Describe an aquatic animal.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Which animal was it?
What does it look like? When did you see it?
Why is it interesting?

27 unique answers with expert feedback

What do you think are the most interesting features of turtles?

I think the most interesting features of turtles are their unique shells and their ability to retract into them for protection. Additionally, their slow movement on land contrasts with their graceful swimming in water, which makes them fascinating creatures to observe.

How do you feel about keeping aquatic animals as pets?

I believe keeping aquatic animals like turtles can be rewarding, but it requires proper care and a suitable environment. Aquariums need to be well-maintained, and it's important to understand the specific needs of each species to ensure their health and well-being.

Have you learned anything about the conservation of aquatic animals?

Yes, I've learned that many aquatic animals, including turtles, face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect these species, and raising awareness about their importance in the ecosystem is essential for their survival.

Band 6-7

00:00

During one of my visits to the local aquarium, I came across a creature that is fabled in the tales Hare and Tortoise, known for its patience and winning the race through its key quality. It is a most marvellous creature in my perspective since its exoskeleton is made of a shell that is also its home. And this exoskeleton is said to be the hardest which even can withstand the test of time. This creature, especially living in the warm regions, feeds on the plankton. But on the saddened note, they are plagued by parasites that latch on to them and provide suffering. It needs to be cleaned by hand, which by far doesn't take place, which requires special supervisions and thus making the life of these creatures quite difficult. Also known for its long life, it can outlive a human and tells, in some cases, the stories of past.

Follow up questions

What other aquatic animals do you find interesting?

I find dolphins fascinating due to their intelligence and social behavior. They communicate through clicks and whistles, and their playful nature is captivating. Additionally, I admire jellyfish for their unique beauty and the way they drift gracefully in the water, despite being so simple in structure.

How do you think pollution affects aquatic animals?

Pollution severely impacts aquatic animals by contaminating their habitats. Chemicals and plastics can cause health issues, disrupt food chains, and lead to the decline of species. For instance, many marine animals ingest plastic, mistaking it for food, which can be fatal. Conservation efforts are crucial.

Why do you think it's important to protect aquatic ecosystems?

Protecting aquatic ecosystems is vital for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the health of our planet. These ecosystems provide essential services, such as oxygen production and carbon storage. They also support livelihoods for millions of people and are crucial for food security, making their preservation essential.

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.

Band 6-7

00:00

There are many aquatic animals that I would like to discuss about, but I would like to talk specifically about fish. Fish specifically lives in water and it cannot live outside the water or pond, it breathes through gills. There are different types of fish like, fishes like saltwater fish, which specifically lives in ocean and freshwater fish, which specifically lives in rivers, ponds etc., which are mainly eaten and the tropical fish, which lives in warm water. These fishes are main source of income for India, not only India, for the world's ecosystem I feel fishes provide lot of nutritious food due to its fatty acids and it contains a lot of protein in it and they also help for ecosystem balance by balancing the aquatic ecosystem and they are also important economy for the government all over the world, they play a crucial role in gaining a revenue income more than 30% of world's revenue every year, so I feel fish plays a significant role in everybody's life.

Follow up questions

What are some popular types of fish consumed in your country?

In India, popular fish include Rohu, Hilsa, and Pomfret. Rohu is commonly used in curries, while Hilsa is famous for its unique flavor. Pomfret is often grilled or fried. These fish are not only delicious but also a significant part of our culinary culture.

How do you think pollution affects aquatic animals?

Pollution severely impacts aquatic animals by contaminating their habitats. Chemicals and plastics can harm fish health, disrupt their reproduction, and lead to a decline in populations. This imbalance can also affect the entire ecosystem, including humans who rely on fish for food.

What measures can be taken to protect aquatic ecosystems?

To protect aquatic ecosystems, we can implement stricter pollution controls, promote sustainable fishing practices, and create marine protected areas. Education and awareness campaigns can also help communities understand the importance of preserving aquatic life for future generations.

Band 6-7

00:00

I visited the Dubai aquarium back when I was in the 11th grade. It's like this huge aquarium right inside the middle of a mall where you can see all sorts of different aquatic species. But this was the first time that I was seeing a jellyfish and it really stood out to me as one of the most interesting and unique sea animals that I have seen. Much like its name, the jellyfish is just a blob of flesh. It has this top part which is shaped like a dome and it's sort of amorphous, it doesn't really hold its shape like jelly. And under that you have these really loose and flowy tentacles. So it just has a unique sort of floral vibe to it and it's really cute because of the way that it manoeuvres itself inside the water, it'll just use its blob-like body to push the water down. But my point is, just in the way of how it moves around and what it looks like, it feels very cute and unalarming. But one interesting fact about it is that it is actually one of the deadliest animals out there. The tentacles in the jellyfish are supposed to be really venomous and if it stings you, you will get really sharp shooting pain in your leg, sorry, wherever it bites you, wherever it stings you. And sometimes I believe it can be fatal as well, so just the juxtaposition of how cute it looks versus what kind of damage it can do was really interesting to me.

