Describe a time when you lost your pet.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What animal was it?
What happened to it & when?
How did you feel about it?

41 unique answers with expert feedback

How did you feel when you couldn't find Nisa?

I felt extremely anxious and scared. The thought of something bad happening to her made me worry a lot. I kept imagining all the possible dangers she could be in, which only heightened my anxiety. It was a very distressing time for me.

What steps did you take to find Nisa?

I searched every room in the house and called her name repeatedly. I also asked my neighbors if they had seen her. I even checked the nearby areas outside, hoping she might have wandered out. It was important for me to do everything I could to bring her back home.

What did you learn from this experience?

I learned the importance of keeping a close eye on my pet, especially since she is shy and tends to hide. It also made me realize how much I care for her and how important she is to my life. I now take extra precautions to ensure she stays safe and secure at home.

Band 6-7

00:00

So, unfortunately I never had a pet myself, but a lot of my friends are parents to furry children. One of my friends named Sukriti, she had a dog named Iris. It was a mixed breed Indie and she adopted her after she found her on the streets. She lived very happily for 17 years, but unfortunately due to old age and ongoing medical problems, she suffered a stroke and was unable to recover from it. I could actually see, you know, the pain and loss in the eyes of my friend and unfortunately I was unable to do anything about it, because the void that the loss of a pet creates in a pet owner's life is quite substantial and a lot of people think that it can just be easily replaced with another pet, but it's very unlikely and I feel just extremely disrespectful to give a suggestion like that. I think what can be done during these times is to provide the emotional support needed to this pet owner so that they can overcome various adversities and they can process their emotions in a positive manner to overcome from them. I would also suggest that being sensitive to the issue, because a lot of people nowadays have support animals, emotional support animals, which are more than just, you know, a domestic animal to them, they are a family member, they are the people, they are the living beings who make their lives better and guide their lives. So I think that having a pet is just a lovely experience and I personally would like to own one in future.

Follow up questions

How do you think losing a pet affects a person's mental health?

Losing a pet can lead to significant emotional distress. Many people experience grief similar to losing a family member. It can result in feelings of loneliness, sadness, and even depression. Providing emotional support during this time is crucial for the pet owner's mental well-being.

What are some ways to support a friend who has lost a pet?

Supporting a friend who has lost a pet can involve simply being there to listen, sharing fond memories of the pet, or helping them create a memorial. Encouraging them to express their feelings and validating their grief can also be very helpful in their healing process.

Why do you think pets are considered family members by many people?

Pets often provide companionship, unconditional love, and emotional support, which can create a deep bond. They are part of daily routines and family activities, making them integral to many people's lives. This emotional connection leads many to view their pets as family members.

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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

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Anonymous student Band 8

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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

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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

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Anonymous student Band 7.5

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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.

I learned the importance of being responsible for my pet's safety. It taught me to always keep an eye on my cat, especially in unfamiliar situations. I also realized that pets can feel scared and lost, just like we do, which made me more empathetic towards their feelings.

Show all 41 answers

Cue 1:What animal was it?

Begin by clearly identifying the type of pet you lost, including its name and breed.
Share a brief description of your pet's personality or any special traits that made it unique.

Example

I had a lovely golden retriever named Max. He was not just a pet but a part of my family. Max was playful, friendly, and always eager to please, which made him a joy to be around.

Cue 2:What happened to it & when?

Describe the circumstances surrounding the loss of your pet, including specific details about the event.
Mention when this incident occurred and any actions you took to find your pet.

Example

One evening, about six months ago, I took Max for his usual walk in the park. He was chasing a squirrel when he suddenly ran off. I called out to him, but he didn’t return. I searched the park for hours, calling his name, but he was nowhere to be found.

Cue 3:How did you feel about it?

Express your emotions during and after the incident, highlighting the impact of losing your pet.
Reflect on how this experience affected you personally and emotionally.

Example

I felt an overwhelming sense of panic and sadness when I realized Max was missing. It was heartbreaking to think that he might be lost or scared. I spent the next few days feeling anxious and worried, constantly hoping to hear news about him.

Conclusion

Summarize your experience and the lessons learned from losing your pet.
Mention any steps you took afterward to cope with the loss or to prevent it from happening again.

Example

Losing Max taught me the importance of being more vigilant during walks. I also learned to cherish every moment with pets, as they bring so much joy into our lives. Although I never found him, I still remember him fondly and keep his memory alive.

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: Avoid Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your answer less engaging. It's important to provide specific details about your pet and the situation to create a clearer picture for the examiner.