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Describe A Traditional Product In Your Country: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What is it?
  • How is it made?
  • When did you first try it?
  • Why do you like it?
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37 unique answers with expert feedback

Show all 37 answers

Cue 1:What is it?

  • Begin by introducing the traditional product clearly, mentioning its name and significance in your culture.
  • Describe its main ingredients or components to give the listener a clear idea of what it is.

Example

The traditional product I want to talk about is 'Biryani,' a fragrant rice dish that is deeply rooted in Indian cuisine. It is made with basmati rice, marinated meat, and a blend of aromatic spices, making it a beloved dish across the country.

Cue 2:How is it made?

  • Outline the basic steps involved in preparing the product, highlighting any unique techniques or ingredients.
  • Mention any traditional methods or family recipes that are commonly used.

Example

Biryani is made by first marinating the meat in yogurt and spices for several hours. Then, the rice is partially cooked separately. The marinated meat is layered with the rice in a pot, along with fried onions and saffron, and then cooked on low heat until everything is perfectly blended. My grandmother has a special recipe that she has passed down through generations, which makes it even more special.

Cue 3:When did you first try it?

  • Share a personal story about your first experience with the product, including where and with whom you tried it.
  • Reflect on the emotions or memories associated with that experience.

Example

I first tried Biryani at a family wedding when I was about ten years old. The aroma filled the air, and I remember sitting with my cousins, eagerly waiting for our turn to serve. It was a joyous occasion, and the taste of that Biryani was unforgettable, filled with flavors that danced on my palate.

Cue 4:Why do you like it?

  • Explain your personal connection to the product and what makes it special for you.
  • Discuss any cultural or emotional significance it holds in your life.

Example

I love Biryani not just for its rich flavors but also for the memories it brings back. It reminds me of family gatherings and celebrations. Every time I eat it, I feel a sense of belonging and nostalgia, as it connects me to my roots and my family's traditions.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, Biryani is more than just a dish for me; it represents my culture and family heritage. Its intricate preparation and the joy it brings during gatherings make it a cherished traditional product in my country.

    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. It's important to provide specific details about the traditional product to engage the listener and demonstrate your knowledge.

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    Tip

    Use descriptive adjectives and specific examples to paint a clear picture of the product. For instance, mention its color, texture, and unique features.

    2: Skipping Key Cues

    Neglecting to address all the cue prompts can lead to an incomplete answer. Each cue is designed to help you structure your response effectively.

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    Tip

    Make sure to answer each cue in order. For example, start with what the product is, then explain how it is made, and so on.

    Lack of Personal Connection

    Failing to share your personal experience with the product can make your answer less engaging. Personal stories can make your response more relatable and interesting.

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    Tip

    Include a personal anecdote about your first experience with the product and why it holds significance for you. This adds depth to your answer.

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    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 8

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 6.5

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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.

    All Answers

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

    Band 7

    So, basically the traditional product of my country which I used is saree and that is just a fantastic gorgeous piece of cloth which we wrap around our body and we just steam it up with a blouse and beautiful jewellery. And it's a clothing item which most of the people, most of the female wear here in India and because of its authenticity, because of its grace, many people wear it during festival season. I wore it when I was round about, the first time when I wore it I was round about 10 years old because I was very curious to wear it though I wasn't, I wasn't having, I hadn't gained height by that time but I was pretty fascinated by its texture and I had seen many times my mom wearing it so I was very interested particularly. So I just asked my mom and in fact I just persuaded her somehow to make me wear it so she helped me and I wore it and I performed in my dance function in my school and yes it was an amazing experience and then after occasionally I wore it but during my job where I just applied as a teacher I came to know that I would have to, I will be wearing only, I would be wearing only sarees as a school dress you may say so that was the only thing I could do and I had to say yes and I wore it for around 2 years.

