Describe a time when you organized a happy event successfully: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What the event was?
How you prepared for it?
Who helped you to organize it?
And explain why you think it was successful event.

21 unique answers with expert feedback

What challenges did you face while organizing the wedding?

One of the main challenges was coordinating with different vendors and ensuring everything was on schedule. There were also last-minute changes in the guest list, which required quick adjustments in seating and food arrangements. However, I managed to stay calm and solve these issues effectively.

How did you feel when the event was over?

I felt a great sense of relief and happiness. Seeing my sister and brother-in-law enjoying their special day made all the hard work worth it. It was fulfilling to know that I played a significant role in making their wedding memorable, and I felt proud of what we accomplished as a family.

Would you organize another event in the future?

Absolutely! Organizing events can be stressful, but the joy it brings to others is incredibly rewarding. I would love to take on more responsibilities in future family events or even help friends with their celebrations, as I enjoy planning and bringing people together.

Band 6-7

00:00

I'm generally not one to plan parties or events but one event in particular I really enjoyed organizing was the proposal to end off my sister. I have known my brother-in-law even before they got engaged so I hatched a plan with him where they went on the regular morning run and she and he proposed to her. In fact I had discussed the same plan with her and neither of them knew about the other plans so it ended up being a double proposal. I took them on the morning run and nobody suspected a thing and sharp at 8 15 a.m. both of them like on a queue got down on their knees pulled out their rings and proposed to each other. I had two friends who helped me organize this. They helped me pick out the rings and I'd say it was a very successful event because both my sister and my brother were left very happy and we returned home with big smiles on our faces.

Follow up questions

What challenges did you face while organizing the proposal?

One of the main challenges was keeping the plans a secret from both my sister and brother-in-law. I had to ensure that they didn't accidentally reveal anything to each other. Coordinating the timing for both proposals was also tricky, but it was worth it in the end.

How did you feel during the event?

I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. I wanted everything to go perfectly, and seeing both of them so happy made all the effort worthwhile. It was a memorable moment, and I felt proud to have played a part in such a significant occasion in their lives.

What advice would you give to someone planning a similar event?

I would advise them to communicate clearly with everyone involved and to plan every detail carefully. It's also important to think about the personalities of the people involved to ensure the event is meaningful to them. Lastly, having a reliable team to help is crucial.

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 learned the importance of planning and teamwork. Working with my sister taught me how to communicate effectively and delegate tasks. It also showed me how rewarding it is to create memorable experiences for loved ones, which motivates me to organize more events in the future.

Show all 21 answers

Cue 1:What the event was?

Begin by clearly stating the event you organized, including its name and purpose.
Mention the significance of the event to you and the people involved.

Example

The event I organized was my sister's wedding reception. It was a grand celebration that brought together family and friends to celebrate her new journey in life.

Cue 2:How you prepared for it?

Describe the steps you took to plan the event, including any research or decisions made.
Highlight any challenges faced during the preparation and how you overcame them.

Example

I started preparing for the reception three months in advance. I created a checklist of tasks, such as booking the venue, catering, and decorations. One challenge was finding a suitable venue that could accommodate all our guests, but after visiting several places, I found one that was perfect.

Cue 3:Who helped you to organize it?

Mention the key people who assisted you in organizing the event.
Explain the roles they played and how their support was valuable.

Example

My parents were incredibly supportive throughout the process. My mother helped with the catering choices, while my father took care of the logistics. Additionally, my friends assisted with decorations and managing the guest list, which made the whole process smoother.

Cue 4:And explain why you think it was a successful event.

Reflect on the outcomes of the event and how it met your expectations.
Share specific moments or feedback that made you feel it was successful.

Example

The reception was a huge success, with over 200 guests attending. Everyone enjoyed the food and the music, and I received many compliments on the decorations. Seeing my sister happy and surrounded by loved ones made all the hard work worth it.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, organizing my sister's wedding reception was a fulfilling experience. It taught me valuable lessons in planning and teamwork, and the joy it brought to our family made it one of the happiest days of my life.

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: Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your response unclear. It's important to provide specific details about the event to engage the listener and demonstrate your language skills.

Tip

Use descriptive language and specific examples to illustrate your points, such as mentioning the location, activities, and emotions involved in the event.

2: Ignoring Preparation Details

Failing to explain how you prepared for the event can make your answer seem incomplete. Preparation is a key aspect of organizing any event and should be highlighted.

Tip

Outline your preparation steps clearly, including planning, gathering resources, and coordinating with others to show your organizational skills.

Lack of Reflection on Success

Not explaining why the event was successful can leave your answer lacking depth. Reflecting on success helps to convey your understanding of effective event management.