Describe an experience you had as a member of a team: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What it was?
Who were the members of the team?
Who were the members of the team?
Explain how you felt.

81 unique answers with expert feedback

What skills did you develop while working in that team?

During my internship, I developed communication skills, especially in handling difficult customers. I learned to remain calm and composed, which helped me effectively extract necessary information. Additionally, I gained technical skills in using software like Winman and ClearTax, which are essential for tax filings.

How did you handle conflicts within the team?

Whenever conflicts arose, I focused on open communication. I encouraged my team members to express their concerns and worked towards finding common ground. By fostering a supportive environment, we were able to resolve issues amicably and maintain a positive team dynamic.

What was the most challenging part of being in that team?

The most challenging part was dealing with uncooperative customers. It required patience and strong interpersonal skills to extract information. Additionally, balancing the workload among team members was tough, but we managed to support each other and share responsibilities effectively.

Band 7

00:00

One of the fondest group experience that I remember is when I was doing an interior design project with my friends and it was it was majorly dependent on Bali style interiors in a residential space and it was a group work that was allotted to a particular class. So the group members were my fellow students out of which four of them are my friends and the remaining two were people that I did not interact much with. The most important part of this aspect was to make sure that our audience that is the remaining part of the class understood the main aspects of design with respect to the Bali style. So what we had done is we had prepared an extensive an extensive number of slides explaining the key aspects as well as providing them with tips on how to incorporate such design styles into the projects that were going to be handed out or the upcoming projects and the main work that was allotted to me was to collate different kind of was to collate different kind of materials and to create a mood board and in that furthermore what I had added was not only textures but colors, styles, the history of Bali architecture, how exactly have we come to a certain template which defines Bali architecture in the current scenario. So I was given the task of preparing a mood board as well as a historic timeline and I found it very helpful with the help of my close friend. So both of us divided and split works accordingly and then carried out the task as assigned. The remaining people of the group were focusing more on the interior aspects of it and that helped us provide a really good presentation to the class.

Follow up questions

What challenges did you face while working in a team?

One of the main challenges was coordinating with team members who had different working styles. Additionally, ensuring that everyone was on the same page regarding the design concepts was crucial. We had to communicate effectively to overcome these hurdles and maintain a cohesive presentation.

How did you ensure everyone contributed equally to the project?

We held a meeting at the beginning to discuss each person's strengths and interests. By assigning tasks based on these strengths, we ensured that everyone had a role that suited them. Regular check-ins helped us stay aligned and motivated throughout the project.

What did you learn from this team experience?

I learned the importance of collaboration and communication in a team setting. It taught me how to appreciate different perspectives and skills. Additionally, I gained insights into project management and how to effectively present ideas to an audience.

Band 7

00:00

I was a member of the graduation committee of my school that in 2025. In our group, we have Miss Shadia, Miss Shumeya, Miss Zeba and Shaista. They are all members of the group as well. So we shared our responsibilities on how to prepare the students for the upcoming graduation ceremony. And I took up the responsibility of training them in dance sessions for grade 6, 8, grade 6, 9 and the KG. Songs were practiced properly and the students performed excellently on the graduation day. It was indeed an amazing time participating with the team, working together and ensuring that the ceremony was fruitful. Parents who were in attendance, who graced the occasion, were pleased and elated with our activities. It was such a wonderful opportunity to showcase what I have and what I can do, at the same time applying excellence in all that I did.

Follow up questions

What challenges did you face while working in the team?

One of the main challenges was coordinating schedules among all team members and the students. Additionally, ensuring that everyone was on the same page regarding the dance routines required clear communication and patience. We had to practice multiple times to overcome these hurdles.

How did you feel about your role in the team?

I felt a sense of pride and responsibility in my role as a dance trainer. It was fulfilling to see the students improve and gain confidence in their performances. Being able to contribute to such an important event made me feel valued and motivated to do my best.

What skills did you develop from this team experience?

I developed my leadership and communication skills significantly. Leading dance sessions required me to be clear in my instructions and supportive of the students. Additionally, I learned how to collaborate effectively with my peers, which is essential in any team setting.

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Band 7

00:00

Long back, I became a volunteer member during FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar and I was a part of a museum guide team where I met many new people, got an opportunity to socialise myself around new people and learn new skills, how to work in a team. Personally, my role was to guide the spectators of the World Cup who came here as visitors, to tell them about the museum, what is the context, what is the content in the museum, what are the artefacts, everything around the museum. I had a very nostalgic experience of me expressing myself to others about the work I did there. Overall, I worked as a volunteer for a period of 2 months and it was a wonderful experience. I gained a lot of skills. Firstly, I learnt how to speak to people, how to work together. Secondly, time management and how a museum guide works. Lastly, I got to meet amazing people like some footballers and visitors.

