Describe a time when you answered a phone call from someone you didn’t know in a public place: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When and where it happened
Who called you
What he/she said
How you corresponded
And explain how you felt about the experience

14 unique answers with expert feedback

How do you feel about receiving calls from unknown numbers?

I generally feel a mix of curiosity and caution when receiving calls from unknown numbers. While I understand that some may be legitimate, I also recognize that many could be spam or scams. Therefore, I tend to answer with an open mind but remain cautious about sharing personal information.

Have you ever had a negative experience with a cold call?

Yes, I once received a cold call that turned out to be a sales pitch for a product I had no interest in. The caller was quite pushy, which made me uncomfortable. I ended the call politely but felt frustrated by the experience. It reminded me to be careful about answering unknown calls.

What do you think is the best way to handle unsolicited calls?

I believe the best way to handle unsolicited calls is to remain polite but firm. If you're not interested, it's okay to say so clearly. If the caller persists, it's best to end the conversation respectfully. Keeping a calm demeanor helps maintain a positive interaction, even if it's unexpected.

Band 6-7

00:00

Back in the summer vacations, me and my friends used to go for cycling every day. It was our daily routine. So one day, me and my friend Rakesh decided to go on an early walk instead of cycling. We were very excited for the same. When I was standing outside Rakesh's house waiting for him, I received a call from an unknown number. At first, I thought that someone must have dialed it by mistake. So I ignored the call and I usually don't pick up the unknown calls. But that person dialed me 2-3 times again. I thought that someone is in emergency and I picked up the call. There was this girl who was trying to scam me by selling me some policies which were obviously some malicious content that she wanted to download on my phone. She was trying to pretend that she knew me, but I was confident that she wasn't a genuine person. So I tried to trick her into more questions and delayed the time until I called the police and reported her number. The police immediately took the action and identified the miscreant. I think there are many instances in which I was in a public place and I received a call from an unknown number. One day when I was on a date, I received a call from an unknown number who was pretending to be my friend and tried to prank me. But I was aware enough of the fact and I declined the call.

Follow up questions

How do you usually feel when you receive calls from unknown numbers?

I often feel a mix of curiosity and caution. While I might be curious about who is calling, I also feel cautious because many unknown calls can be scams or telemarketers. So, I usually prefer not to answer them unless I feel it's important.

Have you ever had a positive experience with an unknown caller?

Yes, there was a time when I received a call from a stranger who turned out to be a recruiter for a job opportunity. It was a pleasant surprise, and I ended up having a fruitful conversation that led to an interview.

What advice would you give to someone who receives a suspicious call?

I would advise them to stay calm and not share any personal information. It's best to ask questions to gauge the caller's intentions and, if in doubt, to hang up and report the number if necessary. Trust your instincts.

Band 6-7

00:00

One day while I am at work one guy called me, a random call from outside the hospital. So I am basically working in CT and this one stranger called me and I was in middle of everyone including radiologist and my staff members and everyone and normally we talk in our native language so he was speaking in English and he wasn't very good at it. He was like saying words by word and I was very embarrassed and I didn't know how to respond at first because I couldn't understand him and it was very really embarrassing moment for me and after that the radiologist and everyone mocked me and I actually handled it very well. He was asking for some enquiries and I helped him very well and I also tried to understand his every details and I helped him in every way and it was very embarrassing because he was really funny guy and I wasn't very sure about it because I thought it was a prank call or something and it was really annoying at first. I got really angry and it was really frustrating for me. I am sure that he called honestly but the way he behaved and he talked was really annoying.

Follow up questions

How do you usually feel about receiving calls from unknown numbers?

I often feel a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Sometimes I wonder if it's an important call, but I also worry it could be a scam or a prank. It makes me hesitant to answer, especially in public places where I might feel embarrassed.

Have you ever had a positive experience with an unknown caller?

Yes, there was a time when I received a call from a charity organization. They were very polite and explained their cause well. I ended up donating a small amount, and it felt good to help out. It was a pleasant surprise compared to my usual experiences.

What strategies do you use to handle difficult phone conversations?

I try to stay calm and patient. If I don't understand something, I ask the caller to repeat it or clarify. I also take notes if needed. Remaining polite helps diffuse any tension, and I focus on finding a solution rather than getting frustrated.

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Band 6-7

00:00

I answered a phone call from a unknown person in a public place and it sounds very familiar to me. When I was not aware about the name of the person, however, the person made me feel comfortable with their talks, with their polite and pleasant words. And I was feeling more familiar and friendly with the person. The person was no one else but my very good friend, my childhood friend who has been abroad for many years and back to India after a long time. And we had a lovely chat with each other. It was a wonderful time when we had a chat with each other. And it was really surprising, it helped me to know myself much better and to understand people. It was a time when I was very disappointed, I was very sad of my life. But when I received a phone call, it just changed my life. No, don't turn into a happy time. However, whenever you are sad, there is always something good to get across. And instead of getting sad or nervous, you should always give happiness to others. Never show your sad side to others. And that brings joy in others' life too. Thank you so much.

Follow up questions

How did you feel when you realized it was your childhood friend?

I felt a wave of joy and nostalgia. It was unexpected and brought back many fond memories from our childhood together. I was thrilled to reconnect after so many years.

What do you think makes phone calls from unknown numbers special?

