Describe a picture/photograph of you that you like: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Where it was taken/drawn
When it was taken/drawn
Who took/drew it
And explain how you felt about it

8 unique answers with expert feedback

What do you think makes family photos special?

Family photos capture moments that reflect our relationships and shared experiences. They serve as a reminder of love, unity, and the joy of being together, which is why they hold a special place in our hearts.

How often do you take pictures with your family?

We try to take pictures together during family gatherings, vacations, or special occasions. It's important to document those moments, and we often look back at them to relive the memories.

What other places do you enjoy visiting with your family?

Apart from the beach, we love visiting parks, mountains, and historical sites. Each place offers unique experiences and opportunities for bonding, and we always try to capture those moments in photos.

Band 6-7

00:00

It was around 2012, I guess, when me and my family members, with my cousins, my uncles and aunts, we went on a trip to Dalhousie, which is in Jammu and Kashmir. So, we took a picture over there and it was quite an amazing moment as we were all get together and we took the picture over there with the help of a local person who took that photo. Actually, this was our family trip and we were planning this for quite a long time and that picture is still with me and it has lots of memories that we spent over there with my cousins because it makes me feel the joy and the happiness I felt over that time and it was quite an amazing experience. I would say it was a well-spent holiday because there was some memories were attached to it. There was one of the incidents that happened over there, like we had encountered some wild monkeys over there and some pictures are also available of those incidents and there were quite an amazing things that happened at that time. We had lots of fun together and we really enjoyed that moment and I would really, really like to recreate that moment with my family again and all over if I get time, I would really want to do that again.

Follow up questions

What other places have you visited with your family?

We have visited several places together, including Shimla, Manali, and even some historical sites like Agra. Each trip has its own unique experiences and memories, but Dalhousie remains special due to the family bonding and fun we had there.

How do you usually keep your photographs?

I usually keep my photographs in albums or digital folders on my computer. I like to organize them by date and location, so I can easily revisit those memories. Sometimes, I also share them on social media to keep my friends updated about my travels.

Why do you think photographs are important?

Photographs are important because they capture moments in time that we can cherish forever. They evoke emotions and memories, allowing us to relive experiences. They also help us share our stories with others and keep our loved ones close, even when we are apart.

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.

Absolutely! Pets can bring joy, companionship, and even reduce stress. They teach us responsibility and unconditional love. My experience with the kittens showed me how much happiness and laughter they can bring into our lives, making every moment spent with them precious.

Show all 8 answers

Cue 1:Where it was taken/drawn

Begin by describing the location where the photograph was taken, making it vivid and relatable.
Mention any significant elements in the background that add context to the picture.

Example

The photograph was taken at Marine Drive in Mumbai, a beautiful promenade along the coastline. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the Arabian Sea, and the iconic skyline of the city was visible in the background.

Cue 2:When it was taken/drawn

Specify the time of year or occasion when the photograph was taken to provide context.
Share any memorable events or feelings associated with that time.

Example

It was taken during the winter of 2022, around December, when I had just completed my final exams. It was a moment of celebration and relief, as I was finally free from the stress of studying.

Cue 3:Who took/drew it

Identify the person who took the photograph and their relationship to you.
Explain why you value their perspective or the way they captured the moment.

Example

My best friend, Priya, took the photograph. She has a great eye for photography and always manages to capture the essence of a moment beautifully. I love how she made me feel so comfortable during the shoot.

Cue 4:And explain how you felt about it

Share your emotions when you first saw the photograph and how it makes you feel now.
Discuss any memories or thoughts that the picture evokes.

Example

When I first saw the photograph, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy and nostalgia. It reminds me of the carefree days of youth and the strong bond I share with my friends. Every time I look at it, I am filled with happiness and gratitude for those moments.

Conclusion

Summarize the significance of the photograph in your life.
Reflect on how it captures a special moment or feeling that you cherish.

Example

In conclusion, this photograph is not just a picture; it represents a beautiful memory of friendship and freedom. It captures a moment in time that I will always cherish and reminds me of the joy of living in the present.

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 Details

Candidates often give unclear answers without specific details about the picture. This can make the response less engaging and informative.

Tip

Provide specific information about the location, time, and the person who took the picture to create a vivid image for the listener.

2: Neglecting Personal Feelings

Some candidates forget to express their emotions related to the photograph, which is crucial for a personal touch and connection.

Tip

Share your feelings about the picture, explaining why it is meaningful to you and how it makes you feel when you look at it.

Rushing Through the Response

Candidates may rush their answers, leading to incomplete thoughts and a lack of coherence in their speech.

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

Band 6-7

Band 6

so it was a photo the photograph which I like the most that I have personally taken is a photo of a cat who is full of white and the eyes of the cat is blue in color diamond blue in fact and it was taken on my house terrace so the cat was just laying around as it was roaming around on the terrace and even I have happened to have to roam around in the terrace and I just took a photo of it and it turns out to be that it was two years ago and it is still my wallpaper from two years so I've been keeping that photo as my wallpaper continuously from two years and the photo went viral in Instagram also when I posted it online and my friends even liked it and shared it to their friends also and the cat is now my beloved friend and is living with me since two years and comes and goes whenever it wants and I feed it every day so that photo has been the most memorable photo that I have ever clicked and I can ever click again also it's it's a cat which is very rare it has a full white body and full blue sky blue color eyes like diamond

Band 5-6

Again In my opinion taking a photograph is the best way to capture our memories Now I would like to say about my one photo Photo, which is I most like it. I I was taken on my house terrace It's time around Evening like a sunset so that can I easily capture one sunset? photo with me Because my house is the Because my house building is one of the tallest building in my area So I normally capture all around space in my photo This photo was taken by my friend He is very professional photographer and also I take my I was take my photo by his camera I Take me around Other 12 photos, but I only like this photo because in that photo. I was covered all space which is Near to my house and also this The sunset time was a very beautiful at that time and Sun was capturing in the round Half around shape so that it makes my photo more alluring

Band 5-6

yeah now I'm going to share about my picture so my favorite picture is from Manali it was taken in Manali. Essentially I have gone to Manali from Delhi with my friends and then I was I was exploring old Manali and then I saw a river then we enjoy there and we click picture of ourself there then I my friend took my a picture which I loved the most and then I saw that it was really nice and there in that picture I'm able to see the mountains river and my face and my good cloths I was looking good at that in that picture so