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Describe an impressive talk/conversation you had that you remember well: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • Who you talked to
  • When and where you had the talk
  • What you talked about
  • And explain why it was impressive
Show all 69 answers

Cue 1:Who you talked to

  • Introduce the person you had the conversation with, mentioning their relationship to you.
  • Share a brief background about them to give context to the conversation.

Example

I had an impressive conversation with my uncle, who is a successful entrepreneur. He has been running his own business for over a decade and has a wealth of experience in the industry.

Cue 2:When and where you had the talk

  • Describe the time and place of the conversation to set the scene.
  • Mention any relevant details about the environment that made the conversation special.

Example

This talk took place last summer during a family gathering at my grandparents' house. The atmosphere was relaxed, with everyone enjoying good food and laughter, which made it the perfect setting for a meaningful discussion.

Cue 3:What you talked about

  • Outline the main topics discussed during the conversation.
  • Highlight any specific stories or advice shared that stood out to you.

Example

We talked about the challenges of starting a business and the importance of resilience. He shared a personal story about a time he faced failure but learned valuable lessons that ultimately led to his success.

Cue 4:And explain why it was impressive

  • Reflect on what made the conversation impactful for you personally.
  • Discuss how it influenced your thoughts or actions moving forward.

Example

This conversation was impressive because it opened my eyes to the realities of entrepreneurship. His passion and determination inspired me to consider my own career path more seriously, and I left feeling motivated to pursue my dreams.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, that conversation with my uncle was not just a casual chat; it was a pivotal moment that encouraged me to think differently about my future. I realized the value of learning from others' experiences and how impactful a single conversation can be in shaping our aspirations.

    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

    Providing vague answers without specific details can make your response less engaging and memorable. It may fail to demonstrate your language proficiency and storytelling ability.

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    Tip

    Include specific details about the person you talked to, the setting, and the topics discussed to create a vivid picture for the examiner.

    2: Ignoring the Impressive Aspect

    Failing to explain why the conversation was impressive can leave your answer incomplete. It’s essential to highlight the significance of the talk to showcase your reflective thinking.

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    Tip

    Clearly articulate what made the conversation impactful for you, whether it was the insights gained or the emotional connection established.

    Poor Structure

    A disorganized response can confuse the listener and detract from the overall quality of your answer. It’s important to present your ideas in a logical sequence.

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    Tip

    Follow the cue prompts in order: introduce the person, describe the setting, discuss the conversation, and conclude with its significance to ensure clarity.

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    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

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    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
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 8

    location icon

    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
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 6.5

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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.

    All Answers

    Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

    Band 7

    One of the most interesting conversations I had which made a lasting impression in my mind was with a lady in an old age home. As a member of the interact club of my school, I got an opportunity to visit such a place called Malvini Homes where I had a conversation with an 88-year-old widowed lady. She was really frail and weak and was suffering from several illnesses, however, I was impressed to find out about her educational qualification as well as the rich past life she had lived. She was intelligent, sharp as well as progressive. She was fluent in three languages. She had fought with her family to pursue her education and was one of the first persons in her family who had a job which she continued even after marriage and having kids. Sadly, her kids had abandoned her after her husband's death, but that did not deter her spirits. She emphasized the importance of education and being financially independent. It made a really good impression on my mind and I still remember her till this day.

    Band 7

    A recent conversation that I remember well is a conversation which I had with one of my students who passed out from school two years back. And at present, this student is studying in the US. And the conversation happened on phone, so it was a telephonic conversation. It was a general, it was a random call from his side stating that yes, he misses school and he misses us. In fact, he talked a lot about the university he is studying at and it is always nice to speak to your students. Therefore, this call was very, very special. In addition to talking about his university and how is life in the US, he also mentioned that the university allows the students to do a lot of work where they gain a lot of practical knowledge unlike what is here in India. And what was extremely impressive about the conversation was the fact that I still remember this boy in my class sitting in one corner and now talking to him felt extremely different in the sense that he sounded extremely confident and bold and was able to tell me about how universities function, what do they expect from a student, what are admissions and scholarships like in the US. So I think all in all, it was a very informative conversation. I learnt a lot. It gives me a sense of pleasure as a teacher to be informed by a

    Band 7

    One of the most impressive conversations I feel ever had was with my college professor about career guidance and personal development. It happened around a year ago. In my college campus, I had been feeling a bit uncertain about my future after completing my engineering degree. So I decided to ask my professor for some advice. We sat down over a cup of coffee and he started by asking me about my interests and long-term goals. I told him that I was passionate about technology, especially the field of IoT and 5G communication. He listened carefully and then gave me some very practical suggestions about how to build a strong career in that area. He also spoke about the importance of continuous learning, improving communication skills and staying updated with new technologies. What impressed him was not just his knowledge but the way of motivating me. He shared his own journey including the challenges he faced and encouraged me never to give up no matter how difficult things might seem. His words gave me a lot of clarity and confidence about my path. That conversation really changed my mindset. It inspired me to work harder, improve my English and prepare for studying abroad. I still remember his advice and it continues to guide me whenever I feel uncertain. It was truly one of the most meaningful and inspiring talks of my life.

