Describe A Time When You Picked Up An Item That Someone Else Lost: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What was the item?
When and where you found it?
What did you do after finding it?
And explain how you felt about the experience.

40 unique answers with expert feedback

How did you feel when you found the wallet?

I felt a mix of surprise and responsibility. It was surprising to find something valuable, but I also felt it was my duty to return it to its owner. The thought of someone losing something important made me want to help.

Have you ever lost something valuable? What happened?

Yes, I once lost my phone at a café. I was really worried and retraced my steps. Fortunately, a kind stranger found it and returned it to me. I was extremely grateful and relieved to have it back.

Why do you think it's important to return lost items?

Returning lost items is important because it shows kindness and respect for others' belongings. It helps build trust in the community and reinforces the idea that we should look out for one another.

Band 6-7

00:00

It is about 1 year ago when I was riding a bike along with my 2 or 3 friends. So there was one bike rider passing by our side, suddenly he dropped his wallet and after he passed I saw that his wallet was on the floor. So I stopped the bike and picked up that wallet and I thought that in that wallet I can find his ID card or any identification. So I can contact him and revert that wallet back. But unfortunately I wasn't able to find any identity in his wallet. So 2 to 3 days I waited and I went to police station for reporting about that lost wallet. So police too guaranteed me that they will find the owner of the wallet and they will definitely return this. So I was assured but I was not sure that they will return that wallet or not because in that wallet there was few thousand Indian Rupees and few credit and debit card. So with the help of that debit and credit card, police tracked that person down and eventually after a week or two he found his wallet and asked my contact from police and police contacted me and when I picked up the phone, he was very happy because the amount and the cards was very important to him. So he gave me

Follow up questions

How did you feel when you found the wallet?

I felt a mix of emotions. Initially, I was excited to help someone in need, but I also felt a bit anxious because I wasn't sure if I would be able to return it to its owner. It was a relief to know that I could assist him in getting his belongings back.

Have you ever lost something valuable? What happened?

Yes, I once lost my phone while traveling. I retraced my steps and asked around, but it was nowhere to be found. I felt really stressed and worried about losing my personal information. Thankfully, I had a backup plan and was able to secure my accounts.

Why do you think it's important to return lost items?

Returning lost items is important because it shows kindness and respect for others' property. It can make a significant difference in someone's life, especially if the item is valuable or holds sentimental value. It fosters a sense of community and trust among people.

Band 6-7

00:00

I am going to describe a time when I picked up some money that was lying on the road. It was when I was travelling to my grandmother's home and we took a break, stopped at a restaurant to eat food. During that time, I was walking around the garden area when I came across a few notes lying on the sidewalk of the garden. I definitely picked it up. Furthermore, at first I didn't realize that it was wrong to keep it for myself as it wasn't mine. But after some time, when I told it to my mother, she explained why it's not a good thing to keep it to yourself since it's not mine. Then I decided to give it to some needy person as we moved forward and continued our journey. When I reached my grandma's home, I gave it to the person who was standing and begging for money at the footpath. It was an enriching experience where I have to...

Follow up questions

How did you feel when you found the money?

I felt a mix of excitement and confusion. Initially, I was thrilled to find money, but then I started to question whether it was right to keep it. It made me reflect on my values and the importance of honesty.

What do you think is the right thing to do when finding lost items?

I believe the right thing to do is to try to return the lost item to its owner if possible. If that’s not feasible, donating it to someone in need is a good option. It’s important to act with integrity and consider the feelings of the person who lost it.

Have you ever lost something valuable? How did you feel?

Yes, I once lost my wallet while traveling. I felt anxious and worried because it contained important documents and money. It was a stressful experience, and I learned to be more careful with my belongings after that incident.

Practice other cue cards

Describe when someone gave you something you really wanted /a gift your received

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Describe a favorite thing you own.

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Band 6-7

00:00

Last week, when I was at college, I picked up an item that belongs to my friend, Kirti and it was her Apple Airpods. She had gone on a week of leave after that, so I was responsible of keeping it safe with me for the whole week. As soon as she was back, I returned it to her and she had an immense glow on her face because she was very scared about losing her Airpods. Thank you for watching.

Follow up questions

How did you feel when you found your friend's lost item?

I felt relieved and happy because I knew how much Kirti valued her Airpods. It was a nice feeling to be able to help her out, especially since she was worried about losing them.

Have you ever lost something important? How did you feel?

