Describe an important event you celebrated: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What the event was?
When it happened?
Who attended the event?
And explain how you felt about the event?

17 unique answers with expert feedback

What other celebrations have you organized for your family?

I have organized a few other celebrations, like my brother's graduation party and my father's retirement. Each event had its own unique theme and surprise elements, and I enjoyed bringing everyone together to celebrate their achievements and milestones.

How do you think celebrations impact family relationships?

Celebrations strengthen family bonds by creating shared memories and experiences. They provide an opportunity for family members to reconnect, express love and appreciation, and support one another during special occasions, which ultimately enhances the overall family dynamic.

What do you think makes a celebration memorable?

A memorable celebration often includes personal touches, like surprises or heartfelt gestures, along with the presence of loved ones. The emotions felt during the event, such as joy and love, contribute significantly to how we remember these special moments.

Band 6-7

00:00

I would like to talk about my convocation day of my master's degree. I took a 3 year gap to start my master's degree after completing my degree. Because my parents didn't agree to do master's, so I struggled to join for master's degree. While I was taking master's, I was doing part-time job. Therefore, completing this program was one of my dreams. After completing my first year of master's degree, I started to think about quitting because I couldn't manage my part-time work and college. Because of my strong resilience, I continued my study and I passed exams. The previous year, I had my convocation. I felt very proud to attend that function. I invited my parents to come and they came. We went together. We attended the party.

Follow up questions

What challenges did you face during your master's degree?

I faced several challenges, including balancing my part-time job with my studies. There were times I felt overwhelmed and considered quitting. However, I learned to manage my time better and sought support from friends and professors, which helped me overcome these obstacles.

How did your parents react to your decision to pursue a master's degree?

Initially, my parents were against the idea of me pursuing a master's degree. They were concerned about the financial burden and my ability to manage it. However, once they saw my determination and the effort I put into my studies, they became supportive and even attended my convocation.

What did you learn from your convocation experience?

My convocation was a significant milestone that taught me the value of perseverance and hard work. It was a moment of pride not just for me, but also for my family. I realized that achieving my goals requires dedication, and celebrating such moments with loved ones makes it even more special.

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.

Nav Chandi holds great significance for my family as it is a time to honor the goddess and seek her blessings. It strengthens our family bonds and cultural traditions. Celebrating it together reinforces our values and brings us closer, reminding us of our roots and the importance of faith in our lives.

Show all 17 answers

Cue 1:What the event was?

Begin by clearly stating the event you celebrated, such as a birthday, wedding, or festival.
Provide some context about why this event was significant to you.

Example

The event I celebrated was my sister's wedding. It was a grand occasion that brought our entire family together, and it marked a significant milestone in her life.

Cue 2:When it happened?

Mention the date or time of year when the event took place.
You can also include any relevant details about the season or time of day.

Example

The wedding took place in early December last year, during the winter season when the weather was pleasantly cool, which added to the festive atmosphere.

Cue 3:Who attended the event?

List the key people who were present at the event, such as family, friends, or special guests.
Explain the importance of their presence and how it contributed to the event.

Example

The event was attended by close family members, including my parents, grandparents, and cousins, as well as many of my sister's friends. Their presence made the celebration lively and filled with joy.

Cue 4:And explain how you felt about the event?

Share your emotions and thoughts about the event, focusing on what it meant to you.
You can also mention any memorable moments that stood out during the celebration.

Example

I felt incredibly happy and proud during the wedding. Seeing my sister so joyful and surrounded by loved ones was heartwarming. One of the most memorable moments was when she danced with our father, which brought tears to my eyes.

Conclusion

Example

Overall, celebrating my sister's wedding was a beautiful experience that strengthened our family bonds and created lasting memories. It reminded me of the importance of love and togetherness in our lives.

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 Detail in Description

Providing vague answers can make your response less engaging. It's important to include specific details about the event to create a vivid picture for the examiner.

Tip

Use descriptive language to explain the event, including sights, sounds, and emotions to make your answer more interesting.

2: Ignoring the Emotional Aspect

Failing to express your feelings about the event can make your response seem flat. Emotions add depth and personal connection to your story.

Tip

Reflect on how the event made you feel and share those emotions to connect better with the examiner.

Rushing Through the Timeline

Skipping important details about when the event happened can confuse the listener. A clear timeline helps in understanding the context of the celebration.