Describe a time when you used your imagination.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When was it?
What did you do?
How did you feel about it?

24 unique answers with expert feedback

How do you think imagination influences creativity in children?

Imagination plays a crucial role in children's creativity. It allows them to explore new ideas, think outside the box, and express themselves freely. When children engage in imaginative play, they develop problem-solving skills and learn to view the world from different perspectives.

Can you share another imaginative scenario you've created with children?

Certainly! Another time, we imagined we were astronauts exploring a new planet. We created stories about alien life forms and the challenges we faced. This activity encouraged teamwork and sparked discussions about space, science, and the importance of exploration.

What do you think is the importance of storytelling in developing imagination?

Storytelling is vital for developing imagination as it transports listeners to different worlds and scenarios. It encourages them to visualize characters and settings, fostering creativity. Through stories, children learn to empathize and understand complex emotions, enhancing their imaginative skills.

Band 6-7

00:00

Usually imaginations are far different from dreams and that means that dreams are something which could happen when we sleep or when we close our eyes and when we get eternally asleep but imaginations are something that we can create or think about something in a more specific or in an innovative way and that's known as imagination and the best time on my life that I have my best imagination or the imagination that I've been gone into was during my lecture times when the lecture will be going on I'll be like thinking and imagining what if we could do that or what if we did that and I'll be thinking on my own and that's probably a good creative way of thinking as if the problems or if the time goes in a wrong way we can just have the plan B as per our imagination and we can proceed with that and also at the same time I feel that imagination is always a key role for creating innovative stuff or innovating things and imagination helps us to learn the ropes that means we can have a steady background or like we can start a foundation learning in a simple way or in a simple trick as per our imagination needs and also at this same time we need to know that imagination or not the only thing which we should dream of and let go imagination or the key frame to get our way to get our problem or way to get success and that's known as imagination

Follow up questions

How do you think imagination can help in problem-solving?

Imagination allows us to visualize different scenarios and outcomes, which can lead to innovative solutions. By thinking creatively, we can devise alternative plans and strategies to tackle challenges effectively.

Can you give an example of a situation where your imagination helped you succeed?

During a group project, I imagined various approaches to present our ideas. This led to a unique presentation style that impressed our audience and helped us achieve a high grade, showcasing the power of creative thinking.

Do you believe everyone has the ability to imagine creatively?

Yes, I believe everyone has the potential for creative imagination. It can be nurtured through practice and exposure to different experiences, encouraging individuals to think outside the box and express their ideas freely.

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.

Yes, sometimes I struggle with writer's block or self-doubt. There are moments when I feel my ideas aren't good enough or I can't express them clearly. However, I try to overcome these challenges by taking breaks, seeking feedback, or engaging in different creative activities to refresh my mind.

Show all 24 answers

Cue 1:When was it?

Start by mentioning a specific time or event when you used your imagination.
Provide context about your surroundings or situation to help the listener visualize the moment.

Example

It was about two years ago during the summer holidays when I was at home, feeling a bit bored and looking for something creative to do.

Cue 2:What did you do?

Describe the imaginative activity you engaged in, detailing the process and your thought process.
Make it relatable by connecting it to common experiences, such as storytelling, drawing, or creating something new.

Example

I decided to write a short story about a young girl who discovers a magical world in her backyard. I spent hours crafting the plot, creating characters, and even sketching some scenes to visualize my ideas better.

Cue 3:How did you feel about it?

Share your emotions during and after the imaginative activity, highlighting any joy or satisfaction you experienced.
Reflect on how this experience impacted you personally or creatively.

Example

I felt incredibly excited and fulfilled while writing. It was a great escape from reality, and I was proud of what I created. This experience reignited my passion for storytelling, and I realized how important imagination is for personal growth.

Conclusion

Summarize the key points of your experience, reinforcing the value of imagination.
Mention any lasting effects this experience had on your life or creativity.

Example

In conclusion, using my imagination during that summer not only provided me with joy but also helped me develop my writing skills. It reminded me of the importance of creativity in our lives.

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 and unengaging. It’s important to provide specific details to paint a vivid picture of your experience.

Tip

Focus on specific moments and feelings. Use descriptive language to explain what you imagined and how it impacted your experience.

2: Ignoring the Cues

Failing to address the cue prompts can lead to an incomplete answer. Each cue is designed to guide your response and ensure you cover all aspects.

Tip

Structure your answer by directly addressing each cue. Start with when it happened, then explain what you did, and finish with how you felt.

Overly Complex Language

Using overly complex vocabulary or sentence structures can confuse the listener. Clarity is key in effective communication, especially in speaking tests.