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Describe A Photograph You Like: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What is in the photo?
  • What do you like about it?
  • How was this picture taken?
  • What does this photo mean to you?
Show all 33 answers

Cue 1:What is in the photo?

  • Describe the main subjects of the photograph, including people, objects, and the setting.
  • Mention any specific details that stand out, such as colors, expressions, or actions.

Example

The photograph I cherish the most features my family at a beach during our last vacation. In the picture, you can see my parents smiling broadly, my younger sister building a sandcastle, and me holding a colorful beach ball. The sun is setting in the background, casting a warm golden hue over the scene.

Cue 2:What do you like about it?

  • Explain the emotions or memories the photo evokes for you.
  • Discuss any particular aspects of the photo that you find visually appealing or meaningful.

Example

What I love about this photo is the happiness it captures. It reminds me of the carefree moments we shared as a family, laughing and enjoying each other's company. The vibrant colors and the joyful expressions on our faces make it a beautiful memory that I cherish.

Cue 3:How was this picture taken?

  • Provide context about when and how the photo was taken, including who took it.
  • Mention any special moments or circumstances surrounding the photo.

Example

This picture was taken by a friend who joined us on our trip. We were all playing by the shore when she suggested capturing the moment. It was spontaneous, and we all gathered together, laughing as she clicked the photo just as the sun began to set.

Cue 4:What does this photo mean to you?

  • Reflect on the significance of the photo in your life.
  • Discuss how it represents your values, relationships, or experiences.

Example

This photo means a lot to me because it symbolizes the bond I share with my family. It serves as a reminder of the importance of spending quality time together, especially in our busy lives. Every time I look at it, I feel grateful for those moments and the love we share.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, this photograph is not just an image; it encapsulates a beautiful memory and the essence of my family. It reminds me to cherish the moments we have together and to always make time for loved ones.

    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. Candidates often fail to provide specific details about the photograph, which can lead to a lack of engagement from the examiner.

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    Tip

    Be specific about the elements in the photo. Describe colors, people, and actions to create a vivid image in the examiner's mind.

    2: Neglecting Personal Connection

    Failing to explain why the photo is meaningful can make your response less personal. Candidates often miss the opportunity to share their emotions and connections to the photograph.

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    Tip

    Include personal anecdotes or feelings related to the photo. Explain why it is special to you and what memories it evokes.

    Ignoring the Photo's Context

    Not discussing how the photo was taken can lead to an incomplete answer. Candidates sometimes overlook the context, which is crucial for a full understanding of the image.

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    Tip

    Briefly explain the circumstances of the photo, such as the location, occasion, and who took it, to provide a richer context.

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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
    anonymous person icon

    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

    location icon

    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

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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 6-7

    I don't often click my pictures, but when I start to remember, one picture comes to my mind which has a great memory of mine connected to it. It is a picture in which I won the district level in cricket game. Cricket is a game which is very close to my heart. I often watch cricket in my leisure time. Apart from it, it was the last time when my coach was there with me. He is like a father figure to me. He always supported me and motivated me to do well and I think that he was the reason because of which I was able to give my best. Along with it, my whole cricket team was there in the picture. We had so much fun together and we shared a great bond with each other. They are not in my contact right now, but whenever I see the picture, all our memories get refreshed and I often feel so much connected to them whenever I look at the picture. Moving further, I was sad as well after the moment because we were not able to go to the state level because of some reason. It was a heartbreak moment for me as well as we did so much hard work to reach there, but finally we managed to overcome the trauma. Also, now we are busy in our lives and now I often watch cricket.

    Band 6-7

    I remember five years back I was traveling with my parents. It was a road trip to Manali and the distance between Manali and Ratang we sat or we took a time gap on a location. It was location covered by the mountains and a little bit of snow so there were little small cafe small small stalls of food stalls so we just sitting there and I saw my mother and father both getting up and just were enjoying the view so I thought to capture that moment on my phone so I just grabbed my phone clicked a picture of them from behind and eventually it turns out to be very good and they were so happy to see the photo and they did get a little emotional by seeing the photo and how it was describing their love and the beauty of the place and I also felt a little proud of myself and I felt really happy that I made my parents happy by clicking the picture and that photo is has is in my cold memory because whenever I feel sad or not about myself in the in every day I just look at the picture and I immediately feel happy by seeing them together and I'm able to capture their love through that photo

    Band 6-7

    I have discovered a photo that we took in Kashmir with my friends, the place where Kandola in Sonamang. That photo, all the friends are together and take that picture, that is one of the memory in my lifetime. I have a lot of pictures with my friends, but that photo is very memorable because that is the highest peak in India. In Sonamang, Kandola and Kashmir, at that time it was minus 21 degree Celsius on that mountain. That time we took a photo and that photo, the friends are in different poses and different emojis are in that pose. That is why I love that picture and that picture is memorable to me because that picture makes me remember a lot of things and a lot of memories to me. That picture makes me travel back to that time, that picture makes me in the future, that picture takes me back to that moment and I feel like that time of person. I love that picture.