    Band 7

    One of the most impressive and enlightening chat that I had was with one of my senior at work. It was related to design of a building. The way that the chat progressed was basically on top of a current project that we were working on. The concept of deriving a design actually depends on the intent of the design. This basic fact was so much enlightening to me that it has remained in contact with me for a long time now. So this has engaged me in actually practicing this in my current design strategies and always is there at the back of my mind to incorporate a strong intent towards design because a good and clear intention towards what the outcome and desires are for a design actually helps in shaping it for a better outcome.

    Band 7

    I will share one that really struck with me. A while back, I had a conversation with a college student who wanted to become an IAS officer. What impressed me was the clarity and fire in their voice. They talked about how they wanted to serve society, bring positive changes, and stand as an inspiration for others. But at the same time, they were very practical. They mentioned having a back-up plan to become a professor if civil service did not work out. The conversation left a deep impression on me because it was not just about ambition. It was about determination with realism. They were not dreaming blindly. They were preparing smartly.

    Band 7

    I was participating in the HCA tournament, which is also known as Hyderabad Cricket Association tournament, which is held in India for district level cricketers. My performance was going worse day by day, so I decided to talk about it with my parents. They helped me a lot in this issue. They gave me motivation, they supported me, they inspired me so much, that the very next match, I got a 100. Previously, I didn't even score above 10 runs in each and every match, but after having a chat with my parents, everything changed and I successfully got selected for the state camp for Telangana Cricket Association, which is an honor for me. It was a very special moment for me and my family. Besides my parents, my coach also helped me a lot for this journey, which led me to the national camp too.

    Band 7

    An impressive conversation that I had was with my project guide last week. It was regarding a project that I am doing along with few others very talented students from my college. We are working on something that is very exciting and our guide had just told us that there had been a major breakthrough in my project. It opened a lot of possibilities for us and it might as well be the turning point of our career. It filled us with a lot of hope and confidence about what lies ahead.

    Band 7

    An impressive conversation I had that I remember well was with my professor from when I was pursuing my masters. I had the conversation with him in the university canteen when he was having lunch and I happened to be there at the same time. I talked about astrology with him, traditional Indian astrology that is, and it was interesting because I did not really expect him to be the kind of person who believes in such topics, however he did, and to my happiness, he did not expect me to have an interest in such a topic as well, and therefore it was a memorable experience because for a professor and a student to converse with each other on such an obscure occult topic left quite a memorable impression on me.

    Band 7

    This was a conversation that I had with my uncle. We had visited a resort as a family where we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. What I loved about this conversation was how easily it flowed. Not many conversations have a certain flow to it, have the beginning and the end properly defined. But this conversation had it. I personally really enjoy talking about abstract stuff, abstract things that would include a lot of philosophy, the meaning of life, and where exactly are we going, what is this rat race we are in, things like that. So what I got out of this conversation, because my uncle is obviously older than me and he has better experience in this game called life, I could learn a lot from him, starting with how he learned to trust people, how he began inculcating certain values in him that was not taught to him, that was not drilled into him, but something that he had taken along the way. So me as a wide-eyed young adult was personally impressed by this conversation. It left me enlightened in certain things and left me questioning certain parts of life, which I think is a fitting end.

    Band 6-7

    So, to start with, I must say that I am interested in poetry and my last impressive talk I had about poetry was with a Delhi professor, Delhi University professor who teaches poetry in his classes and he found it very difficult to connect with the students on the topic of poetry because nowadays literature has become more social justice oriented. So people don't find poetry intriguing in terms of how it can reveal the social factors and political realities of our time. For example, they prefer novels or films to talk about how, for example, Dalit representation is in India or, for example, how feminism can better our gender ratio in the country. So in that regard, he talked about how poetry has become almost irrelevant to include these points in a classroom situation. But I actually contradicted him and said that poetry can also become a very good window to discuss all these socio-political issues. For example, I said that how poetry can be read to understand the urban ideas of our society. For example, there are a lot of poetries which revolve around not only romanticizing the cities but also how people thought about belonging to a particular place. He was really intrigued by my opinion but he also said there is always a limit to which we can actually use poetry for such reasons in academia as well as in popular historical imaginings. So I think that was an impressive conversation that I had with him.
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