Describe A Time When You Helped Someone: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Whom you helped?
How you helped?
How this person reacted to your help?
How did you feel after helping him/her?

12 unique answers with expert feedback

How did your sister feel about swimming after the classes?

After completing the swimming classes, my sister felt a huge sense of accomplishment. She was no longer afraid of water and was grateful for my support. It was heartwarming to see her confidence grow, and she even expressed excitement about swimming in the future.

What challenges did you face while helping her overcome her fear?

One of the main challenges was her initial resistance to the idea of swimming. She was very scared and reluctant to even approach the water. Additionally, managing both our emotions and fears during the classes was tough, but having an instructor helped ease the process.

How do you think helping others impacts your own personal growth?

Helping others significantly impacts my personal growth by providing me with new perspectives on life. It teaches empathy, patience, and the joy of seeing someone else succeed. Each experience enriches my understanding of human emotions and strengthens my relationships.

Band 7

00:00

Recently, I attended various expos representing a company called Audible and through that I was assigned the work of onboarding FPOs on ONDC network. So FPOs are farmer producer organization and we onboarded them on a digital platform so that they can sell their products on that platform. So this was very helpful for the FPOs as they had gained digital market access and widened their market to whole India rather than their just city or town. Moreover, we also provide training on how to use this platform on ONDC and how it can benefit them. It also had the features of inventory management and checking orders from all the accounts simultaneously. Furthermore, we also provided assistance for packaging because FPO products are usually agricultural products or somewhat value-added products. So we provide them help regarding packaging so that your products should look good on online websites like Paytm and Mystore. It should be competing with other products so packaging is the first thing that the customer sees before buying your product. Therefore, packaging suggestions were provided, ideal packaging samples were shown to them so that they can gain better prices by the same product with better packaging. To conclude, helping these FPOs, I registered 45 plus FPOs on ONDC platform reaching out to around 4500 people, basically farmers. So this was very enriching for me as I am an agriculture student. This was a very fruitful event for me and I gained a lot of insight and also this will be a significant growth in my career.

Follow up questions

What motivated you to help FPOs with digital onboarding?

As an agriculture student, I saw the potential of digital platforms to empower farmers. Helping FPOs access wider markets aligns with my passion for agriculture and technology, making it a fulfilling experience.

How did you ensure the training was effective for the FPOs?

We tailored the training sessions to be hands-on and interactive, focusing on practical usage of the platform. Feedback from the FPOs was encouraged to improve the training process, ensuring they felt confident using the tools provided.

What challenges did you face while assisting the FPOs?

One challenge was the varying levels of digital literacy among the FPOs. Some were hesitant to adopt new technology. We addressed this by providing additional support and simplifying the onboarding process to make it more accessible.

Band 6-7

00:00

So, I think that helping is a quality that everybody should have in their lives because that is what separates us from other living organisms and speaking about this, I would like to talk about a time I helped my friend Rishi. So this story dates back to my school days when my friend Rishi needed a guitar for an upcoming music contest in our school. So when my brother came back from Canada recently, so he bought a guitar for me and since I was still in my learning stage and I wanted to, I was still learning and my friend Rishi needed help. He came up to me and said that he really needs that guitar to perform on the day and if that does not happen, he would lose a chance to perform in front of his favorite celebrity Diljit Dosanjh and being the friend I am, I lended my guitar to Rishi and sure enough, he did really well in the competition and in fact, he won the competition in front of his favorite star Diljit Dosanjh and it made me feel really proud of Rishi and I felt really great in contributing in some way to help my friend achieve his goal. So that is the story I would like to share and about speaking, otherwise helping is such a great quality, like it makes you feel involved in the other person's life.

Follow up questions

Why do you think helping others is important?

Helping others fosters a sense of community and connection. It allows us to support one another, which can lead to stronger relationships and a more compassionate society. Additionally, helping others can also provide personal satisfaction and fulfillment.

Can you share another experience where you helped someone?

Certainly! I once helped a classmate who was struggling with math. I spent extra time tutoring him after school, and he eventually improved his grades significantly. It was rewarding to see his progress and know that I played a part in his success.

How do you feel when someone helps you?

When someone helps me, I feel grateful and appreciated. It strengthens my bond with that person and encourages me to pay it forward. Knowing that others care enough to assist me in times of need is a comforting feeling that enhances my sense of belonging.

