Describe a time when someone asked for your opinion: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • Who asked for your opinion?
  • Why he/she wanted to know your opinion?
  • What opinion you gave?
  • And explain how you felt when he/she asked for your opinion.
people images

10 unique answers with expert feedback

Band 6-7

00:00

/

00:00

Many people have asked me for opinions since I was a child. I think because I know a lot of things and giving opinions and sharing ideas would eventually help everyone. I remember once my friend Harsh asked me about how living is in Canada. He was thinking of studying abroad and grow his career in the field of science. I am living in Canada since last one and half year and I know how things work here. Hence, I explained him about the daily struggle which we have. For example, we have to balance our studies and work all the time and there are times when we are not even able to sleep and eat properly. So, I gave him advice that he should really be prepared if he wants to go abroad because things are very different from, looks very different than they look from nearby. I felt a light, I was delighted that I would, I was, sorry, I felt proud to help him. I think my advice would have been a great help.

Follow up questions


How do you feel when someone values your opinion?
I feel honored and proud when someone values my opinion. It shows that they trust my judgment and experience. It motivates me to share my thoughts more openly, knowing that they might help someone make an important decision.

Have you ever regretted giving your opinion? Why?
Yes, there have been times when I regretted giving my opinion, especially if it led to misunderstandings or if the person didn't take my advice seriously. It can be frustrating to see someone struggle when I feel I could have helped them.

What factors do you consider before giving your opinion?
Before giving my opinion, I consider the person's situation, my own experiences, and how my advice might impact them. I also think about whether I have enough knowledge about the topic to provide a helpful and informed perspective.

Band 6-7

00:00

/

00:00

Well, in my life, many people have asked for my opinion and I give them good advice. But today, I would like to express my thoughts on a topic when I gave a really good idea to my niece. I still remember the time when I was in 12th standard. There was my niece and she was in 10th standard. So she asked for my opinion for making a portrait of something which can help her to get first position in painting competition. So I remember that there was a painting competition in her school and she had to make a portrait or a landscape on Visakhi festival. And then I told her that she could make a landscape on glass as sometimes as in other words we call glass painting. So when I gave her this advice, I felt really happy because it was the very first time when someone asked for my opinion on painting or on making or on drawing something. Because I am really good at painting and I love to give advice to people so that they can just get good position in their school. So that was the time when I gave my opinion to my niece. And fortunately she got the first position in school and she was feeling over the moon at that time.

Follow up questions


How do you feel when someone values your opinion?
I feel really appreciated and proud when someone values my opinion. It boosts my confidence and makes me want to help others even more. Knowing that my advice can make a difference in someone's life is a rewarding experience.

Have you ever regretted giving your opinion?
Yes, there have been times when I felt my advice wasn't taken seriously or didn't lead to the desired outcome. However, I believe that sharing my thoughts is important, and even if it doesn't always work out, it helps me learn and grow.

What qualities do you think make a good advisor?
A good advisor should be a good listener, empathetic, and knowledgeable about the topic. They should also be able to communicate their ideas clearly and provide constructive feedback, helping the person feel supported and encouraged.

calendar icon

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
anonymous person icon

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

location icon

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
anonymous person icon

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

location icon

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
anonymous person icon

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

location icon

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
anonymous person icon

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

location icon

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
anonymous person icon

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

location icon

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.

Band 6-7

00:00

/

00:00

so the opinion was asked by my junior who is my friend actually and she is four years younger to me and she asked me about her career guidance and she asked me in her 11th and 12th what stream should she take. She asked me whether she should take commerce or science or humanities. This is what she asked and I gave her an opinion about taking commerce since I took commerce and I didn't you know like suggest her to take only commerce I should told her to take whatever she finds interesting and I told her to go through the books of science commerce as well as humanities which whatever feels she finds interesting she can I told suggested her to take it and I felt happier while giving this opinion and it made me feel that I am kind of a grown-up and it has been a very happiest moment for me because my junior was asking an opinion about her career and advancement to be frank and this is the most quiet happiest moment for me

Follow up questions


How did you feel when your junior asked for your opinion?
I felt honored and a bit nervous at first because it was a big responsibility. However, it also made me feel mature and confident, knowing that someone valued my perspective on such an important decision.

What factors do you think are important when giving career advice?
I believe it's crucial to consider the individual's interests, strengths, and passions. It's also important to provide them with information about different fields and encourage them to explore various options before making a decision.

