Describe a story or novel you have read that you found interesting: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When you read it
What the story or novel was about
Who wrote it
And explain why it was interesting

1 unique answers with expert feedback

What specific challenges did Dr. Kalam face in his life?

Dr. Kalam faced numerous challenges, including financial difficulties during his childhood, societal expectations, and the pressure of academic excellence. Despite these obstacles, he persevered through hard work and determination, which ultimately led him to achieve his dreams and contribute significantly to India's space and missile programs.

How did reading this book influence your perspective on success?

Reading 'Wings of Fire' inspired me to believe that success is attainable regardless of one's background. It taught me the importance of resilience, hard work, and having a clear vision for my goals. This perspective motivates me to pursue my dreams with dedication and not be discouraged by setbacks.

Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?

Absolutely, I would recommend 'Wings of Fire' to others because it is not only an inspiring autobiography but also a guide on how to overcome adversity. It encourages readers to dream big and work hard, making it a valuable read for anyone looking for motivation and insight into the life of a remarkable individual.

Show all 1 answers

Cue 1:When you read it

Mention the time period when you read the book, such as during school, college, or recently.
You can also include any specific circumstances, like if it was during a vacation or a particular season.

Example

I read the novel 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho about two years ago during my summer vacation. I was looking for something inspiring to read while relaxing at home.

Cue 2:What the story or novel was about

Provide a brief summary of the plot without revealing too much detail.
Highlight the main themes or messages of the story.

Example

The story follows a young shepherd named Santiago who dreams of finding treasure in Egypt. Throughout his journey, he learns about the importance of following one's dreams and listening to one's heart. The novel beautifully explores themes of destiny and personal legend.

Cue 3:Who wrote it

Introduce the author and provide a little background about them.
You can mention other notable works by the author if relevant.

Example

The book was written by Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian author known for his philosophical and spiritual novels. He has written several bestsellers, including 'Brida' and 'Veronika Decides to Die'.

Cue 4:And explain why it was interesting

Share your personal feelings about the book and what made it stand out to you.
You can mention specific characters, quotes, or moments that resonated with you.

Example

I found 'The Alchemist' interesting because it inspired me to pursue my own dreams. The character of Santiago reminded me of my own aspirations, and the lessons about perseverance and faith in oneself were truly motivating. One quote that stuck with me was, 'When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.'

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, 'The Alchemist' is not just a story about a journey to find treasure; it’s a profound exploration of self-discovery and following one's dreams. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for inspiration.

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 the Story

Failing to provide enough detail about the story can make your answer seem vague and uninteresting. It's important to engage the listener with specific elements of the plot.

Tip

Include key plot points, character descriptions, and significant events to make your story vivid and engaging.

2: Ignoring the Author's Background

Not mentioning the author can lead to a missed opportunity to add depth to your answer. Understanding the author's background can enhance the context of the story.

Tip

Briefly mention the author's background or other works to provide context and show your knowledge of the literature.

Rushing Through Your Explanation

Speaking too quickly can make it hard for the examiner to follow your thoughts. It may also prevent you from fully explaining why the story was interesting.

Tip

Take your time to articulate your thoughts clearly, and use pauses to emphasize important points in your explanation.

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.