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Band 6-7

00:00

When I was in college, I happened to help my junior with the decoration part as we had Pongal festival the next week. So, let me show you how to make Pongal. Back then when I was in college, I happened to help one of my junior with the decoration part for the Pongal celebration and she is very sweet girl. She is very sweet. Back then when I was in college, I happened to help my junior with the decoration part for the Pongal celebration and I liked her very much. Even though I was occupied with heavy work, I was interested to help her. It was a hectic day, I didn't have any rest. I was occupied in lab with my project work but as soon as she asked for help, I managed time and went to the venue and helped her with the decoration part. I made some roses with paper and some decorations by pasting balloons on the wall and with the rangoli part. She felt very happy and it was overwhelming for me also to look her that happy and she is someone very close to me. She started thanking me from bottom of her heart but I am someone who can never say no to people who ask for help. So it was another day for me to randomly help people. Usually I will feel good about myself because someone who look for help, I will volunteer and help with whatever I can possible. I also helped my friends with studying because they weren't regular to the classes and they never had notes with them. So I will teach them how the mechanism works and how.

Follow up questions

What motivated you to help your junior with the decorations?

I was motivated by my desire to support my junior and make the Pongal celebration special. I really liked her, and seeing her enthusiasm made me want to contribute, even though I was busy with my own work.

How did you feel after helping her with the decorations?

After helping her, I felt a sense of fulfillment and happiness. It was rewarding to see her joy and appreciation, and it reminded me of the importance of helping others and being part of a community.

Do you think helping others has an impact on your relationships?

Absolutely! Helping others strengthens my relationships. It builds trust and camaraderie, and it creates a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and connected. It’s a win-win situation for both parties.

Band 5-6

00:00

so it is the time when I was in my college so it was an evening time and I was just coming coming back to home from my college and I was waiting for a bus at thermage then at that time the bus came and I just go and take my seats the conductor came to me and got my ticket afterwards after after after sometimes a young lady young lady young lady come to next to me young lady who was seated next to me was crying because she don't have money to buy a ticket I just asked her that hello miss what's your what is the problem why are you crying she just tell me with her soft soft voice that she don't have money she forget her wallet and now she don't know that how can she will buy the tickets and what if the conductor not let her seat seated there so the ticket to the tickets the ticket amount of thermage to petalad was just 40 rupees I just gave her 40 rupees and I told her that keep it it's okay you if if you don't if you don't get me back then it's completely alright I feel like at that time I just show I just see the relief on her face because you know having like having no money is very difficult to survive in this world

Follow up questions

How did you feel after helping the young lady?

I felt a sense of satisfaction and happiness. It was rewarding to see her relief and gratitude. Helping someone in need always brings a sense of fulfillment, and it reminded me of the importance of kindness in our daily lives.

Have you ever received help from someone in a similar situation?

Yes, I have experienced moments where strangers helped me when I was in need. It made me realize how important it is to support each other, and it inspired me to pay it forward whenever I can.

Why do you think it's important to help others?

Helping others fosters a sense of community and connection. It can make a significant difference in someone's life, even in small ways. Acts of kindness can create a ripple effect, encouraging more people to help one another.

Show all 12 answers

Cue 1:Whom you helped?

Begin by introducing the person you helped, including their relationship to you.
Provide some context about why they needed help.

Example

I helped my neighbor, Mrs. Sharma, who is an elderly woman living alone. She had recently fallen ill and was struggling to manage her daily chores.

Cue 2:How you helped?

Describe the specific actions you took to assist this person.
Mention any challenges you faced while helping them.

Example

I decided to cook meals for her and do her grocery shopping. Initially, I was unsure about what she liked to eat, but I asked her for her preferences and made sure to prepare her favorite dishes.

Cue 3:How this person reacted to your help?

Share the immediate reaction of the person you helped.
Include any expressions of gratitude or appreciation they showed.

Example

Mrs. Sharma was incredibly grateful for my help. She often expressed her thanks and even insisted on paying me, but I refused. Her smile and warm words made me feel appreciated.

Cue 4:How did you feel after helping him/her?

Reflect on your emotions after providing assistance.
Mention any lessons learned or personal growth experienced.

Example

After helping her, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness. It was rewarding to know that I made a difference in her life, and it taught me the importance of community support.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, helping Mrs. Sharma was a fulfilling experience that not only strengthened our neighborly bond but also reminded me of the value of kindness and compassion in our society.

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 Specificity

Being vague about whom you helped or how you helped can make your answer less engaging. Specific details help the examiner understand your experience better.

Tip

Include specific names, situations, and actions to create a vivid picture of your experience.

2: Ignoring Emotional Impact

Failing to express how you or the person felt can make your response seem flat. Emotions add depth to your story and show your connection to the experience.

Tip

Describe your feelings and the other person's reactions to highlight the emotional significance of your help.

Rushing Through the Story

Speaking too quickly can lead to unclear answers and missed details. A rushed response may not fully convey the importance of your actions.

Tip

Take your time to structure your answer, ensuring you cover all cues clearly and thoughtfully.

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