Follow up questions

What specific skills did you learn while volunteering at the FIFA World Cup?

During my time as a volunteer, I learned effective communication skills, how to engage with diverse audiences, and teamwork. I also improved my time management abilities, ensuring that I could guide visitors efficiently while providing them with valuable information about the museum.

How did working in a team enhance your experience as a museum guide?

Working in a team allowed me to share ideas and strategies with my colleagues, which improved our overall performance. We supported each other, shared responsibilities, and learned from one another's experiences, making the guiding process smoother and more enjoyable for both us and the visitors.

Can you share a memorable interaction you had with a visitor or footballer?

One memorable interaction was with a famous footballer who visited the museum. I had the chance to discuss his career and the impact of football on culture. It was inspiring to hear his perspective, and it made me realize the significance of the event and the connections we can make through sports.

Band 7

00:00

The experience I had, one of the unforgettable experiences I had in my life was when I worked as a research assistant with Dr. J.J Vittal's team. The team members were Dr. T.V.C Devraj and Niu Cheng. So we were working on a difficult project which handles lots of technical difficulties. One of the troubles we have faced was the compounds we were handling or the products we were handling were air sensitive and light sensitive. So preparing such products away from light and heat or air was almost impossible. But we had designed a new technique in which we could do all the experiments under the air bag which takes lots of effort and patience. So we had to design this called glow bag under which we conduct all the experiments and we eventually succeeded in synthesizing one of the very rare products which was first to be reported in sulfur containing phthalate family of compounds. We were so excited and we shared the same team spirit among the group members. So eventually the result was published in one of the top journals and we were rewarded in such a way.

Follow up questions

What challenges did your team face during the project?

We faced several challenges, particularly with the compounds being air and light sensitive. This made it difficult to prepare and conduct experiments without contamination. We had to innovate and create the glow bag technique to work around these issues, which required a lot of teamwork and problem-solving.

How did you feel when your team's work was published?

I felt an immense sense of pride and accomplishment. It was rewarding to see our hard work recognized in a top journal. The excitement was shared among all team members, reinforcing our bond and commitment to teamwork. It was a validation of our efforts and innovation.

What skills did you develop while working in a team?

I developed several skills, including collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. Working closely with my team taught me the importance of listening to others' ideas and perspectives. Additionally, I learned how to manage stress and maintain focus under pressure, which is crucial in research.

Show all 81 answers

Cue 1:What it was?

Begin by clearly stating the team activity you were involved in, such as a project, sports event, or community service.
Provide some context about the purpose of the team and what you aimed to achieve together.

Example

I participated in a community service project where our team aimed to clean up a local park. This initiative was organized by my college to promote environmental awareness and community involvement.

Cue 2:Who were the members of the team?

Introduce the team members, mentioning their roles and how you knew them, whether they were classmates, friends, or colleagues.
Highlight any unique skills or contributions that each member brought to the team.

Example

The team consisted of five members, including my close friends from college and a couple of seniors. My friend Aditi was great at organizing events, while Rohan had experience in community service, which helped us plan effectively.

Cue 3:What did you do together?

Describe the specific tasks you worked on as a team and how you collaborated to achieve your goals.
Mention any challenges you faced and how you overcame them together.

Example

We divided the tasks among ourselves; some of us collected litter while others set up awareness banners. Initially, we struggled with coordination, but after a quick discussion, we established a clear plan that made our efforts more efficient.

Cue 4:Explain how you felt.

Share your emotions during the experience, focusing on feelings of teamwork, accomplishment, or any challenges faced.
Reflect on what you learned from this experience and how it impacted you personally.

Example

I felt a strong sense of camaraderie and fulfillment as we worked together. Seeing the park transform made me proud, and I learned the importance of teamwork and community spirit. It was rewarding to know that our efforts made a difference.

Conclusion

Example

Overall, this experience taught me valuable lessons about collaboration and the impact of collective efforts. It reinforced my belief in the power of teamwork and motivated me to engage more in community activities.

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: Lack of Specific Details

Avoid vague descriptions of the experience. Specific details help the examiner understand your role and contributions within the team, making your answer more engaging.

Tip

Include specific examples of tasks you performed and how they contributed to the team's success.

2: Ignoring Team Dynamics

Neglecting to mention the roles of other team members can make your response seem incomplete. It's important to acknowledge how teamwork functions.

Tip

Briefly describe each member's role and how they interacted with you to achieve the team's goals.

Overlooking Personal Feelings

Failing to express your feelings about the experience can make your answer less relatable. Personal emotions add depth to your story.

Tip

Share your feelings during the experience, such as excitement or challenges, to connect with the examiner on a personal level.

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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.

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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

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Anonymous student Band 6.5

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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

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Answer

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