Have you ever sought advice from someone about your own career decisions?
Yes, I have sought advice from my mentors and teachers when I was uncertain about my career path. Their insights helped me make informed choices and gave me confidence in my decisions.

Band 6-7

00:00

/

00:00

There was a discussion with my friends on finalizing which place we have to go visit for the vacation. So the rest of places includes Arunachal Pradesh and Andaman Nicobar Islands. Everyone want to visit Arunachal Pradesh and few of my friends wanted to visit Andaman Nicobar Islands. So there was a lot of confusion with this. So the organizer reached out to me and asked my opinion and I suggested him that we could visit Andaman Nicobar Islands as it's the only Indian archipelago, consists of numerous islands and it was a summer time to visit beaches. It has lot of blue pristine beaches and lot of multiple islands which could be really enjoyable. So we have a really unforgettable experience in Andaman Nicobar Islands like we took ferry rides and hopping multiple highlands and we went to see the limestone cove and as well as the mud volcano which is kind of unique to the particular area which couldn't be seen anywhere in the world. We had a long route in the hills so the climate is more of an evergreen, tropical climate we witnessed and the food was like amazing.

Follow up questions


What factors do you consider when giving your opinion on travel destinations?
When giving my opinion on travel destinations, I consider factors like the climate, activities available, cultural experiences, and the preferences of the group. It's important to ensure that everyone will enjoy the trip and that the destination offers something unique.

How do you feel when your opinion is valued by others?
I feel appreciated and respected when my opinion is valued by others. It boosts my confidence and encourages me to share my thoughts more often. It also strengthens my relationships with friends, as it shows that they trust my judgment.

Have you ever disagreed with a group decision? How did you handle it?
Yes, I have disagreed with group decisions before. In such cases, I try to express my concerns respectfully and suggest alternatives. I believe open communication is key, and I always aim to find a compromise that satisfies everyone involved.

Band 6-7

00:00

/

00:00

One of my colleague Mr. Avneesh Singh had asked me for the opinion regarding the recruitment of one of the candidates, one of the workmen who was working with us since last five years and she had come for rejoining in the ring trim section. He was a little sceptical as he has rejoined the organization recently and since the background was not clear about the workmen, Mr. Avneesh had asked for the opinion from me whether he should go for rehiring the workmen or not. While speaking to Avneesh, I had suggested him that we have to check the attendance of the person for the last five years. Also if any complaints are there regarding the work ethics and any complaints regarding the behavior at the workplace from the seniors who are already working since last five years. Also he has to speak to colleagues and previous HR people who are there whether they are having a good opinion about the persons or not. So, after discussing and after finding out all the details about the workmen, it was found out that although she had a good attendance record, she was not having compatible relationships or compatible behavior at the workplace and she also recently had some issues at her previous companies and thus it was found out that she is not to be recruited. After the decision taken by Avneesh, he called and he told that it was very helpful for him.

Follow up questions


How do you feel about giving your opinion in such situations?
I feel that giving my opinion is important, especially when it can impact someone's career. It makes me feel valued and responsible. I also believe that sharing insights can lead to better decisions, which is beneficial for the team and the organization.

Have you ever disagreed with someone when giving your opinion?
Yes, there have been times when my opinion differed from others. In those situations, I try to present my reasoning clearly and respectfully. It's important to have open discussions, as differing views can lead to better outcomes if handled constructively.

What qualities do you think are important for someone to consider when seeking opinions?
I believe that being open-minded, respectful, and willing to listen are crucial qualities. It's also important for them to be able to evaluate the feedback critically and make informed decisions based on the opinions they gather.
Show all 10 answers

Cue 1:Who asked for your opinion?

  • Introduce the person who asked for your opinion, mentioning your relationship with them.
  • Provide some context about the situation that led them to seek your advice.

Example

My younger sister, Priya, asked for my opinion. She was considering which college to apply to after finishing her high school. Since I had gone through the same process a few years ago, she thought I could help her make a decision.


Cue 2:Why he/she wanted to know your opinion?

  • Explain the reason behind their request for your opinion.
  • Mention any specific concerns or questions they had that prompted them to ask you.

Example

Priya wanted to know my opinion because she was feeling overwhelmed by the choices available. She was particularly unsure about whether to pursue engineering or a degree in arts, and she wanted to hear my thoughts on the pros and cons of each path.


