Describe an important text message you received.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What message was it & from whom?
When did you receive it?
Why was it important?

35 unique answers with expert feedback

What motivated you to pursue a career in policy research?

I have always been passionate about public administration and its impact on society. During my studies, I realized that policy research is crucial for informed decision-making. I want to contribute to sustainable development and help shape effective policies that address pressing social issues.

How do you feel about working in a team during your internship?

I believe teamwork is essential in research. Collaborating with others allows for diverse perspectives and ideas, which can enhance the quality of our work. I am excited to learn from my colleagues and contribute my insights to achieve common goals during my internship.

What skills do you hope to develop during your internship?

I aim to improve my analytical skills, learn data collection methods, and enhance my ability to communicate research findings effectively. Additionally, I want to gain practical experience in policy analysis and develop a deeper understanding of sustainable development issues.

Band 6-7

00:00

The important text message that I received was from my mentor who also holds a very high position in the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. He is the member secretary and the IAS officer who has a very busy schedule and always runs for making the city into a better place to live. A few days back, I actually had to send a message to him requesting for a letter of recommendation for my education abroad and because of his tight mix of schedule, he couldn't reply back at the time and I had to move on to asking to other people for the LOR but to my surprise, he actually messaged me a few days later reminding me that he would actually give me the LOR which was quite surprising and early this month, he actually prepared a LOR for me with careful consideration of what all I did under his guidance and a person with such high positions and great knowledge, remembering me for a work that I did for a month was surprising and it actually made me feel so happy.

Follow up questions

How did you feel when you received the text message from your mentor?

I felt a mix of surprise and happiness. It was unexpected for someone so busy to remember my request and respond positively. It made me feel valued and appreciated for the work I did under his guidance.

Why do you think a letter of recommendation is important for your education abroad?

A letter of recommendation is crucial as it provides credibility to my application. It highlights my skills and experiences from a respected professional, which can significantly enhance my chances of being accepted into a good program.

Have you ever had to write a recommendation letter for someone else?

Yes, I have written recommendation letters for peers and juniors. It's a great way to support others in their academic or professional pursuits, and it also helps me reflect on the strengths and achievements of those I recommend.

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.

This job will provide me with valuable hands-on experience and exposure to real-world projects. Working at TCS will enhance my skills and knowledge in AI, which is crucial for my career development and future aspirations in the tech industry.

Show all 35 answers

Cue 1:What message was it & from whom?

Start by clearly stating the content of the message and the sender's name.
Mention any specific details that highlight the significance of the message.

Example

The important text message I received was from my best friend, Priya. She texted me to inform me that she had received her acceptance letter from a prestigious university abroad, which she had been eagerly waiting for.

Cue 2:When did you receive it?

Specify the time and context in which you received the message.
Explain your immediate reaction upon receiving the message.

Example

I received this message late in the evening, around 8 PM, while I was having dinner with my family. As soon as I read it, I was filled with excitement and immediately called her to congratulate her.

Cue 3:Why was it important?

Discuss the personal significance of the message and its impact on you.
Mention any broader implications or feelings that arose from the message.

Example

This message was important to me because Priya had worked incredibly hard for this opportunity, and I knew how much it meant to her. It also made me reflect on our friendship and how we support each other in our goals, which deepened my appreciation for our bond.

Conclusion

Summarize the overall impact of the message on your relationship with the sender.
Reflect on how this moment might influence your future interactions.

Example

In conclusion, receiving that text message not only brought joy to my day but also strengthened my friendship with Priya. It reminded me of the importance of celebrating each other's achievements, and I look forward to supporting her in her new journey.

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: Being Vague About the Message

Candidates often provide unclear or general descriptions of the message, which can lead to a lack of detail in their response. This makes it hard for the examiner to understand the significance of the message.