    Band 7

    The first thing that came to my mind when I heard about a product that is indigenous to my country was spice. It is because whenever we think of the rich history of India, we remember the trade wars, the various conquests that happened because other countries wanted to get hold of our spices. And when I think of the various spices that I have in my daily life, I can say for sure that they come from a variety of parts of a plant. For example, the roots, the barks, the seeds, the leaves, to name a few. However, when I think of the first time I had spices, I do not remember it correctly because it has always been an integral part of any food item that was made at our house. And that is, I think, quintessential of Indian food. I love spices because it gives that distinct Indian flavor to the food we make and makes our food more tasty, more delightful. Moreover, spices also have healing properties. Our forefathers were visionaries to include spices in our food items, which we have daily.

    Band 7

    One traditional product from my country that I did like to talk about is the Kanchipuram silk sarees. These sarees are known for their exquisite craftsmanship, rich texture and vibrant colors. They are made in Kanchipuram, a city in Tamil Nadu and have been an important part of the Indian culture for centuries. The process of making this saree is time consuming. The silk is sourced from high-quality silkworms and the weavers use traditional handlooms to weave the patterns. The sarees are often adorned with jewelry such as gold or silver, which adds a luxurious touch. The patterns are typically inspired by temple architecture, nature and cultural motifs, making each saree a piece of art. I first tried on Kanchipuram silk saree during a family wedding and I was immediately struck by its beauty and elegance. It was not just the fabric that made the saree special, but also the way I felt wearing something that has been a symbol of tradition for such a long time. These sarees are worn during important celebrations such as their temple festivities or any other auspicious occasions and they represent a deep connection to our cultural heritage. What I find most interesting about Kanchipuram silk sarees is how they blend tradition with modern day fashion, despite the rise of new fashion trends. These sarees actually remain highly sought after and they are often passed down through generations, from ancestors to the current generation during the wedding ceremonies or marriage. I love the fact that wearing one connects me to my roots and the rich tradition of my country, Pune. These sarees are also very elegant in touch and it is a very state-of-the-art piece that can be collected throughout this country.

    Band 7

    So today I would like to enlighten you about a beautiful thing that is made only in India and especially in Maharashtra from where I come. It is a traditional Paitani saree. So it originated in Maharashtra and it is a beautiful traditional wear that a woman in our country wear. It's a 6 meter saree which is decorated with the finest silk thread and sometimes people use gold and silver as well. So the more amount of gold that goes into making the saree, the more expensive it becomes. And you could have Paitani sarees ranging from as low as like 5000 to even ranging up to 1 lakh rupees or even beyond and it is, in my opinion, it is the best saree, type of saree that I can think of which actually depicts a lot about the Indian culture. So the pallu of the saree as they call it is decorated with various designs like peacocks and the more, there is also a belief that the more the number of peacocks a Paitani saree has, it makes that more exclusive.

    Band 6-7

    So, a traditional product of my country is the Thanjavur doll. It's made in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. And there is only one community in the entire country which makes this doll. So it's extremely difficult to get and it's very rare to find. You can find it only in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu and I found it there as well. So I went on a trip to Tamil Nadu where I had to buy some souvenirs for my family and friends. There I saw this doll. I thought it was just a regular doll, you know, but then I realized that it was made up of terracotta and was very important to that community and to that state historically. So back in the day, they were figurines for the royal children to play with and this was a dancing figurine. It could move its head, the neck region and its hips, which made it feel like it was dancing. So you touch its head and its hips and it starts shaking, which makes it seem as if it's dancing. So I felt that it's a very cool thing to look at and it's a very important thing, traditionally speaking. But when I realized its significance, I also got to know that how important it is. And I had developed a liking for Tamil Nadu as it has preserved the rich and raw heritage of India.

