Describe a time when you moved to a new home: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What kind of house was it and where?
When & why did you move?
How did you feel?

30 unique answers with expert feedback

What do you like most about your new neighborhood?

I really enjoy the peaceful environment of my new neighborhood. The garden is a great place to relax and meet new friends. The community is friendly, and I appreciate the sense of belonging I feel here. Plus, the proximity to parks and cycling paths makes it ideal for outdoor activities.

How did you feel about moving to a new place?

Initially, I felt a bit anxious about moving, as it meant leaving my previous home and friends. However, once I settled in, I felt excited about the new opportunities and experiences. The peacefulness and spaciousness of my new apartment quickly made me feel at home.

What challenges did you face when moving to your new home?

One challenge was packing and organizing everything for the move. It took a lot of time and effort to ensure that I didn't forget anything. Additionally, adjusting to a new environment and making new friends took some time, but it has been rewarding overall.

Band 7

00:00

I would like to describe a time when I moved to a new home. It happened about two years ago when my family shifted to a bigger and more comfortable apartment in Pune, which is in Maharashtra. The house we moved into is a three-bedroom apartment located in a modern residential complex. It is spacious and well-ventilated with large windows that allow plenty of sunlight. The apartment has a small balcony where we can sit and enjoy a morning tea. The building has also many facilities like a garden, gym and a swimming pool, which we didn't have in our old house. We moved because our previous home was getting too small for our needs. Earlier, we lived in a small two-bedroom flat, which was fine when I was younger. But as I grew older, my parents realized that we needed more space, especially since I needed a separate room to study. Additionally, my parents wanted to live in a better neighborhood that was closer to my school and my father's workplace. After searching for a few months, we finally found this apartment, which was perfect for us. The process of moving was both exciting and challenging. On one hand, I was happy about shifting to a new home with more space and better amenities. I was excited to decorate my new room and organize my things just the way I wanted. On the other hand, leaving our old home was a little emotional because I had so many childhood memories attached to it. I remember feeling a bit sad when I packed my belongings and said goodbye to my neighborhood and friends. However, once we settled into a new house, I started to feel very happy and comfortable. I loved my new room and the complex had many open spaces where I could play and relax.

Follow up questions

What were some challenges you faced during the moving process?

One of the main challenges was packing all our belongings efficiently. It was also tough to coordinate the moving day logistics. Additionally, saying goodbye to friends and familiar places was emotional, making it hard to leave our old home behind.

How did you feel about your new neighborhood?

I felt very positive about my new neighborhood. It was quieter and more family-friendly compared to our old place. There were parks nearby, and I found it easier to make new friends at school. The overall environment was more pleasant and conducive to my studies.

What changes did you notice in your daily routine after moving?

After moving, my daily routine became more organized. I had a dedicated study space in my new room, which helped me focus better. I also enjoyed the amenities like the gym and pool, which encouraged me to be more active and socialize with neighbors.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

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.

I really enjoy the community in my new neighborhood. It's more vibrant and there are many parks and recreational areas. The proximity to Delhi also allows for easy access to cultural events and educational opportunities, making it a great place to live and learn.

Show all 30 answers

Cue 1:What kind of house was it and where?

Begin by describing the type of house you moved into, including details like size, style, and any unique features.
Mention the location of the house, such as the city or neighborhood, and how it compares to your previous home.

Example

I moved into a spacious two-bedroom apartment in a bustling neighborhood of Mumbai. The apartment had modern amenities and a lovely balcony overlooking the street, which was a stark contrast to my previous small house in a quieter area.

Cue 2:When & why did you move?

Specify the time of the move, including the month and year, and any significant events surrounding it.
Explain the reasons for the move, whether it was for work, family, or personal growth.

Example

I moved in June 2022, primarily because I got a new job in the city. The opportunity was too good to pass up, and I wanted to be closer to my workplace to avoid long commutes.

Cue 3:How did you feel?

Share your emotions during the moving process, including any excitement or anxiety you experienced.
Reflect on how you felt once you settled into the new home and the community.

Example

Initially, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The thought of starting fresh in a new place was thrilling, but I also worried about making new friends. However, once I settled in, I felt a sense of belonging and was excited to explore my new neighborhood.

Conclusion

Summarize your overall experience of moving and how it impacted your life.
Mention any lessons learned or positive changes that resulted from the move.

Example

Overall, moving to my new home was a transformative experience. It taught me to embrace change and adapt to new environments, ultimately leading to personal growth and new friendships.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.