Describe an experience when you got bored with others.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When did it happen?
Who were you with? What did they do?
Why did you feel bored?

26 unique answers with expert feedback

What activities did you do with your colleagues that made you feel less bored?

We engaged in various team-building activities, such as group lunches, brainstorming sessions, and after-work outings. These activities helped us bond and made the work environment more enjoyable, reducing feelings of boredom.

How do you think socializing with colleagues impacts your work performance?

Socializing with colleagues fosters teamwork and collaboration, which can lead to improved communication and productivity. It also creates a more positive work atmosphere, making it easier to tackle challenges together.

Have you ever felt bored in a social setting? How did you handle it?

Yes, I have felt bored in social settings, especially when conversations are unengaging. In such situations, I try to change the topic or engage with different people to find common interests and make the experience more enjoyable.

Band 6-7

00:00

Normally, I am a person who does not get bored pretty easily because I love to engage and converse with people about any topic like psychology, sociology, business, economics, or any other subject. Even though I'm not passionate about it, I still like to talk to people about their hobbies and listen to them and just have a nice little conversation with them. However, I do recall this one instance when I did get bored. It was a few years ago at one of my friend's gatherings. We were all sitting together in a circle and we were conversing about different things like where we plan to go for college, what we would like to do in the future. And I remember this one friend of mine who had chemistry as a subject brought up this very theoretical question related to chemistry and physics, which I do not have as a subject. I remember, I recall not knowing anything about this topic because these are subjects that I'm not really passionate about. And I was, and I got really bored with others because I could not, I was not able to contribute to any of the discussion that they were having. Nonetheless, even though I was not really passionate about it, I still tried to contribute to the topics, but it was a time that I remember being really bored.

Follow up questions

What do you usually do when you feel bored in a social situation?

When I feel bored in a social situation, I usually try to change the topic to something I find interesting. If that doesn't work, I might engage in a side conversation with someone else or even take a break to refresh myself before rejoining the group.

How do you think boredom affects social interactions?

Boredom can negatively impact social interactions by creating a disconnect between people. It can lead to disengagement, making conversations less enjoyable. However, it can also encourage individuals to seek out more stimulating topics or activities, potentially leading to more meaningful connections.

Have you ever tried to steer a conversation towards a topic you enjoy?

Yes, I often try to steer conversations towards topics I enjoy, like psychology or economics. I believe that discussing subjects that excite me can not only make the conversation more engaging for me but also for others who might share similar interests.

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, there have been times when I've tried to learn about a topic just to participate in conversations. For instance, I once read up on a popular TV show that my friends were discussing, which helped me contribute to the conversation and feel more included.

Show all 26 answers

Cue 1:When did it happen?

Begin by stating the specific time and place of the experience.
Mention any relevant events or activities happening around that time.

Example

It happened last summer during a family gathering at my uncle's house. We had all come together to celebrate my cousin's birthday, which usually involves a lot of fun and games.

Cue 2:Who were you with? What did they do?

Describe the people you were with and their relationship to you.
Explain what activities they were engaged in that contributed to your boredom.

Example

I was with my cousins and a few family friends. While everyone else was busy playing games and chatting, I found myself sitting on the sidelines, as I wasn't interested in the games they were playing.

Cue 3:Why did you feel bored?

Identify the reasons for your boredom, such as lack of interest or engagement.
Mention any attempts you made to join in or change the situation.

Example

I felt bored because the games were too childish for my taste, and I didn't know how to engage with the conversations happening around me. I tried to suggest a different game, but no one seemed interested, which made me feel even more disconnected.

Conclusion

Summarize your feelings about the experience and what you learned from it.
Reflect on how you might handle similar situations in the future.

Example

In the end, I realized that sometimes, it's okay to feel bored, as it can lead to self-reflection. Next time, I might try to initiate a different activity or find a quieter space to engage in my own interests.

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 Responses

Giving vague or unclear answers can make your response less engaging. It may leave the examiner confused about your experience and feelings.

Tip

Provide specific details about the experience, including what happened and how it made you feel. Use descriptive language to paint a clear picture.

2: Lack of Structure

A disorganized response can make it hard for the examiner to follow your story. This can lead to a lower score in coherence and cohesion.

Tip

Organize your answer by following the cue prompts. Start with when it happened, then describe who you were with, and finally explain why you felt bored.