Describe a special meal that someone made for you: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Who did it
When and how he/she cooked
What and why he/she cooked for you
And explain how you felt about the meal

17 unique answers with expert feedback

What other meals do you enjoy cooking or eating?

I enjoy cooking a variety of meals, but some of my favorites include stir-fried vegetables, grilled chicken, and homemade pizza. I love experimenting with different cuisines and flavors, and I find cooking to be a relaxing and rewarding activity.

How do you feel about cooking for others?

I feel that cooking for others is a wonderful way to show love and care. It allows me to share my favorite dishes and create memorable experiences. I often invite friends over for dinner and enjoy preparing meals that everyone can enjoy together.

What makes a meal special for you?

A meal becomes special for me when it is shared with loved ones, has a personal touch, or evokes fond memories. The effort put into preparing the meal and the atmosphere during the meal can also enhance its significance, making it a cherished experience.

Band 6-7

00:00

My mom made a special meal for my birthday. That was the first time she tried mutton biryani. That was the first time she did a mutton biryani just to make me happy. That biryani was so juicy and tasty with lot of spices included and I ate and finished all over by myself and I didn't share this mutton biryani with anyone else. She asked me the review after eating this and for the sake I told it's ok. But to be honest, that was the best ever biryani I had ever ate in my life and that was the day I realized the love of my mom towards me because she have taken lot of effort to make this biryani as she makes only the vegetarian food. She won't like to eat non-veg foods and even she didn't taste that biryani on that day as she was fasting on that particular day. Without even tasting the biryani, she made a proper and accurate taste which impressed me a lot and it also need a separate talent to do this type of things. She is one of the best cook I have ever seen in my life.

Follow up questions

What other special meals has your mom made for you?

My mom has made several special meals for me over the years, including homemade pasta and my favorite chocolate cake. Each meal is unique and reflects her love and effort, making them all memorable in their own way.

How do you feel about cooking for others?

I enjoy cooking for others as it allows me to express my creativity and share my love for food. I believe that cooking for someone is a way to show care and appreciation, just like my mom did for me with the biryani.

What is your favorite dish to cook?

My favorite dish to cook is spaghetti carbonara. It's simple yet delicious, and I love the process of making the sauce from scratch. Cooking it reminds me of family gatherings and the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones.

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.

Yes, I enjoy cooking! I often try to replicate my mom's recipes, especially the biryani. I also like making simple dishes like pasta and stir-fried vegetables. Cooking is a way for me to express my creativity and connect with my family's culinary traditions.

Show all 17 answers

Cue 1:Who did it

Introduce the person who made the meal, mentioning your relationship with them.
Share a brief background about their cooking skills or experiences.

Example

The special meal was prepared by my grandmother, who is an excellent cook. She has been making delicious meals for our family for as long as I can remember, and her culinary skills are well-known among our relatives.

Cue 2:When and how he/she cooked

Describe the occasion when the meal was made, such as a festival or family gathering.
Explain the cooking process briefly, highlighting any special techniques or ingredients used.

Example

It was during Diwali last year when she decided to cook a traditional feast for the family. She spent the whole day in the kitchen, preparing various dishes like biryani, paneer tikka, and her famous gulab jamun. She used fresh spices and ingredients from the local market, which made the meal even more special.

Cue 3:What and why he/she cooked for you

List the specific dishes that were prepared and their significance.
Explain why your grandmother chose to cook these particular dishes for you.

Example

She made a variety of dishes, including my favorite butter chicken and fragrant basmati rice. She wanted to celebrate the festival with a grand meal, and knowing how much I love these dishes, she made sure to include them in the feast.

Cue 4:And explain how you felt about the meal

Share your feelings about the meal, focusing on taste and presentation.
Reflect on the emotional connection and memories associated with the meal.

Example

When I sat down to eat, I felt a wave of happiness. The aroma of the food was incredible, and every bite was bursting with flavor. It reminded me of my childhood, and I felt grateful for my grandmother's effort. It was not just a meal; it was a celebration of love and family.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, that special meal prepared by my grandmother was more than just food; it was a heartfelt expression of love and tradition. It brought our family together and created lasting memories that I will cherish 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 meal can make your answer less engaging. It may leave the examiner with unanswered questions about the experience.