Describe a time when you got up early: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When it was
What you did
Why you got up early
And how you felt about it

2 unique answers with expert feedback

What other methods do you use to stay motivated in the morning?

In addition to watching motivational videos, I often listen to uplifting music or podcasts. I also like to set specific goals for the day, which gives me a sense of purpose and helps me get out of bed with enthusiasm.

How do you think waking up early impacts your productivity?

Waking up early allows me to have quiet time for myself, which helps me plan my day without distractions. I find that I can focus better on my tasks and complete them more efficiently when I start my day early.

Do you think everyone should try waking up early? Why or why not?

I believe waking up early can be beneficial for many people, as it provides a head start on the day. However, it may not suit everyone, especially those who are night owls. It's important for individuals to find a routine that works best for them.

Band 6

00:00

Very amazing. I woke up early today in the morning at 5am and I get ready for my pre-wedding shoot and then we visit a place in Delhi at Yamuna Lake and the air was very refreshing and we felt like working here is and the atmosphere is very beautiful early in the morning. It feels like fresh air, the environment is cool and it's also a rainy season nowadays so little bit of rain is also here. The climate is awesome and we enjoyed a lot. The photo shoot will recognize me.

Follow up questions

What do you enjoy most about waking up early?

I enjoy the tranquility and freshness of the early morning. The world feels peaceful, and I can focus on my thoughts without distractions. It's a great time for reflection and planning my day ahead.

How does waking up early affect your productivity?

Waking up early significantly boosts my productivity. I find that I can accomplish more tasks in the quiet hours of the morning, and I feel more energized and motivated to tackle my responsibilities throughout the day.

What activities do you prefer to do in the early morning?

In the early morning, I prefer activities like exercising, meditating, or enjoying a peaceful breakfast. These activities help me start my day on a positive note and set a productive tone for the rest of the day.

Show all 2 answers

Cue 1:When it was

Start by mentioning the specific day and time you got up early, providing context for the situation.
You can include details about whether it was a weekday or weekend, and any special significance of that day.

Example

It was a Saturday morning, around 5 AM, during the summer holidays. I remember it vividly because it was the day of my friend's wedding, and I wanted to make sure I had enough time to get ready.

Cue 2:What you did

Describe the activities you engaged in after waking up early, focusing on the preparations or tasks you completed.
Make sure to include any specific details that highlight the importance of these activities.

Example

After waking up, I quickly took a shower and got dressed in my traditional attire. I also helped my family prepare some snacks for the guests. It was a busy morning, but I enjoyed being part of the preparations.

Cue 3:Why you got up early

Explain the reason for waking up early, emphasizing its significance to you personally.
You can mention any motivations or feelings that drove you to get up at that hour.

Example

I got up early because I wanted to be fully prepared for my friend's big day. I felt it was important to support him and be there for him as he started this new chapter in his life.

Cue 4:And how you felt about it

Share your feelings about waking up early and the overall experience of the day.
Reflect on any positive emotions or lessons learned from that experience.

Example

I felt a mix of excitement and happiness throughout the morning. Waking up early allowed me to enjoy the quiet moments before the festivities began, and I was grateful to be part of such a joyful occasion.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, waking up early that day was a rewarding experience. It not only helped me prepare for my friend's wedding but also allowed me to appreciate the little moments that often go unnoticed. I believe that sometimes, getting up early can lead to wonderful memories and experiences.

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: Rushing Through Your Answer

Candidates often rush their responses, leading to incomplete answers. This can make it difficult for the examiner to understand your experience and feelings.

Tip

Take a moment to organize your thoughts before speaking. Use the cues to structure your answer clearly and provide enough detail.

2: Ignoring Emotional Impact

Many candidates forget to express how they felt about the experience. This can make the response less engaging and personal.

Tip

Include your emotions when describing the experience. Share how getting up early affected you, both positively and negatively.

Lack of Specific Details

Some candidates provide vague answers without specific details about the event. This can make the response sound generic and uninteresting.

Tip

Use specific examples and details when answering. Describe the time, activities, and reasons clearly to create a vivid picture.

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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.