Describe A Special Cake You Received From Others: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When did it happen?
Where did it happen?
From whom do you get the cake?
And explain why it’s a special cake.

48 unique answers with expert feedback

What other special occasions do you celebrate with cakes?

Besides birthdays, I celebrate special occasions like anniversaries and graduations with cakes. Each event has its unique cake, often reflecting the theme or the person's favorite flavors, making them memorable and enjoyable.

How do you think cakes contribute to celebrations?

Cakes play a significant role in celebrations as they symbolize joy and togetherness. They create a focal point during gatherings, allowing people to come together, share moments, and create lasting memories, much like my 18th birthday experience.

Have you ever made a cake for someone else? How was that experience?

Yes, I made a cake for my friend's birthday last year. It was a fun experience, as I chose their favorite flavor and decorated it myself. Seeing their surprise and happiness when they saw the cake made all the effort worthwhile, and it strengthened our friendship.

Band 7

00:00

Alright, when I think about a special cake that I received from someone, the first thing that comes to mind is the birthday cake I got for my 22nd birthday that was last month. My sister along with my best friend planned a surprise for me in which they made decorations and also got me a cake and the theme of all of it was the song 22 by Taylor Swift. It was very special to me because Taylor Swift is one of my favourite artists. The cake had a lyric from the song 22 which she wrote when she was 22. It was a very heartwarming surprise for me and it was quite unexpected. I had been very busy the previous week and had not paid much attention to my birthday and wanted to keep it low-key with just my closest friends and family, however my sister and best friend had something else in mind. It was a very lovely surprise and I thoroughly enjoyed it. That was one of the most special cakes and they put in a lot of work and effort to keep it a surprise and it was everything that I could have asked for my 22nd birthday or any birthday in general. It was a really fun day, we played a lot of games, talked. It couldn't have been more perfect.

Follow up questions

What other special occasions have you celebrated with cakes?

I've celebrated many occasions with cakes, like my graduation and family gatherings. Each cake has its own theme and significance, making those moments memorable. For instance, my graduation cake had a cap and diploma design, symbolizing my achievement and the hard work that led to it.

How do you usually feel when receiving a surprise gift?

Receiving a surprise gift makes me feel incredibly valued and loved. It shows that someone has put thought and effort into making me happy. Surprises often bring joy and excitement, and they create lasting memories, just like the surprise birthday cake from my sister and best friend.

Do you think cakes play an important role in celebrations?

Absolutely! Cakes are often the centerpiece of celebrations, symbolizing joy and togetherness. They add a festive touch to events, and sharing a cake with loved ones enhances the experience. It's not just about the cake itself, but the memories created around it that make it special.

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.

My favorite type of cake is chocolate cake because of its rich flavor and moist texture. It always brings back fond memories of celebrations and makes any occasion feel special.

Show all 48 answers

Cue 1:When did it happen?

Mention the specific occasion or event when you received the cake.
Include the date or time frame to give context to your story.

Example

It was my birthday last year, on the 15th of March, when I received this special cake. My friends had planned a surprise party for me, and I was completely unaware of it until they brought out the cake.

Cue 2:Where did it happen?

Describe the location where the cake was presented to you.
Make it relatable by mentioning if it was at home, a restaurant, or a friend's place.

Example

The surprise party took place at my best friend’s house. She had decorated her living room beautifully with balloons and streamers, creating a festive atmosphere.

Cue 3:From whom do you get the cake?

Identify who gave you the cake and their relationship to you.
Share a little about why this person is significant in your life.

Example

The cake was from my close friends, especially from Priya, who is like a sister to me. She knows my favorite flavors and always puts in extra effort to make my birthdays special.

Cue 4:Explain why it’s a special cake.

Discuss the unique features of the cake, such as flavor, design, or any personal touches.
Explain the emotional significance of the cake and why it stands out to you.

Example

This cake was special because it was a rich chocolate truffle cake, my absolute favorite. Priya had decorated it with fresh strawberries and a personal message written in icing. It symbolized the love and effort my friends put into making my day memorable.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, receiving that special cake from my friends not only made my birthday unforgettable but also reminded me of the strong bonds we share. It was a beautiful moment filled with joy and love, and I will cherish it forever.

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: Lack of Detail in Description

Failing to provide specific details about the cake can make your answer sound vague and uninteresting. It's important to paint a clear picture for the examiner.