Describe a public holiday that people enjoy.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What public holiday is it ?
How is it celebrated?
What you do during that time?

50 unique answers with expert feedback

What other public holidays are celebrated in Tamil Nadu?

Apart from Pongal, Tamil Nadu celebrates festivals like Diwali, Tamil New Year, and Christmas. Each has its own significance and traditions. Diwali is known for its lights and sweets, while Tamil New Year involves special rituals and family gatherings. These holidays also bring communities together.

How do people in your village prepare for Pongal?

In my village, preparations for Pongal start days in advance. Families clean their homes, buy new clothes, and gather ingredients for the feast. People also decorate their houses with kolams (rice flour designs) and prepare traditional sweets. The atmosphere is filled with excitement and anticipation.

What is the significance of the rituals performed during Pongal?

The rituals during Pongal, like worshipping the sun and cows, symbolize gratitude for nature's bounty. They reflect the agricultural roots of the community and the importance of farming. These practices strengthen family bonds and cultural identity, making the festival a time of joy and togetherness.

Band 7

00:00

A public holiday that people enjoy in my country is Diwali. It is considered to be the festival of lights. It is one of my most favorite holiday because I get to spend it with my family. I visit home during Diwali and it is the one time of the year where I can just kick back and relax and not worry about anything. We celebrate it with some traditional rituals that we have been following for years in my country. We start off with puja and then children as well as the adults, we light up firecrackers. It's a very fun time and I personally love Diwali because it allows me to hang out with my old friends because everyone visits home that time. It gives me plenty of time to catch up with them and just to be able to find out what's been going on with everyone. Moreover, it allows me to devour on endless sweets guilt free. I can just put on some holiday weight and no one is going to judge me because everyone is in the same boat as I am. That is another reason that I love Diwali so much. I also have a very personal connection to it as I am sure every Indian does because this is the one festival that everyone spends with their family and everyone has a different memory attached to it. It just makes me very nostalgic to think about it but every year I make a different memory. I just keep going back to my childhood and I think Diwali is the one festival that people love celebrating in my country.

Follow up questions

What other public holidays are popular in your country?

Apart from Diwali, other popular public holidays in my country include Holi, Eid, and Christmas. Each of these holidays has its own unique traditions and celebrations, and people enjoy them for different reasons, such as the colors of Holi or the family gatherings during Eid.

How do people prepare for Diwali in your community?

In my community, preparations for Diwali start weeks in advance. People clean and decorate their homes, buy new clothes, and prepare sweets and snacks. Many also purchase gifts for family and friends, and there’s a lot of excitement in the air as everyone gets ready for the celebrations.

What is your favorite memory from a past Diwali celebration?

One of my favorite memories from Diwali is when I was a child and my family and I would light diyas together. The whole house would glow with lights, and we would have a big feast with all our relatives. It was a time of joy, laughter, and togetherness that I cherish deeply.

Band 7

00:00

The most famous public holiday that people enjoy in our country is the festival of Diwali also known as festival of lights. And the reason this festival is celebrated is because when Lord Ram returned after 14 years of exile to his kingdom, he was celebrated by the people of his kingdom. Furthermore, the people lighted diyas in the happiness of the return of their king. So that is why this festival is known as the festival of lights. It is celebrated usually in the month of October or November, depending on the Hindu calendar. And majority of the population in India being Hindu, this festival is celebrated with a lot of happiness and pride. People generally wear new clothes, share sweets amongst themselves, and children are known to be bursting firecrackers during this holiday. This is also kind of seen as a Hindu New Year.

Follow up questions

What other festivals are celebrated in India?

In addition to Diwali, India celebrates many other festivals such as Holi, Eid, Christmas, and Pongal. Each festival has its own significance and traditions, reflecting the country's diverse culture and religions. For example, Holi is known as the festival of colors, while Eid celebrates the end of Ramadan.

How do people prepare for Diwali?

Preparation for Diwali usually starts weeks in advance. People clean and decorate their homes, buy new clothes, and prepare special sweets and snacks. Many also purchase gifts for family and friends. The atmosphere is filled with excitement as everyone looks forward to the celebrations.

What impact does Diwali have on the economy?

Diwali has a significant impact on the economy, especially in retail and hospitality sectors. Many businesses see a surge in sales as people buy gifts, clothes, and decorations. Additionally, the festival boosts local artisans and craftsmen who create traditional items, contributing to the overall economic growth.

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Band 7

00:00

I would like to describe the public holiday that falls on Diwali. Diwali is a festival full of lights, colors, new clothes and fireworks. All the offices in India or any kind of work has a holiday when it's Diwali. Additionally, not only in India but this festival is nowadays celebrated all over the globe. There are so many countries, for example, Malaysia, UK, US, who celebrate Diwali and some parts of these countries also experience a public holiday, also observe a public holiday. During Diwali, typically me and my family would like to go for a shopping, buy new clothes, buy new lights and decorate our house with lights, flowers, vibrant colors and rangoli. I would like to describe what a rangoli is because it's very special to my heart. A rangoli is created by powdered colors on the floor and with some typical Indian patterns. I love this festival because this brings us a lot of joy, get together with our family and friends and a lot of fun.

