Describe a time when you were waiting for something special: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What you were waiting for
  • How long you waited
  • Why it was special
  • And explain how you felt while waiting

Band >7

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00:00

I'm going to describe a time when I was very sad and very much distressed about the situation I was in. It was the time when I was waiting for my fiancé who was in Canada for his job purpose and I was away from him about two and a half years. It was a very long time and in the starting it felt that time is going very quickly and we will meet soon. But after the time when it came near of marriage, it felt like a day was getting an year to complete and he was there for his employment so he can't come anyway without the permission of the employers and also without the proper I would say arrangements. I was feeling sad, stressed and very unhappy that time but after meeting him after so long I felt very happy. I was not in a good mood those days but when he has come and just made me feel special I just felt top of the world and I forgot all the worries of my life therefore it became like a dream come true for me that he has come to me and met me.

Follow up questions


How did you cope with the long wait for your fiancé?
During the long wait, I tried to keep myself busy with work and hobbies. I also stayed connected with him through video calls and messages, which helped me feel closer despite the distance. I focused on planning our future together, which gave me hope and something to look forward to.

What emotions did you experience while waiting?
I experienced a mix of emotions, including sadness, anxiety, and loneliness. The anticipation of our reunion was overwhelming at times, and I often felt like time was dragging. However, I also felt excitement and joy thinking about the moment we would finally be together again.

How did your relationship change after the wait?
After the long wait, our relationship felt stronger and more meaningful. The experience taught us both the value of patience and communication. We appreciated our time together even more, and it deepened our bond, making our reunion feel like a celebration of our love.

Band 6-7

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00:00

during the winters, during the rains all for the main season that comes during summer. Generally the weight for the swimming contest is consisting of certain taper planning such as the taper week. Of course that makes the weight less daunting so I reduce the volume of work done during the taper week but increase the intensity. So the feeling during the taper week or the waiting period is that initially there will be this terrifying feeling or nervousness entering into the competition or as the competition gets closer but of course during the taper week my nervous system wakes up so I feel sharper, my instincts are fast, my reaction speeds are fast and I feel much more comfortable in while doing the sport but no matter what whenever the competition comes around I feel that pinch of nervousness and stiffness in my body but of course when the competition arrives and I have to dive and enter the race I have to just let go and let my body take over and do its own thing

Follow up questions


How do you usually prepare for competitions besides tapering?
Besides tapering, I focus on mental preparation, visualization techniques, and ensuring my nutrition is on point. I also practice my starts and turns to refine my technique. This holistic approach helps me feel ready and confident when the competition day arrives.

What strategies do you use to manage your nervousness before a competition?
To manage my nervousness, I practice deep breathing exercises and positive self-talk. I remind myself of my training and visualize a successful performance. I also try to focus on the excitement of competing rather than the fear of failure, which helps me stay calm.

Can you share a memorable experience from one of your competitions?
One memorable experience was during a regional championship where I set a personal best time. The atmosphere was electric, and despite my nerves, I felt a rush of adrenaline. The moment I touched the wall and saw my time was exhilarating, making all the waiting worthwhile.

Band 6

00:00

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00:00

I was waiting for the fifth year birthday of my nephew because he's someone very special to my life. Since from his birth, I only experienced good things in my life and apart from my parents, I would consider him as my responsibility and moreover, I also consider him as my own son rather than as a nephew. That kind of bond we usually share together. So, it is been two months I'm waiting till now. It's his birthday in July 18. So, I'm waiting for two months now and however, I'm planning for his birthday like in terms of decorative items, how to decorate, in what theme we have to celebrate his birthday and how I should dress up myself and how I should dress him and how everything goes, everything have to go. So, that is special because as I said before, he's very, very special to me, not only to me, for everyone in my family because he is a small, he's very young in our family. However, we also teaching the value of culture, tradition. That is how it is.

Follow up questions


What kind of decorations are you planning for your nephew's birthday?
I am planning to use a colorful theme with balloons, streamers, and a cake that features his favorite cartoon character. I want everything to be vibrant and fun, reflecting his playful personality. I also plan to include some traditional elements to celebrate our culture.

How do you think your nephew will react to his birthday celebration?
I believe he will be very excited and happy. Children at that age are usually thrilled by surprises and decorations. I expect him to enjoy the attention and the gifts, and I hope he feels loved and cherished by everyone around him on his special day.