    Band 6-7

    The most traditional or I can say the ancient product that we have in India is our spices. There are many spices in India like turmeric, chilli powder, green chilli powder, coriander powder and many more. They are made from plants. They are grown out of plants. So they are very organic and they are considered vegetarian or vegan. They are very inciting. The smell of them is very inciting. It can go through you and you will be like oh my god I just want to try some. I just want to try it. It is made out of plants. When they plant the seed and the plant is grown, has completely grown out. The chillies are actually hand from the plant. The turmeric on the other hand comes from the ground. It is underneath the earth. So you have to dig it out and put it and grind it again. So that's a very long process actually. I actually tried it when I was 2 or 3 years old because my parents were ready to feed me some masala sabzi you can say. I was just so memorised. I can't describe the feeling of having that so much burst of flavours in my mouth. That was just incredible. I still live to that moment and I still like the spicy food in India. I cannot just find it anywhere to be honest and I think that makes me deeply rooted to it.

    Band 6-7

    A traditional product that I would love to talk about are pickles. So pickles are basically fermented vegetables or fruits. My favorite one is mango pickle because it tastes tangy, spicy and slightly sweet at the same time. My childhood is filled with memories of preparing a mango pickle at home. My family came together, all of my uncles, aunts and my grandfather and grandmother. We all used to sit together, cut all the mangoes into small bite-sized pieces and we used to marinate them, first wash them properly with plain water and then salt water and then sun-dry them until there is no moisture left in them whatsoever. And then we used to marinate them in different spices which included something called an amchur powder, it's kind of sour and some salt and chilli powder. We just mixed everything together and let it soak in oil for a long time, about a week I think. I'm not sure of the making process because I used to play around behind my cousins and my family, all the older ones did the work while I was playing. I was very small when all this was happening. Anyways, so that's the story of a traditional product that I would love to tell you about.

    Band 6-7

    There are several traditional products which India has and known for its significance all around the world. But today, I would like to talk about the spices. Spices is something which we are known for all around the globe. In fact, 70% of the world's spices are exported from India. We are the large manufacturer and cultivator of spices. The most famous spices which I am going to talk about today is turmeric. Turmeric came from a plant. It is even called haldi as an Indian language, Hindi. It is made out of a soft fruit which came out of the turmeric plant. Later on, people dry it, wait till it gets hardened, then they blend it to get the powder form. Turmeric has several advantages, not just our health. Moreover, we can use it for skin care and furthermore, we can use it for our health related issues. It is often included in medicines. Nevertheless, the whole world believes that turmeric is just like magic. Moreover, turmeric is a spice which we use for cooking food also. I think in every Indian household, you will find turmeric. Most of the dishes are made out of it.

    Band 6-7

    The traditional product that has come up into my mind is a Khaki. This is a dress which is made through an equipment called Charkha. The materials used for making Khaki dress are a woolen type of materials. It has a distinct texture and appearance while wearing it feels unique. I had tried it during my school days where I have participated in a fancy dress competition and I have enacted the role of a revolutionary leader who was wearing Khaki. After wearing it, it evokes a sense of patriotism and nationalist qualities embedded in us. It also feels premium. Usually these dresses are handmade and high-end equipments are not used for the production of these clothes. During the pre-independence period, well-known political figure Mahatma Gandhi had endorsed the use of Khaki quite a lot and it was a symbol of no-violence movement.

    Band 6-7

    A very famous traditional and famous product in my country is Varanasi shawls and sarees. So Varanasi shawls and sarees are famous for its embroidery, its beauty and its silk material clothes. So, and there are many visitors from all over the world came to Varanasi to buy these stuff. Most of them are foreigners, most of them were foreigners. So I belong to Varanasi and I see thousands of people coming and buying these products. These products are really good. If you once use them, you will get to use them every time. They are that addictive. So they are made, these original and authentic sarees are made by laborers who work hard and they made handmade sarees and the cost of these sarees were also high like they started from 5000 to 2-3 lakhs per piece of saree, price can go that high. It depends on the intricacy and beauty of the sarees that reaches them on high level. So, this is very famous product in my country and if you want to buy them, you can go Varanasi and buy them on any store or you can buy them on wholesaling as well. If you buy the products from wholesale, you will get them in cheaper price as you will get on the shops and Varanasi is very famous for its sarees and clothes.
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