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Describe a time when the electricity suddenly went off: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • When/where it happened
  • What happened when it went off
  • How people reacted / what you did
  • And explain how you felt about it
Show all 73 answers

Cue 1:When/where it happened

  • Begin by describing the specific location and time when the electricity went off.
  • Mention any relevant details about the setting, such as whether you were at home, school, or work.

Example

It was a hot summer evening around 7 PM when the electricity suddenly went off at my home. I was in the living room, trying to finish my homework while the ceiling fan was running to keep me cool.

Cue 2:What happened when it went off

  • Explain the immediate effects of the power outage, such as darkness or loss of appliances.
  • Mention any specific activities that were interrupted due to the electricity going off.

Example

As soon as the lights went out, the room was plunged into darkness. The fan stopped spinning, and I could hear the distant sounds of my neighbors reacting to the outage. My laptop screen went black, and I realized I couldn’t continue my studies.

Cue 3:How people reacted / what you did

  • Describe how you and others around you reacted to the sudden power cut.
  • Mention any actions you took to cope with the situation, like using candles or checking on family members.

Example

My family quickly gathered in the living room, and my mother lit some candles to provide light. My younger brother started to feel scared, so I reassured him that it would be okay. We all sat together, sharing stories to pass the time.

Cue 4:And explain how you felt about it

  • Share your feelings about the power outage, whether it was frustration, fear, or something else.
  • Reflect on any positive aspects of the situation, like spending time with family.

Example

Initially, I felt frustrated because I was in the middle of my homework. However, as we sat together in candlelight, I realized it was a nice opportunity to bond with my family. We laughed and talked, which made me appreciate the moment despite the inconvenience.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, the sudden power cut was an unexpected event that disrupted my evening. However, it turned into a memorable experience as it brought my family together, reminding me of the importance of spending quality time with loved ones, even in challenging situations.

    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 when and where the electricity went off can make your answer less engaging and informative. It may leave the examiner with unanswered questions.

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    Tip

    Include specific details such as the location, time of day, and any relevant context to make your story more vivid and relatable.

    2: Ignoring Emotional Response

    Not expressing how you felt during the power outage can make your response seem flat. Emotions help to connect with the listener and add depth to your answer.

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    Tip

    Share your feelings during the event, whether it was fear, frustration, or humor, to create a more compelling narrative.

    Neglecting Reactions of Others

    Overlooking how others reacted to the situation can limit the scope of your response. Including others' reactions can enrich your story and provide different perspectives.

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    Tip

    Mention how family, friends, or colleagues reacted to the power outage to add variety and depth to your response.

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    All Answers

    Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

    Band 6-7

    That's an interesting question, currently I'm unable to recall an instance of such situation but yeah I do remember one when last week there was a party at Rahul's home, Rahul is my batch mate and we were meeting at his home for a birthday party and it was a surprise birthday party for his uncle, so we all friends from my school and some of my friends from college we decided to host a party for his uncle, so we brought balloons, cake and everything which is needed for the celebration of a birthday and we put on some fancy lights to make it more excited and enthusiastic energy to get the birthday in and suddenly when we were celebrating and we were making our way to all the, making the way for all the, we were arranging all the things and we decided that when the uncle will come from the door we'll switch on the lights and we will sing happy birthday to him and that's where the problem began, the uncle entered the room and we started happy birthday and that's where the electricity got off, it was a really funny moment for me and for everyone I guess but yeah that was so disappointing for us, not for uncle to be honest because he thought it was, he thought really funny about it, that is why everyone is dark and then we called an electricity consultant he told me there was some power cut in the nearby street that's why the electricity got off and we were really excited about it and at the last moment the plan really got ruined, ruined but uncle

    Band 6-7

    I want to share a beautiful memory of my childhood. It was a time, I live in a town in which the light going off is very common. And whenever it went off during the night, I just gather my 10-15 friends from my neighborhood and just start playing Ice and Spice. So basically it is a game in which other people hide and one who is giving the 10 finds other person and say Ice and Spice to him. So in this we have to hide from that particular person. It is a beautiful memory because it was a time when I used to enjoy my childhood. Even if the light was not there, we used to still feel mesmerized by playing that. It was a great memory because I used to spend some quality time with my friends also. Other times whenever the light goes, I just sit quietly in a confined space and think about myself and stay at a single place so that I don't disturb or hit somewhere which is not being seen. That's why I like the time of before when I used to play the games with my friends.

    Band 6-7

    I would like to describe about the moment where the electricity went off in my tuition. I was at class 8 at that time. Tuition was was kept in a small house which was the owner's own house. So it didn't have any backup facilities such as generator. So it only depended on the electricity and if the power goes off whole house becomes dark. So on that day we were around 10 to 12 people and the electricity suddenly went off. Since there were also many kids over there they started to panic and they screamed a lot and we who were in class 8 didn't fear it much. We were just making the kids even more scared like we frightened them by making some weird noises. It was so funny on that day for us but now I realized that that isn't the best way because they might get traumatized by it but on that day it was very nice because everyone was studying on that day very intensely. I think that power of May and everyone got relief.