They can lead to unexpected and pleasant surprises, like reconnecting with old friends. It adds an element of excitement and curiosity, as you never know who might be on the other end.

How do you usually handle phone calls from unknown numbers?

I typically hesitate to answer them, but this experience taught me that sometimes it can lead to positive outcomes. I might start being more open to answering unknown calls in the future.

Band 6-7

00:00

In our daily life, we will receive a lot of calls. Some of them are our loved ones and some of them are from unknown numbers. Here, I would like to talk about an incident when I received a call from an unknown number. We will receive a number of calls in our daily life. Sometimes, we have to answer the call in a public place. We receive a number of calls in our daily life. Sometimes, we have to answer the call while we are in a public place like a bus or a train or in a public event. Here, I would like to talk about an incident when I have to answer an unknown call. It happened a year ago. I was travelling to Trivandrum from my hometown in a train with my husband. It was an evening train and we were enjoying a movie on our smartphone. Suddenly, a call came on my phone. Usually, I do not answer a call from an unknown number before verifying it. I have a Truecaller app on my mobile phone. At that time, due to the poor internet connection, I could not verify the call. But somehow, I took the call and I answered the call while I was on my train. The speaker on the other end told me all the information about me. He verified all the information about me when I started answering the call. We receive a number of calls in our daily life. Sometimes, we have to answer the call in a public place like when we are in a bus or in a public event. I would like to share such an experience. It happened a few months ago while I was travelling to Trivandrum by a train with my husband. We were enjoying a movie on our mobile phone while we were travelling. Suddenly, a call came on my phone. We receive a number of calls on our phone in our daily life. Sometimes, we have to answer the call when we are in a public place like when we are in a bus or in a public event. I would like to share such an experience. It happened a few months ago while I was travelling to Trivandrum by a train with my husband. We were enjoying a movie on our mobile phone while we were travelling. Suddenly, a call came on my phone. Usually, I do not answer unknown calls without verifying the identity on Truecaller application. But due to this poor internet connection, I could not verify the caller's identity. But I took the call and started speaking to the person. The person at the other end was talking about my identity details. He started verifying all the information about me. I was surprised about his talking because he told me that he was from the cyber department in Delhi police station. He claimed that I used some prohibited sites on internet. I was totally unaware about that. I did not use any unauthorized sites on internet. He told me to come on the video call. After hearing that I hung up the call, I shared this experience with my husband. He told me that it was really a scam and he was trying to scam me. It was the experience in a public place.

Follow up questions

How do you usually handle unknown calls?

I typically avoid answering unknown calls unless I can verify the caller's identity. I rely on apps like Truecaller to help identify callers. If I can't verify, I prefer to let it go to voicemail and check later.

What precautions do you take when answering calls in public?

When answering calls in public, I ensure I'm in a relatively quiet place to hear better. I also keep my conversations brief to maintain privacy and avoid disturbing others around me.

Have you ever received a scam call before this incident?

Yes, I have received scam calls before, but I usually recognize them quickly. This particular call caught me off guard because the caller had personal information, which made it more alarming.

Show all 14 answers

Cue 1:When and where it happened

Start by describing the location and time when you received the call.
Mention any relevant details about your surroundings that might have influenced your decision to answer.

Example

It was a sunny afternoon, around 2 PM, and I was at a bustling shopping mall in Mumbai. I had just finished my lunch and was browsing through some stores when my phone rang.

Cue 2:Who called you

Introduce the caller and provide any context you might have about them.
If you didn’t know the caller, explain how you felt about receiving a call from a stranger.

Example

The call was from an unknown number, and I was curious about who it could be. I thought it might be a friend or a colleague, so I decided to answer.

Cue 3:What he/she said

Summarize the main points of the conversation.
Highlight any important information or questions the caller had.

Example

When I picked up, a friendly voice introduced themselves as a representative from a local charity. They were calling to ask if I would be interested in supporting their cause.

Cue 4:How you corresponded

Explain how you responded to the caller and what you said.
Mention if you engaged in a conversation or politely declined.

Example

I listened attentively and asked a few questions about the charity. I appreciated their work but explained that I was currently unable to contribute financially.

Cue 5:And explain how you felt about the experience

Share your feelings during and after the call.
Reflect on whether the experience was positive or negative.

Example

I felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension at first, but by the end of the call, I was glad I answered. It was nice to learn about a good cause, and I felt satisfied that I could still support them in other ways.

Conclusion

Example

Overall, answering that unexpected call turned out to be a pleasant experience. It reminded me that sometimes, stepping out of our comfort zone can lead to meaningful conversations and connections.

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: Being Vague About Details

Candidates often provide unclear or general information about the call, which can make their response less engaging and informative. Specific details help paint a clearer picture.

Tip

Include specific details such as the exact location, time, and the nature of the call to make your story more vivid and interesting.

2: Ignoring Emotional Response

Failing to express how you felt during the call can make your answer seem flat. Emotions add depth and relatability to your experience.

Tip

Reflect on your feelings during the call and describe them. Use phrases like 'I felt surprised' or 'I was nervous' to convey your emotions.

Lack of Structure in Response

A disorganized answer can confuse the listener. It's important to follow a logical order to ensure clarity and coherence in your response.

Tip

Organize your answer by following the cue prompts in order. Start with when and where, then move to who called, what was said, and your feelings.

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