really enjoy looking at is a picture from my first birthday party. It is a very old picture from when I had just turned one year old. It is taken in the courtyard of my grandmother's house where my first birthday celebration was held. In that picture, my mom is holding me in her arms and my father is standing behind me. There are a lot of other children from our neighborhood who were invited at the celebration. There is also a big cake which can be seen in front of me and I am trying to blow the candles. Everyone is very happy, laughing, cheerful, smiling and everyone looks very delighted. Moreover, I really love that picture because it brings back all the fond memories of my childhood, even the ones which I do not remember now.

    Band 7

    Well, there are numerous photos that I enjoy looking at, but this one particular photo which always catches my eye in my photo album would be this picture of my family where I am against, I mean I am hugging against my father and my father is hugging my mother and my brother is hugging my mother as well. So this picture, I think I can still feel how I was, I can feel my father's skin and the laughter I heard from my mom and how my brother was giggling. The picture is still returning in my mind, it's quite lively when I look at it. It gives this sense of comfort that, okay, I've been loved since my childhood and I'm still loved the same way. It reminds me of this very joyous moment that I could never forget since it's captured in the picture and whenever I look at it, that memory in my mind is always triggered. It is a very, one of the most favourite photographs, I would say, in my opinion, and it's not only mine, it's my family's photograph. We have it framed quite big in the middle of the living room.

    Band 7

    There is this one particular photo that brings me so much peace and calm, it's a photo about a very beautiful scenery, it has a river flowing, a house next to it, a a bridge over the river and the dawn sunshine shining on the house. I don't really remember when we got it but I remember we got it from Chitrakala Parishad which is an art exhibition. This picture is put up in my parents' room and that is why whenever I can find some excuse of going to my parents' room, therefore I find some excuse to go to my parents' room and just stare at this picture. It feels like a real beautiful scenery that I'm visualizing and not a fake picture. It brings a sense of joy and happiness and the colors used are very sober, therefore helping you to calm down if you feel anxious or agitated at the moment.
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