    Band 6-7

    So the last time I remember the electricity went off was yesterday night and I was sleeping in my bed. So it was around 11 p.m. that the electricity went off and there were no backup lights that I had. So I had a dog sleeping with me, my aunt's dog. He suddenly started barking. Not barking. He suddenly started growling when the lights went off and I was so scared. And I was alone at home and there was nobody else. So I stayed calm. I knew that I shouldn't panic and that the electricity will come back within a few minutes. So I waited for like 30 minutes and after that also nothing happened. So I lit up a candle and I stayed calm. My dog was also calm by then. That made me realize one thing that how important electricity is and how each home deserves electric connection. And I think government should also work hard to provide electricity to all the poor people of the country because without electricity I think it becomes really difficult for poor people to function. When there is no electricity, the students who come from a poor background, from the rural areas, have no other source of power generation. So it makes them difficult to study also and it halts their day-to-day life, day-to-day habits, I think. Not habits, day-to-day work, I think.

    Band 6-7

    Well, I would like to tell a story about my first posting, which was in a remote area. It's about three years ago. My first posting was a village, which is very far from the city. Plus, there was very sufficient kind of electricity supply. Only four or five hours per day, there is electricity supply. The incident I can easily remember was, I had to deliver a patient, a labor patient. She was on the table, and there is full dilatation. And the baby just about a minute to come out from the uterus, and suddenly the electricity, the power has went off. And I had no other options to focus. Then I just turned on my mobile flash and delivered the baby. That was very, that was very shocking moment for me. And I was scared of, and I was scared too. But eventually, I delivered the baby with the flashlight of my mobile. And I was so happy, even the guardians of the lady were praised me, and they praised my skill as well.

    Band 6

    So, well, we usually have an inverter in my home, but two years back, I currently live in Bajpalli, two years back, current electricity was suddenly went off. I don't know why, initially I was very shocked, because in our area, in Bajpalli mainly, the current electricity will be provided 24 by 7, even when there are slight rains, but on that day, I don't know why, there was a maintenance, so the current electricity went off. Initially I was studying, so I was very disturbed and felt distressed. Moreover, I want to play a Ludo, because my phone was not charged as well, so I and my family decided to play a Ludo, and we play, as well as we played Antakshari, which is a game.

    Band 6

    I would like to talk about my exam time when I was in class 12th and my board exam is near and if I remember correctly it was 2 years ago when I was in class 12th and the electricity suddenly went off and it is the peak time for me to prepare for my exams because syllabus is not fully covered at that time and I am struggling to how to prepare now for my exams and but in my house there is a temporary lamp I used it for preparing for my exams. It was quite common in countryside areas but I resided in Delhi so I am shocked that electricity went off in Delhi because Delhi is a national capital of India and may be the reason is that due to some corruption and lack of management by government cause electricity problem in my area. So another reason may be that it was rainy season and most of the time electricity department cut off the electricity to prevent some hazards like some people death when in the rainy season due to some short circuits that's why and in my opinion government should have to improve the quality of providing the electricity lines so people may not struggle that.

    Band 6

    It was when I was in my apartment with my family, the electricity went off and we were very pissed off because we were watching our favorite television show. But then we realized it was suddenly heavily pouring, so that might be a reason why electricity department cuts off the electricity. But then we lighted our candles and we were sitting, but we got a time to spend some time with our families, talk to each other. After so many days we were sitting together, having a chit chat with coffee. It felt good and one of the memories I will remember forever, so that was my time. Another incident I can recall is, once we were going to our village and my dad casually brought up the topic saying that there's most of the times where electricity don't come in villages, so be prepared with your phones not charged and other devices like laptops. So he told us to get some power bank and be prepared for it. But then I was scared, like how will I work on my laptop? How will I use my phone? But after going there, those people were so chilled out. They knew that every 5pm to 7pm the electricity goes for 2 hours and that was their usual daily life. For us it was unexpected.

    Band 6

    I remember when I was 8 years old, I experienced a blackout while I was at school. It happened during the last period, which was from 1 to 2 pm. We were soon meant to ride the bus back to our homes. But as soon as that happened, everyone freaked out and we were scared whether we will be allowed to go home before the lights turn on. So, while all this happened, I remember my teachers were very supportive and I have certain memories that I am still fond of. It includes spending time with my friends in such an overwhelming situation. As soon as the lights were back on, we were allowed to move out. But we realized that it was raining. So, that is how we figured out the reason for the blackout. There was a thunderstorm which had caused the sudden electricity disorientation. And after it was back on, while we were all very cheerful, we also went home and took a lesson with us that day. We were more responsible and we were more considerate of each other. It had a very long lasting effect on me as I still remember that incident.

    Band 6

    Last year I was sitting in front of my balcony, I was doing my office work in the evening and suddenly electricity went off. I was surprised because the backup was also not working at all. I have seen the people were shouting, especially the children, they were enjoying like anything because they have never ever seen such kind of situation because in our area, in our flats, there are always backup when electricity went off but this time backup was also not working. Everyone was shouting. I felt bad initially because I was doing urgent work and I was not expecting that light went off like this but after sometime when I have seen the children was playing, everyone was outside, they were using their mobile phones and their torch was blinking and everyone was playing. Everyone was greeting each other because people hardly get time to meet each other and everyone is busy in their house chores and office works. Finally people get the time to meet each other, they were greeting, they were spending time together. So I felt that without electricity and technology how people get time to meet and greet each other. This is the very first time I have seen in my locality after so long time that people are meeting like anything and I also not even know who are living in my neighborhood. So finally I got to know that. It was very pleasant.
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