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Describe a piece of advice you recently received.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • When did this happen & from whom?
  • What was it?
  • How do you feel about it?
Show all 34 answers

Cue 1:When did this happen & from whom?

  • Begin by mentioning the specific time frame when you received the advice, such as recently or during a particular event.
  • Identify the person who gave you the advice, explaining your relationship with them to add context.

Example

Recently, I received some valuable advice from my elder sister during a family gathering. We were discussing our career paths, and she shared her insights with me.

Cue 2:What was it?

  • Clearly state the advice you received, making sure to paraphrase it in your own words.
  • Explain the context in which the advice was given, highlighting any relevant details that make it more impactful.

Example

She advised me to focus on building my professional network rather than just concentrating on my technical skills. She emphasized that connections often open up more opportunities in the job market.

Cue 3:How do you feel about it?

  • Share your initial reaction to the advice and whether you found it surprising or helpful.
  • Discuss how you plan to implement this advice in your life and any changes you anticipate as a result.

Example

At first, I was a bit skeptical because I always believed that skills were the most important. However, after reflecting on her words, I realized the importance of networking. I feel motivated to attend more industry events and connect with professionals in my field.

Conclusion

  • Summarize the key takeaway from the advice and its significance in your life.
  • Reflect on how this advice might influence your future decisions or actions.

Example

In conclusion, the advice from my sister has made me rethink my approach to career development. I now understand that building relationships is just as crucial as honing my skills, and I am excited to explore this new avenue.

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 Responses

Providing vague or unclear answers can make it difficult for the examiner to understand your point. Specific details help convey your message more effectively.

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Tip

Use specific examples and details when describing the advice, such as the context and the person who gave it.

2: Ignoring the Cues

Failing to address all the cue prompts can lead to an incomplete answer. This may result in lower scores for coherence and task response.

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Tip

Make sure to answer all the cues: when it happened, what the advice was, and how you feel about it.

Overly Complex Language

Using overly complex vocabulary or sentence structures can confuse the listener. Clarity is more important than impressiveness in your language.

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Tip

Stick to simple and clear language to express your thoughts, ensuring your ideas are easily understood.

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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 6-7

I remember that when I was studying in the Hanson College in Canada for the Diploma of General Business, there was a professor, the name of the professor was Gaurav Laha, he is really very good professor, he gave me advice that we have to finish our work at proper time to manage our all subjects and courses, so because of his advice like he also helped me to prepare my timetable to manage all these things, then I prepare my timetable according to my schedule like I have to do my studies as well as work, so because of his advice I am able to manage my studies and work, so I remember that it was a time when my professor give a sheet to fill it like there was too much homework to do from home, but it was also my work at that time, but because of the advice of my professor Gaurav Laha, I manage everything and it not create any kind of hectic period for me, so because of his advice I really able to manage everything finally and it was the very good time for me to spend with him.

Band 6-7

So, I have received a lot of advices since my childhood, but I would really like to mention one which I received recently, a few days back, by my father. So, when I was a child, my father used to advise me and help me to differentiate between the right and the wrong things, but as I am growing up, a few days back, he called me and advised me about my career and I think this is the most valuable one. So, I am about to graduate and now I am very confused and not able to decide what to do in my life. So, my father called me and advised me how to carry on my studies and how to do better in my future. And so he wants and as I have to leave for my studies and I have to leave my home, so he advised me how to stay focused and help me to choose the correct path. Since my childhood, I used to do whatever he says, but now it happened once in a blue moon. So, he advised me about what options should I choose and what kind of people I should be with. Nowadays, it is very difficult to choose correct people and correct society which will help you to grow in your life. So, since childhood, his advice has been very generous and really helpful for me and I believe that till now and till our very older age, his advice will help me and keep me motivated to keep on working in my life. Thank you.

Band 6-7

No audio text available

Band 6-7

The piece of advice I recently received was study hard no matter what the result is. It is given by my family because I am being prepared for IELTS exam which is going to be held after a month. I am very much stressed towards the IELTS exam so my family advised me study hard no matter what the result is also but you need to be focused not stressed for a while then you can write your exams very well without any stress. I feel really bad when I am in the worst situation but after the advice they have given I feel very much comfortable towards reading, listening, speaking and writing as well. We have to use complex sentences but it is not there in my mind. I am very fond of vocabulary idioms but it gives me so much stress to remember so I am very over intensed with that. In addition my grandma who loves me very much she given me advice that you need to study but not in a stressed way which is to be in a good mood.