    Band 6-7

    okay it's a picture a photograph from my first birthday it's a picture in which I am with my father he's holding me and I have wore a beautiful white dress and he also he is also tuning with me with white shirt and a black tie so that pictures I do not remember about that picture at all but I have heard of a lot of about that picture so I never felt that it is old picture it is like few days ago and how time flies I have so many memories with my father but that that picture has something very special something very unique and I feel that I never got that moment again that I got that time it was full of love and how he is smiling towards me his eyes are totally sparkling and something he wants to say that he wants to make me give his blessings and kind of shower his love towards me so that I can get a better life life is full of love with him so that was my best picture I have ever have in my life I always keep it with me whenever I miss my dad because he's not around me right now he's in different town and I'm different town so whenever I recall these memories or I feel nostalgia I take that pictures and used to stare at that

    Band 6

    Well, the photo that I like and which I always admire in my memories is the one with my very very best friend, Harsh Pare, whom I met via Facebook Messenger and after having a conversation for one and a half year, I thought to meet him in person and he's from Ahmedabad and I was living over here in Delhi, so last year I met him via Facebook Messenger and after exchanging contacts, numbers and all, we conversed with each other over the phone calls and mails and then we thought to plan out to meet and after meeting over there, we met at an art stream parlour in Ahmedabad and we clicked a photo, so that has created a vast memory in my mind and it will always be there, the most beautiful picture and the best thing about I like because it has immense of memories because after waiting for each other to meet and meet each other, we finally met and we have created that kind of a memory towards an art stream parlour where we have created a memory for the entire of our life and we have promised each other that every year we are going to meet at the same place. So, that photo means a lot to me because the kind of energy that I see and the kind of enthusiasm I see in the both of us, we both are laughing, giggling, taking a selfie and that's amazing, we decided our dresses that we will be wearing at a time when we meet each other, so we have those kind of memories and we have those horny hairs with all those, you know, the surroundings, the environment, so everything is the part of those photo and everything was clicked in those premises and you know, it has created a memory in my mind. I took that photo, I requested him actually to Harsh that Harsh, I wanted to take this photo because

    Band 6

    I would like to talk about one picture which is really, really important to me. So that picture is of my childhood picture. In that picture, in that photo, we, it was a family photo actually, and all of my family members, my parents and my sister and me, were there in that photograph, and it was taken when we went to Darjeeling, a place in eastern part of India. It was a very beautiful place, but that picture was taken by one of our, one of our other passengers who were there, and that picture really means to me so much because it was the first picture of our family together, and my mom, and my mom was pretty and young at those times, and it was a childhood picture of mine too. I was, my mom was carrying me in her lap, and my dad was sitting just beside of her, and my sister was there, she was also holding me, and helping my mom to hold me, and moreover, there was one incident related to that picture, when the picture was taken, the photo who was taking it was really smelling bad at that time, so we had a funny moment.

    Band 6

    I would like to talk about a photo of mine which was clicked in the year 2005 while I was in Hyderabad, I was accompanied by my family members to attend a marriage ceremony of my uncle and that was the first time we have been to Hyderabad, my grandfather took me to Chandminar and he clicked a photo in front of Chandminar, the picture consists of all our family members, as Chandminar is truly overcrowded and a sight to behold, and the picture is very close to my heart as it consists of the only picture of my grandfather with whom I have played, after two years he passed away, so I could not able to get more pictures with him, he holds a very strong emotion with me as he used to take me to the playgrounds and get me the new toys or things which I asked him to get, and apart from that, the picture particularly has two other friends with whom I have lost touch as they have shifted to the other country, and I would definitely like to get the same picture along with them if they would return to India.

    Band 6

    One of my most favorite pics is the picture with my husband clicked in front of a Mysore Palace on November 20th, 2024. This picture always remains close to my heart because it was the first time I met my husband after being in a long distance for six months. When he came to India, we took a trip to Mysore and that was the first ever picture that was clicked and there is another fact which adds extra speciality to it is that it is not a normal phone picture or a camera picture, it was a Polaroid that makes it even more special. So, there were few people who were standing in front of Mysore Palace requesting us to get our pictures clicked in Polaroid, although we were hesitant initially because it was dead hot summer and we were not dressed up appropriately for that, but I still insisted my husband to go ahead and then get our pictures clicked. I am very happy that I was able to pursue this decision because going back now, seeing that picture reignites all my good memories and I will be able to cherish it forever in my heart. Although my husband is back to US now and I am back to the face of long distance, whenever I still see that picture, it gives me a sense of happiness and also the distance of missing him and all other factors adds on to it. Furthermore, we got it at a special offer where when we click the picture of one in a Polaroid, we were able to get another Polaroid picture free, that was the cherry on the top of the cake because we had not expected that we would get two Polaroids at a time.

    Band 6

    There's a photograph that's very close to my heart. It's a family portrait. It has all the members of my family in that. And that is the only picture which has all the members of my family. Usually one or the other member, you never came in the same picture or end up did not like attending the same function. But there is one family portrait which is very close to my heart that has all the members of the family who might be or might not be present in today's world. One thing I loved about the photograph is the happiness and the warmth that it radiates. Everyone is happy, smiling and in the best of their form. There is a special thing about that photograph. It has my grandparents. They were very close to my heart and I used to cherish all the time that I spent with them. I still do miss them every once in a while. So this portrait was actually clicked in a family restaurant. We all had gone to celebrate my parents' anniversary. It was clicked then. We had an amazing food and the evening was filled with laughter and joy. Everyone was ecstatic to celebrate my parents' wedding anniversary. I was a child.

    Band 6

    The photo I love the most is of my and my mother, this photo of her clicked by my brother, this photo is candid and it holds the emotional feeling, also my mom looking at me very adorably and the emotionality of her in that photo reflects, so that's why I like this photo very much and after that when there is a one wedding from my relatives and we attended that wedding, that time my brother accidentally clicked that photo and it is a very good one, after that I just see that photo and it was very very beautiful, I love it so much, when I miss my mother as I'm living far from my home, then I see that photo and it feels like my mother is really near me and she is looking at me right now and the feeling is really very nice, that photo holds emotional connection and that I love the most and I'm really grateful for my brother for taking this photo for me and yes I frame that photo in my room and I love it so much.
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