Cue 3:What opinion you gave?

  • Clearly state the advice or opinion you provided.
  • Include any personal experiences or insights that supported your opinion.

Example

I advised her to follow her passion rather than just choosing a popular field. I shared my own experience of studying engineering, explaining how it was a good fit for me but might not be the same for her. I encouraged her to consider what subjects she enjoyed the most and to think about her long-term career goals.


Cue 4:And explain how you felt when he/she asked for your opinion.

  • Describe your feelings about being asked for your opinion.
  • Reflect on the importance of your relationship and how it made you feel valued.

Example

When Priya asked for my opinion, I felt honored and appreciated. It made me realize that she valued my experience and trusted my judgment. I was happy to help her navigate such an important decision in her life.


Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, being asked for my opinion by my sister was a meaningful experience. It not only strengthened our bond but also allowed me to share my insights and support her in making an important life choice. I believe that sharing opinions can help others feel more confident in their decisions.


    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: Giving Vague Responses

    Avoid being too general or vague in your answers. This can make your response less engaging and informative, which may lead to a lower score.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Provide specific details about the situation, including names, places, and emotions to make your answer more vivid and relatable.


    2: Ignoring the Cues

    Neglecting to address all the cues can result in an incomplete answer. This may leave the examiner with unanswered questions about your experience.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Make sure to systematically address each cue in your response to create a well-rounded and comprehensive answer.


    Overly Long Responses

    Giving excessively long answers can lead to losing the examiner's interest and may cause you to stray off-topic.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Aim for concise yet detailed responses. Practice summarizing your thoughts to stay focused and engaging.


    calendar icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 8

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 6.5

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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

    Well, in my life, many people have asked for my opinion and I give them good advice. But today, I would like to express my thoughts on a topic when I gave a really good idea to my niece. I still remember the time when I was in 12th standard. There was my niece and she was in 10th standard. So she asked for my opinion for making a portrait of something which can help her to get first position in painting competition. So I remember that there was a painting competition in her school and she had to make a portrait or a landscape on Visakhi festival. And then I told her that she could make a landscape on glass as sometimes as in other words we call glass painting. So when I gave her this advice, I felt really happy because it was the very first time when someone asked for my opinion on painting or on making or on drawing something. Because I am really good at painting and I love to give advice to people so that they can just get good position in their school. So that was the time when I gave my opinion to my niece. And fortunately she got the first position in school and she was feeling over the moon at that time.

    Band 6-7

    Many people have asked me for opinions since I was a child. I think because I know a lot of things and giving opinions and sharing ideas would eventually help everyone. I remember once my friend Harsh asked me about how living is in Canada. He was thinking of studying abroad and grow his career in the field of science. I am living in Canada since last one and half year and I know how things work here. Hence, I explained him about the daily struggle which we have. For example, we have to balance our studies and work all the time and there are times when we are not even able to sleep and eat properly. So, I gave him advice that he should really be prepared if he wants to go abroad because things are very different from, looks very different than they look from nearby. I felt a light, I was delighted that I would, I was, sorry, I felt proud to help him. I think my advice would have been a great help.

    Band 6-7

    There was a discussion with my friends on finalizing which place we have to go visit for the vacation. So the rest of places includes Arunachal Pradesh and Andaman Nicobar Islands. Everyone want to visit Arunachal Pradesh and few of my friends wanted to visit Andaman Nicobar Islands. So there was a lot of confusion with this. So the organizer reached out to me and asked my opinion and I suggested him that we could visit Andaman Nicobar Islands as it's the only Indian archipelago, consists of numerous islands and it was a summer time to visit beaches. It has lot of blue pristine beaches and lot of multiple islands which could be really enjoyable. So we have a really unforgettable experience in Andaman Nicobar Islands like we took ferry rides and hopping multiple highlands and we went to see the limestone cove and as well as the mud volcano which is kind of unique to the particular area which couldn't be seen anywhere in the world. We had a long route in the hills so the climate is more of an evergreen, tropical climate we witnessed and the food was like amazing.