Follow up questions

What other aquatic animals have you seen in aquariums?

I've seen a variety of aquatic animals in different aquariums, such as sharks, rays, and colorful tropical fish. Each has its own unique characteristics and behaviors. For instance, watching the graceful movements of stingrays gliding through the water is mesmerizing, and the vibrant colors of tropical fish are always captivating.

Why do you think jellyfish are often considered beautiful?

Jellyfish are often seen as beautiful due to their ethereal appearance and graceful movements in the water. Their translucent bodies and flowing tentacles create a mesmerizing visual effect, almost like a living piece of art. This beauty can be enchanting, despite their dangerous nature.

How do you feel about the conservation of aquatic animals?

I believe conservation of aquatic animals is crucial. Many species are endangered due to pollution, climate change, and overfishing. Protecting their habitats and raising awareness about their importance in the ecosystem is essential. We need to ensure future generations can experience the beauty of these creatures.

Band 6-7

00:00

The aquatic animal which I want to talk about today is Octopus. Octopus is actually an aquatic animal where it lives deep in the ocean. It does have different colours. I particularly have seen an Octopus which is a red brownish colour and it does have 8 or more hands and it is like a tomb as its head and has 8 or more hands like that. It does have a succulent like holes through those hands where it actually helps him to catch his prey. I have seen him many times. I have eaten him. I believe it is an aquatic animal but still I have eaten it many times in restaurants. It is very tasty, very chewy. So an aquatic animal which I always adored is Octopus as I find it very interesting the way how it catches its prey. Actually it does initially, it does have a prey, it does have an ability to run out from its prey by putting out ink which may be dark blue or dark black. I have particularly seen it in black colour which black ink is being produced out of it. I believe his back and it is being put out to the water when a prey comes which make the prey a vision blur. So

Follow up questions

What other aquatic animals do you find interesting?

Apart from octopuses, I find dolphins and jellyfish fascinating. Dolphins are intelligent and social, while jellyfish have a unique beauty and are quite mysterious due to their translucent bodies and the way they move through water.

How do you think climate change affects aquatic animals?

Climate change has a significant impact on aquatic animals. It leads to ocean warming, which affects their habitats and food sources. Coral reefs are dying, and many species are struggling to adapt to changing conditions, which can lead to a decline in their populations.

Have you ever seen an octopus in its natural habitat?

Yes, I have seen octopuses in their natural habitat during a snorkeling trip. It was amazing to watch them move gracefully and change colors. Observing their behavior in the wild gave me a deeper appreciation for these incredible creatures.

Show all 27 answers

Cue 1:Which animal was it?

Begin by naming the aquatic animal clearly.
Share a brief personal connection or experience related to the animal.

Example

The aquatic animal I want to describe is the dolphin. I have always been fascinated by dolphins since I watched a documentary about them as a child.

Cue 2:What does it look like? When did you see it?

Provide a detailed description of the animal's physical features, such as size, color, and unique characteristics.
Mention the specific occasion when you saw the animal, whether in the wild or in an aquarium.

Example

Dolphins are sleek and streamlined, usually gray with lighter underbellies. They have a distinct dorsal fin and a playful smile. I first saw a dolphin during a family trip to Goa last summer when we went on a boat ride.

Cue 3:Why is it interesting?

Discuss the unique behaviors or traits of the animal that capture your interest.
Explain any personal experiences or facts that make the animal special to you.

Example

Dolphins are incredibly intelligent and social creatures. I find it interesting how they communicate with each other using clicks and whistles. During our boat ride, we were lucky enough to see a pod of dolphins leaping out of the water, which was a breathtaking experience.

Conclusion

Summarize your thoughts about the animal and its significance to you.
End with a personal reflection or a statement about the importance of aquatic life.

Example

In conclusion, dolphins are not only beautiful creatures but also symbolize the intelligence and playfulness of marine life. They remind me of the importance of protecting our oceans and the wonderful beings that inhabit them.

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. Candidates often fail to provide specific details about the aquatic animal, which can lead to a lack of engagement from the examiner.

Tip

Use descriptive adjectives and specific details about the animal's appearance, behavior, and habitat to create a vivid picture.

2: Rushing Through Answers

Many candidates rush their responses, which can lead to incomplete answers. This may cause them to miss important cues and fail to fully explain their thoughts.

Tip

Take your time to think before speaking. Structure your answer by addressing each cue clearly and thoroughly.

Ignoring Personal Connection

Failing to share personal experiences or connections can make your answer less engaging. Candidates often miss the opportunity to explain why the animal is interesting to them.

Tip

Include a personal story or reason that highlights your interest in the animal, making your answer more relatable and memorable.