Describe an aquatic animal.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Repetition of ideas and phrases.

Try to expand on different aspects of the crab, such as its habitat, behavior, or unique features, rather than repeating the same sentences.

Lack of descriptive vocabulary.

Incorporate more descriptive words to paint a vivid picture of the crab, such as 'fascinating pincers' or 'distinctive shell patterns.'

Use of simple connectors like 'and' and 'but'.

Use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'moreover,' 'in addition,' or 'however' to improve the flow of your answer.

Incorrect use of 'weird' without context.

Provide context or a comparison to explain why crabs might look 'weird,' such as their sideways walk or unusual body shape.

The phrase 'in a shape of star' should be 'in the shape of a star.'

Use 'in the shape of a star' to correctly describe the distinctive shape of a starfish.

The sentence 'An aquatic animal or in general an animal that is in the shape of star is never seen except for this starfish' is awkwardly phrased.

Rephrase to: 'It's rare to see an aquatic animal, or any animal for that matter, in the shape of a star, which makes the starfish unique.'

Repetition of 'starfish' and 'colours' could be improved.

Use synonyms or descriptive phrases, such as 'these creatures' or 'hues,' to avoid repetition.

Overuse of simple connectors like 'and' or 'so.'

Incorporate more varied connectors like 'Moreover,' 'Additionally,' or 'In contrast' to enhance cohesion.

The phrase 'starfishes are not something people usually grow at their homes' is slightly unclear.

Clarify by saying, 'Starfish are not commonly kept as pets in home aquariums, making them even more fascinating when encountered in their natural habitat.'

There is a lack of cohesive devices and structured storytelling.

Try using cohesive devices such as 'First of all,' 'Moreover,' or 'In addition' to improve the flow of your response. Structuring your answer by starting from the past, moving to the present, and speculating about the future can also help.

Repetition of the word 'ocean' and 'dolphin'.

Use synonyms or paraphrase to avoid repetition. For example, use 'marine environment' instead of 'ocean' and 'these intelligent mammals' instead of 'dolphins'.

Incorrect verb tense: 'I have seen' should be 'I saw'.

Ensure verb tenses are consistent with the timeframe you are describing. Use past simple tense for actions completed in the past.

The phrase 'likely look like a' is incomplete.

Finish your thoughts completely. Consider saying 'they likely resemble a friendly and playful creature' to complete the idea.

The phrase 'in human' should be 'in humans' to correctly refer to people in general.

Use 'in humans' to maintain correct plural usage.

The sentence 'I am much more confident, I think this is because...' lacks clarity and coherence.

Rephrase to clarify: 'I believe my fascination stems from my first encounter with dolphins during a show in Dubai.'

The phrase 'many other fishes and aquatic organisms' is awkward.

Use 'many other fish and aquatic creatures' for smoother expression.

The use of 'this is also because the dolphins are dangerous hunters' lacks coherence.

Rephrase to improve flow: 'Additionally, dolphins are skilled hunters, often working in packs, making them both friendly and formidable.'

Overuse of 'so' as a connector.

Replace 'so' with more varied connectors like 'therefore' or 'as a result' for better cohesion.

Repetition of ideas, particularly regarding hunting in pods and communication through whistles.

Try to avoid repeating the same idea multiple times. Instead, expand on each point with more detail or provide additional examples.

The phrase 'they have a mind of their own' is used without clear context.

Clarify what is meant by 'a mind of their own' by explaining how their behavior is similar to that of humans or other intelligent animals.

Use of 'everything' is vague and does not add value to the sentence.

Replace 'everything' with specific details or omit it to make the sentence more concise.

The phrase 'that's a circumstance where people think that animals don't use their mind' is awkwardly constructed.

Rephrase to something like 'This challenges the common belief that animals lack intelligence.'

Lack of cohesive devices to connect ideas smoothly.

Use connectors like 'Moreover,' 'In addition,' or 'For instance,' to improve the flow of your response.

The sentence 'The parents teaching the cubs how to hunt, that's the two in a different way.' is unclear.

Clarify this sentence. Perhaps you meant to say, 'Parents teach their cubs different hunting techniques, which vary from pod to pod.'

The response lacks structured storytelling and could benefit from a clearer organization of ideas.

Consider starting with a brief introduction about dolphins, then describe their characteristics, and finally share your personal experience. This structure will help the listener follow your narrative more easily.

Overuse of simple connectors like 'and' and 'so.'

Try using a variety of cohesive devices such as 'moreover,' 'furthermore,' and 'in addition' to enhance the flow of your response.

Repetition of the phrase 'you know' which can disrupt fluency.

Minimize the use of filler phrases like 'you know' to maintain a smooth delivery.

Lack of more descriptive vocabulary.

Incorporate more descriptive words such as 'graceful,' 'captivating,' or 'majestic' to vividly describe dolphins and their behavior.

The use of 'gonna' is informal and should be replaced with 'going to' for a more formal tone.

Use 'going to' instead of 'gonna' to maintain formal language.

The sentence 'She has a very big aquarium which consists of goldfish, seals and a turtle.' lacks clarity.

Consider rephrasing to 'She has a very large aquarium that houses goldfish, seals, and a turtle.'

The pronoun 'he' is used for the turtle, which is not appropriate without specifying gender.

Use 'it' instead of 'he' when referring to the turtle unless the gender is known.

The sentence 'It is actually very interesting to see and hold a turtle.' lacks detail.

Expand on why it is interesting to see and hold a turtle, perhaps describing the texture or behavior.

The sentence 'It was a very slow walker but it can glide through the water and that was a very great experience to see a turtle.' lacks cohesion.

Use cohesive devices like 'however' or 'on the other hand' to improve flow: 'It was a very slow walker; however, it could glide effortlessly through the water, which was fascinating to observe.'

The use of 'The an aquatic animal' at the beginning is incorrect. It should be 'An aquatic animal.'

Use 'An aquatic animal' to correctly introduce the topic.

Repetition of the word 'very' in 'very very interesting.'

Use 'extremely interesting' or 'particularly interesting' to avoid repetition and enhance vocabulary.

Incorrect use of 'turtoise' instead of 'tortoise.'

Use 'tortoise,' which is the correct spelling.

Incorrect structure in 'because of it has a shell outside.'

Rephrase to 'because it has an outer shell.'

Subject-verb agreement issue in 'help them to protect them.'

Use 'helps it protect itself' for correct subject-verb agreement and clarity.

Confusing sentence structure in 'they can't their enemies can't recognize.'

Rephrase to 'their enemies cannot recognize them.'

Overuse of 'and' leading to run-on sentences.

Break sentences into shorter, more coherent ones using connectors like 'Moreover,' 'Additionally,' or 'Furthermore.'

Use of 'turtoise' instead of 'tortoise' again later in the response.

Ensure consistent use of the correct spelling 'tortoise.'

Incorrect use of 'still yet' which is redundant.

Use either 'still' or 'yet,' not both.

The phrase 'only animals inside the what inside only eagles' is unclear.

Clarify by saying 'only eagles are known to prey on them.'

The user incorrectly refers to the Neanderthal as an aquatic animal.

The Neanderthal is not an aquatic animal; it is an extinct species of human. Consider describing an actual aquatic animal, such as a dolphin, shark, or jellyfish.

Lack of a clear description of a specific aquatic animal.

Choose a specific aquatic animal to describe, including details about its habitat, appearance, and behavior.

The response lacks structure and coherence.

Start by introducing the aquatic animal, then describe its characteristics, habitat, and significance. Use cohesive devices like 'Firstly,' 'Additionally,' and 'In conclusion' to improve flow.