    Band 6-7

    so the opinion was asked by my junior who is my friend actually and she is four years younger to me and she asked me about her career guidance and she asked me in her 11th and 12th what stream should she take. She asked me whether she should take commerce or science or humanities. This is what she asked and I gave her an opinion about taking commerce since I took commerce and I didn't you know like suggest her to take only commerce I should told her to take whatever she finds interesting and I told her to go through the books of science commerce as well as humanities which whatever feels she finds interesting she can I told suggested her to take it and I felt happier while giving this opinion and it made me feel that I am kind of a grown-up and it has been a very happiest moment for me because my junior was asking an opinion about her career and advancement to be frank and this is the most quiet happiest moment for me

    Band 6-7

    One of my colleague Mr. Avneesh Singh had asked me for the opinion regarding the recruitment of one of the candidates, one of the workmen who was working with us since last five years and she had come for rejoining in the ring trim section. He was a little sceptical as he has rejoined the organization recently and since the background was not clear about the workmen, Mr. Avneesh had asked for the opinion from me whether he should go for rehiring the workmen or not. While speaking to Avneesh, I had suggested him that we have to check the attendance of the person for the last five years. Also if any complaints are there regarding the work ethics and any complaints regarding the behavior at the workplace from the seniors who are already working since last five years. Also he has to speak to colleagues and previous HR people who are there whether they are having a good opinion about the persons or not. So, after discussing and after finding out all the details about the workmen, it was found out that although she had a good attendance record, she was not having compatible relationships or compatible behavior at the workplace and she also recently had some issues at her previous companies and thus it was found out that she is not to be recruited. After the decision taken by Avneesh, he called and he told that it was very helpful for him.

    Band 6

    One of my seniors asked me about his personality and he wants to know my opinion because he is our student union leader in the college and he is the head of the union and he wants to know his performance and how his duty is going to be held and how he is performing his duty to the students. I felt strange when he asked my opinion because he is 4 years senior than me and when he asked me about his opinion I answered him that he is doing very well and we feel great to have him as the student union leader. But I suggested him when you are in a higher position don't ask opinion about yourself because sometimes the comments or the opinion of the person might affect our personal abilities and degrade us. Even it demotivates us when we ask the opinion because some of the people don't state their honest opinion towards us so just re-evaluate yourself and question yourself if you are having any doubt towards what you are doing rather than asking the opinion for the reasons. Thank you.

    Band 6

    I still remember the time when I was being asked for an opinion, so I am mostly being asked for an opinion from my friends, my colleagues, the opinions related to their life. So for example, I still remember the day one of my close friend, he asked me for an opinion about his life, he was going through something in his life and he asked for an opinion. Providing an opinion, a point of view of mine, I feel good and about opinions, yes, I do provide them the opinions that is needed, I do provide whatever I feel like and also I give suggestions, it's up to them if they want to take up the opinion or not. I felt good because I still remember the day when one of my friend asked for an opinion related to his career, related to one of my colleagues, she asked me about an opinion related to her love life. So she wanted to know about her boyfriend, so I will explain the scenario in short, like she asked me, her boyfriend behaves in a certain way, does that mean he is not interested? So I tried to explain, first I tried to understand the scenario, so according to the scenario, he was trying to ignore her and he was not being involved or not being responsive in their relationship. So according to my analysis or my understanding, I tried to explain her that it's not like he or she is interested in you, he or she has already moved on and is not interested anymore in this particular relationship.

    Band 5-6

    I would like to describe that time when my father asked me to ask my opinion for construction of my new home, when I was actually surprised at that time, because they are planning to build a new home for me, so they want to know my opinion, what style if it is needed by a single floor or a double storey home, or what are the requirements needed inside the home, like that, so at that time I felt quite surprising also, on other hand I feel very tensed, because I don't know how the expense of my needs which I needed to set in my home, so after a time, after thinking like these things on my mind, I give a perfect, while searching from the media and all, I get a perfect plan for my home, and I choose and I give opinion to them like this, I need like an open kitchen, or I need a theatre inside the home, like many many things I included, I also shared to them, with a together, communicating together with my parents, we also talked the things, and with a positively, my opinion I have taken by my parents, and they do as much as they can.

    Band 5-6

    So, today I would like to describe about when someone asked about my opinion. So, the person who asked about my opinion was my brother. And he asked me when he wanted to take which course he wanted to select. So, I gave an advice he wanted to select science over commerce. Because there are many fields he will take after taking the science. If he take commerce there are less options in the future instead of taking the commerce. I would like to share my experience. When I took science I can go for after taking the B.Sc. I can go for M.Sc.

    Band 5-6

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