Follow up questions

What other public holidays are popular in your country?

In India, other popular public holidays include Holi, Eid, Christmas, and Independence Day. Each of these holidays has its own unique traditions and celebrations, bringing people together and fostering a sense of community.

How do people usually celebrate Diwali in your community?

In my community, people celebrate Diwali by lighting diyas, bursting fireworks, and sharing sweets with neighbors. Many also participate in community events and cultural programs that showcase traditional music and dance, enhancing the festive spirit.

What is the significance of Diwali for you personally?

Diwali holds a special place in my heart as it symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It’s a time for family bonding, reflection, and gratitude, making it a deeply meaningful holiday for me.

Band 6-7

00:00

The public holiday that I enjoy the most is the new year's day because it's the end of the year right, everybody wants to make new year resolutions and they want to start a new life because it's a new day of the year. So everybody think of it as a way that if they are going to stay consistent on that one day it will lead for the coming days too. So yeah, the new year's day is the public holiday that everyone enjoy. People tend to celebrate with their family members and their friends and everyone. Actually in my friends, we used to celebrate it such a way like we used to collect some money from my friends and then we pool it together and we buy some things, we will invest you know on food and drinks and we will plan a karaoke and we will dance for some time and then until too well, when it fits too well, we will celebrate with loud noises and we also firecrackers too and yeah, we wish each other a new year, happy new year and I try to message my closest and dearest ones who are not with me, who are in abroad studying, I wish them over phone or I'll drop them message wishing happy new year. And we spend time with family on the new year.

Follow up questions

What other public holidays do you enjoy celebrating?

Apart from New Year's Day, I also enjoy celebrating Christmas and Independence Day. Christmas is special because of the festive spirit, decorations, and family gatherings. Independence Day is significant as it reminds us of our freedom and is celebrated with parades and fireworks.

How do people in your country typically celebrate New Year's Day?

In my country, people celebrate New Year's Day with various traditions. Many attend parties, watch fireworks, and have family gatherings. It's common to have special meals, and some people even participate in cultural events or festivals that mark the beginning of the new year.

What are some common New Year's resolutions people make?

Common New Year's resolutions include goals like losing weight, exercising more, saving money, and learning new skills. Many people also focus on personal growth, such as improving relationships or pursuing hobbies. It's a time for reflection and setting intentions for the year ahead.

Show all 50 answers

Cue 1:What public holiday is it?

Begin by naming the holiday and providing a brief background about its significance.
Mention why this holiday is particularly enjoyed by people in your community.

Example

The public holiday I would like to talk about is Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights. It is celebrated by millions of people across India and signifies the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

Cue 2:How is it celebrated?

Describe the various traditions and activities associated with the holiday.
Include details about decorations, food, and any special events that take place.

Example

Diwali is celebrated with great enthusiasm. People decorate their homes with colorful rangoli designs and lights. Families gather to perform puja (prayers) to Goddess Lakshmi, and the evening is filled with fireworks, which light up the night sky.

Cue 3:What you do during that time?

Share your personal experiences and activities you engage in during the holiday.
Mention any special memories or traditions that are important to you and your family.

Example

During Diwali, I spend time with my family preparing sweets and snacks. We also visit relatives and exchange gifts. One of my favorite memories is the family gathering where we light diyas (oil lamps) together, creating a beautiful atmosphere of joy and togetherness.

Conclusion

Summarize the significance of the holiday and its impact on people's lives.
Express your feelings about the holiday and why it is meaningful to you.

Example

In conclusion, Diwali is not just a holiday; it is a time of joy, love, and togetherness. It brings families closer and allows us to celebrate our culture and traditions. I cherish this holiday deeply as it fills my heart with happiness and gratitude.

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 Too Vague

Candidates often give very general answers without specific details. This can make the response less engaging and informative.

Tip

Include specific examples and personal experiences related to the holiday to make your answer more vivid and interesting.

2: Ignoring the Cues

Some candidates forget to address all the cues provided, which can lead to an incomplete answer and lower scores.

Tip

Make sure to answer all the cues: the holiday, how it is celebrated, and what you do during that time.

Overly Complicated Language

Using complex vocabulary or long sentences can confuse the listener and detract from the clarity of your message.

Tip

Use clear and simple language to express your ideas, ensuring that your answer is easy to understand.

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Answer

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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.

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Anonymous student Band 6.5

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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.

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Anonymous student Band 7

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Answer

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Answer

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