What values do you think are important to teach children like your nephew?
I think it's essential to teach children values like kindness, respect, and the importance of family. Additionally, instilling a sense of cultural identity and traditions can help them understand their roots and develop a strong sense of belonging in the community.

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Band 6

00:00

/

00:00

I would like to talk about the time I was waiting my app expectance letter for university. It happened a few years ago after I had applied my dream program. The waiting period was almost 2 months and everyday I kept checking my emails hoping for good news. During that time I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Sometimes I worried that I might not get accepted but I tried to stay positive and keep myself busy with other activities. Finally when I received the email saying I had been accepted I felt an incredible sense of joy and relief. The I wait had been worth it and it was one of the happiest moments in my life. All of that experience taught me patience and how anticipation can make a special moment even more memorable.

Follow up questions


How did you cope with the anxiety of waiting for the acceptance letter?
I tried to keep myself occupied with hobbies and spending time with friends. I also focused on my studies to distract myself from the waiting. Engaging in activities I enjoyed helped reduce my anxiety and kept my mind off the uncertainty.

What did you do to celebrate once you received the acceptance letter?
Once I received the acceptance letter, I celebrated by going out for dinner with my family. We also had a small gathering with friends to share the good news. It was a joyous occasion, and I felt grateful for their support throughout the application process.

Do you think waiting for something special makes it more valuable?
Absolutely! The anticipation and the emotions involved in waiting can enhance the experience. It makes the moment of receiving the good news even more rewarding. I believe that patience can lead to greater appreciation of the outcome.

Band 6

00:00

/

00:00

So, I have to share a little story with you. When I was waiting for my girlfriend, after a long time, I met her. I think after a year I met her, I called her and told, I came to your town and I want to meet you. She is there and she listened, I am in her town. She became very happy and she told me, just wait for 30 minutes in the cafe and she will come there to meet me. The 30 minutes, those 30 minutes are really precious 30 minutes for me because I continuously thinking about her and thinking about her, what she wear today, which color of lipstick she put on her lips and I'll think about her and I don't know how 30 minutes will pass within few seconds, like it will spend like, I spend that, these 30 minutes in 5 minutes because I think about her, I make things in my mind, like when she came, I talk with her like this and I'll give her a gift, I told her I'll miss her very much and ask her, she also

Follow up questions


How did you feel while waiting for your girlfriend?
I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The anticipation of seeing her after such a long time made my heart race. I was constantly imagining how our meeting would go and what I would say to her, which made the wait feel both thrilling and a bit overwhelming.

What did you do to pass the time while waiting?
I spent the time thinking about all the memories we shared and imagining how our conversation would unfold. I also looked around the cafe, trying to distract myself, but my mind kept coming back to her and how happy I was to finally see her again.

Have you ever waited for something else that felt special?
Yes, I remember waiting for my graduation day. The anticipation of celebrating my achievements with friends and family was exhilarating. Just like waiting for my girlfriend, those moments felt significant and filled with hope for the future.
Show all 5 answers

Cue 1:What you were waiting for

  • Clearly state what the special event or item was that you were waiting for.
  • Provide some context about why this particular thing was significant to you.

Example

I was waiting for my admission results from a prestigious university. This was a crucial moment for me as it would determine my future academic path.


Cue 2:How long you waited

  • Mention the duration of the wait and how it felt to wait for that long.
  • You can include any activities you did to pass the time during the wait.

Example

I waited for about two weeks, which felt like an eternity. Each day seemed to drag on, and I found myself constantly checking my email and refreshing the university's website.


Cue 3:Why it was special

  • Explain the importance of the event or item in your life.
  • Discuss any personal aspirations or dreams that were tied to this waiting period.

Example

This was special because getting into this university was my dream since high school. It represented not just academic achievement but also a step towards my career goals in engineering.


Cue 4:And explain how you felt while waiting

  • Share your emotions during the waiting period, whether it was excitement, anxiety, or hope.
  • You can also mention how you coped with these feelings.

Example

While waiting, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. I was hopeful but also worried about the possibility of rejection. To cope, I talked to my friends and family, who encouraged me and helped me stay positive.


Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, waiting for my admission results was a significant experience that taught me patience and resilience. Ultimately, it made the moment I received my acceptance letter even more rewarding, as it confirmed my hard work and dedication.


    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: Being Vague About Details

    Candidates often provide unclear or general answers without specific details. This can make the response less engaging and informative.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Include specific details about what you were waiting for, how long it took, and why it was special to create a vivid picture.


    2: Rushing Through the Response

    Many candidates rush their answers, leading to a lack of clarity and depth. This can result in missing important points.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Take your time to structure your response. Use the cues to guide your answer and ensure you cover each point thoroughly.


    Neglecting Emotional Aspects

    Some candidates forget to express their feelings during the waiting period, which can make their story less relatable and engaging.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Share your emotions and thoughts while waiting. Describe how you felt to connect with the listener and enhance your narrative.


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    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.

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    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.

    All Answers

    Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

    Band >7

    I'm going to describe a time when I was very sad and very much distressed about the situation I was in. It was the time when I was waiting for my fiancé who was in Canada for his job purpose and I was away from him about two and a half years. It was a very long time and in the starting it felt that time is going very quickly and we will meet soon. But after the time when it came near of marriage, it felt like a day was getting an year to complete and he was there for his employment so he can't come anyway without the permission of the employers and also without the proper I would say arrangements. I was feeling sad, stressed and very unhappy that time but after meeting him after so long I felt very happy. I was not in a good mood those days but when he has come and just made me feel special I just felt top of the world and I forgot all the worries of my life therefore it became like a dream come true for me that he has come to me and met me.

    Band 6-7

    during the winters, during the rains all for the main season that comes during summer. Generally the weight for the swimming contest is consisting of certain taper planning such as the taper week. Of course that makes the weight less daunting so I reduce the volume of work done during the taper week but increase the intensity. So the feeling during the taper week or the waiting period is that initially there will be this terrifying feeling or nervousness entering into the competition or as the competition gets closer but of course during the taper week my nervous system wakes up so I feel sharper, my instincts are fast, my reaction speeds are fast and I feel much more comfortable in while doing the sport but no matter what whenever the competition comes around I feel that pinch of nervousness and stiffness in my body but of course when the competition arrives and I have to dive and enter the race I have to just let go and let my body take over and do its own thing

    Band 6

    So, I have to share a little story with you. When I was waiting for my girlfriend, after a long time, I met her. I think after a year I met her, I called her and told, I came to your town and I want to meet you. She is there and she listened, I am in her town. She became very happy and she told me, just wait for 30 minutes in the cafe and she will come there to meet me. The 30 minutes, those 30 minutes are really precious 30 minutes for me because I continuously thinking about her and thinking about her, what she wear today, which color of lipstick she put on her lips and I'll think about her and I don't know how 30 minutes will pass within few seconds, like it will spend like, I spend that, these 30 minutes in 5 minutes because I think about her, I make things in my mind, like when she came, I talk with her like this and I'll give her a gift, I told her I'll miss her very much and ask her, she also

    Band 6

    I would like to talk about the time I was waiting my app expectance letter for university. It happened a few years ago after I had applied my dream program. The waiting period was almost 2 months and everyday I kept checking my emails hoping for good news. During that time I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Sometimes I worried that I might not get accepted but I tried to stay positive and keep myself busy with other activities. Finally when I received the email saying I had been accepted I felt an incredible sense of joy and relief. The I wait had been worth it and it was one of the happiest moments in my life. All of that experience taught me patience and how anticipation can make a special moment even more memorable.

    Band 6

    I was waiting for the fifth year birthday of my nephew because he's someone very special to my life. Since from his birth, I only experienced good things in my life and apart from my parents, I would consider him as my responsibility and moreover, I also consider him as my own son rather than as a nephew. That kind of bond we usually share together. So, it is been two months I'm waiting till now. It's his birthday in July 18. So, I'm waiting for two months now and however, I'm planning for his birthday like in terms of decorative items, how to decorate, in what theme we have to celebrate his birthday and how I should dress up myself and how I should dress him and how everything goes, everything have to go. So, that is special because as I said before, he's very, very special to me, not only to me, for everyone in my family because he is a small, he's very young in our family. However, we also teaching the value of culture, tradition. That is how it is.
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