Band 6-7

So recently I attended a family function, it was a marriage of my cousin sister and there I had a lot of cousins, my friends and also many of the relatives. So one of the relatives just came and pinpointed me about my gained weight. So initially she advised me you should lose weight, it is very important to have a perfect figure, a balanced healthy body. I just didn't pay any attention, I turned my deaf ears to her, whatever she said. But after some time one of my sister to whom I am very close to, we share a very close knit bond, she came and she told me about my gained weight. She explained me positively the habits that I should inculcate in order to have a healthy body, in order to be fit. She even explained me it is not important to have a perfect figure, but it is very important to live a balanced life in order to be away from diseases. Initially when my relative or my sister told me about my gained weight, I was devastated. But when further on she explained to me how it is important and how I can change myself, how I can change my perspective, if I lose weight I am going to be even more confident in my areas, in my personal life, in my professional life. She made me explain about that. So that transformation in me, I made it a point that I will take up it as positively and not take it negatively, whatever she told me about it. So I feel I will bring a lot of changes in my routine in order to live up to the life I have dreamt of.

Band 6-7

So, today I would like to talk about one incident from that I take advice from my best friend. Her name is Tisha. She is a very kind hearted person and she always loves to give advice to others. Before couple of weeks, I had injury in my leg. So related to that, she always encouraged me and she told me that I have to take care of myself and I also have to take meals on a regular basis which contain proteins and vitamins. So due to that, I easily recovered from my injury. And I have so many reasons why I take advice from her because she was the person who is always there for me whenever I need her. And once in a blue moon, I do not take advice from her and at that time, I suffered a lot and I thought that I have to take advice from her. So whenever I was in any difficult times and whenever I was in circumstances, I prefer to talk with her and resolve my problem through her. Although I am a very mature person, but I prefer to take advice from her and I also love to take advice from my parents too.

Band 6

It is not an advice but a Bible verse and words of affirmation that my younger brother had spoken unto me when he prayed for me before I had left my hometown. It goes something like, God's timing is perfect. He has plans for me, plans that are greater than mine. These words really spoke to me deeply because that time I was facing difficulty and clarity about my life's path. My career life has come to a standstill point and I had no vision of where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do, but these words that my brother had spoken to me when he prayed for me was really a blessing in disguise. I live by it and I still believe in it. Now I have a little bit more clarity in life and just because this advice had been given to me, I can now affirm my faith in God even more and I am proud to say that I have given my will in God's handling. Everything that I am doing is by His grace and I will live by His name. Right now I am happy where I am and the decisions that I am making and I hope that this is God's plan for me.

Band 5-6

yeah so that is that let's go it also helped me to know different aspects of how you can be hard-working and you can keep doing things and still fail at something but that should not stop you to do that thing or to learn more about the particular thing or interest you like in so it is really motivating because that advice can be applied to all walks of life you can also apply to different sports you are doing different activities you are doing maybe if it's your job or if it's your profession you can keep doing that thing and it will really make a difference in your life so I think that's a big advice to have and also there was a second advice which I got is to do the work you want to do tomorrow you if you have time do it now because you don't know if you will get time or if there is some different circumstances which is happening tomorrow but if you do the work today it will be really easy for you to do that particular stuff and you maybe have an extra time or extra thing or activity to do but if you delay the time

Band 5-6

Yeah, it was quite one month ago, because I actually completed my studies, I had a vacation and I was keeping on roaming, roaming means I was chatting with my friends at late night and coming home at late, so my parents told this to my sister then she called me, my sister she was the one who advised me, she told me that you should be on time to head home, you should take care of my parents, they are getting old, yeah, I pretty feel bad about it because yeah, I should look after my parents because they stay alone, they stay, my parents stay alone because nobody are there with them, rather than me.

Band 5-6

I heard many advices like I should read well as well as I should score good marks in my 10th board exam. I used to think that is very fun and crazy but after hearing after long long days I came to 10th standard that time I can analysis that words and advices who told to me and I should start to prepare to my exam. By starting they told me advices that time I think not that much not that much not that much. At starting stage when they give advice to me it was very irritating to listen but day by day passes only I realized that it was they was saying for me only for my bright future. After realizing that I concentrate much and more in my studies and I hope I will get good mark and I am working to for that very hard thank you.
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