Yes, I once lost my wallet while traveling. I felt anxious and stressed because it contained important documents and money. Thankfully, I found it later, which was a huge relief.

Why do you think it's important to return lost items?

Returning lost items is important because it shows respect for others' belongings and helps maintain trust in relationships. It also fosters a sense of community and kindness.

Band 6-7

00:00

Okay, so first time I found some item was when I was a kid in my school Children's Day Fair. I found a wallet from one of the girls in the school. I picked it up and I checked it. It had some money and cash in it. So immediately I could understand that someone had lost it or by mistake. And my instant reply was that I should try my best to give it back to that person because I knew how frustrating it can be when you lose all your money especially in a fair where you have come to enjoy the food and nothing could be done without money. So I straight away went to my principal's office to submit that wallet because I knew that anybody who would have lost it would come to the office in search of it and would inform the teachers and the principal that they have lost it. So when I was taking that purse to the office, that same girl who had lost it saw that purse in my hand and she came up to me and she was like, how can you do this? Did you snatch it from me? Where did you get it from? And I was baffled. I was like, why are you blaming me? I just found it on the ground and I was returning it to the principal. So I was helping you but instead she blamed me that I took it from her and while she was busy in some activity, I just picked up and I was running away with her money which was really really disappointing because I was trying to help her and she was instead blaming me. So I took her to my class teacher because my class teacher knew what type of a person I was. She had faith in me. So when I told her the whole story, she convinced that girl to count on the money and when she counted the money, she found that not even a single rupee was less which proved my innocence that I was just going to the principal's office to submit that in order to help her. Then she apologized to me and I think I did a great job in helping her.

Follow up questions

How did you feel when the girl accused you of taking her wallet?

I felt really disappointed and confused. I was trying to help her by returning her lost wallet, and instead of being grateful, she accused me. It was frustrating because I was just trying to do the right thing.

What do you think is the best way to handle lost items?

I believe the best way to handle lost items is to turn them in to a responsible authority, like a teacher or a lost and found. This ensures that the rightful owner has a chance to get their belongings back without any misunderstandings.

Have you ever lost something important? How did you feel?

Yes, I once lost my favorite watch. I felt anxious and upset because it held sentimental value. I searched everywhere and eventually found it under my bed. The relief I felt was immense, and it made me appreciate my belongings more.

Show all 40 answers

Cue 1:What was the item?

Begin by clearly identifying the item you found and provide a brief description of it.
Mention any specific details that made the item memorable or significant.

Example

The item I picked up was a beautiful silver bracelet. It had intricate designs engraved on it, and I could tell it was quite valuable. I noticed it had a small charm shaped like a heart, which made it even more special.

Cue 2:When and where you found it?

Describe the time and location where you found the item, creating a vivid picture for the listener.
Include any relevant details about the circumstances surrounding the finding.

Example

I found the bracelet last month while I was walking in a park near my home in Delhi. It was around 5 PM, and the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the park. I noticed it glinting on the ground near a bench.

Cue 3:What did you do after finding it?

Explain your immediate reaction upon finding the item and what steps you took next.
Discuss whether you tried to find the owner or turned it in to someone.

Example

After picking it up, I looked around to see if anyone was searching for it. I didn’t see anyone, so I decided to take it to the park's information desk. I thought it was the right thing to do, hoping the owner would come looking for it.

Cue 4:And explain how you felt about the experience.

Share your emotions regarding the experience of finding the item and your actions afterward.
Reflect on any lessons learned or thoughts about honesty and integrity.

Example

I felt a sense of satisfaction after handing the bracelet over to the staff. It was rewarding to know I might help reunite someone with their lost item. This experience reinforced my belief in being honest and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, finding that bracelet was a meaningful experience for me. It reminded me of the importance of kindness and integrity in our daily lives. I hope the owner was able to get it back, and I felt proud to have played a small part in that.

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 answer unclear. Avoid general statements that do not provide specific details about the item or the situation.

Tip

Be specific about the item you found, including its appearance and significance to you.

2: Lack of Structure

Failing to organize your response can confuse the listener. A disorganized answer may skip important details or jump around in time.

Tip

Follow the cue card prompts in order to create a clear and logical flow in your response.

Ignoring Personal Feelings

Not expressing your feelings about the experience can make your answer less engaging. Personal emotions help to connect with the listener.

Tip

Include your feelings about finding the item and what it meant to you to enhance your answer.

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